Considering JetBlue’s New Route from NYC to Paris? Here’s the Real Experience

Last week, JetBlue launched its inaugural flight from New York's JFK Airport to Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, marking the airline's first-ever transatlantic service to continental Europe. This new route follows the successful introduction of JetBlue's initial transatlantic flights from JFK to London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports in 2021, and is part of the airline's strategy to shake up transatlantic travel with lower fares on narrow-body planes, especially as international airfare prices continue to rise.

"We aim to disrupt the market just as we did in London. Our goal is to provide an exceptional service at affordable prices," stated Robin Hayes, JetBlue's CEO, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at JFK on June 29, prior to the inaugural flight. "We are competing with a high-fare legacy joint venture with numerous flights. It’s challenging, but we’re committed to making it a more competitive landscape."

I was one of the first passengers to experience Mint business class on JetBlue’s inaugural flight to Charles de Gaulle, as well as the 'Even More Space' economy plus cabin on the return journey. Overall, it was an enjoyable, smooth, and very comfortable experience. Here’s everything you should know about JetBlue’s first flights to Paris.

Flight Schedule

Starting June 29, JetBlue flight 1407 departs daily from New York-JFK at 5:09 p.m., arriving the next morning at Paris-CDG at 6:55 a.m., with a flight duration of 7 hours and 41 minutes. For travelers heading from CDG to JFK, the daily JetBlue flight 1408 leaves at 8:55 a.m. and arrives at JFK the same morning at 11:51 a.m. local time, totaling just under 8.5 hours in the air.

JetBlue also intends to introduce nonstop flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to CDG in 2024, though specific dates and schedules for this route have not yet been announced. Additionally, JetBlue flights to Amsterdam from both JFK and Boston are set to launch later in 2023.

The Aircraft

The flights are operated using JetBlue’s Airbus A321LR (long-range) aircraft, which are capable of flying distances up to 4,600 miles. While these planes resemble the single-aisle A321 with Mint cabins that JetBlue uses on its transcontinental routes, the A321LR models for transatlantic flights are configured differently, featuring more spacious and private business-class seats.

On these A321LR aircraft, there are 90 standard economy seats and 24 ‘Even More Space’ or economy plus seats arranged in a three-by-three layout. Additionally, there are 22 private Mint Suites and 2 Mint Studios located at the front of the plane, which offer slightly larger screens and space for a guest with a seat and table—in JetBlue’s unique take on business class. Unlike the transcontinental Mint class, which includes some two-by-two seating arrangements, the transatlantic Mint class is organized into 12 rows of single seats, providing both window views and aisle access.

The Ticket Prices

To mark the launch of the route, JetBlue offered limited-time round-trip fares for the new Paris flights from JFK starting at just $499 in economy, with Mint fares beginning at $2,499 round-trip. (Initial fares were even lower when bookings first opened this spring.) As of now, the lowest prices on JetBlue’s website for this route are $566 for round-trip economy “Blue Basic” fares (note that additional fees apply for advanced seat selection and changes/cancellations) and $2,610 for Mint round-trip travel in January 2024.

When JetBlue announced this new route, its aim was to provide lower fares in the transatlantic market without compromising on service. It appears that competition has already responded by matching these prices. For the same January travel dates, all three major U.S. airlines—Delta, American, and United—are offering a comparable basic economy fare of $566 round trip on their New York–Paris routes. According to Google Flights data, typical fares for similar trips to Paris range from $570 to $1,600. The only airline with lower fares is low-cost carrier Norse Atlantic (the revived Norwegian Air), offering tickets for $430 round trip, which do not include meals or carry-on baggage unlike the other airlines.

Experience of Flying JetBlue’s “Mint” Business Class to Paris

• The Flight: JetBlue, Flight 1407, from New York’s JFK to Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• Class of Service: “Mint,” JetBlue’s interpretation of business class

I arrived at JFK’s Terminal 5 two hours before my flight and easily navigated the TSA PreCheck line, which had just one person ahead of me—no chaotic travel issues here in late June 2023. By the time I reached Gate 15, it was bustling with fellow travel journalists, JetBlue staff, and news media gathered to celebrate the route’s official launch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Without the celebratory atmosphere of an inaugural flight event, I might have felt more frustrated by the lack of JetBlue lounges at the airport. Had I flown business class with American Airlines from Terminal 8 or Delta from Terminal 4, I would have had access to their exclusive lounges.

