There's no better way to fly commercial across the Atlantic than in a premium cabin. And JetBlue is making it easier and cheaper for travelers to do just that.
New York's self-proclaimed hometown airline just made its European debut on August 11 flying between the Big Apple and London.
Joining JetBlue on its transatlantic endeavor is Mint business class, which first debuted domestically in the US in 2014. An entirely new aircraft type was purchased for these flights to house an updated business class cabin with new seats and a revamped in-flight service.
London is JetBlue's furthest destination, after all, and fares are discounted compared to competitors even still. Round-trip fares in Mint start below $2,000 and customers still receive many of the standard amenities offered by traditional carriers.
Flying home from JetBlue's London debut, I booked a seat in Mint business class. Here's what it was like.
Insider paid a media rate to fly from New York to London and back
I arrived at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2, the Queen's Terminal, around three hours before departure. For the first time in my travel career, JetBlue was taking me across the pond back home.
Still depressed from the pandemic, London's busiest airport was quieter than expected and only around 70 other flyers were booked on the JetBlue flight. There would only be five in Mint.
The JetBlue check-in counter had separate lines for economy and business class, with only a handful of people ahead of me. Even still, it still took longer than normal since the staff is understandably still learning the ropes.
Boarding pass in hand, I made my way through a similarly quiet security checkpoint. When flying transatlantic business class, this would normally be the time I'd wait out the next few hours in the lounge.
But JetBlue doesn't currently have any lounges on either side of the Atlantic for business class passengers, so I'd be on my own. Luckily, I have Priority Pass through my credit card and one of the restaurants in the terminal is a participant.
With lunch squared away, I walked to the gate in the adjacent concourse where our Airbus A321neoLR was waiting to take us to New York. It was still a bit jarring to see the JetBlue name in London.
Mint passengers, all five of us, were among the first to board. The rest of the aircraft boarded in groups.
A total of 24 seats arranged in a 1-1 configuration comprise the business class cabin. It's a far cry from the double-aisle configuration found on competitors but it's still a massive cabin.
The 12-row cabin nearly takes up half of the airplane, stretching back to just before the exit rows.
Regular Mint flyers will notice that it's not the same as the original configuration of alternating 1-1 and 2-2 seating. There's also not a "throne" seat as every seat is a throne seat.
All seats are private suites with no paired seats to offer direct aisle access. They even have closeable doors for maximum privacy.
I chose seat 8A for the crossing, away from the other four passengers. And that's about as far back as I recommend since there's a crew rest seat in the last row that can be unsightly given the larger curtain that surrounds it.
Unlike larger aircraft, this plane doesn't have a dedicated crew rest bunk so pilots and rotate in and out of the seat during the flight.
I did notice that flight attendants weren't as quick to come over and introduce themselves and offer a pre-departure drink. But I chalked it up to it being a new service for them.
Shortly after boarding, lead flight attendant Paul introduced himself and the crew to me after taking my drink order. All of the crew had a welcoming attitude and it was plain to see why they were selected by JetBlue for these flights, after a stringent interview process.
I settled into the seat and was offered a pre-departure beverage, with the recommendation being sparkling wine with blood orange juice. It was served in a plastic cup and quite refreshing.
Having been first introduced to this product in February, I already knew what to expect and which buttons were where. This wasn't a bare-bones seat by any means and even flight attendants admitted that it's a lot to take in.
Waiting for passengers at every seat was an amenity kit by Wanderfuel...
Sleep kit by Tuft & Needle...
Pillow and comforter also by Tuft & Needle...
And noise-isolating headphones by Master and Dynamic.
It was a lot to have at the seat but luckily, these seats have a good amount of storage space.
Inside the amenity and sleep kits were some essentials including lotion, an eye mask, socks, and a toothbrush. A full wellness regimen was also included with immune support chews, electrolytes, probiotics, and caffeine.
I also found a pair of slippers in a somewhat hidden compartment along the suite floor. They made for a comfortable alternative to my shoes.
Impossible to miss after sitting down in the suite is the giant 17-inch moveable in-flight entertainment screen, offering a variety of movies, television shows, and games, as well as a moving map.
A tethered remote was available to control the system, complete with a game remote on the flip side.
I did appreciate the personalization with a nice "Hello, Thomas" greeting me.
The one downside is that there are a few screens to get through just to get to the home screen. I had to enter my last name, birthday, and then click through more screens, forcing me to lean over more than I would've liked.
