Quantcast

JetBlue and Qatar Airways redefine business class suites

Spirit Airlines Pursues Bankruptcy as a Path to Tie-Up With Frontier
American Airlines fined $50M for violating disability laws
Canada's flight attendant union applauds NDP bill to end unpaid work in the airline sector
American Airlines testing new technology that would crack down on boarding
Exciting New Airline Routes Coming to North
Another city ignores airport commission's advice, zones for housing near JWA
United shares hit pre-pandemic high after airline forecasts strong finish to 2024, plans buyback
Alaska Airlines Just Made Its Loyalty Program Even More Lucrative With New Rewards, Better Upgrades, and More
Food safety problem closes Detroit airline kitchen leaving 200 flights without meals
5 Reasons Why Kazakhstan's Air Astana Is Establishing Itself As A Key Player In Asian Aviation
JetBlue is no longer serving hot food in economy class on transatlantic flights
Video shows traveler hurl computer monitor at Frontier employees in Chicago
White House 'in touch' with airlines as hurricanes Helene, Milton spark price-gouging fears
Airline bans two items from luggage amid conflict in the Middle East
Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight, leading to emergency landing in New York
Spirit Airlines Explores Bankruptcy Filing
Airlines turn to AI to allocate gates and cut waiting times
American Airlines Passengers Save Woman from Alleged Violent Male Companion on Flight
Garuda Indonesia and Japan Airlines (JAL) Form Joint Business Agreement — What To Know
Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Czech Airlines to Cease Operations, Ending 23-Year SkyTeam Partnership
An Asian airline hopes launching one of the world's longest narrowbody routes will actually be a comfort upgrade for passengers
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs
New heights, new features: Discover Alaska’s enhanced Flight Pass subscription service
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program
JetBlue and Qatar Airways redefine business class suites
Research
Webp uefmsw7k0lt5f20uxuve40u9xjr0
Airbus A380 | Airbus

A well-known luxury travel influencer expressed frustration over a claim that Qatar Airways was the first to outfit business class cabins with suites featuring doors. The influencer had written that JetBlue was the pioneer, leading one of her readers to cite a conflicting report.

This debate highlights how foundational definitions can often lead to disagreements. Key questions include what qualifies as business class, whether all seats in a cabin need to be outfitted similarly, and whether the announcement or actual service entry of a product holds more significance.

Delta Air Lines claims they introduced “the world’s first all-suite business class” with Delta One on their Airbus A350 flagship aircraft in 2017. However, Qatar Airways flew QSuites from Doha to London in June 2017, predating Delta's inaugural flight by one month.

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.

JetBlue’s assertion revolves around the introduction of Mint three years earlier. Initially flown from New York JFK to Los Angeles and later expanded to San Francisco in 2015, Mint offered four out of sixteen seats as solo units with doors on select domestic and Caribbean routes.

The disagreement stems from differing focuses: long-haul cabins with doors on all business seats versus any premium cabin where at least one seat has a door. Historically, first-class seats have featured doors for some time. For example, Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 suites designed by Jean-Jacques Coste included sliding doors and debuted commercially on October 25, 2007.

This distinction is crucial because JetBlue branded Mint specifically to differentiate it from traditional business class offerings. Ten years ago, JetBlue would not have claimed they had doors in a business class cabin.

Historical context shows that United Airlines' Boeing 377 Stratocruiser featured private staterooms with doors approximately 75 years ago, indicating that premium cabins with such features have existed long before modern iterations.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

EVA Air has announced the return of the 2025 EVA Marathon in Taipei, with registration now open for race distances ranging from 3K to 42K.

May 12, 2025

Airlines for America announced its support for Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's commitment to modernizing the national air traffic control system and maintaining airspace safety.

May 12, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a 15% discount on flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur from select destinations.

May 12, 2025

Cathay Pacific has announced the reopening of its redesigned lounge, The Bridge, at Hong Kong International Airport.

May 12, 2025

Emirates has announced the launch of a new daily direct flight between Dubai and Hangzhou, marking its fifth gateway into mainland China.

May 12, 2025

Aeroméxico has announced the launch of a social media trivia contest, offering participants an opportunity to win prizes associated with the Tecate Emblema Festival.

May 12, 2025