JetBlue continues to offer a consistent product in Mint Business Class with warm service and excellent food. My A321 journey from Los Angeles to Newark was not without issue, but flying JetBlue was once again a pleasure.
JetBlue A321 Mint Business Class Review (LAX-EWR)
I parked at Mark’s house in Westchester (near In-N-Out) and walked over to the airport, getting in my steps ahead of a 5.5 hour flight to New Jersey.
The check-in area was deserted and the airport was quiet, even though it wasn’t all that early. JetBlue was using Terminal 5, which has just closed ahead of a makeover project (JetBlue will use Terminal 2 at LAX through at least 2027).
Boarding began around 7:00 am.
JetBlue 2074
Los Angeles (LAX) – Newark (EWR)
Thursday, October 9
Depart: 7:35 AM
Arrive: 4:03 PM
Duration: 5hr, 32min
Aircraft: Airbus A321
Distance: 2,454 miles
Seat: 1F (Mint Business Class)
Keep an eye out for I-class fares on this route, which are available from time to time and can be under $700 one-way, though much harder to come by than flying to Boston.
I was working at the gate area (good thing I was…see below) and was among the last to board.
Seat
This aircraft had the older, original, JetBlue Mint cabin featuring 16 seats. The seats are modified Thompson Aero Vantage seats, which you’ll find on Delta Air Lines, Austrian, and SWISS as well (among many others). They have been reupholstered with new leather seat coverings.
Standard business seats are 20.5 inches wide with 58 inches of legroom and a lie-flat bed that stretches 80 inches when flat. The “throne” seats in rows 2 and 4 were occupied when I booked, but I scored a bulkhead window seat. Choosing row 1 does make a difference in terms of foot space (there is more room for your feet in the cutout).
In the center console, a panel offers multi-way seat adjustment (including cushion firmness and massage), and there is a universal power port with a USB-A charger above it. Above that, there’s a reading light and storage container for a water bottle. There are also overhead personal air vents.
Bedding includes a comfortable pillow and duvet from Tuft & Needle.
I did not take a nap, but I did get comfortable after breakfast…the blanket is cozy when the overhead air nozzle is opened.
Food + Drink
The highlight of JetBlue, for me at least, is the meal service. You can consistently count on delicious food and beverage options onboard and this flight was no exception. Breakfast was served after takeoff, with menus offered after boarding.
Breakfast began with a beverage and warm pain au chocolat. JetBlue partners with Brooklyn Roasting, offering an excellent coffee menu onboard. I enjoyed a cappuccino with my chocolate croissant.
Breakfast choices included:
- Coconut yogurt with passionfruit, coconut almond crunch
- Avocado toast with radish, herbs, crostini
- Pear bread pudding with crème anglaise, currants
- Baked egg with polenta, mushrooms, hazelnuts, fine herbs
A side of chicken sausage was also available and I could choose three of four items above (not being a coconut fan, I skipped the yogurt). Breakfast was filling, delicious, and decadent…a bit different than the omelet I make myself each day at home. It turned out I did not eat again until very late, so this held me over the entire day.
After breakfast, drinks were frequnetly offered as well as snacks from the back.
Before landing, I had one more cappuccino and was presented with a bag of Hu chocolate-covered cashews.
I also had a Mint Condition cocktail sans alcohol (called a “Mint Under One Condition”)…a light and refreshing drink.
IFE + Wi-Fi
Here’s where this flight really through me for a loop. In all my years of flying JetBlue, I’ve never had a flight in whcih the Wi-Fi did not work. Yet it was down on this flight, which operated during prime work hours. Thankfully, I had accomplished all essential work before the flight, but it really took a huge bite out of my producivity.
I used the time to write flight and htoel reviews so in one sense it was very productive, but there was a lot of work htat had to wait until the next day and I find the lack of Wi-Fi inexecusable on any carrier.
The movies and live TV were also out…nothing worked on this flight.
Amenity Kit
JetBlue’s refreshed amenity kit in Mint comes in a caraa-branded pouch and includes:
- socks
- eyeshade
- earplugs
- mouthwash (but not tootbrush or toothpaste)
- Dr. Dennis Gross beauty products
- lip balm
- hand creme
- facial wipes
Lavatories
Mint passengers have access to a dedicated lavatory in the front of the plane. Beyond soap, it included no amenities.
Service
Louis worked the Mint cabin while Veronica worked in the galley. Both were great and I give huge praise to Louis for being so attentive throughout the flight.
CONCLUSION
We landed 30 minutes early in Newark, pulling up next to a United 777 in what may be a preview of closer collaboration ahead.
Flying JetBlue Mint is one of my favorite things and I enjoyed this flight. The lack of Wi-Fi was a big problem, but a first-ever occurrence for me on JetBlue, so hopefully a very rare anomaly. I wish more carriers were as thoughtful and invested in their food like JetBlue does…it is appreciated.