We pushed back and made our way towards the runway surrounded by British Airways planes. JetBlue was on their turf and proving to be a worthy competitor so far.
Soon enough, we blasted into the English skies toward home. The flight time to New York was seven hours.
It was an odd feeling being nearly sideways when taking off, especially with a few bumps, but that was quickly overcome.
Flight attendants came through the cabin after takeoff to take our orders. A food and drink menu had been left at each seat from which to order.
Flyers choose from a selection of five small plates, crafted by the Delicious Hospitality Group, to create the main course. Choices included chicken Milanese, cavatelli, roasted carrots, shrimp curry, and baby greens.
Signature cocktails were also available in addition to the standard bar selection. Alcohol is complimentary in both business class and economy class, with sommelier Grant Reynolds crafting the menu.
A small starter of olives, cashews, and anchovies was served first. I ordered the "mint condition," a Mojito-esque drink with gin or vodka, ginger, mint, cucumber, and lime, along with the meal and found it quite good.
My main course consisted of chicken Milanese, cavatelli pasta, and baby greens. It was the airplane version of a Sunday gravy and as an Italian-American, I found it quite tasty.
I very much appreciated the "emergency kit," as Delicious Hospitality Group chef Ryan Hardy calls it, of chili oil, olive oil, and salt. It was truly a delight to the senses.
There was a bit of a gap between the final course and dessert but it was well worth the wait. A dessert trolley was rolled down the aisle with a choice of either cheese and crackers or ice cream.
While I do wish that there was a better cheese to cracker ratio, it was the perfect end to the meal service.
The meal plating overall was lovely but the presentation was quite basic with no white tablecloth. The crew also forwent the standard hot towel in the interest of time.
All in all, the service was completed in just under two hours. For five passengers, that was entirely too long but I was quick to forgive since this was only the second London flight that this crew had performed.
What the crew lacked in speed, however, they more than made up for in service. This was their first London trip and it was up to them to fine tune the service.
Plus, this crew will only fly transatlantic flights for at least the next two years, giving them more than enough time to iron out the kinks. "Come back in two months," one jokingly told me.
With the meal service out of the way, it was time for a quick nap as we began our North Atlantic crossing. I unfurled the pillow and comforter kit and put the seat in lie-flat mode.
Seat controls were located on my right-hand side, just about at my elbow. They were easy to figure out but I did notice later that it was quite easy to accidentally hit a button as I was sitting upright working on my laptop.
Nonetheless, I was quite comfortable laying down as the seat doubles as a mattress thanks to the Tuft & Needle design. There was more than enough room to spread out, even for a bigger traveler such as myself.
I flicked on the do not disturb button, which tells flight attendants not to bother me even if I'm asleep during meal times, and settled in.
The television screen also angles downward so I could finish watching my movie as I drifted off. It's a neat touch and the screen can also be kept out for takeoff and landing.
I woke up with about three hours to go until landing. This flight was moving right along but there was still work to be done so I got out my laptop and connected to the free in-flight WiFi.
I had no trouble at all using the internet and could even stream movies while high above the Atlantic. This is definitely a game-changer for all customers.
Multiple power outlets, USB charging ports, and even a wireless charging pad helps keep devices charged on the journey.
The final meal service began just under an hour from our arrival, with three more options from which to choose on the menu including panzanella, Italian clam soup, and a panini.
I chose the panzanella and the panini, which came with a pretzel roll. Once again, the food was quite tasty and hit the spot before landing.
And just before landing, flight attendants came around with thank you bags with caramel popcorn, a chocolate bar, and a handwritten note, as well as a selection of pins.
But the service wasn't over yet. Paul came around with a tray of English snacks including crisps, shortbread cookies, and cashews.
And a hot towel was finally served. It was lemon-scented and sorely needed after the long day of travel.
The final 20 minutes of the flight was spent enjoying the views of Long Island as we flew over in the late afternoon glow. It takes JetBlue a bit longer to fly between London and New York because of the smaller plane it uses but I didn't notice one bit.
Overall, the crossing was nothing but enjoyable and I wouldn't hesitate to fly JetBlue across the pond in business class. It was truly refreshing to see a genuinely caring crew combined with a great seat product, and I'm confident the kinks will be ironed out in no time at all.
I do wish that JetBlue would upgrade its airport facilities for Mint passengers to include lounges and other amenities. Business class passengers pay extra for those perks and expect it.
The upside is that the JetBlue team, from its flight attendants to its product designers, is keenly aware of its shortcomings and is actively working to improve the product, from what I've been told.
