This week, I was writing the script for a video on which region has the best budget airlines, and read that something I’d taken for granted had changed last year! The airline famous for “most legroom in coach” is cutting seat pitch to 30 inches: here’s what you need to know before booking.
The Big Change
JetBlue Airways is ending its 25-year reign as America’s legroom champion. According to aviation insiders and a December 2025 internal memo from JetBlue President Marty St. George, the airline will reduce standard economy seat pitch from 32 inches to 30 inches across its Airbus fleet starting in June 2026.
The change makes room for a new “Mini Mint” (also called “Junior Mint”) domestic first class product: 8 to 12 recliner-style seats per aircraft with 36-37 inches of pitch. Prototype installations begin in June 2026, with full fleet retrofits rolling out at approximately 20 aircraft per month through 2027.
Watch
🎬 Key Moments from the Video
- [00:04] “JetBlue just dropped to 30 inches to squeeze in domestic first class up the front.”
- [01:34] “Even on a $50 fare, you’re getting decent leg room around 30 inches as of 2026.”
- [01:42] “JetBlue used to lead the industry at 32 inches, but they squeezed those seats.”
- [01:53] “You get free brand name snacks and often free high-speed Wi-Fi.”
Video captured May 2025. Details subject to change.
What’s Actually Changing
Before (Current Fleet):
- Standard Economy: 32 inches (industry-leading)
- Even More Space: 38-42 inches (select rows)
- No US domestic first class on most routes
After (Mid-2026 Onwards):
- Standard Economy: 30 inches (industry average)
- EvenMore (rebranded): ~35 inches (reduced and limited to front rows)
- Mini Mint First Class: 36-37 inches (8-12 seats per plane)
Aircraft Affected:
- Airbus A320s (162 seats total: 12 first, 150 economy)
- Airbus A321s (198 seats total: 12 first, 186 economy)
- Airbus A220s (143 seats total: 8 first, 135 economy)
Why This Matters
JetBlue’s 32-inch standard has been a key differentiator since 2000. With this change, their economy legroom will match competitors like United, Delta, and American Airlines, all of which offer 30-31 inches in basic economy.
The ancillary revenue play: Like Ryanair in Europe (which generates 34% of total revenue from fees rather than ticket sales), US carriers are increasingly relying on premium cabin upgrades and extra-legroom seat purchases to drive profitability. JetBlue’s move signals that “free extra legroom for everyone” is no longer economically viable.
Passenger Reactions
The announcement has sparked significant debate on Reddit’s r/jetblue community, with one user noting: “When news of it came out months ago unofficially, it mentioned that they’d give up the leg room so they can put those seats in.”
Travel blogs have been divided. While some celebrate the addition of a much-needed premium product, others, like Frommer’s in their December 2024 piece “This Airline Is Cutting Your Legroom by 2 Inches, but the Travel Press Cheered”, have criticized the industry’s acceptance of shrinking economy space. I can’t say that I’m thrilled either: the bigger seat pitch in economy is why I gave JetBlue’s transatlantic service a bit of a rave review in this article.
How JetBlue Compares (2026 changes)
Airline
Standard Economy Pitch
Extra Legroom Option
JetBlue (NEW)
30 inches
35 inches (EvenMore)
United
30-31 inches
34-35 inches
Delta
30-32 inches
34-35 inches
American
30-31 inches
34-38 inches
Spirit/Frontier
28 inches
36 inches (exit rows)
Southwest
32-33 inches
N/A (open seating)
The Verdict: JetBlue will still be at or above the US industry average, but it’s no longer the clear winner.
Comfort Hacks for 30-Inch Pitch:
What About Mini Mint?
JetBlue hasn’t released official pricing for the new domestic first class, but industry analysts expect it to be positioned competitively with:
- United First: ~$100-300 upgrade on domestic routes
- Delta First: ~$80-250 upgrade depending on route
- American First: ~$75-200 upgrade
The product will use Collins Aerospace MiQ recliners (the same seats American Airlines uses), offering more space and priority service but not lie-flat beds like JetBlue’s existing Mint product on transcontinental and international routes.
The Bottom Line
JetBlue’s decision to shrink economy legroom reflects a broader industry trend: comfort is now a paid upgrade, not a baseline expectation. While the airline will technically still offer “the most legroom in coach” on some aircraft (like the A321 Long Range), the gap between JetBlue and its competitors has effectively disappeared.
For fliers who’ve been loyal to JetBlue specifically for the extra 2 inches, it might be time to reassess, or budget for EvenMore seats.
Sources:
- One Mile at a Time: “JetBlue ‘Mini Mint’ First Class Rolling Out Fleetwide” (Dec 15, 2025)
- View from the Wing: “JetBlue Adds Domestic First Class By Squeezing Coach” (Dec 15, 2025)
- Frommer’s: “This Airline Is Cutting Your Legroom by 2 Inches” (Dec 12, 2024)
- Reddit: r/jetblue discussion