What It is Like on JetBlue’s New Boston-to-Edinburgh Flight

Not even a shock nor’easter that pummeled New England with inches of rain, knocked out energy, and delayed flights dampened the celebratory temper as JetBlue launched its inaugural nonstop seasonal flight from Boston Logan Airport to Edinburgh, Scotland, on the night of Could 22. The air at gate C9 buzzed with pleasure—plus the sound of bagpipes performed by a stay musician—as vacationers snapped photos of themselves by an illustration of Edinburgh’s beautiful structure. Garlands of Scottish flags and columns of balloons brightened the room. A desk close by was loaded up with Scottish shortbread cookies, sugar cookies emblazoned with an airplane hovering throughout the Edinburgh skyline, and tea served in (naturally, for Boston) Dunkin’ paper cups.

Mike Erbeck, JetBlue’s vp of security, was one in every of a handful of audio system on the podium throughout the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Though it seems to be like Scotland outdoors, are we able to go to Scotland?” he mentioned with amusing, pointing to the rain past the gate’s home windows.

With JetBlue’s first Boston to Madrid flight launching only a few gates down with an analogous soiree, the service had loads to rejoice. The once-scrappy airline launched its first transatlantic service—from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR)—in August 2021, with service to London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW) the next month. Since then, JetBlue has added Paris, Amsterdam, and now Madrid and Dublin.

JetBlue and Boston are persevering with their love affair, too; JetBlue is the biggest service at New England’s busiest air journey hub, and in September 2024, the airline introduced that its first-ever lounge might be opening in New York’s JFK Airport in late 2025, with a roomier lounge coming “quickly after” to Boston, per a launch obtained by Journey + Leisure. Mint clients will get pleasure from entry to the lounge.

Final Could, JetBlue launched its first flight from JFK to Edinburgh. The Boston growth comes on the heels of that route’s success, and solely boosts Scotland’s standing as an “it” vacation spot, thanks partly to lush, misty landscapes featured within the likes of historic drama Outlander and James Bond flick “Skyfall.” Edinburgh is the UK’s second-most visited metropolis after London, and Carl Walsh, senior vp for VisitBritain within the U.S., described the historic spot as “an awesome start line for exploring Scotland and the broader U.Ok., wealthy in historical past, tradition, and character,” in his remarks.

For the each day service between Boston and Edinburgh, JetBlue marketed particular restricted time round-trip charges: $649 for economic system and $3,299 for the premium Mint expertise. The seasonal route is at present listed as working by way of Oct. 25.

“This isn’t simply one other route,” Erbeck mentioned. “It’s a serious milestone in Jetblue’s European development story. Including Edinburgh from Boston following our profitable JFK launch final 12 months, strengthens our presence in Boston and introduces much more vacationers to what units JetBlue aside.”

Past the thrill of a primary go to to Edinburgh, I used to be wanting ahead to experiencing a specific JetBlue perk: staying in a kind of candy Mint pods that I’ve walked previous so many instances on my option to an economy-class seat. As soon as remarks wrapped up, I boarded the Airbus A321LR, which was dubbed “A Mint Summer season’s Night time Dream.” The jets characteristic facilities like free Wi-Fi (or “Fly-Fi”), snacks, meals from culinary associate DIG, seatback screens, and extra throughout its 90 economic system seats and 24 extra spacious EvenMore seats.

Although, the 24 Mint enterprise class suites with their lie-flat seats are essentially the most coveted nesting spots for flights. Decked out with Scottish flags for the inaugural flight, the pods seemed like hibernation chambers out of a sci-fi flick, particularly underneath the soothing blue cabin lights. Apt, as every each day journey from Boston to Edinburgh is scheduled to depart at 10:30 p.m. and sees a number of changes to Mint’s service to deal with a restful in a single day flight.

