JetBlue is known for its excellent Mint business class experience, though the catch is that it’s only available on select premium routes. Fortunately we’ve known that JetBlue also plans to introduce a premium product throughout the rest of its fleet, more comparable to domestic first class.
This makes perfect sense, not just due to the broad travel trends we’ve seen, but also due to the premium markets that JetBlue operates in, given its particularly big presence in Boston and New York. In late 2024, JetBlue confirmed it would introduce first class (with some details shared by Live and Let’s Fly), but the airline stopped short of providing a full explanation.
There’s now an update, as JetBlue executives have shared the latest timeline for this product rollout, and it sounds like things are still on track (in addition to JetBlue opening two lounges in the near future).
In this post:
JetBlue will introduce “Mini Mint” first class in 2026
JetBlue will be introducing a new premium cabin on all planes that don’t currently have Mint, which may be known as Mini Mint (this hasn’t yet been confirmed). The plan is for this to be introduced starting in 2026. More specifically, around 25% of the non-Mint fleet should have this product by the end of 2026, while a vast majority of planes should have the product by the end of 2027.
JetBlue has selected the Collins Aerospace MiQ seat for this new product, which is a standard seat that you’ll find on many airlines. For example, it’s the same seat you’ll find in American’s domestic first class.
We don’t have many more details as of now, so it remains to be seen what kind of a soft product the airline will offer in its new premium cabin. JetBlue is great with food and drinks in Mint, so hopefully that general concept also expands to this cabin. However, since non-Mint planes don’t have ovens, I expect we might see cold meals (that doesn’t have to be a bad thing — cold meals can be high quality as well).
How JetBlue will reconfigure planes to add first class
Once reconfigured with first class, what will the seat count be like on these jets? Here’s what JetBlue reportedly has planned:
- JetBlue Airbus A220s will feature 143 seats, including eight first class seats and 135 economy class seats; these planes currently have 140 seats
- JetBlue Airbus A320s will feature 162 seats, including 12 first class seats and 150 economy class seats; these planes currently have 162 seats
- JetBlue Airbus A321ceos will feature 198 seats, including 12 first class seats and 186 economy class seats; these planes currently have 200 seats
- JetBlue Airbus A321neos will feature 200 seats, including 12 first class seats and 188 economy class seats; these planes currently have 200 seats
As you can see, JetBlue plans to introduce this product in a ridiculously efficient way. How is that possible? Well, JetBlue will eliminate its industry leading seat pitch in economy. Currently, JetBlue has 32″ of pitch in economy, while the airline will reduce seat pitch to 30″. Meanwhile Mini Mint will have 36-37″ of pitch, while EvenMore (JetBlue’s extra legroom economy) will have 35″ of pitch.
Apparently JetBlue’s plan is to first reconfigure the oldest A320s, and then work toward reconfiguring newer aircraft.
This is absolutely the right move for JetBlue
Of course reducing legroom in economy is something passengers won’t like, but this is honestly a no-brainer for JetBlue:
- JetBlue isn’t able to command a revenue premium for offering a far superior economy experience to most competitors, with more legroom, personal televisions, free Wi-Fi, and more
- The airline might as well instead invest in creating products that people are willing to pay for, including a first class cabin
- JetBlue is losing money, and needs to do something to turn its business around
Even bigger picture, I’ve talked in the past about why I think this concept makes sense:
- The demand for premium products is strong, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon
- JetBlue operates in lots of premium markets while not offering a first class product; for example, there’s huge demand for this between New York and Florida, which is a big market for JetBlue
- This would help boost JetBlue’s long haul Mint sales as well, since people could book itineraries that are in premium cabins the entire way
- This could help JetBlue increase engagement in its loyalty program, and that’s a big potential source of revenue
Bottom line
JetBlue is planning on introducing a “Mini Mint” product, which will essentially be a domestic first class experience. The plan is for this to be installed across JetBlue’s fleet of planes that don’t currently have a Mint cabin. We’ll start to see this rolled out in 2026, with 25% of the non-Mint fleet having the product by the end of 2026, and a vast majority of planes having the product by the end of 2027.
The airline intends to do this very efficiently, by reducing seat pitch in economy from 32″ to 30″. While no one likes legroom being reduced in economy, the reality is that JetBlue is losing money, and people aren’t willing to pay a premium for a better “standard” economy experience.
What do you make of JetBlue’s plans for a first class product?
