JetBlue is planning discounted "Base" fares for its coming first-class cabin, which is expected to launch later this year.
Thomas Pallini/Business Insider
The airline "basic premium" trend is spreading.JetBlue Airways announced on Monday that it is unbundling its coming first-class cabin with a new fare dubbed "BlueFirst Base" that strips perks like seat selection in exchange for a lower price.The new fare will roll out "in the coming days" as JetBlue prepares to launch its new "BlueFirst" experience later this year on all of its planes that don't have Mint business class.That means long routes currently flying in an all-economy setup, like New York to Seattle and Boston to Portland, will get a first-class section — bringing JetBlue's cabin lineup closer to that of its largest US competitors.The strategy mirrors moves from United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which both recently announced similar discounted premium fare structures as airlines look to capture growing demand for premium travel.It's unclear how much cheaper the BlueFirst Base option will be, but fares will likely fall between JetBlue's premium-economy offering, "EvenMore," and Mint — its highest-end cabin with lie-flat beds on select long-haul international and transcontinental routes.Looking at JetBlue flights for Boston to Los Angeles in August, an economy ticket is between about $300 and $500. EvenMore with extra legroom is about $900, and Mint is about $1,700.
