A Refreshing Way to Fly: JetBlue Mint on the A321 from JFK to SFO
by Krish Patel
A good Business Class experience includes a relaxing flight that allows passengers to arrive feeling refreshed. Among the U.S. Business Class products offering a relaxing experience is JetBlue Mint. Not only does the airline value its passengers and ensure they have a relaxing flight, but they also provide an excellent soft product that makes each passenger feel refreshed upon landing.
On the Ground in New York JFK
I spent the night at the TWA hotel, which is connected directly to JetBlue’s Terminal 5. If you have an early morning flight out of JFK’s T5, then this is the place to come and spend the night.
The timeframe between six and eight in the morning is peak hour at New York’s Terminal 5, with long lines to check in and for security. There’s a dedicated check-in counter for Mint and TrueBlue Mosaic members, but the lines were somewhat packed. Despite the crowd, JetBlue’s staff maintained a professional attitude and were very courteous.
Mint customers are given access to priority security queues, but note that you’ll still need to remove your shoes and take out any liquids. I didn’t take advantage of that service and cleared security in the TSA PreCheck queue, which took about 10 to 15 minutes.
One of the downsides to flying Mint Business Class is that JetBlue doesn’t have any lounges. There aren’t even any credit card-operated or Priority Pass lounges in Terminal 5. However, JetBlue plans to introduce lounges in late 2025 or early 2026, but they don’t plan to give complimentary access to transcontinental Mint travelers.
Business Class passengers and select Mosaic members board in the first group after the pre-borders. Boarding was very efficient and felt well-organized.
What I find to be very unique is that JetBlue has special names for its aircraft. The aircraft with Mint seats have Mint-related names. Our jet, N987JT, was named The Sky’s the LiMint.
JetBlue Mint Cabin and Seat
On the Mint-configured A321s, there are a total of 16 Business Class seats. The seats in odd-numbered rows are honeymoon style seats, while those in even rows are known as the throne suites. Both types of seats in this cabin come with very similar features, except for the throne seats having a privacy door.
These JetBlue Mint seats have been around for a while since 2014, so it’s expected that they don’t look the most modern compared to the newer Mint suites found on the A321neo. I noticed a few minor scratches around my seat, particularly on the inner side table. In addition, the cabin adopts a gray color palette, which makes it feel a bit older. Nonetheless, these seats are somewhat comfortable for a longer domestic flight.
Overhead lockers are found above the cabin and are the standard size for an A321. There are also reading lights, flight attendant call buttons, and air nozzles above the seats for each passenger.
At the front of every Mint seat is the IFE system, which wasn’t responsive. JetBlue did not have a good entertainment selection on this flight. There were limited movies and TV shows, but the selection of live TV was adequate, with many sports and news channels to view. I wish that there were more music playlists and podcasts to choose from. The touchscreen interface, which felt as if it were from a different century, was not of good quality.
Located right below the screen is a storage pocket for small personal items, as well as the ottoman. This serves as the leg rest in lie-flat bed mode.
At the inner end of the seat is the seat console, which includes a side table for drinks. Built into the table are the seat controls, the IFE remote, and a latch for the privacy door. As is the case with many Business Class seats that have a door, it doesn’t extend from floor to ceiling.
At the back of the side console is a reading light, storage compartment, and universal outlet. The tray table comes out from the back of the side console and is almost shaped like the JetBlue Mint leaf.
Right below the seat console, you’ll find the seat pocket for inflight literature.
At the outer end of the seat is another side table. This one is incredibly massive and has a great surface area. You’ll also find two universal outlets and USB ports. If you’re looking to get some work done, then the throne seat is great because there are many power points for charging and a great amount of table space for a laptop.
There’s one lavatory at the front of the aircraft exclusively for Mint passengers. It’s a decent size, but feels quite outdated and boring. JetBlue also doesn’t have any nice skincare products in the lavatory and just uninspiring hand soap.
About an hour and a half into the flight, I made my seat into a bed. Each Mint seat is 80 inches long in bed mode and offers generous width around the head and shoulders. However, the footwell isn’t the most spacious in Business Class and could offer some more room. On this flight, I managed to sleep well for 2 and a half hours.
JetBlue Mint Food and Drink
You’ll find a menu card and drink list waiting at each seat upon boarding. The menu cards are very colorful, with a cool color palette that feels vibrant and refreshing.
JetBlue has a great beverage selection, which includes signature cocktails, mocktails, beer, liqueur, wine, and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. The menu is made in partnership with a New York City restaurant in Manhattan, Charlie Bird.
