JetBlue's Mint business class offers lavish perks, like noise-canceling headphones and 4-course meals. Here are its 7 coolest amenities, ranked.
Jordan Parker Erb
- On a recent flight to Paris, I got to experience JetBlue's business class for the first time.
- Mint, the company's playful, sophisticated take on first class, offers more than just lie-flat seats.
In June, I was introduced for the first time to the perks of business-class travel during JetBlue's inaugural flight to Paris.
On the rougly seven-hour flight across the Atlantic, I got to experience the benefits of Mint, the company's playful first-class section. Amenities included with Mint ranged from priority security and boarding to gourmet food and high-tech gadgets — and I was entirely blown away by just how nice it was.
From the boarding process to the lie-flat seats, here's a ranking of Mint's coolest amenities.
Insider paid a press rate of $1,300, one way in Mint and returning in economy.
7. The expedited security was cool, but admittedly not much better than regular security.
Expecting to breeze through airport security, I was excited about getting priority security for the first time. While it's a nice perk in theory, I didn't find it much faster than going through the regular security line.
6. Being the first to board was nice, but I could live without it.
I consider myself a budget traveler on most counts, so I've been among the last to board virtually every flight I've taken for the past 26 years.
I don't mind boarding last (why wait on a stuffy plane when you can wait at the gate?), but it did feel cool to board the plane first. It was nice to have extra time to settle in and get cozy, but it was still a long wait for the plane to take off — I just got to wait in my seat.
5. The glass of champagne upon boarding the plane was a nice touch.
Drinks are the last thing I treat myself to while flying.
I can never justify the price and would generally opt for a snack over alcohol during a flight. That said, having a complimentary glass of champagne while waiting for takeoff was a relaxing way to start the trip.
4. The headphone adapter was a great surprise.
Mint passengers get a free AirFly Pro, a Bluetooth audio transmitter that lets you watch in-flight entertainment without wires. By plugging the little device into the plane's headphone jack, you can connect it to your wireless earbuds.
I'd never seen a gift like this while flying, and I was stoked that I got to keep the gadget.
3. The lie-flat seat was, of course, a fabulous experience.
The thing I was most excited about, the lie-flat seat, didn't disappoint.
Equipped with bedding from Tuft & Needle, a mattress company based out of Arizona, the seat-turned-bed was surprisingly comfortable, and I slept most of the way from New York to Paris. My only wish was that the flight was longer so I could nap longer.
2. I didn't use them much, but the high-tech, noise-canceling headphones were the coolest perk I'd ever seen on a flight.
The headphones, which cost roughly $300 from New York City-based audio company Master & Dynamic, were unlike anything I'd ever seen on a flight. Passengers don't get to keep the headset, but it's a creative way to make travel more enjoyable.
Compared to the tangly, low-quality earbuds handed out for free at the start of long flights, these were high-tech and ultra-comfortable.
While I didn't use them for most of the flight, I loved playing around with them and thought they were one of the coolest perks.
1. The food, above all else, was the best benefit of flying business class.
Without a doubt, this was the most gourmet airplane meal I'd ever had.
I ordered four plates: Pea soup, tomato cavatelli, roasted farro, and ice cream topped with granola — and was blown away by each bite. The food, curated through a partnership with New York City-based Delicious Hospitality Group, was fresh, tasty, and one of the best meals I had on my trip.
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