JetBlue new fare options add Base, Standard and Flex fare tiers
JetBlue is replacing Core with Main and adding Base, Standard and Flex choices across cabins as it prepares BlueFirst domestic first class.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
JetBlue new fare options will change how customers choose seats and perks on the airline’s booking page, CNBC reported Monday. The carrier is reorganizing its fares as it prepares to introduce BlueFirst, a domestic first-class product planned for later this year.
Under the new setup, JetBlue customers will first choose the type of seat area they want, CNBC reported. The choices will include Main for economy, Even More for extra-legroom seats and BlueFirst for domestic first class.
JetBlue’s current Core label will go away, according to CNBC. Economy fares will instead sit under the Main category, bringing the airline’s naming closer to the way many travelers already think about cabin choices.
What are JetBlue's new fare options?
JetBlue’s fare breakdown lists three purchase options for most cabins: Base, Standard and Flex. The tiers separate price, seat selection, cancellation rules, refund method and loyalty-point earnings.
Base: JetBlue says this is the cheapest option. It includes a carry-on bag but excludes advance seat selection, offers refunds as travel credit, carries a fee to change or cancel, and earns 1 TrueBlue point per dollar spent.
Standard: JetBlue says this tier includes seat selection and removes change and cancellation fees, though passengers still pay any fare difference. It earns 3 TrueBlue points per dollar spent.
Flex: JetBlue says this option includes the Standard benefits and allows refunds to the original form of payment.
The structure means a passenger buying a seat in the front of the plane could still pick a more restricted fare. CNBC described the Base version as a basic-style option attached to premium seating, including BlueFirst when that cabin launches.
How BlueFirst and Mint fit in
BlueFirst is JetBlue’s planned domestic first-class cabin, according to CNBC. The airline has not announced a start date beyond saying it is slated for later this year.
JetBlue’s Mint cabin remains separate from BlueFirst. CNBC reported that Mint, the airline’s lie-flat business-class product used on longer flights such as cross-country routes and service to European cities including Paris, London and Milan, will be sold only with Standard and Flex choices.
That means JetBlue is not offering a Base fare for Mint, CNBC reported. The outlet noted that United Airlines and Delta Air Lines introduced basic lie-flat business fares this year, while United also said this month that it would charge extra for a blocked middle seat on some aircraft.
Airlines have been trying to earn more from travelers willing to pay for additional space, comfort and airport benefits, CNBC reported. JetBlue’s Even More seats include extra legroom, earlier boarding and priority airport screening, according to the airline’s fare descriptions cited by CNBC.
The fare overhaul arrives ahead of JetBlue’s next earnings report, which CNBC said is scheduled for Tuesday. Investors and customers will be watching whether the new menu helps the airline sell more premium options without pushing away price-sensitive flyers.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.