Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Pampering the passengers
JetBlue Airways offers Mint class service on another route.
JetBlue Airways is now serving up its premium Mint class service on another nonstop route from Fort Lauderdale to the West Coast: San Francisco.
The launch came Monday with Mint passengers settling into lieflat seats with 15-inch TVs or private suites. Once aboard, they received personal care amenity kits by New York-based Hayward and Hopper. As part of the culinary in-flight journey, travelers were offered cocktail beverages and espresso, a tapas-style menu, and dessert from Mah-ze-Dahr Bakery as well as locally sourced specialty ice cream from The Frieze Ice Cream Factory.
On the ground, Mint passengers passed through a dedicated checkin line, received early boarding status and were able to check two bags for free.
The fare typically starts at $599 per person one-way, and must be booked 30 days in advance. But prices can sometimes be found from as low as $499, JetBlue spokeswoman Danielle Sanders said.
Aboard Flight 577 Monday, the new Airbus A321’s 16-seat premium Mint cabin was sold out with the last open spots selling right at the gate.
Miami retiree Elizabeth De Arazoza, 63, who was traveling with husband Rafael, 65, to a Napa Valley trip, was eager to get airborne after receiving “wonderful” treatment on the ground.
“I’m looking forward to the comfort mainly, and my husband, to the menu and being pampered,” said De Arazoza, who was traveling by wheelchair due to a recent foot injury. “It’s almost six hours of traveling so being able to relax and lay back is even more important now. I’m happy that we booked Mint.”
JetBlue began offering Mint three years ago. When the airline launched the service in March to Los Angeles from Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport, it was expected to be the only U.S. airline to offer regularly scheduled lie-flat seating on a domestic flight from South Florida.
“I think in this age of airlines cutting back on space, service and amenities, that this is a much needed product,” said Lisa LeBrun, manager of branch operations at Boca Raton Travel & Cruises, who got a tour of the Mint class cabin before departure. “The new Mint service looks as good as the international upscale airlines.”
In addition to Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Mint is available on select flights to and from Boston, New York, Aruba, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Maarten, JetBlue said. By yearend, it also expects to add service to Las Vegas and Seattle.
JetBlue is the busiest airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood with 24.6 percent of passenger traffic this year through March.