JetBlue Airways: London Gatwick to Boston Route Review
JetBlue recently launched its long-awaited transatlantic service from London to Boston. Our expert, Amy, joined the inaugural service from London Gatwick and brings you the inside scoop on JetBlue’s Economy and Mint Business Class experience…
For those who think JetBlue is a budget airline, think again! Its product is surprisingly upmarket on its new A321 aircraft, the crew is exceptionally friendly, and passengers benefit from complimentary Wi-Fi (or fly-fi) in all cabins!
In this post:
1. Cabin and seat
Economy - "Even More Space"
JetBlue's Economy Class features 117 seats, 24 of which are "Even More Space" extra legroom seats. These come with additional benefits like priority boarding and easier (and speedier) access to overhead lockers in-flight.
With up to six extra inches of legroom, the "Even More Space" seat does exactly what it says on the tin. At 5ft 4in, I'm not exactly the best judge of this, but a taller (5ft 11in) traveller confirmed they still had plenty of legroom. The seat is comfortable, with an adjustable headrest, 37 inches of seat pitch (four inches more than the generous 33 inches in standard Economy), in-seat charging points, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen.
Mint Business Class
JetBlue’s all-suite Business Class cabin is comparable to that of Virgin Atlantic or Air New Zealand in terms of design, with a herringbone layout and 24 seats, including two upfront “Mint Studios”, boasting extra space to work, lounge and entertain. Each Suite has a 17-inch screen, direct aisle access, a sliding door, and lie-flat bed, complete with a memory foam pillow and blanket. Keep devices juiced up with in-seat power and wireless charging points. There’s adjustable mood lighting and Master & Dynamic noise-isolating headphones to ensure you can relax too. Plus, the bed is pretty comfy for catching some much-needed zzz’s before you land.
There’s only one toilet in Mint Business Class, which may be a concern for some. However, with a maximum of 24 passengers, you shouldn’t have to wait long to use the facilities. Crucially, JetBlue offers really great value, meaning you don’t have to be Mint-ed to afford a suite.
2. In-flight amenities and entertainment
JetBlue offers Economy travellers a blanket and amenity kit containing moisturiser, socks and lip balm – a really nice touch and unusual for an entry-level cabin. In Mint, you’ll receive a wellness kit which includes a rehydration sachet, coconut oil wipe, and miracle mist, slippers, and a snooze kit with eye mask and ear plugs.
In-seat TV screens are available across all cabins and come with a raft of on-demand content, including movies, TV programmes, and kids’ channels. There was a solid variety – I opted for the latest series of Below Deck for an easy watch. A unique feature is that you can also tune into live TV, with access to 100+ channels like ESPN, Bravo and Fox. So, you can sit back at 35,000ft and find entertainment to suit you.
3. Food and beverage
Economy
JetBlue has teamed up with Dig, a New York-based restaurant group, to bring a farm-to-(tray)table concept to the skies. What’s pretty cool is that you can choose meals (main + two sides) from your touchscreen before take-off and order complimentary drinks during the flight (did someone say wine?). Even better, JetBlue sources many of its ingredients from minority and female-run local farms, as well as using sustainable plates, cutlery, and packaging.
I tried their meatballs with green beans and sweet potato wedges, washed down with a delicious glass of Merlot, and it was honestly as good as an Economy meal gets. They also have a pantry at the back of the cabin for snacks if you get peckish between meals.
Mint Business Class
The crew took orders for welcome drinks before take-off, and also noted down what we wanted to drink once up in the air. This was served shortly after take-off, along with some snacks. The Mint dinner menu was created with Delicious Hospitality Group, another restaurant group based out of the Big Apple. For those who just want to catch some sleep, opt for the express menu for dinner for a speedier service. Otherwise, you can choose from a selection of small plates – I chose the burrata, escarole salad and chicken Milanese. Portion sizes were decent, followed by the biggest serving of gelato. They also have a wine list, cocktails and mocktails – I tested out the Mint Condition which was JetBlue’s own twist on a Mojito.
Breakfast choice was between a small plate offering, or a takeaway breakfast bag, which I opted for. It included iced coffee, pressed juice, and a granola bar – perfect if you want to sleep your way to landing.
4. Our verdict
I was really impressed with JetBlue. Having never flown with them before, I was expecting more of a budget experience, so was impressed at the number of inclusions for the cost – across both cabins. With London Heathrow to Boston launching in September, there will soon be twice-daily flights to New York City and Boston.
I would like to have seen slighter wider aisles in Economy, and lounge access for Mint Business Class passengers. No worries though – simply chat with your Flight Centre expert about other lounge options before you fly. Overall, with their great-value fares , free Wi-Fi for all cabins, and elevated food and beverage offering, JetBlue gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
Give us a call on 0208 127 4273 and we’ll tailor-make it easy for you to jet off.