12 on an a321 seems wrong. If AA's cost analysis did 16->20 recently. However, I guess they were hellbent on keeping the 200 seats total. Either way, clearly will drive revenue, while the 2" lost in the back won't really affect much.
If they wanted, they can get 20F seats and still keep 200 total capacity.
UA A321 have 20F and total capacity of 200
If they wanted, they can get 20F seats and still keep 200 total capacity.
UA A321 have 20F and total capacity of 200.
I doubt it would happen but an AS+B6 merge would bookend nicely. The two "boutique" premium carriers. I would much prefer the two grew on their own though, creating a market with the US3, the West Coast US3 competitor, and the East Coast US3 competitor. I think SWA has completely lost their way sadly. Not sure where they will fit in the picture 10-20 years down the line
The ensjitification continues and is why jetblue went from darling to fancy spirit. And guess what happened to spirit
How does this impact the "Blue Sky" FF program between United and JetBlue?
Will United MileagePlus members have access to Mini-Mint seats and JetBlue lounges?
Also, will B6 TrueBlue members have access to UA domestic First and UA lounges?
We're morphing into parallel airline products & FF offers between the two airlines.
Still waiting for B6 to eventually join the Star Alliance once T6 is completed at JFK.
This would elevate TrueBlue to a much higher level.
Yes, there's a premium leisure market (I'm part of it) but is that market big enough for more than the US3? There are some infrequent flyers can afford either first or at least cash upgrades but how big is that? Can Jetblue get leisure heavy FFs (which are even more limited) to move from one of the US3? Particularly considering the airline's on time stats.
B6 used to carry alot of corporate traffic esp. out of BOS - which is precisely why DL grew so quickly there because DL carries the most corporate traffic in the US and knows how to steal contracts from anyone.
B6 might struggle to rewin corporate traffic but there is a lot of small business traffic they could carry again - plus premium leisure traffic.
Exactly this. JetBlue knows it has a potentially significant market of customers in BOS and JFK who have likely traveled on JetBlue over its first 25 years and still think of it in terms of lower fares to where they want to travel, the soft product, or both. If JetBlue can have operations, product offerings, and pricing that are perceived as competitive with Delta out of those two markets, it's reasonable to believe that JetBlue...
Exactly this. JetBlue knows it has a potentially significant market of customers in BOS and JFK who have likely traveled on JetBlue over its first 25 years and still think of it in terms of lower fares to where they want to travel, the soft product, or both. If JetBlue can have operations, product offerings, and pricing that are perceived as competitive with Delta out of those two markets, it's reasonable to believe that JetBlue will get its share of those customers and it will be enough for them to survive in the medium-term. JetBlue has a loyal base in New York, Boston, and Fort Lauderdale- it needs to super-serve them.
I’m more in your bucket than not; infrequent premium traveler - always extra legroom economy and up front when the fare is justifiable. This upgrade will cause me to more likely consider B6. (The right direction compared to, say, AA diminishing MCE on their newest 321s.)
Absolutely, George. The more the merrier, especially as a consumer, the extra competition and options in the premium leisure segment is great news for us. As far as economic viability, so long as these airlines continue to be ‘credit cards with wings,’ they’ll stick around. For B6, see the new WF transfers added to Autograph. Not to worry, they’ll survive more so than Spirit or Southwest.
Hopefully JetBlue refurbishes the a321ceos or at least updates the WiFi to bring them in line with the a320 restyled, a220, and a321neos/lrs.
Can't wait. Long-overdue. Recliners and lounges will add nicely to their existing Mint (new and old, excellent food and beverage, too). Still a big fan of B6. Hope they pull this off and keep going. They and Delta are the two best domestic carriers (most aircraft with IFE, free WiFi for members, etc.)
We are now going from 3 major legacies to 6 - AS has already been a legacy and combined with HA has enough size. B6 is now going the legacy model and WN will certainly do it.
All this means is that there will be no distinctives other than routes and how well all of these "new legacies" execute on their strategy shifts.
Good for B6. It is clear that the model DL and UA...
We are now going from 3 major legacies to 6 - AS has already been a legacy and combined with HA has enough size. B6 is now going the legacy model and WN will certainly do it.
All this means is that there will be no distinctives other than routes and how well all of these "new legacies" execute on their strategy shifts.
Good for B6. It is clear that the model DL and UA pursue works. but let's also be clear that UA and B6 are increasingly competitors - which will have antitrust implications as UA wants to get a bigger bite of B6
as for who is harmed, it is the weakest players which is largely AA and WN - if they can't make their transition work.
