I’ve written several times over the past couple of years about how I think it makes sense for JetBlue to introduce a first class product throughout its fleet. While the airline is known for its excellent Mint business class experience, that’s only available on select premium routes.
JetBlue operates in all kinds of premium markets, with a particularly big presence in Boston and New York, so you’d think there would be demand for a premium product throughout the fleet. Several months back, Live and Let’s Fly wrote about JetBlue’s plan to introduce a first class product throughout the fleet, and that has now officially been confirmed.
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.
JetBlue reportedly plans to select 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.
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 Even More Space (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 in 2026, 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.
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 consistently willing to pay a premium for a better “standard” economy experience. It’s exciting that this has now officially been confirmed, and I can’t wait to learn more details.
What do you make of JetBlue’s plans for a first class product?
Any idea how the wider seats will work on the A2202 which is 2+3 rather than 3+3? The width won't be as generous in 'F' and then there'll be an odd kink in the aisle? How will that work the trolleys? They'll need the first row of economy to be 2+2?
Qantas A220s and before that their B717s, both with 2-2 in business and 2-3 in economy served passengers separately and trolleys don't have to negotiate the kink in the aisle (don't know whether they could or not). They either have a separate trolley for J or bring individual trays from the galley.
‘This is absolutely the right move for JetBlue‘ says someone entitled that flies first and does not care about the decrease on comfort of the rest of the passengers. Can’t understand this.
Ben is very clearly talking about this from a business standpoint. He literally goes on to explain that JetBlue cannot get people to pay more for its currently superior economy offering despite flying less seats than its competitors. This is a huge part of why they're losing money. Something has to change or the airline won't exist in another few years.
The only thing B6 is superior at is Evil, being the airline of choice of people who make Bashar al-Assad look like Saint Theresa (namely Noo Yawkers and Massholes) and having been the satanic seed of Neelzebub.
have you considered therapy ? looking at your batsh*t comment I would encourage that,
I hate to tell you this, but I'm already on medication. I just hate everything to do with New York and Boston, to the extent of never having seen an episode of Seinfeld or the Frasier revival, and I especially hate their "Hometown Airline" and the satanic creature that created it. And I'm happy to say it publicly because I really am a sociopath.
Notice how the auxiliary airlines are now mimicking the Big Three carriers:
- JetBlue already had Mint, and now it has Mini-Me 1st class
- Southwest with extra legroom seats in the front plus Assigned Seating
- Frontier with first class and and inclusive pricing of seats
- Spirit already had the "Big Seats", but pricing is now inclusive as well
- Alaska utilizing widebody jets out of SEA
...
Notice how the auxiliary airlines are now mimicking the Big Three carriers:
- JetBlue already had Mint, and now it has Mini-Me 1st class
- Southwest with extra legroom seats in the front plus Assigned Seating
- Frontier with first class and and inclusive pricing of seats
- Spirit already had the "Big Seats", but pricing is now inclusive as well
- Alaska utilizing widebody jets out of SEA
- Breeze already has 1st class, so are meals just around the corner
They are all going to look alike, act alike, co-band credit cards alike, crash IT systems alike, go on strike alike, etc, etc, etc.
The big three legacy carriers copied the ULCC by introducing basic economy when Spirit was leading the industry in profits. Each airline wants to maximize its margins and will mimick those that are currently successful. Right now that is adding an F cabin. It makes sense as there has been a large growth in wealth (look at stock returns) and an older population that is willing to pay for comfort.
I dispute that JetBlue is unable to command a revenue premium for its economy product.
The issue is that JetBlue has become so notorious for unreliability and delay that people expect a discount for the uncertainty of not knowing whether they will get to where they are trying to go. if that did not exist their coach product would certainly command a premium.
People are confusing two different things here.
No - the issue is that it's a #### airline with #### service - and it doesn't give a #### when its employees steal your bags. That's why it can't command a premium. I can buy my own snacks thank you and take them on board.
The legacies benefit by capturing economy paxs chasing status. If B6 earns a small revenue premium, it is not enough to offset what can be earned by selling seats in F.
Does this mean that Seattle, which is about to lose its Mint seats next year, will eventually get a replacement with this domestic first class product? If so, that's encouraging.
Clearly going to be cold meals--maybe similar to the transatlantic coach product, but I suspect many flights (expect perhaps transcon/international) will get boxed meals to keep things efficient.
I also think they are under-estimating the demand, as 16-20 seats on the larger Airbus would probably work out very well for them and leave a seat or two open at times for comped FF upgrades.
So the new B6 strategy is we're the same as the legacy carriers but smaller. Cool cool.
Presumably JetBlue will aggressively sell upgrades. Seems as though there would be few complimentary upgrades to top elites with only 8-12 first class seats.
I believe Delta sells +80% of its F and J cabin. You dont make money by giving away the product.
It looks like the new configuration with first class but same seat count will eliminate the current even more space seats? In other words, the new configuration will be just first and regular economy with no even more space seats. That seems like a huge loss to me.
No
There will be even more space seats, but not as much as they currently have in some aircraft (up to 42 for A321) it will be somewhere around 15-24 seats
It’s simply stunning that it’s taken B6 management this long to realize there’s demand for a F cabin outside their premium transcon and international routes. Even Frontier is doing it!!!
