New on JetBlue: First class, flat beds, suites, hot food
Business travelers, JetBlue wants you. Especially if you are flying JFK to LA.
The low-cost airline yesterday made the biggest news at the Global Business Travel Association conference by announcing it is going upscale, adding "lie-flat" premium seats and four walled-off "suites" on some transcontinental flights, along with hot meals and free drinks.
The upper-class seating will initially be offered on flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, the longest and most lucrative routes.
The new seats offer air cushions with adjustable firmness, a massage function, a 15-inch widescreen television, and a "wake-me-for-service" indicator.
The premium services will start next spring on some of the 30 new Airbus A321 planes entering the airline’s fleet. Additional upgraded services will be announced in September, the airline said.
While fares have not yet been announced, a printed statement indicated they would be less than the current traffic is forced to bear. JetBlue noted that other airlines charge "much higher fares on these routes on a per-mile basis" than is customary on other routes.
If the service is successful, it could be expanded to other cities, JetBlue said.
By Cheryl Rosen
Cheryl
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