After boarding in the first group, I settled into my Mint seat—3A—on the left side of the aircraft. As a narrow-body, the JetBlue A321LR features two rows of Mint seats arranged in a herringbone layout angled toward the aisle (somewhat like Virgin Airlines’ business class, but with fewer aisles). With my head near the window and feet towards the aisle, I appreciated the privacy provided by the angle and tall dividers between seats: I could only catch a glimpse of the feet of the passenger across the aisle when seated, and the sliding door offered extra seclusion. While this diagonal arrangement enhances privacy, I had to twist my neck to see out the window during takeoff and landing for the views. (Fortunately, most of the flight to Paris occurs at night, so there’s not much to see anyway.)

Each of the 22 private lie-flat Mint Suites features a luxuriously soft blue leather seat cushion from Tuft & Needle, a tilting 17-inch seat-back screen, and a wireless charging pad for your phone (which, unfortunately, didn’t function on my flight for unknown reasons). The overhead bins are designed extra large, allowing carry-ons to be stored on their sides instead of flat, maximizing space for more bags. For in-seat storage, there’s a slim tray that slides out from beneath the TV, perfect for holding laptops, books, or other small items. Additionally, there’s a space near the armrest for water bottles and taller objects. In the front row of the plane, two Mint Studios are available, featuring a larger 22-inch tilting seat-back screen, an extra side table, and a guest seat.

Every Mint seat comes equipped with slippers and a small amenity kit containing an eye mask, a toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, and earplugs. The noise-isolating Master & Dynamic over-ear headphones provided rich audio quality for watching films, including new releases like John Wick 4 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. There was also a wide selection of movies in French, along with a special collection of films set in Paris, such as Ratatouille, Before Sunset, and Les Misérables.

One of my favorite features of the seat-back screen was the ability to connect it via Bluetooth to my phone, allowing it to be used as a remote, which was helpful since the screen was quite far when the seat was reclined. (This Bluetooth feature is also available in economy class.) The entire aircraft was equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, which worked well enough for me to browse Instagram and TikTok without any issues.

Shortly after takeoff, the exceptionally friendly flight crew came around to take drink orders. I opted for one of the specialty cocktails, a Venetian Spritz, which is a fragrant and slightly sweet concoction of grapefruit juice, sparkling wine, and a house-made aperitivo. They also offered a black maple Old-Fashioned and a drink called Mint Condition, made with either gin or vodka, along with ginger, lime, cucumber, and mint. Additional options included two non-alcoholic mocktails, as well as a full selection of beer, wine, and spirits. The Mint service was notably generous—the flight attendant seemed surprised when I declined a second Venetian Spritz, and when I requested rosé with dinner, her cheerful response was a spirited “Rosé all day!” to confirm my order.

For dining, JetBlue collaborated with New York’s Delicious Hospitality Group to provide two meals in Mint, which I ordered through the seat-back screen right after taking my seat—three small plates and dessert for dinner served around 7:30 p.m., followed by two small plates for breakfast about an hour before landing. (A to-go breakfast option is available in a bag for those who prefer to sleep longer and eat after arrival.) For dinner, I opted for the chicken, pasta, and farro salad. (There was also a chilled English pea soup available for those wanting a lighter meal, but I’m not a fan of cold soups.) The cavatelli pasta was cooked nicely and paired with a chunky tomato sauce. The farro salad included roasted cherry tomatoes, radishes, pistachios, and slices of Parmesan cheese. The chicken was typical airplane fare (decent but unremarkable) and accompanied by a cold eggplant caponata that I left unfinished. For dessert, I chose vanilla gelato topped with generous blackberry preserves and almond granola for added crunch. Breakfast options featured a watermelon salad, coconut yogurt with passion fruit puree, and an asparagus frittata with goat cheese, Parmesan, and fresh herbs.

The Mint cabin is equipped with two bathrooms that are spacious enough, though not as roomy as those in business-class cabins on airlines like Singapore Airlines. I did appreciate the motion sensor on the flusher, which meant no need to touch it.

When it was time to rest, the seat transformed into a lie-flat bed with the push of a button. A Tuft & Needle blanket and pillow were provided as well. While the pillow felt like memory foam, it wasn’t as thick as one you’d find at home. At 5’4”, with my head pushed to the top of the seat, I found I had only about three to four inches left in the footwell when fully stretched out. I was comfortable enough, but taller passengers might need to curl up to fit in these lie-flat seats. I also found the seat’s 22-inch width adequate for my average frame, though I heard some passengers mention discomfort. I managed to sleep for about two hours before waking up when the flight crew began preparing breakfast. (As I was in the third row, you might want to bring better earplugs or sit further back if you hope to sleep longer.)

