JetBlue will disable the Mint Suite doors on its A321neo fleet. The move comes after the carrier previously adjusted staffing for the flights.
Activation of the doors requires an additional flight attendant to be rostered on board, above the typical level of one per 50 seats. In December 2020 Exemption No. 18674 (Docket FAA-2020-0776) was issued, approving the installation of either 16 or 24 mini-suites with doors on an A321neo with the Airbus Cabin Flex (ACF) layout. Among other things, ACF removes the second doors forward of the wings, creating more space for the premium cabin on board.
While issued to Airbus, the configuration described is that of JetBlue’s newer Mint layout with either 16 or 24 Mint suites on board. Unlike the approval for JetBlue’s original Mint configuration, the FAA decided in this case that the additional crew is required:
The FAA does not agree with the petitioner’s proposal because the workload that will be required to ensure the proposed 16 or 24 suite doors are in the correct position for taxi, take-off, and landing is considered significant and would not necessitate an additional evaluation… Because this is a critical safety element to reduce the likelihood that a door could be left closed for takeoff and landing, the FAA will require an additional crewmember in order to grant this exemption.
With this move the A321neo fleet will be able to operate with four cabin crew on board rather than five. That will match the carrier’s other A320 and A321 staffing levels.
The change will be deployed across the eight affected aircraft by mid-August.
Note: This story has been updated to add additional details and context
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For the life of me, I just don’t understand why anyone would care about “suite doors” on a JetBlue flight. Why do “suite doors” matter? I am racking my brain.
Some travelers find value in the (impression of) increased privacy from the doors when in business class.