Several years ago when I lived in Boston, I spent a lot of time flying back and forth to where my family lived in North Carolina. After a few trips with JetBlue, it became my go-to airline for the quick trip down the coast. Compared to other airlines I was accustomed to, I could stretch out in coach, the website for booking was so user-friendly, and the tickets were always on the cheap side. Even though I live on the West Coast now, I still stick to JetBlue (and Virgin America) for flights whenever I can, because I'm used to the amenities the airline offers, and I'm not all that willing to give them up now that I know what I'd be missing. From fun advertisements and promos and its new Mint first class program to extra legroom and free snacks, here are 14 facts you should know about JetBlue before flying that will make you appreciate the airline even more.
Compared to other US airlines and based on the average seat pitch, JetBlue's coach, or "core" as the company calls it, is definitely your best bet if you like space but don't want to pay extra for a seat upgrade.
Each passenger is provided with a personal TV to accompany their seat, and depending on the plane, they're either able to access 36-plus channels of DirecTV or 100-plus channels if you're on an A321. JetBlue passengers also can access a whopping 100-plus channels of XM Radio.
According to JetBlue, "The Hub" entertainment portal "offers customers the ability to read, watch, buy, and learn while on-board. The newest content partner in The Hub is Vox's premiere technology and culture platform, The Verge, which reaches people curious about the future."
Out of these, 26 are A321s, 130 are A320s, and 60 are E190s.
The plane's WiFi is the fastest free broadband service in the sky. The company has in-flight content partnerships with Amazon, Vice, Vox, and the Nantucket Project. According to JetBlue, travelers can Fly-Fi's high-speed connection "for true internet streaming of Amazon Video on their personal devices or shop on Amazon.com via JetBlue's TrueBlue loyalty program, to earn three TrueBlue points for every dollar spent on every purchase."
Your first checked bag is just $20 if you check it online beforehand or at a self-service kiosk. If you wait to check it at the ticket line, it's $25. If you plan on checking a bag, it's always best to purchase a Blue Plus fare, which includes a checked bag (along with other benefits).
JetBlue's redesigned fleet of A320s now offer even more amenities, including increased coach legroom, free Fly-Fi from gate to gate, touchscreen TVs, movies on demand, and in-seat power and USB. What more can you ask for?!
With its JetPaws program, customers will find it easy to book and fly with their beloved pets. What's even better — TrueBlue customers can actually earn major points (300 per flight!) by flying with their animal.
The airline goes above and beyond your basic water and peanuts and offers unlimited brand-name snacks and beverages during your flight — free of charge. The airline also has a separate menu of food you have to pay for, but if you want to save money, you can still fill up without dropping any cash.
Although formerly known for keeping ticket costs down by offering only a coach seating option, JetBlue recently debuted its Mint Class experience. Fares begin at $599 one way, and the Mint Class perks are pretty sweet. Here's the current Mint menu options.
The program's motto is to "treat loyalty like royalty," and it does so by offering a ton of perks and rewards for being a member of TrueBlue. Users earn three points per every dollar spent, and when you book your flight on jetblue.com, you earn double, or at least six points per every dollar spent. You can even combine your points together with family, friends, roommates — it even lets you define what your JetBlue "family" is with the Family Pooling program! There is no expiration on using your points and no blackout dates.
The airline aims to "inspire humanity," and it follows this practice through its customer protection policies. Customers are compensated for flight delays based on the nature of the delay as well as the amount of time the delay ends up taking. The airline also has a printable Customer Bill of Rights people can reference if need be.
The airline now flies to 100 cities, has more than 20,000 crew members, does 925 daily flights, and, in 2016, had 38 million customers.
JetBlue provides grants for STEM education — or science, technology, engineering, and math education — in order to further "the airline's effort to place aviation top-of-mind as a career choice for students."
The airline emphasizes the importance of sustainability and follows green procedures to reduce its "environmental footprint."