I fly FLL to/from NYC frequently and no longer chase elite status with 4 airlines flying this route. That said, all else being equal I usually fly JetBlue mainly for their 32" seat pitch vs. DL/UA/NK coach. Once JetBlue configures to 30" seat pitch, then forget it, I'll fly UA/DL if similar price/schedule as JetBlue, and if I'm feeling thrifty I'll fly Spirit. I put up with JetBlue's operational issues and their sub-par loyalty program...
I fly FLL to/from NYC frequently and no longer chase elite status with 4 airlines flying this route. That said, all else being equal I usually fly JetBlue mainly for their 32" seat pitch vs. DL/UA/NK coach. Once JetBlue configures to 30" seat pitch, then forget it, I'll fly UA/DL if similar price/schedule as JetBlue, and if I'm feeling thrifty I'll fly Spirit. I put up with JetBlue's operational issues and their sub-par loyalty program for "more room in coach". Now? JetBlue will lose many non-business fliers on NYC-FL routes once their coach becomes 30" seat pitch.
I believe B6 will lose a few pax, but most will not notice the seat pitch reduction.
They know that many B6 customers will move up to an F Class offering very quickly, so overall it will be a huge win for the carriers. Hopefully they will roll out F on the very high premium routes first (as much as possible).
Yup. Airline is done.
It's still overblown and overhyped domestic First, designed to appeal to the insatiable egos of Noo Yawkers and Massholes. Lipstick on the pigs that are Airbuses.
But, it doesn't appeal to the egos and XXXholes from Chicago?
No, because we don't have those kind of egos and we're not as atrocious as anyone from Noo Yawk or Bahstun.
I feel like this may be more akin to a Big Front Seat+, reason being I don’t believe any of B6’s core aircraft are equipped with ovens. So any catering for F will have to be cold meals only.
As someone who isn’t a fan of domestic airline food I’m ok with this… for a 4 hour flight having the shoulder room and maybe a drink or two if I’m in the mood suddenly makes JetBlue a viable airline for me (in 2+ years lol).
They still have excellent catering. As long as they stick with Dig, I think the cold meals will still be competitive. Besides, a lot of carriers (including the most premium of airlines) go to box lunches on regional routes in first. Those things are atrocious.
Cool, so now I can wait patiently to sit in my B6 first class seat while I sit in the terminal for my typical 5 hour B6 delay ...
B6 clearly realizes that being as much like its legacy/global competitors is the best thing to do.
The real question is how well they monetize these first class seats.
And the downside is that they will put more seats on the same aircraft type and offer less room in standard coach so they will become less attractive based for their core leisure passenger.
Good news is that this seat should be fairly quick to...
B6 clearly realizes that being as much like its legacy/global competitors is the best thing to do.
The real question is how well they monetize these first class seats.
And the downside is that they will put more seats on the same aircraft type and offer less room in standard coach so they will become less attractive based for their core leisure passenger.
Good news is that this seat should be fairly quick to install just as WN's extra legroom section will be; supply chain headaches are with business class seats.
You've gotta give B6 credit for getting back to its core network and trying to improve the quality of its product.
Through the summer, their on-time was still last in the industry but they have had some pockets of mid-tier on-time performance.
Quality matters. Product and execution.
Hello Tim, et al. Educate me please. I don't follow or fly B6, but have heard about their operational issues. What's the root cause of their poor on- time performance? I realize there are likely several issues involved.
B6 former management used to repeatedly blame the congested airspace in the NE but the current mgmt seems to be less interested in blaming others and fixing things that B6 can fix.
DL operates from the same airports with a larger operation than B6 and yet consistently posts higher on-time.
EWR has been by far the worst airport in the US for ATC delays and yet UA has done a pretty good job of...
B6 former management used to repeatedly blame the congested airspace in the NE but the current mgmt seems to be less interested in blaming others and fixing things that B6 can fix.
DL operates from the same airports with a larger operation than B6 and yet consistently posts higher on-time.
EWR has been by far the worst airport in the US for ATC delays and yet UA has done a pretty good job of working with much lower flight acceptance rates than EWR should be able to handle.
The key to operating in congested airspace is having backup resources - airplanes, crew, ground staff and gates - in order to accommodate the inevitable delays which don't come every day and don't come at the same time every day that they do occur.
keeping extra resources including staff available is costly and thus fixing the problem is not easy when B6 is already struggling to make money.
I think they will fix it because the current management understands that part of the reason loyal flyers have left them is because there are too many times where B6 has long delays while other carriers operate more reliably even while offering better amenities.
I don't expect that B6 will have on-time as good as DL's.... DL's high profits give it the ability to invest in its operation more than other carriers. But B6 can't consistently be 9 or 10 out of 10 in the industry and 10 or more points behind DL at the same airports.
First time Tim Dunn wrote something meaningful ;)
If only Southwest would move in this direction.
WN is starting the installation of extra legroom seats in the winter and will be through with that project by the end of 2025. WN will have one of the larger fleets of extra legroom seats maybe even larger than UA who is WN's most direct competitor by metro area.
Extra legroom != First class
Understood. But, as a customer, if I'm going to pay the same price for Business Select as a legacy carrier for domestic first, I want the nicer seat. That might not sync up with Southwest's economics. Others might be completely fine with just the legroom. This is my subjective choice.