JetBlue announces 'Mini Mint' first class amid changes in coach legroom

Home
»
Stories
»
2024
»
July

GLOBAL INDUSTRY NEWS

Qatar Airways In Talks To Buy 20% Of Virgin Australia - Airline Ratings

Boeing Will Buy Spirit AeroSystems For $4.7 Billion In Stock & Airbus Enters $559 Million Agreement For Its Parts

Bombardier Global Jet Production Stops in Toronto as Union Workers Strike | AIN

Global Industry News

JetBlue announces 'Mini Mint' first class amid changes in coach legroom

Research

Gary Leff Chief Financial Officer | View from the Wing

By Sky Industry News

Jul 18, 2024

JetBlue is set to introduce a domestic first-class cabin, according to reports from Live and Let's Fly. This new class, named "Mini Mint," will be available starting in 2026.

JetBlue's business class on long-haul and premium routes, known as "Mint," has been praised for its food and wine offerings. However, the airline chose to disable the doors on Airbus A321neo business class suites to save costs, as FAA regulations allow them to operate with one fewer flight attendant when the doors are not functional.

The new "Mini Mint" class is expected to feature the Collins Aerospace MiQ seat. This seat model is currently used by American Airlines for their domestic first-class and widebody premium economy seats. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines also utilize this seat.

Get the Newsletter

Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The configuration for the new seating arrangement will be as follows:

- A220: 143 seats, including 8 Mini Mint (MM) and 135 Core (economy)

- A320: 162 seats, including 12 MM and 150 economy

- A321ceo: 198 seats, including 12 MM and 186 economy

- A321neo: 200 seats, including 12 MM and 188 economy

To accommodate these first-class seats without reducing the total number of seats on each aircraft, JetBlue plans to decrease legroom in standard coach. Historically known for offering generous legroom with a standard pitch of 32 inches—two inches more than United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines—JetBlue's decision marks a significant shift in its product offering.

This move comes as JetBlue aims to capture higher revenue sales that it has been losing to competitors due to the lack of a more premium product on most routes. Despite offering marginally better coach products compared to competitors over the past decade, financial rewards have been lacking. The decision aligns with industry trends where managers under financial pressure avoid deviating from established norms.

While JetBlue plans this transition into a more premium market segment, earlier-discussed lounges in New York and Boston are reportedly no longer part of their strategy.