The flight departed on time and landed at around 6:10 a.m.—roughly 30 minutes early—giving me a full day to explore the French capital (and sneak in a quick nap before dinner).

What it’s like to experience “Even More Space” economy plus on JetBlue from Paris

• The flight: JetBlue, Flight 1408, from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to New York (JFK)
• The class: “Even More Space,” JetBlue’s economy plus offering

On my return journey on July 5, I arrived at CDG Terminal 2B by 6 a.m. for my 8:55 a.m. flight, allowing myself ample time to check a bag and navigate through Parisian security and customs. To my surprise, the process was quicker than I expected, despite reports of summer travel crowds and worker strikes in Europe. (Lines at all checkpoints were relatively short, but keep in mind that European airports enforce stricter regulations than those in the U.S. regarding liquid limits and the removal of electronics from bags.)

Being in JetBlue’s “Even More Space” economy plus allowed me to board in group A, right after the Mint passengers. Once I settled into seat 15F—a window seat on the right side overlooking the wing—the pilot announced that boarding was complete, and to my delight, I discovered I had an entire row of three seats all to myself. (The JetBlue A321LR core cabin has a layout of three seats on each side of the aisle.) With the flight nearly empty, the flight attendants asked the 11 passengers in rows 13–17 (which feature the “Even More Space” and exit row seats) to relocate to row 25 or beyond for takeoff, ensuring the plane was balanced due to its light load. Our departure was delayed from 8:55 a.m. to 10:12 a.m. because they needed to rescan every bag to confirm the weight was adequate for flight. Thankfully, the pilot kept us informed with regular updates during this process.

Each of the 24 “Even More Space” seats offers generous legroom (specifically a 37-inch pitch) and comfortable leather seating. While the standard “core” economy seats provide five inches less legroom with a 32-inch pitch, they still give more space than the typical 30–31 inch pitch found on most airlines' transatlantic economy seats in wide-body jets. The seats in the core class are decently sized at 18 inches wide.

One of my favorite features was the abundance of pockets on the seat back for organizing my belongings, including one spacious enough for my 18-ounce Hydro Flask and a small pocket to keep my lip balm and earbuds secure. Every economy seat was equipped with a blanket and a compact reusable silicone amenity kit filled with lotion, socks, and a face wipe. The seat-back screen, measuring 10.1 inches (slightly smaller than an iPad), offered the same movie selection as in business class during the outbound flight. Tennis enthusiasts were thrilled to catch Wimbledon on one of JetBlue’s live TV channels throughout the journey.

Economy meals are provided by New York’s farm-to-table restaurant group, Dig Inn. As soon as I settled into my seat, I could order complimentary breakfast (one main dish and two sides) and drinks—alcohol included—through the screen. I selected the zucchini and egg crepe, apple and grape salad, and coconut yogurt with grapefruit. However, the main dish served was pancakes with roasted peaches. The flight attendant kindly confirmed my order after serving, but since the pancakes were tasty, I chose not to request a switch.

Around 11 a.m., the flight attendants announced that the pantry was open for passengers to grab their own drinks and snacks at leisure. I snagged some Cheez-Its, but there were also Chewy Bars, Plantain Chips, and a few other options (though sadly, no famous blue potato chips!).

With about two hours remaining on the flight, the crew offered a snack service featuring pizza pockets along with more drinks. The pizza pocket was served lukewarm, but I devoured it anyway since it had been roughly five hours since breakfast.

Economy class features two bathrooms, with the one on the left being notably larger than the one on the right. (Its door had some issues—an attendant had to push it closed from the outside to lock it: what a lifesaver!) After my visit, we shared a laugh about the mishap since she had gotten stuck in there a few weeks earlier, which is surprising for a relatively new aircraft.

Despite a delay of about an hour and 20 minutes, we arrived at JFK around 12:10 p.m., just 20 minutes later than the originally scheduled arrival of 11:51 a.m.

The question is—was it worth it?

As Edith Piaf famously stated, “Non, je ne regrette rien.” Looking ahead, while I might not be able to afford a Mint fare for personal travel to Europe, I wouldn’t hesitate to invest in JetBlue’s “Even More Space” economy plus or even their “core” economy seats on a return trip to Paris—especially if prices stay competitive. I found the food comparable, the seating more comfortable, and the service friendlier than that of the other major airlines.

This article includes contributions from Michelle Baran.