JetBlue’s first A321neo arrives from Hamburg at New York’s JFK Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Tom Pallini)
JetBlue has announced a major refresh of its JetBlue Mint services as it prepares for a transition into trans-Atlantic travel starting in 2021 with flights to London. These current changes are just the first steps for the airline who are planning a “fully reimagined version of Mint” for one of its most anticipated destinations.
Changes to Mint service come alongside the release of the Airport Coordination Limited slot coordination report for summer 2021. The coordination report lists the number of slots applied for, granted and what routes the slots will be used to operate.
JetBlue applied for 1,302 new slots at Heathrow Airport beginning in 2021. However, none of the requested slots were allocated. This is not shocking though, as only 0.3% of the 43,043 new slot requests were fulfilled this time around. The airline did apply for slots at some of London’s other airports, including Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport.
The carrier applied for 868 slots at both Gatwick and Stansted. JetBlue was granted all 868 slots at London Stansted, located northeast of central London, and was granted just 434 slots at London Gatwick, located south of central London.
The slots granted at London Stansted are for flights operating to Boston, while slots at Gatwick would be for slots operating to the carrier’s hub at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The airline could operate to Boston over twice daily and to New York once daily if they wished.
Slots are able to be purchased or leased from other airlines, so the slot allocation is not necessarily the final operating plan for JetBlue’s flights to London.
Changes being made to JetBlue Mint range from inflight dining to a passenger’s audio and video experience aboard the aircraft. The airline has made very few changes to its service since it launched in 2014. New partners for the airline will include Delicious Hospitality Group, Tuft & Needle, Wanderfuel and Master & Dynamic.
“This onboard refresh allows us to reset that high bar we set in 2014, with the very best in dining and hospitality, comfort and wellness at 35,000 feet. And for those who can’t wait to see what we have in store for our London flights, well let’s just say this is a little teaser for what we have in mind,” JetBlue VP of Marketing Elizabeth Windram said in a statement.
Delicious Hospitality Group is a New York-based dining group that will bring a new flair to the dining experience for passengers traveling in Mint, including plates matching what would be seen on restaurant tables in the city. Chef Ryan Hardy leads the partnership with a redesigned menu featuring a choice of rotating small plates that can be selected by the customers.
Dining options provided from Delicious Hospitality Group. (Photo: JetBlue)
Instead of the traditional amenity kit that features at most airlines, JetBlue has opted for the introduction of “wellness kits”. These kits, provided by Wanderfuel, not only feature personal care items but will also feature snacks and other supplements that a customer may need during a flight. The airline will feature three different kits depending on the flight’s departure and arrival times and will feature a fourth kit for flights operating to the Caribbean.
Passengers will be greeted by new blankets and pillows provided by Tuft & Needle. The mattress company will also provide eye masks and earplugs to allow customers to get the best possible rest.
Tuft and Needle Sleep Kit will feature onboard. (Photo: JetBlue)
JetBlue’s connection to New York continues to run deep with the airline also choosing fellow New York-based Master & Dynamic for new headphones for Mint guests.
JetBlue Mint can be found on nearly 100 flights per day across the airline’s route network, most notably on transcontinental routes along with flights to Caribbean destinations. Overall, the carrier serves a total of 18 cities with Mint service including the likes of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Boston.
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