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), and we now have a better sense of the timeline for this being introduced. This nicely complements JetBlue opening two lounges, branded as BlueHouse, with the first lounge opening in New York (JFK) shortly.
In this post:
JetBlue will introduce “Mini Mint” first class next year
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). Up until now, JetBlue has officially only shared that the product will be introduced in 2026, that around 25% of the non-Mint fleet should have this product by the end of 2026, and that a vast majority of planes should have the product by the end of 2027.
JonNYC now shares an updated (and what I assume is more accurate) timeline for this product rollout. He explains that certification for the seats is underway, and that the first prototype is slated to be installed on an aircraft in June 2026.
Then widespread installation will start around August 2026, with around 20 planes being reconfigured each month. Of course it’s worth emphasizing that the timeline remains subject to change, but that seems to be the best estimate as of now.
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.
The current expectation is that we’ll see the prototype plane with this cabin flying as of June 2026, with widespread installation starting as of August 2026, and 20 planes being reconfigured every month. The project should be done 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?
I'm excited by this. JetBlue Mint is excellent, both the older and newer versions. Mini Mint and the new lounge(s) are a great development for this airline. They lead the way with IFE screens, free WiFi, generous beverages and tasty snacks, more legroom, etc.
Mint is shint, and all mini-Shint is is a slightly lessened stink.
Either you haven't experienced Mint, or you cannot be pleased.
it shouldn't be hard to figure out that he has "issues"
Thanks Tim agreed. It would be most interesting to conduct a testicular analysis on him to determine level and rate of descent.
@Penile, my goodness, you really cannot let the balls thing go, can you? Pah!
I have issues, Timbits? I'm not the one who has his head firmly planted up Ed Bastian's ass.
Mint is Shint because it's on the most disgusting airline in the US, B6. I would never fly the "hometown airline" of the sickening Noo Yawk.
How is MiniMint without entertainment superior to the Extra Legroom seats with entertainment??
Personally, I'd take Mini Mint (recliner, no middle) with free WiFi over extra legroom (3-3) with IFE screen.
Agree. You can bring your own entertainment on board with you. You can’t bring legroom. Sell me legroom, 2x2 seating, tasty cold food, and priority boarding for my precious carry-on, and I’m a happy traveler.
'in the right direction' but is it still somewhat of a timid approach when legacy carriers have 5 rows (i.e. 20 seats) in F where JBlue is only going with 12 max? At least in the A321s they should've pushed for 20, no?
Seems to match United’s A320 offering, no?
Don't think "mini mint" is the right way to brand this. Gives off the impression that there's a more premium option onboard when there isn't
Air travel in the US is becoming completely commoditized. Frontier and JetBlue now offering domestic F to match the legacy carriers. I expect Southwest will do the same soon too.
@Brian. W
You comment is very telling.
B6, WN, & AS are morphing into the traditional trunk line format and will be labeled as the "Little Three" as opposed to the Big Three of DL, AA, & AU:
- AS already has a domestic First, a regional arm, lounges, and an OneWorld member. The wide bodies obtained via Hawaiian nurture TALT aspirations.
- B6 has a TALT footprint and is implementing...
@Brian. W
You comment is very telling.
B6, WN, & AS are morphing into the traditional trunk line format and will be labeled as the "Little Three" as opposed to the Big Three of DL, AA, & AU:
- AS already has a domestic First, a regional arm, lounges, and an OneWorld member. The wide bodies obtained via Hawaiian nurture TALT aspirations.
- B6 has a TALT footprint and is implementing domestic First and lounges. An airline alliance like Star ("cough" - UA approval - "cough") is needed to make its FF program more valuable.
- WN is mimicking the above with its first lounge in HNL, domestic first, and aspirations of TALT service. It too will be shopping for an alliance (SkyTeam anyone) to fill out the business model.
The next year or two should be very interesting.
“JetBlue is great with food and drinks in Mint“
The quality, yes. The quantity seems to have diminished, though.
How many Mint Conditions do you really need? I'd say 3-ish on a Mint flight is ample.
Well there used to be 5 options offered, not 4, for the non-dessert options. And I think for dessert you could have both options offered, on some routes now you choose one. And I think more was offered for pre-arrival as well.
Great for those who can but it's another case of the classic "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer."
The front of the cabin will subsidize the fares in the back of the cabin. Expect F to be 2-3x the core fare.
What is a “core fare?” Sincere question.
Is it full fare Y?
Discounted Y?
Core is the marketing term JetBlue uses for economy.
Airlines have offered more than one class of service since the 1950s. There have always been people who have more money than others, even in the Soviet Union.
There are plenty of cold meal options you can do. For breakfast, you have parfaits, yogurts, oats, pudding, etc. And everything else, you have gazpachos and cold soups, salad and grain bowls, noodles and sushi, a plethora of options to play around with.
For a 2 hour flight or so, I'd be happy with a cold meal that's filling.
Worst case scenario, they can just preheat the meal prior to loading it onto the aircraft.
Loading the meal hot is not a great plan in the event of a long tarmac delay or unexpected problem. Much easier and smarter to go with great quality cold meals.
Or just add an bleeping oven in the galley!!