Airlines Comparison: JetBlue Even More Space vs. United Domestic First Class

Overview

        In my previous trip to New Orleans, I used my points to upgrade to even more space seats on flight 401 from BOS to MSY (which is potentially the best value way to use your points). Luckily enough I was also being upgraded for free on my way back to Boston because of my Premier Gold Status on United Airline. In this blog, I will cover the airlines comparison between those two airlines especially focused on the premier seats experience. 

Routes and Pre-Boarding Process

        Since Boston is the focus city for JetBlue, it is very easy to find direct flights to nearly all the cities in the US. United Airlines, on the other hand, does not have a hub in Boston so it usually requires another stopover to get to another non-hub city. That the reason why I can fly non-stop to MSY on JetBlue and have a stopover in IAD when getting back on United. So from the route/time-saving perspective, JetBlue is better than United for Boston.

        For the check-in process, both airlines offers similar services. They all have dedicated check-in lines as well as security lines for status members to make the Pre-Boarding process much smoother. (Most people nowadays use the mobile check in and have Pre-Check so this could be not that valuable. However when you need to do bag drop in leisure travels, having a status will save you a lot of time)

Boarding Process

        From the time perspective, it is going to be the same for both airlines because you are going to the first to board the plane. However, from the experience perspective, you would definitely feel much more like “Royal” on United Airlines because their grouping boarding system. Below is the comparison of the boarding process which explains why:

JetBlue: People need additional assistances -> Mosaic Members -> Even More Space (which is essentially their only premier seats besides “Mint” – which I want to experience later) -> General Boarding (The last 5 rows fist, then second last 5 rows…)

United Airlines: People need additional assistances -> Global Entry (Mysterious highest status) -> Group 1 (which includes first/business class, Status Members) -> General Boarding (By groups, Group 2 then Group 3…)

        One thing to comment here is that for JetBlue all the people just stand in one line so until the last minute when they actually getting called for boarding, people have no idea who are the “luck guys”. However, United Airlines lines up people in groups beforehand so standing in group one definitely makes you a lot more noticeable to the crowds. (Some people enjoy the feeling, some people don’t…) From time perspective, I definitely feel like JetBlue is much faster because they board the last rows first.

In-Flight Experience

        It is a little bit unfair to compare a premier seat to a first class seat but still there are couple things need to notice here.

        For JetBlue Even More Space seats, the positive side is that you are really getting an enormous legroom. No kidding, I even felt like the legroom is even larger than the united first class seats. Being 5’9’’, I literally can stretch all the way through even with my bag underneath the front seat. The drawback is that the only thing you are different from the others are the legroom lol. All the other services are the same for all the passenger including the snacks, meal and drink choices. (One thing that is awesome is that being a Mosaic Member you can enjoy free unlimited alcoholic drinks and they do have variety of choices)

        The United Airlines on the other hand provides a very premier services on board for first class which are totally different from the economy seats. You are provided with the pre-flight drink, a dinner meal and a hot towel before landing. They also separate the first class cabin so there is relatively more privacy and better access to the assigned bathroom lol.

Summary

Category	JetBlue	United Airlines	Winner
Routes	More direct route from BOS	Usually requires a transit	JetBlue
Check-in and Security	Has dedicated line	Has dedicated line	Both
Boarding Process	Much quicker process	Feel more “Royal”	JetBlue (Just my preference)
In-Flight Experience	Enormous leg room and free wines	Full-services with separate cabin	United Airlines