JetBlue’s Mint business-class seat launched in 2014, and the product is unquestionably displaying its age.
From heavy put on and tear to an outdated inflight leisure system, the unique Mint product isn’t almost as aggressive because it was when it first launched.
Thankfully, nevertheless, JetBlue is addressing maybe the largest concern with the unique seat by putting in new Tuft & Needle-branded seat cushions on its legacy Mint-equipped Airbus A321 jets.
These new seat covers provide a built-in mattress pad that first debuted on the airline’s Airbus A321neo, or new engine possibility, jets. These planes characteristic the next-generation Mint product, which provides direct entry aisle from every seat in a 1-1 configuration.
In my expertise, these new seat cushions are fairly snug. Also, the built-in adaptive mattress foam is designed to supply a “consistent sleep experience, regardless of aircraft configuration,” in keeping with a JetBlue spokesperson.
While JetBlue could also be touting the advantages of the brand new seat cushion, the true enchancment for frequent flyers would be the elimination of the inflatable airbag-style cushioning system, which has been liable to deflating because it ages.
When you sit in a deflated Mint seat, it feels such as you’re sitting on an extremely uncomfortable park bench. It’s considerably extra disagreeable than the economic system seats within the final row of the airplane.
I’ve skilled the deflated-seat concern on a number of events on latest Mint flights, and every time, the crew tried resetting the system to no avail. Finally, they introduced out a alternative seat cowl to assist make the seat extra snug.
In truth, the difficulty received so unhealthy that JetBlue started stocking alternative seat covers on most Mint flights — a pricey transfer contemplating the extra weight and area that these massive gadgets occupy.
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Fortunately, JetBlue is lastly addressing this concern by eliminating the airbag system completely. While the airline will now not dole out $200 credit for deflated seats, frequent JetBlue flyers will undoubtedly admire that the seats might be constantly extra snug.
To date, the airline has retrofitted 5 out of 35 Mint-equipped Airbus A321s, with plans to finish the challenge by the tip of February, a spokesperson confirmed to TPG.
Although JetBlue is addressing maybe the largest concern with the basic Mint seat, the product might nonetheless use some TLC.
To begin, the getting older inflight leisure system is likely one of the buggiest and most outdated techniques within the home skies. There are restricted on-demand choices, and the interface feels straight out of the early 2000s.
Additionally, as airways go all-in on direct aisle entry in enterprise class, the alternating 2-2 and 1-1 configuration within the legacy Mint product isn’t as aggressive because it as soon as was.
Other points embody important put on and tear on the seats and free energy ports.
It’d be nice if JetBlue determined to easily retrofit its current plane with the impressive new Mint product, however that’s a pricey endeavor that the airline seemingly isn’t able to endure, particularly considering the Spirit takeover that’s because of shut within the coming months.
While JetBlue might not but be able to share the long-term technique for its legacy Mint product, at the least it’s taking an enormous step in the correct path with the alternative of the seat covers.