JetBlue introduced Mint in 2014, which is the name of its business class product on select A321 aircraft (read my review of JetBlue Mint here). As far as I'm concerned, Mint has revolutionized domestic premium travel in so many ways: JetBlue was the first airline in the world to introduce doors in business class, on…
Continue reading: Changes Coming To The JetBlue Mint Experience
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I had my first Mint experience this past January, SEA-BOS. I was booked in a suite but that flight was ultimately cancelled for mechanical, and got switched to the next night’s flight where I couldn’t get a suite (no morning flight on Saturdays), but still Mint. Honestly, I wasn’t blown away. The drink options were good, the food was decent, but the cabin crew wasn’t too friendly (though the crew the previous evening was very friendly). I wish the armrests would drop with the seat; I’m broad-shouldered, and felt like a mummy in a sarcophagus. Not sure if I’ll be trying out the new product...it feels gimmicky, especially for short eastbound flights (4:22 gate to gate that night). Westbound day flights may be a different story, but I’m fine with an Even More seat and a Tito’s and tonic for $4.
Looking forward to trying the new experience, although to your point I'm pretty happy with Mint so far. I actually just flew them last week on a Transcon, and was quite surprised to see that not much if anything as changed compared to pre Covid. Besides the pre departure drink no longer being offered, and all the food being served at once, all the rest was identical - including the delicious food. I just hope that the new catering company won't be a step back from what they currently have.
I think the new amenity kits make sense. I'm actually more excited about that than getting the usual socks/pen/earplugs.
As always, portion sizes seem small, and hot mains look decidedly underwhelming. And only ice cream for dessert? Why aren’t they partnering with some cool NYC bakery to offer better desserts?
Most meals try to get too fancy with stuff most people never eat or have any clear what it is.
Fennel? Leeks? Calabrian Chile? And then with limited ways to cook stuff on a plane, it usually sucks. Stick to simple stuff and save fancy stuff for real restaurants.
@ Ted - Pottion sizes are small because the service is tapas-like. You'll definitely be full and can ask for more but I've found that is unneeded.
Other than a lack of lounges, in every aspect, Mint by far blows away all domestic US carriers, even AA three-cabin Int'l F, and is competitive for world-wide competitors in J and F.
A blanket with a foothole? That's attention to detail.
If they're making the hot main courses normal sized that would be nice - as would dumping the cheap paper liner and serving the plates individually rather than all at once. Cafeteria style presentation previously didn' thold a candle to AA transcon flagship first.
@Ben - Do you know if this service will be offered out of Orlando?? We have a number of direct-to-the-West Coast flights out of Orlando, but NONE of the legacy three offer any sort of upgraded experience for First. The flights are just as long as out of Boston, New York and Washington, but we get nada.... Jet Blue has a base here, so I am hoping! Any news?
I think for a budget carrier, Mint is an amazing product. But I do find AA's transcon business to be nicer and more comfortable, especially in bed mode. Obviously their F as well, but we are talking business class. I also think lack of a lounge (at least at JFK) is a detriment to their product. While Terminal 5 is very nice, and at JFK, that is a huge complement, if stuck on a long layover or IRROPS - you just wander the terminal. Not a huge deal, but I came off a long international flight (EY Apartments) connecting to Mint (sold as a single ticket) and it would have been nice to shower and relax in lounge - as I would have been able to with AA. Bottom line, is unless B6 is substantially cheaper, I will usually take AA to/from JFK, when flying J and AA is far from perfect.
Jetblue Mint always setting the standard. All other airlines should take notes on how to deliver a great domestic experience. In both economy and business. Bravo Jetblue!
Greg - this is tapas style food. So those are not meant to be full size, nor are they meant to be served in different courses. If you go to a Spanish restaurant that serves tapas, or in a Chinese restaurant that does dim sum, it's just a bunch of small plates all served at the same time. That's just the concept and personally I think it's amazing because you get to try a lot of different things as opposed to just one.
And yes, the dishes and ingredients are a bit more sophisticated than the basic (and usually nasty) stuff the big 3 tend to serve on those flights - although I'd argue that if people don't know what leeks or fennel are, they probably need to eat more veggies 🙂 .
@Jonathan Tweet JetBlue and ask for the recipe! They gave it to me, and I made RefreshMINTs for my parents...they’ve always wanted to fly Mint, but haven’t been able to yet, so I brought a small piece of the Mint experience to them!
I flew Mint a couple of times in the early Mint days and the chocolate from Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery was to die for. Sorry to see that it's no longer offered.
Serious wine list. You’d be lucky to see something like Domaine Roulot Bourgogne Blanc in international First! I hope that sticks.
Now if only their Mint product is not so expensive on points, most people who read this blog can try it. I usually fly transcons and the Mint pricing is usually the most expensive and since their points are used based on a revenue system, the miles required for a one way transcon is close to 100k True Blue points compared to 21k AA points since they had web specials in business class. Even if AA did not have the web special, the saver is 32.5K on a transcon. I have over 350K True Blue points and only flew them once in coach east bound.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but consume industrial quantities of tea. Great to see they’ll have Tea Pigs, which is great quality in my humble opinion.
I would be happy with this on a US domestic route but likely not on a TATL which is a different type of market when a proper 3 course meal would be expected in Business class and especally from those they need to attract from from the legacy carriers.
If they put on a good show and have good prices on their proposed LGW-JFK route next year then I could be pursuaded. And 'good show' means a baggage allowance of at least 2 * 32kg bags and a good ground experience as well such as dedicated check-in and access to priority security, it does not have to mean a lounge but vouchers to get a snack in the terminal etc would be OK
Thumbs down. I’ll take a United fka CO cheeseburger any day over avocado toast.
Headphones look great. I am flying mint in a couple of days.
Do you think it would be okay to keep the headphones? What is the etiquette?
Best food, drink and service I've had in the sky in FOREVER!!! Definitely better than any domestic F, and comparable or better than any Biz class to Europe.