Last year, we learned that JetBlue planned to open lounges in New York and Boston in an effort to capture more premium traffic. Now, it appears that there is a development as the carrier’s first lounge appears to be opening any day now.
JetBlue is Opening Lounges in New York and Boston
JetBlue is currently planning to open at least two lounges which will be located at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Specifically, lounges are expected to open on the following schedule:
- New York (JFK:) A 8,000 square foot lounge is expected to open in Terminal 5 in late 2025.
- Boston (BOS): A 11,000 square foot lounge will open in Terminal C in 2026.
Based on multiple reports, it appears that the opening of the carrier’s first lounge at New York JFK could be opening any day now. While information is limited, no renderings or even the name of the lounge have been released, JetBlue has released some information on what passengers can expect.
Both lounges are expected to feature the airline’s iconic blue brand elements along with local and regional artwork. Specifically, the lounges are expected to have three distinct areas. According to JetBlue, these are as follows:
- Play: Unwind and socialize as JetBlue brings the ‘fun’ in functionality to the lounge experience while customers can also relax as mixologists shake and stir their favorite complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at a full-service bar.
- Work: Stay connected and fully charged with private workspaces featuring fast and free Wi-Fi, an abundance of outlets to plug in and free barista-made coffee bar beverages.
- Lounge: Enjoy familiar hospitality with complimentary food and beverage offerings. Kick back alone or with groups throughout the lounge in comfortable, cozy seating areas.
When asked about the upcoming lounges Marty St. George, President of JetBlue, said this:
“Customers have asked for a JetBlue lounge for years and we can’t wait to unveil our take in New York and Boston. Lounges have become an essential offering for the growing numbers of customers seeking premium experiences, and JetBlue’s lounges will further boost the value of our TrueBlue loyalty program as we expand our portfolio of JetBlue credit cards.”
The addition of lounges plugs a major hole in the premium offerings for the New York based carrier, which has pushed into the highly competitive transatlantic market in recent years. It also opens up an opportunity to further engage frequent flyers within JetBlue’s Mosaic program.
JetBlue Lounge Access Requirements
Access to the yet to be named JetBlue lounges will be limited, likely due to the size of the two announced spaces. Specifically, the following passengers will have access to the carrier’s lounges:
- JetBlue Premier World Elite Mastercard holders
- TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members
- Transatlantic Mint customers
It is also expected, but not confirmed, that the carrier will sell lounge memberships and that single use passes to the lounges may be sold.
My Thoughts
Prior to the pandemic we saw a noticeable shift towards a less passenger friendly operating model for airlines. The addition of Basic Economy, removing seatback IFE screens, and the addition of new fees indicated that the aviation industry in the United States was shifting towards a ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) model.
Since the pandemic, there has been a complete 180 with ULCCs like Spirit struggling, American Airlines making a commitment to becoming a more premium airline, and Southwest adding assigned and extra legroom seating.
With that being said, it is no surprise to me that JetBlue is adding lounges in an effort to make it a more appealing option to transatlantic and business travelers. While the limited access requirements are somewhat surprising, especially considering other airlines offer lounge access on transatlantic flights, it is a nice development.
Being based in Austin I still haven’t found my way onto a JetBlue flight but, this is likely a great addition for travelers based in the Northeast that fly with JetBlue on a regular basis.
Summary
While we have known for over a year that JetBlue plans to open its own lounges, it appears that the first lounge could open in the coming days and weeks. JetBlue will open lounges in New York and Boston and more could be on the horizon.
(Images courtesy JetBlue)