JetBlue Mint Suites to Paris

Cozy cabins

Roomy dimensions

Each JetBlue Mint Suite measures 22 inches wide at the armrests and up to 80 inches long in lie-flat mode; the airline touts this as the largest reclined surface area among U.S. airlines’ business-class seats.

I’m only 5 feet, 8 inches, though, and I found it easy to sleep on my back and both sides (and to roll over between them) without banging my shoulders, elbows, knees or feet on any of the seat’s fixtures.

I suspect taller flyers might find the footwell, which is just 13 inches high, constraining. If you have broad shoulders or hips, you might not have quite the same leeway as I did. But for my part, I snoozed quite comfortably.

Stylish finishes

While space and ergonomics might be the primary considerations when designing a business-class seat and cabin, JetBlue’s newer Mint experience takes style as seriously as substance with high-end but restrained finishes.

The overall look of the cabin is Space Age sleek thanks to the seats’ silvery gray vegan leather upholstery with slick stitching; the brushed-metal borders on the suites’ walls and the pearlescent tone of the door panels patterned with abstract mint leaf-inspired shapes also add to the vibe. The curving walls of the suites and the side table gave the space a certain flow that’s not common with other airline seats.

Providing both form and function, flannel-covered shells surrounding the seats absorb noise and bestow some texture to catch the eye. Concrete reading lamps (an homage to the airline’s hometown of New York City and its skyscrapers) and heavily grained wooden paneling on the side shelves and tray tables lend the suites a look that is equal parts clubby and industrial.

Passengers can also adjust their individual suite’s mood lighting between soft yellow and blue tones to complement the cabin’s ambience for just a little extra touch of customization.

The overall effect makes it feel like flying in an ultra-cool lounger or mini rec room with subtle branding touches rather than your bland, run-of-the-mill airline seat.

My one quibble is with the placement of the tray table. It swings out from the armrest easily enough, but its fixed position is quite close to the seat, so you have to be almost completely upright not to feel jammed in.

The food is excellent, and not just for an airplane

My colleagues who have flown JetBlue Mint since the airline’s switchover to DHG catering have raved about the variety of options, the fun ways you can customize your meal with multiple-choice small plates and the general level of quality. DHG’s Charlie Bird in Soho and wine bar Parcelle provided the catering and beverages on this flight.

Even going in with high hopes, the meals still exceeded my expectations.

The first thing that impressed me was that passengers could place food orders directly through the entertainment system rather than wait for flight attendants to come through the cabin. This saves time on relatively short transatlantic flights.

On the inaugural to Paris, the airline served a menu that included a choice of three of the following:

• Farro salad with roasted cherry tomatoes, radish, pistachios and Parmesan cheese
• Chilled English pea soup with mint oil and puffed wild rice
• Cavatelli with Sicilian tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese
• Chicken with eggplant caponata, pine nut crumble and mint

For dessert, there was a choice of:

• Vanilla gelato with blackberry preserves and almond granola
• A cheese plate with English cheddar, Stilton, dried fruit and nuts
• Various other snacks

The main meal was all served on a single tray, with dessert following shortly after.

I tried the farro, the pea soup and the chicken, and all were delicious. The farro tasted healthy but filling, the soup was refreshing, and the chicken was flavorful and hearty.

You could also choose an express menu served ahead of other passengers that included just the farro, pea soup, cavatelli and gelato. I had the gelato for dessert, and it was a delicious way to end the meal.

Breakfast was served about an hour before landing and featured a choice of two out of three plates, including:

• Watermelon with Espelette peppers and lime
• Coconut yogurt with passion fruit puree and almond crunch
• Asparagus frittata with goat cheese, Parmesan and herb salad

I ordered the yogurt, which was sweet and satisfying, and the frittata for something more savory and substantial. Both were very good. If you wanted to sleep in, you could also order your breakfast to go in a handy sack.

Passengers also had their choice of espresso and iced or cold americanos and cappuccinos; Dunkin’ drip coffee and a variety of Teapigs tea flavors like chamomile and lemon ginger were available.

I didn’t fly JetBlue back to the U.S., but I was able to peek at the menu on the return from Paris to New York on JetBlue’s site. It listed options like avocado toast and crepes with ricotta and caramel for breakfast, plus light bites like gazpacho and a croque monsieur sandwich for lunch (since it’s a daytime flight).

Craft cocktails and wine

The airline also takes its selection of wines and cocktails seriously, and flight attendants will mix seat-side to your specifications.

On this particular flight from New York to Paris, the cocktail menu included some of JetBlue’s signatures like:

• Mint Condition: with Bombay Sapphire gin or Tito’s vodka, ginger, lime, cucumber and mint
• Venetian Spritz: with house-made aperitivo, sparkling wine and grapefruit
• Black Maple Old-Fashioned: with Bulleit Bourbon, maple, bitters and orange

I sampled the Old-Fashioned, which was strong and sweet but not overly so.