I used to be greeted by flight attendants Kristen, Mary, and Anthony and proven to my Mint cabin for the flight, slated to stretch underneath six hours. Every passenger aboard the inaugural flight discovered a card providing a free field of whisky tea or Scottish breakfast tea from Whittard’s Edinburgh retailer, a stone’s throw from the brand new 100 Princes Avenue lodge. At 4A, I discovered postcards, a meals menu, and a Caara pouch full of goodies: a dental equipment, socks, a Tuft & Needle sleep masks and set of earplugs, and a towelette, facial cleaning pads, lip balm, hand cream, and moisturizer from the model Dr. Dennis Gross. A pillow and extra-long blanket from Tuft & Needle continued the spa-like vibe. I’m not essentially the most relaxed air passenger, however right here I found that the remedy for pre-flight jitters was a glass of champagne supplied by beaming Kristen, who was excited for my first journey in Mint.

I settled into my pod and swapped my sneakers for a pair of free slippers. Mary confirmed me the right way to buckle the over-the-shoulder seatbelt and order meals on my pod’s TV display screen as I sipped a Limitless Spritz, one in every of two zero-proof cocktails that joined three boozy cocktails choices on the drink menu, together with a wide array of beer and wine. Anthony, although, was maybe the key MVP. For some purpose my near-depleted cellphone wouldn’t cost in my pod, and with out even asking, Anthony supplied up his private moveable charger so I wouldn’t have to attend within the Edinburgh airport for sufficient juice in my cellphone to get me to my lodge.

“My father emigrated from Scotland to the US as a toddler, so it’s my honor to pilot the primary JetBlue flight from Boston to Edinburgh,” mentioned our captain Ian Duncan throughout his welcome.

That nor’easter meant a little bit of turbulence early within the flight, which additionally delayed dinner service by about an hour. As tempting because it was to lie flat in my seat and catch some shut-eye—whereas others round me tapped at their laptops within the glow of studying lights—I wished the complete Mint meal expertise, so I curled up and watched TV. JetBlue options Peacock on its screens, and as a lot as I hold that means to begin Poker Face, I opted for a consolation re-watch of episodes of Hackswith the sound pumping by way of the Grasp & Dynamic headphones.

A notable change to Mint’s service for all flights departing after 8:30 p.m. is the “Savor & Sleep” idea of a extra restricted menu served suddenly, although the bites are nonetheless restaurant-quality small plates curated by New York Metropolis-based Scrumptious Hospitality Group. Mint vacationers choose all their meals forward of takeoff or can skip all of them collectively, hit the “don’t disturb” button of their cabin, and snooze by way of the entire flight. I opted for the complete dinner service, a partnership with New York Metropolis’s Bar Pasquale.

Dinner got here fantastically served on actual plates. I dug into a relaxing endive salad with cucumber, crunchy Parmigiango frico, and a creamy buttermilk dressing minimize by a zesty lemon French dressing. The orecchiette pasta was the shocking spotlight. Barely al dente and with pepper-spiked Pomodoro sauce, a basil-heavy pesto, and a heap of shredded parm, I’d’ve sworn it was recent off the fireplace of a luxe restaurant’s kitchen. Slivers of artichoke, mint, and breadcrumbs joined a beneficiant primary course of pan-roasted rooster. A jam-like roasted rhubarb compote supplied a welcomed, barely sharp distinction to the wealthy dessert of vanilla gelato, with crunch introduced by an olive oil cake crumble.

Forward of takeoff, I opted for the to-go breakfast as a substitute of the full-service providing of chia pudding with blackberry preserves, and an in depth espresso and tea choice. I’m glad I did, as I used to be so stuffed from dinner that I didn’t consider meals.

As an alternative, I used to be glad to totally recline my seat, lay again on the Tuft & Needle foam mattress, and drift off for simply essentially the most restful sleep I’ve ever gotten on a airplane. After I awakened about 4 hours later, a to-go bag with banana bread, orange juice, and a canned iced oat milk latte was ready for me. And even higher, the inexperienced patchwork quilt of the Scottish countryside stretched out under, because the airplane drifted down from the clouds.