As a point of comparison, I’ve written this review above my 2022 review of the same aircraft in the same seat, also traveling from LA to NY, below.
To begin my journey to London, I flew from Los Angeles to London on a JetBlue Airbus A321 in Mint business class. JetBlue remains a remarkably consistent product that really sets the standard for a transcontinental product.
JetBlue A321 Mint Business Class Review [2022]
Booking
As I outlined here, I booked my ticket using Emirates Skywards miles. Los Angeles – New York was 52,000 miles, which is high, but considering paid tickets were in the $1,800 one-way range, this resulted in over three cents per mile in value versus the retail price.
Check-In
I checked in online and totally bypassed the check-in desk at LAX since I was only traveling with hand baggage.
I find Terminal 5 rather depressing at LAX and JetBlue does not offer lounge access to its premium cabin or TrueBlue Mosaic elite passengers. LAX no longer has Priority Pass lounges (just a spa in Terminal 1, which is not connected). Consequently, I arrived shortly before boarding began.
JetBlue 324
Los Angeles (LAX) – New York (JFK)
Monday, May 30
Depart: 10:00AM
Arrive: 6:42PM
Duration: 5hr, 42min
Aircraft: Airbus A321
Distance: 2,475 miles
Seat: 1F (Mint Business Class)
A flight attendant greeted me as I entered while another in the cabin asked if I needed any assistance storing my bag. Imagine that…asking if you need help versus saying, “Our work rules prohibit us from lifting bags.”
Seat
By the time I booked my space the four closed-door “suites” (rows 2 and 4) were reserved. I assigned myself in row one, noting the bulkhead would provide more legroom for my feet. This marked the first time I had flown JetBlue and not been in a business suite, so it was good to try one of the “standard” seats in JetBlue Mint.
These are modified Thompson Aero Vantage seats, which you’ll find on Delta Air Lines, Austrian, and SWISS as well (among many others). I’m frankly surprised that JetBlue does not charge a premium for the throne suites because they do provide a lot more privacy.
My neighbor was a non-revenue employee (elite upgrades are still not a thing on JetBlue, so cabins often go out with open seats) and while he was perfectly polite, the shared armrest and floor space do make rows 1, 3, and 5 inferior to 2 and 4.
Standard business seats are 20.5 inches wide with 58 inches of legroom and a lie-flat bed that stretches 80 inches when flat. Choosing row 1 does make a difference in terms of foot space.
JetBlue provides two power ports per seat and seats are controlled on the center console. There’s also a handy mesh pouch for your mobile phone.
Between seats is a small compartment that can store your shoes.
Tuft & Needle bedding includes a blanket duvet with a “built-in foot pocket” as well as a memory foam lined pillow. The flight was too short to take an extended nap, but I did set up the bed and snuggled in the bedding for a few moments. The bedding was plush and warm, which should not be an issue because individual air nozzles are available above the seat.
Food + Drink
A menu was waiting on my seat, though I had already reviewed it online. I love that JetBlue posts it menus online, so I already had a good idea of what I wanted to order.
Very shortly after takeoff, flight attendant sprang up and went to work.
First, I was offered a welcome snack (cheese straws) and welcome drink. I love the “Mint Condition” cocktail, which includes Bombay Sapphire gin, ginger, lime, and cucumber, and mint.
Next, the table set was for lunch with a paper liner.
I chose a radicchio baby gem salad, cavatelli, and lamb shoulder for my lunch. Portions were huge (especially the pasta) and the food tasted great. Everyone received a bread roll with lunch along with olive oil and chili flakes.
Everything was so delicious I asked if I could have a chicken Milanese (my seatmate and the folks across the aisle from me did not eat) and was happily obliged.
This was also excellent, with a crisp crust and flavorful chicken.
To finish off lunch, I enjoyed a cappuccino and some vanilla gelato with roasted pineapple and salted oats.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you really cannot beat the catering on JetBlue for a U.S. domestic flight.
Prior to landing, I enjoyed some chocolate-covered walnuts and drank an espresso.
IFE + Wi-Fi
In terms of value, you cannot beat the complimentary high-speed wi-fi on JetBlue, which worked like a charm throughout the flight and allowed me to stay very productive ahead of my hop across the Pond.
JetBlue makes it so easy – just enter your TrueBlue number and connect (or sign up for an account if you don’t have one). No spam, ads, or time limits.
On the other hand, I find the interface of JetBlue’s in-flight-entertainment system quite dated by now, not in terms of content (there is a great selection of movies, TV shows, games, live TV and satellite radio, and a moving flight map) but in terms of the display…the resolution is not sharp and there is a lag at times.
