JetBlue to add BlueFirst domestic first

JetBlue will roll out its new BlueFirst domestic first class product across its entire core fleet of aircraft that do not feature the airline's Mint lie-flat business class. According to an analysis by Cranky Flier, the move is designed to generate significant new revenue from routes that cannot support a premium Mint cabin.

The majority of the affected aircraft are Airbus A320s. The introduction of 12 BlueFirst seats at the front of these jets will not reduce the total number of seats onboard. JetBlue achieves this by converting the two exit rows into its Even More Space economy section and adding an extra row of standard economy seats at the rear of the cabin.

A History of Cabin Configurations

To accommodate the extra row in economy, seat pitch in the standard cabin will decrease from the current 32 inches to an industry standard of 30 to 31 inches. This continues a long evolution of JetBlue's A320 cabin layouts, which the source traces through six major iterations over the years.

The airline initially offered 162 seats with generous legroom, then gradually reconfigured cabins to introduce its Even More Space upsell product. The shift to slimline seats eventually allowed JetBlue to increase the total seat count to 162 while offering 32 inches of pitch in standard economy and 35-36 inches in Even More Space.

The BlueFirst Seat and Features

The new BlueFirst seat itself features Tuft & Needle’s T&N Flex foam and comes with the expected first-class amenities. A key differentiator is the upgraded in-flight entertainment system.

Each seat will have a large 13.3-inch screen with Bluetooth connectivity. Passengers in BlueFirst, or "BlueFirsters" as the source calls them, will be able to order food and drinks directly through the Blueprint entertainment system. A special "Mixologist Mode" will allow travelers to create custom drinks by selecting alcohol and mixers à la carte.

Catering and Long-Haul Perks

On flights of 900 miles or longer, JetBlue will serve a bento box meal called FirstFare. Each box will contain a main dish, a side, and a dessert. A wide selection of branded snacks will also be available to order via the seatback screen.

Passengers on overnight redeye flights will receive an additional blanket and a "snooze kit." The source notes that while the food offering is on a smaller scale than in Mint, it follows the same raise approach.

The analysis concludes that BlueFirst is a solid product that passengers will likely pay for, representing a revenue-generating initiative the airline arguably needed a decade ago. The only remaining question is whether such initiatives can help JetBlue manage its substantial debt.