Earlier this year, JetBlue revealed the business and first-class cabins that will feature on its new transatlantic flights – and now it’s unveiled the cabin it claims will ‘reinvent what it’s like to fly economy across the Atlantic’.
The low-cost American airline is launching services to London for the first time this summer on a long-range version of the single-aisle Airbus A321 aircraft.
The planes will be fitted out with 24 individual business class ‘Mint’ suites as well as two first-class ‘Mint Studio’ seats that the airline claims have ‘the largest lie-flat bed of any U.S carrier’.
JetBlue has unveiled the economy cabin that will feature on its new transatlantic flights. The airline claims it will ‘reinvent what it’s like to fly economy across the Atlantic’
JetBlue has now revealed that in the new economy cabin – often referred to as coach in the U.S – it will offer passengers the chance to build their own meals, ‘spacious’ seats that feature ‘the most legroom in coach’ and are ‘wider than those found on most wide-body aircraft’ and ‘unlimited, free high-speed Wi-Fi’.
When it comes to the food offering, the airline has partnered with restaurant chain Dig to bring its ‘signature build-your-own dining concept to tray tables at 35,000 feet’. It will be the first time the carrier has offered a complimentary meal in economy (also called ‘core’ on JetBlue).
JetBlue explains: ‘Unlike the traditional meals being served on other airlines today, JetBlue’s transatlantic food offering will put the customer in control, allowing them to customise their own meal right on their seatback screen.
‘Known for its vegetable-forward options, the Dig menu will feature a seasonal selection of proteins, vegetables and grains mindfully sourced in part from minority and women-run farms, as well as Dig’s own farm, Dig Acres.
‘Customers will have the option to choose one of three main selections including a protein or vegetable that comes with a base, and two out of three hot and chilled side options.
‘Menu items will feature hearty offerings, such as roasted chicken thigh over a base of brown rice with herbs and spiced eggplant over coconut cauliflower quinoa, with sides including Dig’s beloved mac and cheese and a mixed heirloom tomato salad sourced directly from Dig Acres in upstate New York.
JetBlue revealed that the new economy cabin will have ‘spacious’ seats that feature ‘the most legroom in coach’ and are ‘wider than those found on most wide-body aircraft’
‘For morning departures, the menu will include a mix of sweet and savoury breakfast dishes, including a mixed berry bread pudding and citrus salad with local honey.’
In addition, JetBlue says economy customers will be offered a dessert for a ‘sweet treat post-meal’ as well as a ‘light bite prior to arrival’. They will also be able to help themselves to a self-service ‘grab & go snack basket’ throughout the flight as well as enjoy complimentary soft drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine and liquor.
JetBlue says: ‘Keeping true to its sustainable commitment, JetBlue will serve its meals in reusable containers and provide customers with cutlery made from a natural polymer.’
In terms of the cabin’s seats, JetBlue says its ‘transatlantic core experience will offer the most legroom in coach at 32 inches, with spacious Collins Meridian seats that have been designed with customer feedback and convenience in mind’.
In addition, there will be four rows of ‘Even More Space’ seating with up to six inches of more legroom.
When it comes to the food offering, the airline has partnered with restaurant chain Dig to bring its ‘signature build-your-own dining concept to tray tables at 35,000 feet’. On the left are the dinner and lunch combinations while the breakfast combinations are on the right
JetBlue explains: ‘Unlike the traditional meals being served on other airlines today, JetBlue’s transatlantic food offering will put the customer in control, allowing them to customise their own meal right on their seatback screen’
The cabin’s 114 seats will have an ‘expanded’ width of 18.4 inches, which the airline claims are ‘wider than most seats found on wide-body aircraft today – offering customers more space and comfort in an economy experience than any carrier in the transatlantic market’.
The cabin will also have ‘redesigned sidewalls that provide additional shoulder space and larger window bezels for increased spaciousness and better views’ as well as ‘easy-to-reach in-seat power, featuring AC and USB-C ports’.
When it comes to connectivity, JetBlue says it will be the ‘only airline to offer unlimited, free high-speed Wi-Fi on all transatlantic flights, providing customers in both mint and core with the ability to connect devices and stream, surf, or chat during the entire flight, from gate to gate’.
It explains: ‘Just as in the U.S, JetBlue’s transatlantic customers will be able to enjoy a multi-screen experience with multiple devices connected to Wi-Fi and free seatback entertainment – reflecting how people use technology at home.
‘JetBlue will build on its reputation as an industry leader in inflight entertainment options with an unmatched selection of options to keep them binge-watching all flight long, including a curated selection of live TV channels – which has been one’s of JetBlue’s signature features since it first launched service in 2000.’
One of the two first-class ‘Mint Studio’ seats, pictured, which JetBlue says have the biggest lie-flat bed of any U.S carrier
One of the 24 individual business class ‘Mint’ suites that will feature on JetBlue’s transatlantic flights
Each economy seat will have a 10.1-inch high-definition screen, which will enable customers to ‘browse and customise their Dig meal on the touchscreen’.
They will be able to watch a ‘robust library of on-demand content including full seasons of shows, hundreds of movies, and premium content from HBO & SHOWTIME’.
Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and loyalty at JetBlue, said: ‘From generous personal space to our innovative build-your-own dining concept, every detail has been thoughtfully designed and will be made even better with the attentive service standards that a single-aisle aircraft allows.
‘We know all too well the pain points of international flying – the dreaded centre section, the ‘choice’ of assembly-line chicken or beef and the lack of connectivity.
‘JetBlue is ready to change all that with our take on transatlantic travel where you are well taken care of and fully connected if you want to be.
‘When we shook up premium travel with Mint, one of the biggest wow moments for our customers was our fresh take on dining.
JetBlue is launching services to London for the first time this summer on a long-range version of the single-aisle Airbus A321 aircraft. Above is a stock image of an A321 at JFK Airport
‘Great food doesn’t have to be limited to the premium cabin and our customers in core also deserve a dining experience that is thoughtfully prepared and offers choices.
‘Dig has earned a big following in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, where customers love the fresh ingredients and customisable concept. We wanted customers in the air to have the same freedom to design their own meal, just like they would if they were dining at a Dig restaurant.’
Prices for the new transatlantic flights and the London airport they will fly to and from have yet to be revealed.
Hayley Berg, an economist at Hopper, said two years ago when JetBlue first revealed its transatlantic plans: ‘Historically, JetBlue has caused prices to drop by 12 per cent when it enters an international market, so we’re expecting a comparable drop once it starts servicing flights to London.’
The UK Government currently advises against all but essential travel to the U.S. The U.S Government advises citizens to ‘reconsider travel to the UK’.