JetBlue is rapidly expanding its premium “Mint” class service to more transcontinental routes. Mint is already available on routes from New York and Boston to San Francisco, Los Angeles and the Caribbean. The expansion of the service will include transcontinental routes from Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, San Diego and Seattle.
Mint class, which is only available on JetBlue’s Airbus A321 aircraft, includes lie-flat seats, food service, a signature cocktail and 15-inch flat screen TVs. Airfare starts around $599 for Mint, depending on the route and date.
All planes equipped with Mint class also include perks for passengers in coach: free in-flight WiFi, power outlets at every seat, entertainment streaming to personal devices and the JetBlue marketplace, a self-serve station with snacks and beverages.
The expansion of the routes will happen over the next two years; some of the new routes are expected to debut in early 2017. JetBlue’s eagerness to expand its high-end service indicates a desire to move beyond its status as a budget airline.
“Our plan has long called for strategic growth of Mint on these valuable transcontinental routes, and now is the right time for us to capture this opportunity to bring much needed competition where customers are facing dwindling choices,” JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said in a statement.
JetBlue launched Mint in 2014 with service from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Currently, 11 aircraft in the JetBlue fleet are equipped with Mint.