JetBlue's domestic first class offering is now available to travelers, and the first flight equipped with the option will land in Fort Lauderdale later this year.
BlueFirst will officially debut on a Dec. 8 flight connecting Boston to Fort Lauderdale — the first class option will also "expand to select flights between" Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), according to an Oct. 15 press release by the company.
The airline is offering "limited one-way introductory fares" starting at $249 along select routes, says the release.
The Fort Lauderdale-New York flight's introductory fare starts at $249, with FLL-Boston fares starting at $299.
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JetBlue first routes at Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach airports
According to the press release,
flights equipped with BlueFirst connecting Fort Lauderdale to Boston, Buffalo, New York (LGA), Washington, D.C. and Liberia, Costa Rica will begin in December. Further routes connecting Fort Lauderdale to destinations including Aruba, Austin, New Orleans and Cartagena, Colombia are planned to start later in the year.
Flights with BlueFirst connecting New York (LGA) to West Palm Beach will begin in January, while flights connecting Westchester County, New York to West Palm Beach will begin in March. Flights connecting Boston to West Palm Beach will begin in April.
A full list of planned routes is available via JetBlue.
What is JetBlue's BlueFirst?
BlueFirst is JetBlue's first domestic first-class option, which the airline says is intended to complement Mint, JetBlue's "business class experience on longer flights."
The routes that will initially get BlueFirst were picked based on "customer demand for premium travel," and include "popular leisure destinations." The airline is planning a further phased rollout.
Passengers are provided with seats that are equipped with 13.3-inch seatback screens and afford "up to seven inches of additional legroom" when compared to JetBlue's basic seats.
“Domestic first class has become easy to predict. We think it’s time for a fresh take,” Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's chief executive officer, said in a Sept. 1 release. “Customers are increasingly looking for more premium experiences, and BlueFirst gives them an elevated experience that feels distinctly JetBlue, with thoughtful touches, caring service and great value.
Other budget airlines adding premium services
JetBlue isn't the only low-cost airline hoping to attract travelers with premium services.
Allegiant Air is launching its new premium, two-by-two seating option, called Allegiant First, at Punta Gorda Airport starting in March 2027.
Last year, Frontier Airlines added UpFront Plus seating with extra legroom and an empty middle seat at the front of the plane.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When JetBlue first-class flights to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach will start
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