Exciting New Features Coming to JetBlue’s Seatback Screens

JetBlue has long been at the forefront of in-flight entertainment, being the first major U.S. airline to offer free live TV and Wi-Fi on all flights. Today, the New York-based airline revealed its plans to introduce new seatback screens called Blueprint by JetBlue, designed to deliver more tailored programming for travelers.

According to a press release from JetBlue, the aim is to replicate the experience of home streaming services. One innovative feature is the “watch party” option, allowing passengers to sign in with their name and date of birth and invite up to five fellow travelers to synchronize their viewing of a movie or show. This eliminates the hassle of pressing play at the exact same moment. Additionally, viewers can play and pause the screens together. It's important to note that passengers must agree to sync their screens, so there's no chance of playing pranks with a Keeping Up With the Kardashians marathon during the flight.

The Blueprint by JetBlue system, set to be installed in the coming weeks, will also provide personalized content recommendations based on previous flights, similar to how Netflix and Hulu operate. Moreover, you'll have the option to save films and shows for future viewing.

You can easily resume your movie where you left off—so if you didn’t finish watching on your last trip (even if it was months ago), it will automatically pick up from your last pause. The system will also remember your preferred settings for volume, language, parental controls, and closed captioning, carrying them over from one flight to the next.

In addition to the innovations introduced with Blueprint by JetBlue, other enhancements include displaying connecting flight details on the screens, enabling customers to access information regarding their next flights and gates before they deplane. Additionally, a seatback ordering feature will allow guests in Mint (JetBlue's lie-flat business class seats and suites) to order meals directly from their seats. Please note that this seatback ordering service will be available only on Airbus A321LR and A321neo aircraft.

In conjunction with these new viewing options, JetBlue will also enable passengers to personalize their welcome messages on their seatback screens. Previously, travelers were addressed by their legal first names, but soon they will have the option to select a name of their choice—a thoughtful change for those who prefer not to use their legal names.

Passengers celebrating their birthdays will enjoy a special treat: confetti graphics will adorn their screens, and those of legal drinking age will be offered a complimentary alcoholic beverage to toast their special day.

While joining TrueBlue (JetBlue's frequent flyer program) isn't a prerequisite for using Blueprint by JetBlue, new users can effortlessly sign up for a loyalty account with just one click, thanks to a QR pop-up on the seatback screen that fills in their details based on their ticket.

It's important to mention that Blueprint by JetBlue will only be accessible on aircraft equipped with Thales AVANT touchscreens, meaning it won't be available on the Airbus A321 fleet.