JetBlue is getting ready to launch its take on first class. And now we know more about what the experience will look like.
The airline revealed new details Tuesday about BlueFirst, its domestic first-class product. The first aircraft with BlueFirst will take off later this year, and tickets will become available to book sometime this fall.
Where BlueFirst will fly first is still a mystery. But JetBlue says initial routes and more details about booking availability will be announced later this year.
What to Expect From JetBlue BlueFirst
BlueFirst will feature a fairly traditional domestic first-class layout, with seats arranged 2-2 in the first few rows of the plane. They’ll offer five inches of recline and up to seven inches more legroom than JetBlue’s standard Main seats.
Each seat will have a 13.3-inch entertainment screen with Bluetooth connectivity, plus USB-A, USB-C, and standard power outlets. Free inflight Fly-Fi isn’t going anywhere.
But as JetBlue executives told Points Insider at the recent opening of the airline’s Boston BlueHouse, the goal isn’t to copy what everyone else is doing in first class.
JetBlue sees an opportunity to put its own spin on the experience while sticking to what executives described as “affordable luxury.”
The seat itself doesn’t stray far from the domestic first-class formula. Some of JetBlue’s more interesting twists come with the service.
BlueFirst customers will be able to order food and drinks from the seatback screen. A new “Mixologist Mode” will even let passengers build a cocktail by choosing a spirit, mixer, and flavorings before sending the order to the crew.
On flights of at least 899 miles, meals will include an entrée, side, and dessert served in a bento-inspired box. Premium snacks will be available on every flight, while passengers on overnight flights will get a blanket and snooze kit.
“Domestic first class has become easy to predict. We think it’s time for a fresh take,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said. “Customers are increasingly looking for more premium experiences, and BlueFirst gives them an elevated experience that feels distinctly JetBlue.”
BlueFirst also comes with the more familiar first-class perks, including Group 1 boarding, dedicated overhead bin space, priority check-in and baggage delivery, two free checked bags, and expedited security lanes at more than 30 airports.
JetBlue will share more about Mosaic perks for BlueFirst closer to its arrival.
Another Piece of JetBlue’s Premium Push
BlueFirst isn’t meant to replace Mint. Instead, it fills a big hole by giving JetBlue a bona fide premium cabin on routes where it doesn’t offer lie-flat seats.
Passengers will be able to book BlueFirst on routes not served by a Mint-equipped aircraft.
It’s also the latest piece of a much bigger shift for the airline. JetBlue now has BlueHouse lounges in New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS). And BlueFirst brings that premium push onto more of its airplanes.
We still don’t know where BlueFirst will debut or, more importantly, how much it will cost.
And the price may ultimately tell us just as much about whether JetBlue can deliver on its vision of “affordable luxury” as the cocktails and bigger seats do.