JetBlue offers high-quality noise cancelling headphones (MH40) by Master & Dynamic. The trouble is that flight attendants collect these about an hour before landing, which is quite annoying if you are watching a movie, listening to music, or particularly sleeping.
I understand that these are pricey headphones and JetBlue wants to discourage theft, but it is quite annoying (complimentary disposable headsets are offered when the noise-canceling headphones are picked up).
Here are some picture I took out the window during the flight:
Lavatory
The lavatory was clean but barren, with no extra amenities.
Amenity Kit
I’ve always found the amenity kits on JetBlue to be quirky and the latest iteration includes a number of fun but fairly unorthodox (at least in terms of what you usually find in an airline amenity kit) items. The pouch is made of paper, though intended to be reusable.
My “wanderdfuel” kit included:
- Conscious coconut face wipes
- Crushed Tonic anti-aging collagen elixir crush (drinkable)
- Scentuals aromatherapy balm
- Lumion face mist
- B. Soothed elderberry lozenges
- socks
Service
Let’s talk about the flight attendant call button. Even on JetBlue, I hate to use it. As we neared New York, I felt like an espresso and the flight attendants were nowhere to be seen. I waited patiently, hoping one would walk by. Nope.
Finally, I hit the call button and a flight attendant quickly appeared with a smile on her face. She was happy to make me an espresso.
It’s so sad that I’ve been “scarred” by the annoyance of (some) flight attendant on United that I hesitate to use the call button at all. That’s what it is there for and flight attendants actually encourage you to use it.
CONCLUSION
We landed on a busy tarmac at JFK and quickly taxied over to our gate in Terminal 5. These late morning flights are really quite ideal in terms of maximizing sleep…in your own bed. I did not have to wake up early and enjoyed five hours of immense productivity onboard thanks to the high speed wi-fi. I also enjoyed a huge lunch and continue to appreciate the lovely cocktails and coffee JetBlue offers its premium cabin passengers.
Is JetBlue the still the best when it comes to domestic premium transcontinental service? Without a doubt, yes.
It would make a world of difference to serve the first 2-3 courses separately so you’re not rushing on something getting cold. With a cabin of that size they should be able to pull this off and really compete well with Virgin, BA first.
“the shared armrest made floor space do make rows 1, 3, and 5 inferior to 2 and 4.”
Huh?
“and” instead of “made”
I no longer worry about using the call button, the heck with it. I just press it. Why? Because now U.S. flight attendants will do everything to pretend not to hear, “Excuse me” and will avoid eye contact at any cost. Fine, I just press the button now.
There should be no button shaming from any FA’s. Answering call lights is a basic part of their job description.
In my Job as Nurse, if you press the call light more than once an hour then there is something wrong with you (maybe legitimately since you are sick and in the hospital).
t strikes me as a bit unfair to single out United because one or more flight attendants didn’t meet your expectations.. Even though you placed the word “scarred” in quotes, I submit that your criticism is unduly harsh.
As they state in their pre-flight briefings: they are there for the safety of their passengers. And, they are human. Like all of us they have good days and bad days. Unlike many of us, they have irregular daily schedules. On top of that they’ve had to deal with anti-maskers and passengers that are unruly for any of a host of reasons beyond their control.
By the way, neither my wife nor any of my children are flight attendants. I however have flown over 3 million real miles with United and consider their cabin crews to be top notch.
Overall, I do too. But in my 1.5MN on US I have encountered a fair number of angry reactions to using the call button.
About the call button – of course it’s not for emergencies.
When you push it on United – does the FA immediately come running? If not, then they don’t consider it an emergency.
Food looks really good. Do you tell the FA’s that you are a travel writer which could lead to nicer presentation/portions?
Never. I always try to be incognito.
What an excellent article! I shall definitely look at a Transatlantic hop with Jet Blue!
Good review. How much money? But I would never go business unless it was over a 10-hour or so flight. Then again I’m not the type to go business class anyway.
52K JetBlue miles (versus $1800).
Phew. Too much. For me flying is supposed to be a meditative, solo, quiet experience. I don’t want to be bombarded with food and drink and too many sounds and stimulation given too me. I think I would be bothered too much by the flight attendants in business class. But hey, everybody’s different.
I believe that’s a Vital Proteins collagen packet and not Crushed Tonic.
I love everything about that flight. The food looks good. The wine menu looks great (I’m intrigued by a sparkling savvy B, plus an actual Black owned Provence is literally one in a million), they encourage you to listen to a curated Spotify playlist on their free WiFi, they have iced coffee with **oat milk!!**. How fun! I get that a lot of that won’t at all appeal to a certain generation, but for bougie elder millennials like myself, they’re really speaking my language. Unfortunately, as an AUS based EXP, B6 is nothing more than that funky airline that only has economy seats out of my airport.