The beer and spirits selection included:

• Stella Artois
• Blue Moon
• Bud Light
• Corazon Tequila Blanco
• Tito’s Handmade Vodka
• Bombay Sapphire Gin
• Bacardi Rum
• Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
• Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whisky
• Bulleit Bourbon
• Baileys Irish Cream

Among the wines, passengers could select from:

• Champagne Bergere Origine
• Notte Salata Falanghina
• Triennes Rose
• Vineyard Project 004 Gober & Freinbichler Blaufrankisch
• Condello Romagna Sangiovese Predappio
• Dalia Maria Maris Ramandolo

The Champagne was toasty and well-rounded rather than crisp. The Falanghina had a nice punch of acidity, while the Sangiovese was rich and fruity.

Nonalcoholic offerings included a usual selection of water and sodas as well as two mocktails:

• Mint (Under One) Condition: with seltzer, ginger, lime, cucumber, mint
• Limitless Spritz: with house-made non-alcoholic aperitivo, sparkling water, grapefruit

I didn’t try those, but they looked refreshing and delicious.

Deluxe bedding

Innovative amenities

Rather than your average amenity kit with some low-quality plastic items, JetBlue provides Mint passengers with two amenity kits, though you have to request one of them.

Inside the standard one you’ll find:

• Dental kit with toothbrush and toothpaste
• Ear plugs
• Eye mask

The specialized ones are courtesy of Wanderfuel, a wellness company that makes high-end health and beauty items. I requested a Wanderfuel one and found it stocked with:

• Scentuals vanilla tangerine “lip conditioner”
• Vacation SPF 30 “Classic Lotion”
• Jubel Naturals Cool Aloe intensive repair cream
• Recess deodorant wipes
• Golde Pineapple Debloat gut support powder

Although not standard, the kit inclusions felt like fun and thoughtful extras to help travelers deal with jet lag from such a short flight.

Passengers also receive Master & Dynamic noise-canceling headphones for use on the flight. They were high quality, blocking out almost all ambient noise.

Free Wi-Fi

Like on its flights within North America, JetBlue offers transatlantic passengers fast and free Wi-Fi. For most of the route across the ocean, flyers can connect to Viasat-2 before the system switches over to a European network.

Testing out Viasat’s speeds, I clocked them at nearly 39 Mbps download speed, which was more than enough to get work emails and even upload some photos.

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ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

A positive charge

Each Mint Suite has a power point embedded in the wall next to the side table. It includes a universal AC plug and both USB-A ports for charging various devices. Opposite and beneath the window-side armrest, there’s a second AC plug and a USB-C port. Moreover, the Mint Suite has a Qi wireless charging pad by the window.

I have an iPhone 13 Pro and tried charging it with the wireless pad but could not get it to work. Other passengers noted they were having difficulties, too, though some had no issues. In short, the wireless pads seem finicky, so pack a USB cord as a backup.

Crisp entertainment

At 17 inches diagonal, Mint Suites’ Thales Avant seatback screens are bright and crisp. They also tilt up and down for optimal viewing, whether sitting upright, lounging in a relaxed position or in full lie-flat mode.

The entertainment options were also diverse and numerous, including recently released features like “Creed III” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” As for TV shows, options included “Abbott Elementary” and “Hacks,” as well as live TV on channels including CNN International and Sky News.

Storage galore

Although the best business-class seats aim to optimize personal space, one of the areas many tend to skimp on is personal storage. You might find a pocket or compartment for small items like a wallet or glasses, but it can be a challenge to tuck your laptop somewhere convenient for takeoff, landing or mealtimes.

JetBlue solved that problem with its Mint Suites, which have a plethora of easy-to-reach storage options. These include a triangle-shaped compartment for small items by the window and a small shelf that’s great for phones just below the armrest.

On the other side of the armrest, next to the wireless charging pad, is a large surface area for a laptop or other items (though not for takeoff and landing).

You can stow your shoes in a small cubby next to the seat’s leg rest. There’s also a space beneath the ottoman to stow a personal bag or your shoes for the flight. (Don’t worry, you get a pair of slippers to use on board, so you won’t be walking to the lavatory barefoot.)

Perhaps most innovative, there’s a shallow tray that slides out from under the entertainment screen. At 14 by 10 inches, it’s big enough to stow small laptops and a cable or two.

Superlative service

Of course, the crew for this inaugural was likely handpicked to represent the brand and its friendly service ethos. Still, even taking that into account, the flight attendants in Mint – Amanda, Vanessa and Hector – were phenomenal. They took the time to get to know each passenger, confirming orders and maintaining a swift service flow that got meal service finished in just over an hour so flyers could rest.

Priority handling

As you’d expect from a premium flight product (and its price tag), Mint customers have access to priority check-in lines and security lanes at the airport. They can also take advantage of boarding before economy passengers and receive priority baggage handling, all of which can make the airport experience that much easier and faster to navigate.

Some downsides

It’s not necessarily all aces flying JetBlue Mint across the Atlantic. Here are some things to keep in mind that might persuade you to book an alternative.

Lack of lounges

Unlike legacy carriers operating across the Atlantic, JetBlue does not have any of its own airport lounges in Paris. It doesn’t partner with other airlines or an operator like Plaza Premium to provide Mint passengers with a lounge option.

While this isn’t a make-or-break proposition for me, having lounge access before a long journey can be key for some flyers.