“I simply need the meal service to take longer,” stated nobody ever on a brief eastbound transatlantic flight.
That is as a result of, on most flights between the East Coast and Europe, the important thing to beating jet lag is to maximise your sleep. That is very true for those who’re fortunate sufficient to take a seat within the pointy finish of the airplane with lie-flat beds.
Whereas the business-class expertise will get you a completely flat seat, it additionally sometimes consists of two meals. This can be a lot of meals, however extra importantly, it is also a number of wasted sleeping time, contemplating these flights take simply roughly seven hours.
So, any innovation that makes the meal service go sooner is a win in my e book. That is the place JetBlue excels, with an improve that I’ve by no means seen earlier than on a flight to Europe.
Particularly, the airline lately debuted a wi-fi ordering characteristic that lets you choose your meal choices straight from the seatback display screen.
This innovation caught me abruptly final week in the course of the airline’s inaugural flight to Paris, however it’s maybe the largest enchancment I’ve seen but to the onboard service move on a brief transatlantic flight.
As you are settling into your seat, the seatback display screen invitations you to position your order. The simple-to-understand ordering system prompts you to make your decide for dinner and breakfast, and it consists of an unbelievable quantity of element on every dish.
It lists the primary substances, together with any allergens, and it additionally shows an image of what the dish seems like. The system even lets you choose the “specific” service for both meal, permitting you to totally customise your eating expertise when seated in Mint.
When you make your picks, you may be requested to substantiate your whole meal order earlier than sending it off wirelessly to an iPad within the galley.
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On the Paris inaugural, flight attendants got here by means of the aisle throughout boarding to rapidly affirm my order and ask what I might prefer to drink after takeoff.
As soon as within the air, the crew sprang into motion, losing no time getting the service underway and making ready meals.
By digitalizing the meal ordering course of, flight attendants simply shaved off 10 to fifteen minutes from the service move — one thing I used to be very grateful for when it was lastly time to catch some shut-eye.
Apparently, JetBlue first launched this wi-fi ordering characteristic within the financial system cabin on transatlantic flights. These seated in Core, as JetBlue calls coach, can place their custom-made meal order from the display screen anytime throughout boarding, taxi and takeoff.
The system works equally to the one in enterprise class, besides there are fewer selections.
For now, JetBlue continues to print menus in its Mint business-class cabin. Nonetheless, I would not be shocked if it determined to get rid of these and go all-in on digital ordering, maybe marketed as a sustainability initiative.
However to be able to absolutely digitalize the ordering expertise, I might need to see three extra upgrades from JetBlue.
The primary could be the flexibility to order drinks from the seatback display screen. Till then, there’s nonetheless a touchpoint with the crew that may be eradicated.
Secondly, it might be nice if JetBlue enabled on-demand ordering between meal companies. As a substitute of urgent the decision button to flag a flight attendant, it might be nice for those who may merely request your drinks and snacks from the seatback display screen anytime in the course of the flight.
Lastly, I might like to see the airline introduce a preorder choice, permitting you to order your meal roughly every week earlier than your flight. This can be a service that American Airways, Delta Air Traces and United Airways supply on many long-haul routes. It helps set expectations and get rid of waste.
If JetBlue enabled this service, it might be cool in case your preordered meal mechanically appeared on the seatback display screen and requested you to substantiate that you simply’re nonetheless completely satisfied together with your picks.
Even with out these upgrades, JetBlue’s innovation is one thing I hope different airways copy.
In fact, there is a {hardware} limitation on older planes with out wireless-enabled seatback screens. Nonetheless, it is a nifty new characteristic that ought to actually save invaluable time on brief red-eyes to Europe.
I, for one, very a lot appreciated feeling a bit extra refreshed after I wakened in Paris.
