JetBlue subtly renovates its A320 planes with wider, plushier seats, bigger hi-def TVs
JetBlue's Airbus A320 has a new look -- and while it's not flashy or super badass, passengers should appreciate some upgraded features with better seats and more in-flight tech options.
JetBlue's first restyled plane went into service Wednesday on a flight from Boston to Bermuda. That flight saw some of the new features that will eventually make it onto the aircrafts in the coming years. In the seating department JetBlue's making these and more changes:
wider seats at 18 inches
cushier cushions
adjustable headrests
contoured seat backs
two plugs on every seat
On the entertainment side JetBlue's adding 10-inch HD screens with 100 channels of live TV, more on-demand movies and TV shows, and something it calls a "new gaming feature." Even something mundane like the flight map gets a 3D refresh. Currently the the TVs are 5 inches with 36 channels.
This is the first big cabin redesign since the airline launched in 2000. The redesign comes at a time where travelers expect almost nothing while flying -- legroom space keeps shrinking, seats don't even recline, and some airlines want to add standing seats.
The new interiors will gradually replace JetBlue's older plane cabins. Over the next nine months, 12 planes will get the first phase of the redesign with new seats and entertainment options. In 2019, more changes will come in like the expanded entertainment features. Eventually, (JetBlue says it's a three-year project) the entire line of A320s will sport a new look.
It's subtle, but if flying can get even a tad more comfortable, there's no need for a splashy remodel.
Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.
