(no subject)

[randomness]

There was a recent article in the Cranky Flyer discussing JetBlue's expansion of Mint to more routes. Mint is their premium cabin service, and the article discussed the effect this might have in raising their competitors' standards for premium class service within the United States, which is notably sub-standard compared to premium class service overseas, even from US carriers.

You can fly from Boston to San Francisco in JetBlue's premium cabin, which they call Mint, for $599 one way. Not bad, particularly if you're going at short notice and you're being forced to pay walk-up pricing anyway. Six hundred dollars is pretty good for a lie-flat seat, nice food, and a private suite if you're traveling with someone.

I compared this to my benchmark transcontinental premium class offering, which is on Cathay Pacific between New York JFK and Vancouver. It also offers a lie-flat seat in business class, but it's $2,935. (It's an international three-class aircraft, so it also has an even nicer lie-flat seat option in first class for $3,732.) So the JetBlue offering is a pretty good deal, for what it is.

I hope they're successful. I don't generally fly in the premium cabin, but that pricing is within reach for a splurge.

(I own no shares in JetBlue and have no interest in the airline other than as a satisfied customer.)

JetBlue's page on their premium class service.

Cathay Pacific's page on their business class service.

Comments

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Sadly, JetBlue doesn't seem to offer any direct flights from the SF Bay area to the DC area, at least from searching their site. I'd have to fly to Boston and then to DC, so back to United again...

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, their hub is JFK, so you can also try Bay Area to DC via JFK, but nothing that's a non-stop.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Not yet, but it's coming. They're expanding Mint basically as fast as they can refurbish the planes.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

My mom flew JetBlue Mint out here to LA last year and loved it. She might actually be willing to fly out here again!

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Anything in particular stand out for her?

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

The delicious cocktails and the excellent service. And the seats.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I would find lie-flat seats particularly pleasant on their red-eye services.

[tla]

Hey I'm glad you posted that, because I had no idea! Am now booked to fly Mint BOS -> SFO in July, at half the price of Virgin America First. :D

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that was useful!

I haven't tried Mint myself yet so if you get a chance after you fly I'd love to hear what you think.