What Was It Like to Fly JetBlue Mint on Its Inaugural Flight to Edinburgh? - Business Traveler USA (2024)

JetBlue has expanded its transatlantic offerings with the debut of its fifth destination overseas from New York JFK to Edinburgh Airport (EDI). I was offered the opportunity to try the airline’s award-winning Mint business class on the inaugural flight to see its high-technology features, spacious seats, and premium onboard food and beverage offerings.

Check-in

From the moment I pulled up to JFK Terminal 5, I had a feeling that Mint would be a special experience. The terminal has a special check-in section for Mosaic and Mint passengers with private access directly from the curb.

The area had dedicated check-in agents who got me through the process within 5 minutes. While the terminal was busy on a Wednesday evening, the Mint check-in was seamless, providing a precursor for the experience ahead.

With every Mint ticket, passengers can access a dedicated priority security lane, which speeds up the process. While there were no special inaugural decorations at check-in, the excitement was evident immediately after I cleared security and was greeted with a giant balloon display with the EDI initials.

The area near the gate was just as festive, with banners of Scottish flags, a buffet featuring Scottish treats (like haggis), and a customized Edinburgh painting for the airline.

Boarding

Before boarding, JetBlue marked the milestone with a gateside celebration. Executives from the airline, respective airports, the tourism board, and the Scottish government gave speeches.

Marty St. George, the President of JetBlue, commemorated the evening with a few words: “JetBlue has redefined transatlantic travel by introducing low fares and great service in markets dominated by high-fare legacy carriers. We look forward to connecting Scotland and the Northeast this summer with our award-winning Mint and core service that will bring this signature JetBlue experience to Edinburgh.”

After the speeches, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and then I, along with a few other media members, was invited to preview the aircraft before general boarding started.

Once onboard, all the Mint seats were decked out with Scottish or American flags alongside a bag of beloved Scotland treats.

The Seat

JetBlue’s Airbus A321neo cabin has 16 Mint suite seats and 144 core seats. For this flight, I was seated in 2A on the left side of the cabin. All the business class cabin seats feature aisle access in a 1-1 configuration across eight rows.

JetBlue’s Mint class seats have a lie-flat private suite with a fully closing door. Each seat is outfitted with a custom-designed seat cushion that mattress company Tuft & Needle developed.

Blue mood lighting lit up the cabin, and every business seat had a reusable amenity kit designed by Caraa, which featured wellness products from Dr. Dennis Gross and Plus Ultra.

Every seat has a 17-inch TV, wireless charging, and customizable lighting to make the experience more comfortable. All screens are now equipped with JetBlue’s Blueprint, a personalized flight experience offered through the seatback entertainment system. It allows you to save inflight entertainment, watch with other passengers, and receive customized entertainment recommendations.

The seatback TVs are also where you order meals, and free high-speed Wi-Fi is offered for all passengers onboard.

All cabins feature two Mint Studio seats, with the largest TV screens (22 inches) on a U.S. airline, a mirrored vanity, ample storage space, and a guest seat and table.

The Flight

Before takeoff, we were offered a welcome drink option of an elderberry spritz or a glass of prosecco. We taxied for 20 minutes and took off near our scheduled time.

On the ground, I opted to pre-order my inflight meal. The service options included a multi-course meal service or concise express service. I opted for the latter since it was a red-eye flight.

There was also a luxe, premium beverage experience with the option for Mint passengers to order co*cktails. Drinks included Mint Condition, a drink featuring Bombay Sapphire Gin or Tito’s Handmade Vodka, ginger, lime, cucumber, and mint, with a Venetian Spritz or an Al Pastor Margarita. There were also zero-proof options and other beer & liquor choices.

The dinner service began within 45 minutes after takeoff, and everything was served at once. My meal included a warm bread roll with butter, two appetizers, a farro salad, and chilled pea soup.

I was served cavatelli pasta with Sicilian tomato sauce and parmesan cheese for the main course. To finish, I had vanilla gelato with preserved blackberries and almond crunch for dessert. The meal service was delicious and one of my better onboard dining experiences.

JetBlue partners with DIG, a NYC-based brand, for the meals and also offers complimentary snacks, soft drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and liquor to passengers in the other cabin.

After the meal service, I got comfortable, utilizing the foam pillow and thick comforter from Tuft & Needle, which was neatly packaged on my seat when I boarded. I browsed the expansive onboard entertainment system, packed with tons of new (and old) movies, TV shows, and music, before catching some shut eye. I slept comfortably for around five hours on the flight with zero disturbances.

As we prepared to descend, the crew served our pre-ordered breakfast meals. We had the option of a to-go offering or a croissant and oatmeal bar to enjoy on the plane. I chose the oatmeal bar, which was just okay. The airline could enhance its breakfast options in comparison to the dinner service. Nevertheless, the to-go offering was a unique touch I’ve never experienced on other airlines, and I found it very considerate.

The lavatories in the business class cabin were also elevated as part of the Mint service, offering more space and amenities.

Arrival

We arrived in Edinburgh an hour before our scheduled arrival time. Once we parked at the gate and the door was opened, we were greeted with a symphony of excited cheers. The immigration process was quick with e-gates for American passengers.

On my way out, I noticed the JetBlue check-in counter was decked with balloons and signs highlighting the new service. We departed the airport and drove to The Balmoral, a Scotland property by Rocco Forte in the heart of Edinburgh.

Verdict

With lower business class pricing than other major U.S. carriers, the JetBlue flight to Edinburgh is a fantastic experience. The Mint Cabin features spacious seats, high-technology touches, and an incredible onboard food and beverage program.

Amenities like the Tuft & Needle bedding and free, included high-speed Wi-Fi make it a fantastic transatlantic option for business or leisure travelers.

Best For:

Comfortable, transatlantic travel with a high-technology inflight experience includes a personalized entertainment system, high-speed Wi-Fi, mood lighting, and more.

Flight time: Seven hours and ten minutes.
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