WN is looking more likely they can make the transition.
It is worth noting that JBLU stock has had a very rough day today; Wall Street might get onboard as changes hit the bottom line but so far B6 can't tell Wall Street that is happening.
Given that JBLU is running the company on borrowed money, they have a fairly short timeframe to turn things around.
JetBlue is investing in 'premium' because that's who's paying. Delta has been consistent with IFE, free WiFi for members, and better food (as has jetBlue). Obviously, DL is 'winning' with D1 lounges.
I'd argue AA is 'trying' as well with these new Flagship Suites (and letting go of older aircraft sooner.) And UA did a 'decent' job with consistency on wide-body Polaris lie-flat. I know, hard to hear those compliments... *wink*
Now, if Delta can...
JetBlue is investing in 'premium' because that's who's paying. Delta has been consistent with IFE, free WiFi for members, and better food (as has jetBlue). Obviously, DL is 'winning' with D1 lounges.
I'd argue AA is 'trying' as well with these new Flagship Suites (and letting go of older aircraft sooner.) And UA did a 'decent' job with consistency on wide-body Polaris lie-flat. I know, hard to hear those compliments... *wink*
Now, if Delta can get more ERJ E2, a220, a321neo and XLR, 339 (or 787) and 350s, that'll be nice (wave bye to those CRJs, 757, 767, and older a330s). We know, they're working on it.
B6 has long had a great product CONCEPT but they have executed poorly. That is why DL has cleaned B6' clock in JFK and BOS. DL executes well even if it doesn't come up w/ many great product ideas on its own.
I don't want to go down the Polaris route but I am happy to compliment them - for having a better seat on the 767. The UA fanclub can't admit that Polaris...
B6 has long had a great product CONCEPT but they have executed poorly. That is why DL has cleaned B6' clock in JFK and BOS. DL executes well even if it doesn't come up w/ many great product ideas on its own.
I don't want to go down the Polaris route but I am happy to compliment them - for having a better seat on the 767. The UA fanclub can't admit that Polaris is vastly inferior to the Delta One Suites on 80 of DL's A350s and 330NEOs. and dozens more 330CEOs are coming; DL's 330CEO seat is comparable to most of AA's widebody seats. Polaris on most widebodies is a high density non-suite product which means less space per customer whether some people admit it or not.
AA has a better chance of moving to a higher percentage of new generation business class seats than UA; DL just has an enormous head start with over 40% of their widebody fleet w/ them now - and 767 retirements and new A350 deliveries move the math quickly beyond 50% which will grow very quickly in the next 3 years.
There will be no E2s at any of the big 3. DL is trying to accelerate 757 and 767 retirements if Airbus and Boeing can deliver.
B6 will take time to install these new seats and even longer to get it right. but they are moving in the right direction w/ product; if only the finances would follow.
At least they are each trying, to innovate, to invest in new hard product, to correct course when they stray… in that regard, I’ve still got good things to say about B6, DL, UA, and AA. The rest, I’ve got some bones to pick, especially WN, though, as a consumer I’m giving AS a little more attention, namely because of their new cards with BofA (otherwise, they’ve kinda scaled back on my region, reverting to West Coast focus, it seems).
DL isn’t even as big as JB in BOS. Nice try though.
Only 80 planes with D1 after eight years. Ouch!!! Are the engines back on those brand new DL A321s DL is paying for every month? When are the A35Xs showing up and with what kind of interior? Are all the 359s D1 yet? What a mess!
Between mini mint, lounges and potentially more to come with UA, poses a real challenge to AA. Having "first class" and an expansive extra legroom section is what premium travelers want on 2-3 hour bread basket flights. The demand for lounge access with B6 may well exceed the small-ish lounges being contemplated. Will of course be curious to see how many extra legroom seats there are. 32" held on for as long as it could, but this is the right move.
I can think of numerous cold meals that don't require ovens:
-Your usual salads and cheese plates
-Grain bowls
-Sandwiches and wraps
-Summer rolls and cold noodles
-Ceviche and tartare
-Sushi, sashimi
-Various soups such as gazpacho
A plethora of options would suffice for even 5 hour flights.
I don't see the gourmet world-class AA slider and fries on this list so I will be boycotting JetBlue until further notice.
I had some EXCELLENT cold meals on Air France euro biz - good enough to make me prefer euro biz over american biz since I get a good meal on a short flight
They are doing a decent cold option on transatlantic economy. I would imagine they could use that same menu (or a variant) for domestic first on shorter routes.