The JetBlue Mint suite continues to be a cutting-edge experience on flights within the United States, and I was fortunate to be able to fly it one more time.

This flight occurred in July 2024.

Booking

Readers might recall my questions over Delta’s original plans to revamp its elite program, and how other airlines decided to try to poach loyal Delta flyers. I took JetBlue up on the offer to translate my Delta Platinum status over to JetBlue Mosaic 3 status, which came with four Move to Mint certificates. These certificates could then be redeemed to upgrade yourself from regular economy up to Mint class. For this trip, I used two certificates to do just that.

The process to use Move to Mint certificates is pretty straightforward and can easily be done on the app, which is more than could be said about Delta’s regional and global upgrade certificates. If you’re upgrading an existing flight, just log into your reservation and manage your trip, choosing the Move to Mint option. You’ll then see a screen that shows how many Move to Mint certificates the flight costs (it’s a shame more than one needs to be used). And voila you’ll see that your flight is upgraded.

If you’re looking to book JetBlue Mint as an award flight, I’d actually steer away from collecting JetBlue miles. That’s because I’ve always found JetBlue’s currency to hover around 1 cent per point when redeeming for Mint, an uncompetitive proposition in today’s points rates. Instead, you might be better off accruing Qatar Airways Avios and using those miles to book, though it’s not exactly a bargain there either (you’re looking at 74,000 Avios for a transcontinental flight like this one). Or just book it with cash and reimburse yourself with credit card points (such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 1.5 cents per point towards travel).

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Arrival and First Impressions

I’m not exactly thrilled with the thought of a 6AM flight out of the east coast, but I did this to myself to be able to fly this particular configuration of Mint (the 1-1 international configuration) so I can’t really complain. But once onboard, I was warmly welcomed by fight attendants Terri and Matt, and easily found my seat for this flight (2A). In the weeks leading up to the flight, I could have selected the JetBlue Mint Studio (the first row) for extra space, but personally I don’t think it’s worth the $199 upcharge.

The Seat

I found the seat to be very comfortable for the entire duration of the flight. As you would expect, the seat can turn into a fully flat bed, which was nice to do on such an early flight out of Boston. There is a shoulder harness on the seat belt for take-off and landing.

Sadly, the doors were disabled on the flight, but I knew that coming in given JetBlue’s financial situation (reduced staffing levels).

If you want to adjust your seat, the responsive controls can be found at your side.

Just under the seat controls is a detachable handset to use on the video monitor.

On the other side of the seat is a small storage area. It’s not too tall, but it is a decent place to store your wallet, passport, and phone. I always look for a spot on the flight where I can store my valuables and this would seem to be the best place to hold them if you decide to take a nap. There is a wireless charger next to the small storage compartment, but I didn’t notice it working on my phone.

Just above the storage compartment is a coat hook. You’re not going to be able to store your jacket here at your seat without getting wrinkles, so it seems more intended for a purse or handbag.

And just below this area is a bottle of Saratoga water, an electrical outlet, a USB-C port, and the headphones port.

Across from the seat is the large TV monitor. When in the air, you can pop out the screen so it faces you. The unfortunate problem (for me) is that while there is space under the TV to store items, you can’t use that storage space during take-off or landing.

There is a small storage space in the drawer under the TV monitor, where you can store flat objects, but given this drawer is closer to the aisle, I’m less inclined to store my valuables in this space. This is especially true with the suite doors being currently disabled.

Above my seat was a single air nozzle, just in case it gets hot in the cabin.

At my seat was a bag containing the bedding for this flight. I found it amusing that they specifically asked Mint guests to leave the blankets as they deplane. I suppose there is a problem with people stealing them?

Also at my seat was a simple amenity kit from Caraa. One thing I’ll admit is that JetBlue socks seem to be fairly durable and I’ve used them in my normal rotation.

Food and Drinks

Before we took off, Terri asked if I wanted anything to drink as a predeparture beverage. While I like the thought of having a mint condition given I’m flying in Mint, I’m not a fan of gin or vodka, and so chose the Venetian Spritz. That was probably the better choice anyways given the time of day.

I love the way JetBlue handles its menu, where customers get to choose the three dishes they are most interested in eating. That translates to potentially less waste, and since each dish is on the smaller side, it also gives a chance to try different foods.

Once in flight, I was served a second Venetian Spritz–this time in a real glass–and a croissant. The croissant was warm and more on the softer side than flaky, but it was still nice to have as a starter.

My dining options for this breakfast were the smoked salon, waffle, and the asparagus frittata with a side of maple bacon. The waffle was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and with the right amount of sweetness with the peaches on top. Pairing it with salty options like the frittata and the smoked salmon made for an excellent start to the day. This was the best airline breakfast I’ve had in a while.

Wi-Fi and Entertainment

On JetBlue flights, Wi-Fi is actually free, which is easy to forget given JetBlue is officially a low cost carrier. Thankfully, their Wi-Fi is easy to connect to. You don’t need to sign in; just go to flyfi.com and watch an ad. You’ll then have internet all flight, though speeds weren’t necessarily the best.

I thought there was a good amount of entertainment on board for both adults and kids alike. One thing in particular I liked was the ability to have a “watch party” where you can watch the same programming with another seat at the same time. I’ve always done what I’m sure others have done where you try to pause one screen and let the other catch up but it doesn’t work out as well as you hope so you have to keep trying in vain to make it in sync–it’s annoying to have to figure that out, so it’s nice to have the system work it out for you.

Just a note that JetBlue harnesses its inner American Airlines and the flight attendants collect the headphones about 20 minutes before landing. But, at least unlike AA, they give you some earbuds to use after they collect them so you can wrap up your show.

Recommendation: Yes

Of all the airlines flying premium transcontinental cabins between the East and West coasts of the United States, I feel that JetBlue has the best overall inflight experience. The seats are comfortable, the meals are fantastic, and the cabin crew is friendly. As I write this article, the only thing that JetBlue is missing is the ground experience with no lounge currently available. However, JetBlue has begun to ponder having airport lounges. Depending on how those turn out, JetBlue might eventually have the best all-around experience.

Your best bet of getting into one of these cabins is either upgrading from an economy fare (if you hold at least Mosaic 3 status with JetBlue) or finding a cheap cash fare. Regardless of how you get into the cabin, I think it’s hard to be disappointed.

Have you flown JetBlue Mint class before? How was your experience?