From Business Insider:
“JetBlue is
promising London-bound passengers free meals, wider seats, and more when
service finally starts this summer — take a look”
(A JetBlue
Airways Airbus A321neo aircraft.)
JetBlue just
unveiled its planned in-flight service for economy passengers on European
flights. Complimentary meals will be offered in economy for the first time in
JetBlue history. Free high-speed WiFi
will be available for the entire journey across the Atlantic. JetBlue Airways cannot wait to fly to Europe
later this year.
April marks the
two-year anniversary of the airline's landmark announcement that it would fly
to Europe, starting with the UK capital of London. And though delayed by the
pandemic, flights are scheduled to launch this summer with JetBlue ready to
disrupt yet another market. "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," Jayne O'Brien, JetBlue's head of marketing and loyalty,
said in a statement. The entire
experience, whether in Mint business class or economy class, is meant to feel
like home. JetBlue's designers worked to ensure that all passengers would have
the same conveniences as they would at home, whether it be access to high-speed
WiFi or enjoying a high-quality meal.
Here's what
you can expect when flying across the Atlantic on JetBlue in economy, or
"core" as the airline calls it.
JetBlue is already the only US airline to offer free WiFi on
domestic flights and will continue the trend on transatlantic journeys.
High-speed satellite WiFi will be available free of charge to all flyers. WiFi
on traditional JetBlue aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Embraer E190 fleet is only available when
flying within the US and overland but satellite WiFi enables passengers to stay
connected when out over the open ocean.
A
restaurant-inspired menu
(JetBlue
Airways London meal service)
Meals are
coming to JetBlue Airways. All economy passengers will receive complimentary
hot meals when flying between the US and Europe, just like any other full-service
airline in the transatlantic market. Three
options including a protein and vegetable will be available as a main for
flyers to choose from during the lunch and dinner meal service. Customers will
then be able to choose two side dishes. JetBlue
chose the New York City-based restaurant group Dig for the economy meal menus
while Mint menus will still be crafted by the Delicious Hospitality Group. Some
choices for the main dishes include charred chicken and brown rice, meatballs
and tomato farro, and spiced eggplant and quinoa. Side dish options include
macaroni and cheese, sheet tray carrots, and tomato salad. Beer, wine, and liquor will also be available
free of charge alongside soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
Wider seats
in economy
(Flying JetBlue
Airways Airbus A320 New Phase 2 Interior)
JetBlue won't
be flying wide-body aircraft to London, but what will be wide are its seats.
Each economy seat will offer 18.4 inches of width, .4 inches wider than those
found on JetBlue's regular Airbus A321 aircraft, according to SeatGuru. The
seats are crafted with vegan leather called "ultraleather" and
feature amenities like adjustable headrests, in-seat power outlets, and USB
charging ports. Legroom will also be above average at 32 inches and seat-back
pockets have been adjusted to allow for extra shin space while also featuring a
water bottle holder and multiple mesh pockets. Cabin walls have similar been
redesigned to give window-seaters more available space. The extra space should
make traveling on the narrow-body aircraft more bearable compared to the
wide-body aircraft many are used to when traveling over the Atlantic.
High-definition
in-flight entertainment JetBlue operated its first flights more than 20
years ago with in-flight entertainment and has no plans to deny it to
London-bound customers. Every seat in economy will feature 10.1-inch seat-back
screens with full high-definition and JetBlue's latest in-flight entertainment
offering. Movies, television shows, games, and more will all be
available to help pass the time. Live television is also available, with
JetBlue curating international stations, or passengers can watch content from
HBO and Showtime. When it's time
for the meal service, flyers can use the screen to access the menu and order
their desired selection. The
upgraded product is also personalized to greet flyers based on their assigned
seat, as Insider found on a recent JetBlue flight. Device-pairing capabilities
will also be available to control the system in lieu of a physical remote in
the armrest. Passengers can also
follow along with their flight's progress by using the moving map.
A
self-service snack station
(The JetBlue
"pantry.")
Passengers that
get peckish in-between meal services also have access to a self-service snack
station, dubbed the JetBlue "pantry." The walk-up bar is located in
between the Mint and economy cabins and offers a variety of snacks and cold
beverages for passengers to enjoy. The
station first appeared on JetBlue's Mint-equipped Airbus A321 aircraft but was
soon added to the non-mint Airbus A321neo fleet. As with all of JetBlue's snack and drink
offerings, hungry customers can come and take what they want as many times as
they want. It's all complimentary and included in the price of the ticket.
What remains
to be seen Important details still remain about the service including the
launch date, the initial schedule on both routes, and which London airport
JetBlue will serve. Airports Coordination Limited recently issued JetBlue
landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport for its planned routes to New York
and Boston but the airline still hasn't confirmed its London home. "We have always said that we have a
viable path into more than one London airport and that over the long term we
expect to serve multiple airports in London," a JetBlue spokesperson told
Insider. "JetBlue has applied for multiple slots at various airports and
we are discussing the availability of permanent and temporary slots with the
slot coordinators."
^ There have
been several low-budget airlines flying between North America and Europe over
the years and in most cases you really get what you pay for. As for Jet Blue it
seems to want to be a middle-budget airline between North America and Europe
and that seems like the perfect fit. I have flown Jet Blue a few times over the
years and would fly them more if they had routes in my State. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.