JetBlue has officially embraced its inner-blue bloodedness.
Starting Sunday JetBlue — which has always branded itself as a less costly, more egalitarian airline — is launching a new “Mint” business class on flights from JFK to L.A., with one-way fares starting at $599, and going up to $999. (In October, the airline is launching flights to San Francisco, and there is talk about a greater expansion in 2015.)
Upon entry, the difference between the airline’s existing cabin and Mint becomes clear — as Mint fliers are offered a honey-infused limeade that comes with or without vodka.
Mint’s seats are a also a step up. They’re the type we recognize from first class cabins the airline-world over: they are large, soft, black contraptions (could the seats be leather? it feels like it) with a control panel along the side which can allow the seats to recline or straighten (they go all the way into full bed mode), massage your back, or give you more cushion support.
Saxon + Parole, the trendy restaurant on the Bowery, does the catering; on a morning flight the food ranges from watermelon and feta salad to cheese and chive biscuit with scrambled eggs and sausage. This is topped off with lemon and honey sorbet from Blue Marble. There are a selection of wines “carefully selected by Josh Wesson”, an award-winning sommelier working with JetBlue on their wine program.
Birchbox provides the inflight amenity kits, consisting of Baxter hand cream, radical recovery after-sun lotion (this reporter didn’t even know “recovery after-sun lotion” was a thing… He had been using Solarcaine his whole life like a chump!), Max LS overnight renewal serum (still not sure what that one is) and more — and that’s just for the men.
The staff introduces themselves, comes by with attentive questions (explaining the button to flick should you fall asleep but still want meal service) and there’s WiFi and the normal array of movies and channels to choose from.
So take heed all you first-class flying jet-setters — JetBlue is now one of you.