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Review of JetBlue Mint

Frank Radice is an Emmy award winning writer and producer, musician and….mega frequent flyer. He recently tested the new JetBlue “mint” class on its newly introduced transatlantic flights across the pond between the UK and the US. Here’s his review, for PeterGreenberg.com:

I live and work in London, and Manhattan, so I fly BA Club World (business class) transatlantic a lot. I’m a million miler AAdvantage flier and former Gold on BA. They are both part of the One World alliance so they codeshare with a bunch of carriers including Iberia, JAL, Qantas, and more. I also flew Norwegian premium across the pond (to save money) until the airline ceased operations.


When I heard JetBlue was getting into the transatlantic game, with a new business class product called “Mint,” I had to give it a shot. I wanted a more affordable premium experience. I’m not usually a JetBlue flyer, so when I heard it was code sharing with American Airlines, I was surprised as it isn’t One World.  Thus, they essentially compete. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I checked out the differences and booked JetBlue (two flights per day) on its brand new Airbus A321LR fleet using my AAdvantage number. There are way more One World flights between London and New York, but the fares between JetBlue and all the others were very different. Club World and AA/One World business was around $5,000 USD round trip while JetBlue was closer to $2,000 USD. To me, it was a no brainer.



And my report: The entire experience worked, starting with check-in. COVID protocols for a U.S. citizen flying westbound were simple. I just filled out a short testament that I had tested negative within three days and was fully vaccinated. The entire airport experience also worked, but with a caution: you’ll need extra time to get from the counter to the gate at Heathrow T2. It’s a long haul. 


Spoiler alert…I liked “Mint.”

Each individual Mint space is a suite, with a privacy door, a lay flat seat with easy to use controls, plenty of storage space and lots of ways to charge your devices — from a charging pad to a USB outlet and two power plugs.

Handy lights are well placed in the suite, and the entertainment system comes with a swing out personalized 17” flat screen which you can control with your smartphone and a quality pair of “Master & Dynamic” headphones. There are tons of movies, content, games, LIVE TV, and of course, a great moving 3D map to follow your trip. There is also free WiFi throughout the duration of the flight (not always great though), and for the business folk, Bloomberg News is just a touch away. But it doesn’t stop there.

In each suite, there are two well-packed amenities kits and a handy pair of slippers.

The meals are surprisingly good too (however, it’s still airline food) but it’s a notch higher than normal fare, and the food comes from New York’s “Pasquale Jones.”


And for you folks who like to drink, the wine and spirits menu is more extensive than I expected, plus the crew mixes specialty cocktails.


And when you’re ready to sleep, a “Tuft & Needle” pillow and blanket comes with a handy place to keep your feet warm — a “Foot Nook.” It’s just waiting to be used. The blanket can also be configured as a vest or a shawl.

 

There are 11 rows of suites, and one row of larger “cabins” far forward. One suite in the rear of the cabin is for crew, and so I picked the suite opposite. It’s quieter. There are two restrooms forward that never seemed to have a queue during my 7-hour flight across the Atlantic. 


One more caution however. There still is no JetBlue lounge available for premium passengers on either side of the Atlantic.

But with the absence of the lounge notwithstanding, it was still a great experience. After all,  I don’t go to the airport for a great experience. I go to the airport to go through the airport, get on the plane, and fly. And I can report the JetBlue “Mint” experience was a very good one.