US airways are infamous for providing all types of the way to improve to first or enterprise class, starting from having the ability to redeem miles, to having the ability to use systemwide upgrades, to receiving complimentary upgrades, to having infinite alternatives to buy-up to a premium cabin with money.
JetBlue Mint is without doubt one of the finest premium merchandise in the USA. Curiously in contrast to nearly each different US airline, JetBlue makes it laborious to get a seat in Mint with out outright paying. On this put up I wished to take a better have a look at the restricted variety of methods you possibly can improve to JetBlue Mint.
What’s JetBlue Mint?
For context, JetBlue Mint is the title of JetBlue’s premium cabin. Whereas JetBlue gives a pleasing economic system expertise, the airline launched its model of a enterprise class product almost a decade in the past, and it’s phenomenal.
JetBlue Mint is simply accessible on choose Airbus A321 plane (together with some A321ceos, some A321neos, and all A321LRs). Mint is obtainable in a restricted variety of premium markets, together with all transatlantic flights, in addition to choose transcontinental flights, and flights to the Caribbean.
What makes JetBlue Mint completely different?
For one, JetBlue Mint seats are absolutely flat beds. The precise configuration varies relying on the plane. The preliminary JetBlue Mint configuration has a staggered structure the place seats in each different row have a door. In the meantime the brand new JetBlue Mint configuration options direct aisle entry and doorways from each seat.
On prime of that, JetBlue’s Mint tender product is phenomenal as properly. The crews are constantly pleasant, and the meals and drinks are prime notch. It’s such an progressive expertise in comparison with what you’ll in any other case discover in the USA.
One of the best methods to improve to JetBlue Mint
JetBlue tries to keep up the integrity of its Mint cabin when it comes to pricing and exclusivity, rather more so than different US airways. There are not any methods to make use of factors to improve to JetBlue Mint, and the airline additionally doesn’t promote upgrades to Mint prematurely.
So if you wish to “improve” to JetBlue Mint forward of your flight, your solely choice is to fairly actually pay the fare distinction, utilizing both money or factors. With that in thoughts, let’s speak concerning the methods you can improve to JetBlue Mint.
You should utilize JetBlue Mosaic Mint improve certificates
Mosaic is the elite tier within the JetBlue TrueBlue loyalty program. Mosaic standing is earned primarily based on what number of “tiles” you rack up, after which there are 4 tiers of Mosaic standing. The 2 highest tiers include some Mint improve certificates:
- JetBlue Mosaic members who rack up 150 tiles yearly obtain 4 Mint improve certificates
- JetBlue Mosaic members who rack as much as 250 tiles yearly obtain a further two Mint improve certificates
Notice that you simply want two Mint improve certificates to improve a transatlantic flight, and one Mint improve certificates to improve another flight. These Mint improve certificates will clear 24 hours earlier than departure, topic to seats being accessible (there are not any extra capability controls).
For context in JetBlue tiles, you possibly can count on that you simply earn one tile for each $100 spent on JetBlue, and one tile for each $1,000 spent on a JetBlue bank card.
You should buy a JetBlue Mint improve on the gate
Should you don’t have one of many highest tiers of Mosaic standing, you solely have one different choice for upgrading to JetBlue Mint. That is to pay money for an improve. Not like different airways, JetBlue received’t promote you Mint upgrades prematurely, and even at check-in (if you’re quoted an improve value, that’s merely the fare distinction for Mint).
As an alternative, the airline solely sells Mint upgrades on the departure gate to your flight, sometimes inside an hour or so of departure. How a lot are Mint upgrades? Whereas it relies upon, the info factors that I’ve seen counsel that the prices are typically as follows:
- A Mint improve on a transatlantic flight typically prices $699
- A Mint improve on different flights typically prices $449-599
I’d definitely welcome extra information factors as to Mint improve prices, as I believe many individuals would discover that to be helpful. Should you improve to Mint, you need to get all the usual Mint companies, although you received’t earn bonus factors, or have your fare class modified.
You possibly can redeem factors to guide JetBlue Mint
Whereas not an improve, it’s price noting you can redeem factors for journey in JetBlue Mint. JetBlue TrueBlue is a income primarily based frequent flyer program, and you’ll redeem factors for any seat on any flight. The precise worth you’ll get per level varies relying on the price of a ticket, although.
For instance, take a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, for instance, the place economic system prices $149, whereas Mint prices $784.
Should you wished to redeem factors, you might guide economic system for 13,400 factors plus $5.60, or you might guide Mint for $71,600 factors plus $5.60. You’d get round 1.1 cents per TrueBlue level with this redemption.
You too can redeem American AAdvantage miles for journey on JetBlue, together with in Mint. That is potential for all flights besides transatlantic ones, and you’ll typically count on to pay 65,000 AAdvantage miles for a one-way Mint enterprise class ticket, pending award availability.
You possibly can’t redeem factors to improve to JetBlue Mint
Simply to be 100% clear, there are not any methods to make use of JetBlue TrueBlue factors to improve to Mint. Should you booked a JetBlue award ticket in economic system, you possibly can at all times rebook your ticket in Mint by paying the factors distinction, however that’s not an improve, however relatively simply repricing your ticket for the product you need.
Backside line
JetBlue is probably the most restrictive US airline on the subject of giving individuals alternatives to improve to its enterprise class (generally known as Mint). TrueBlue Mosaic members can earn as much as six Mint improve vouchers per yr. The one different option to improve to Mint is on the gate, when upgrades are bought at a reduction on an area accessible foundation.
The one alternatives to “improve” to Mint prematurely are to simply rebook your ticket and pay the fare distinction for Mint.
Should you’ve upgraded to JetBlue Mint, what was your expertise like?