JetBlue Shakes Up Coach Class over the Atlantic

JetBlue is trying to reinvent the transatlantic flight experience with new levels of service and comfort to customers flying on Economy fares.

For starters, JetBlue’s transatlantic flights will feature its newest innovation – a build-your-own meal designed by the New York-based restaurant group, Dig. The partnership brings Dig’s signature build-your-own dining concept to tray tables at 35,000 feet – JetBlue’s first complimentary meal in its core services. Unlike the traditional meals being served on other airlines today, JetBlue’s transatlantic food offering will put the customer in control, allowing them to customize their own meal right on their seatback screen.

Rethinking Airplane Food

Known for its vegetable-forward options, the Dig menu will feature a seasonal selection of proteins, vegetables and grains mindfully sourced in part from minority and women-run farms, as well as Dig’s own farm, Dig Acres. Customers will have the option to choose one of three main selections including a protein or vegetable that comes with a base, and two out of three hot and chilled side options. Menu items will feature hearty offerings, such as roasted chicken thigh over a base of brown rice with herbs and spiced eggplant over coconut cauliflower quinoa, with sides including Dig’s beloved mac and cheese and a mixed heirloom tomato salad sourced directly from Dig Acres in upstate New York. For morning departures, the menu will include a mix of sweet and savory breakfast dishes, including a mixed berry bread pudding and citrus salad with local honey.

Additional food and beverage offerings will include:

• Specially designed onboard Pantry with a self-serve grab & go snack basket for customers to enjoy throughout their flight.
• Complimentary soft drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine and liquor.
• A dessert for a sweet treat post-meal, and a light bite prior to arrival. 

  Keeping with its sustainability commitment, JetBlue will serve its meals in reusable containers and provide customers with cutlery made from a natural polymer.Elevating the Inflight Experience

  In addition to the new complimentary meal service, JetBlue’s transatlantic flights will feature generous legroom in coach and seats that are wider than those found on most wide-body aircraft.

  “From generous personal space, to our innovative build-your-own dining concept, every detail has been thoughtfully designed and will be made even better with the attentive service standards that a single-aisle aircraft allows,” said Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and loyalty, JetBlue. “We know all too well the pain points of international flying – the dreaded center section, the ‘choice’ of assembly-line chicken or beef, and the lack of connectivity. JetBlue is ready to change all that with our take on transatlantic travel where you are well taken care of and fully connected if you want to be.”

  Customers in all tiers will be able to stay connected during the entire flight over the Atlantic, from gate to gate through the airline’s popular unlimited, free high-speed Wi-Fi that uses Thales AVANT and ViaSat-2 connectivity. In addition, customers will have access to a curated selection of live TV channels focused on news and sports, and an extensive library of seatback entertainment – allowing customers to have a multiple screen experience onboard.

  “When we shook up premium travel with Mint, one of the biggest ‘wow’ moments for our customers was our fresh take on dining. Great food doesn’t have to be limited to the premium cabin, and our customers in core also deserve a dining experience that is thoughtfully prepared and offers choices,” said O’Brien. “Dig has earned a big following in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, where customers love the fresh ingredients and customizable concept. We wanted customers in the air to have the same freedom to design their own meal, just like they would if they were dining at a Dig restaurant.”

  JetBlue will introduce the Airbus A321 Long Range single-aisle aircraft with the Airspace by Airbus interior to its fleet for the airline’s highly anticipated transatlantic service. The single-aisle aircraft will allow JetBlue to offer customers attentive, boutique-style service, while also ensuring ample personal space, larger overhead bins, customized lighting and a design that gives the cabin a wide-body feel.

  JetBlue teamed with Airbus to be the global launch partner for the all-new Airspace by Airbus interior, bringing long-haul style to the A321. Pairing the comfort of a wide-body with the boutique-style service of a single-aisle aircraft, the airline’s transatlantic core experience will offer ample legroom in coach at 32 inches, with spacious Collins Meridian seats that have been designed with customer feedback and convenience in mind.

   

• 114 seats with an expanded width of 18.4 inches – wider than most seats found on wide-body aircraft today – offering customers more space and comfort in an economy experience than any carrier in the transatlantic market.
• Four rows of Even More® Space seating with up to six inches more legroom.
• Redesigned sidewalls that provide additional shoulder space and larger window bezels for increased spaciousness and better views.
• Enhanced cushion comfort and adjustable headrests with premium Ultraleather®, a softer, more breathable vegan leather material.
• Contoured seatback design at knee level creating additional living space for every customer.
• Custom designed seatback storage with mesh pockets, perfectly sized for water bottles and loose items.
• Easy-to-reach in-seat power, featuring AC and USB-C ports.
• 10.1 inch, 1080P high definition screen at every seat.
• A curated selection of international live TV channels focused on news and sports.
• Robust library of on-demand content including full seasons of shows, hundreds of movies, and premium content from HBO & SHOWTIME.
• Expanded Fly-Fi® connectivity, providing coverage to nearly the entire JetBlue network, including over the Atlantic.
• Multi-screen experience allowing customers to use a range of devices simultaneously, including HD seatback entertainment, just as they would in their living room.
• Picture-in-picture function.
• Enhanced, 3D flight map offering multiple ways to track time to destination.
• Personal handheld device pairing capabilities for use as a remote or gaming controller.
• Personalized digital seatback experience, enabling customers to browse and customize their Dig meal right on their touchscreen. 

A Taste of Transatlantic Mint 

JetBlue recently unveiled a reimagined version of its popular Mint experience. The airline’s first complete redesign of Mint, which launched in 2014, will now set a new standard on transatlantic flights by featuring 24 private suites with a sliding door for every Mint customer, a custom-designed seat cushion by Tuft & Needle, and countless design touches that help every customer feel at home in the air. The redesign seeks to offer the most space in a premium experience from any U.S. airline based on personal square footage per passenger seat.

Details on fares, schedules and which London airport will be served will be announced at a later date.