US airlines are notorious for offering all kinds of ways to upgrade to first or business class, ranging from being able to redeem miles, to being able to use systemwide upgrades, to receiving complimentary upgrades, to having endless opportunities to buy-up to a premium cabin with cash.
Continue reading: How To Upgrade To JetBlue Mint (Business Class)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
To confirm what you said, I flew SFO-BOS a month or so ago in JetBlue and they were offering Mint upgrades at the gate. I asked the price and they said $450. I declined. I like Mint, but the extra value over an even-more-space seat on a 4.5 hour flight just isn't enough to justify the cost.
Recent Mint upgrades I have taken have been:
JFK -> SEA for $150 in Jan 2023 -- exceptional value
JFK -> LHR for $749 in Dec 2023 -- I had used TrueBlue points to book the ticket, so this represented good value to me
And why does this matter to the 95% of America that don't live within shouting distance of JFK or BOS?
Any data points if upgrading at the gate will trigger the USBank Altitude Reserve real time rewards?
The sfo to bos flight typically cost $799+ so you'll have to do the math there to see if you're ahead. That lowest price in that direction is usually the red eye flight. If you had booked an economy flight during the day route that $450 would be pretty nice. And considering 99% of flights from the big 3 airlines only offer domestic 1st as a premium option at a similar price point, jetblue wins.
Because those 95% don't drive the airlines most lucrative routes in the usa. Money talks. Unless you think the airlines are in business to be kind and gentle to the citizens of the US.
What % of Mint seats are filled?
And not offering upgrades until departure means most every last-minute upgraded pax results in an empty coach seat that could have been sold a few days before, had they started the upgrade process earlier.
Because it also applies in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Vegas and Florida markets, which combined with NYC and BOS, feature Mint and form a huge plurality of transatlantic connection service.
They don’t upgrade elites from economy. I’ve seen plenty of empty Mint seats (and those filled by nonrevs)
As a decade+ Mosaic status flier w/ JB, I agree that their model grows increasingly frustrating for their loyal customers. My friends & colleagues who fly other airlines are regularly upgraded to first class. JB does not do this for even its most tenured and loyal Mosaic folks, and as mentioned previously, absolutely will leave Mint seats empty on the handful of domestic route where it is offered. The certificates you get starting at Mosaic Tier 3, and again at Tier 4, have become increasingly worthless, as it’s nearly impossible to find a 1-way leg where Mint is offered for less than 2 certificates, meaning the 4 certificates issued at this level will typically get you a Mint seat for only one round-trip flight. I understand this absolutely falls into the category of “first world problems“, but JB continues to frustrate its most loyal flyers. Instead of saying wonderful things about the airline, my feedback and NPS rating, when people ask me, usually looks like what you see me sharing here. Like many businesses, it seems like JB is myopic in its frequent act of tripping over quarters to pick up pennies.
I actually prefer the old system, where you gave a mint certificate within the 48 hours if mint seats were available, and it only cost one certificate. With JetBlue scaling back routes and now this failed new way of utilizing the "mint certificates" I believe that many who travel think this "Dynamic pricing" of 2 to 4 certificates for one leg of the journey is out of line. I will be exhausting my points and will be looking for a new travel partner. It's unfortunate because they really used to be a standout airline, however unfortunately service has become secondary within their business model. I am not some huge traveler or spend exuberant amount of money on travel, however I have utilized JetBlue for business for the past several years and spend approximately $25,000 annually on airfare. But as in any service sector, if you do not service the customers someone else will.
Good Luck to you All on searching out better service and Safe Travels.
I upgraded from SFO - JFK for $250 last November! Mint had two seats left and I upgraded at the gate. I was there before the gate agent and was first in line.