Pre-departure drinks were offered before takeoff, with a choice of seltzer or orange juice. I had a cup of seltzer.
It feels very premium that JetBlue served fresh pastries to commence the breakfast service along with a cup of coffee. Most U.S. airlines will just serve the main course and several side dishes like fruit, yogurt, and a pastry. I love JetBlue’s innovative approach to the meal service and that they don’t copy the other airlines. The croissant was delicious and paired nicely with my oat milk cappuccino.
JetBlue’s meal service in Mint is served tapas-style in the form of small plates. You can choose three of the four dishes on the menu, as well as an optional side of maple bacon. For my breakfast, I had the french toast, baked egg, and strawberries with basil and black pepper syrup. Everything was really tasty, but my favorite item on the tray was the french toast.
Along with my breakfast, I also ordered the non-alcoholic version of JetBlue’s signature cocktail, the Mint Condition. It was very refreshing and tasted excellent. I loved the presentation of the drink as much as I did the taste.
Accessible to Mint, Core, and Even More Space passengers is the snack pantry located between the Business Class and Economy sections. You’ll find a fridge with small cans of soda and a selection of snacks, such as chocolate, plantain chips, and Biscoff.
Mid-flight, I decided to explore the drink list further and ordered the Limitless Spritz, JetBlue’s other mocktail. This beverage was also excellent and I loved the presentation.
Before landing, flight attendants went through the cabin to offer the parting pleasantry (pre-arrival snack). On this flight, it was a chocolate chip cookie made by Twins that Cook, a local NYC brand. Packaged chocolate chip cookies pretty much always don’t taste very good, but this one was fresh and delicious.
Premium Amenities in JetBlue Mint
Upon boarding, you’ll find a set of Tuft and Needle bedding, ThinkSound noise-canceling headphones, and a Saratoga bottle of water. JetBlue’s bedding in Mint on this transcontinental flight includes a memory foam pillow and customizable blanket. Listed on the back of the bag the bedding comes in are several ways to use the blanket. The Tuft and Needle bedding was excellent and contributed towards a great sleep.
The Saratoga bottle of water feels more premium than the typical PureLife offered by American, Delta, and United. It’s very refreshing and of a better quality.
Amenity kits were available upon request and came stocked with some essentials. JetBlue partners with the skincare company, Dr. Dennis Gross, to offer lip balm, hand cream, and a cleansing face pad. Mouthwash, an eye mask, earplugs, and a pair of socks also came in the pouch, though the addition of a dental kit would have been nice.
JetBlue’s signature Fly-Fi (Wi-Fi) service was available complimentary to both Mint and Core customers. It wasn’t very reliable on my flight.
JetBlue Mint Inflight Service
JetBlue fares incredibly well when it comes to inflight service. The crew were friendly, reliable, and always kept a smile in the cabin. During the flight, the purser would always check on me when in the aisle and ask if I needed anything.
JetBlue Mint Booking Details
The cost to book a one-way Mint Business Class ticket from JFK to SFO starts at $905 and can go up to $2,000 depending on the day. For the same one-way flight, JetBlue will charge close to 74,400 TrueBlue points. The New York-based airline does not utilize an award chart and has a dynamic pricing method. Depending on the day, it’s possible to find fares that are slightly lower at 66,000 points.
For transferring credit card points to JetBlue TrueBlue, it’s best to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou points because they transfer at a 1:1 ratio. You can also transfer Capital One Miles (5:3 ratio) and Amex Membership Rewards (2.5:2 ratio), but these options don’t offer maximum value. If you have a card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Citi Strata Premier, you’ll be able to earn points on various spending categories like travel and dining. Both rewards-earning credit cards earn transferable points that you can use to book Mint.
Overall Thoughts
JetBlue Mint offers a great Business Class experience when crossing the country, especially with its incredible service, superb dining, and unique amenities. The soft product is where Mint really fares well. I arrived in SFO feeling nice and refreshed after a great sleep paired with the Tuft and Needle bedding. However, the cabin and seat was slightly older on this flight, but still somewhat spacious and private. Not all seats are created equal, and choosing the right seat can make the experience better. You’re going to want to book the throne suites early on because they’re usually among the first Mint seats in the cabin to be selected for their privacy and comfort. For a great Business Class fare compared to other airlines and a pleasant experience, JetBlue Mint makes for a nice way to travel in luxury.