JetBlue to Offer New Lounges at JFK and Boston Logan
JetBlue has long positioned itself as a desirable airline, especially since the introduction of Mint, its premium business class offering, over a decade ago. However, despite the success of Mint, the airline has never fully rounded out its premium experience. Now JetBlue is set to launch its first-ever airport lounges, enhancing the upscale experience for its customers. These lounges are scheduled to open in late 2025 at two major hubs: New York’s JFK Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.
It’s about time too! JetBlue have a solid product but it was only a matter of time before they announced the inclusion of airport lounges because when the price is often the same as Delta or American Airlines, which both offer lounge entry for premium cabins, why would you choose JetBlue?
In their announcement, JetBlue highlighted their intention to bring the same fresh approach to lounges that they’ve applied to their in-flight services. They have promised to bring the ‘fun in functionality’ to the lounge experience (!) as well as mixologists at a full service bar, a wide range of food options, fast and free Wi-Fi and private workspaces.
JetBlue’s new lounges will be available at no extra charge for certain premium customers. Complimentary access will be extended to Transatlantic Mint passengers, TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members, and holders of a soon-to-be-released JetBlue credit card. In addition, TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members and premium credit cardholders will be allowed to bring one guest into the lounge at no extra cost.
For those who don’t meet these criteria, JetBlue also plans to offer day passes and guest passes for purchase, though details on pricing and which customers will be eligible for these passes are still under wraps.
JetBlue’s addition of premium lounges enhances its offering for travellers and brings it in line with other major airlines that have long provided lounge access with business class.
Thailand Reintroducing 300 Baht Tourist Fee
For many years, there have been talks about a contentious 300 Baht (roughly £7) fee for international tourists arriving by air in Thailand. It was first approved by the Thai cabinet in 2022 and shelved only earlier this year in June 24 after fears it would deter tourists and stop them from spending in other areas such as shopping and dining, which could benefit the economy more significantly. Now, only a few months since being scrapped, the plan is being revived by the new government under Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong.
In the grand scheme of things, a £7 fee won’t put off many luxury travellers but I think it was worth pointing out the u-turn by the new government. It will be worth keeping an eye out for more changes in the coming months as I know a lot of our travellers travel to Thailand regularly.
The reintroduction of this fee is part of Thailand’s push to boost tourism revenue and reinvest in infrastructure improvements and safety measures. While the 300 Baht might not seem like much, it could be a dealbreaker for budget-conscious travellers or backpackers who are sensitive to any additional costs. It’s a delicate balancing act for the Thai government, trying to enhance the tourist experience while ensuring that the fee doesn’t drive visitors to more affordable destinations in the region. Only time will tell if this strategy will help Thailand remain a top choice for international travellers or push them to explore other Southeast Asian countries.
9 comments
If a traveller is put off visiting by a tourist fee equivalent to £7, that is going to be the type of traveller that the Thai government is rightly going to want to deter
Yes, I would be astonished if £7 puts anyone off at the start of their holiday. Sometimes at the end of a holiday when I was younger I would travel with cases on the metro rather than take a cab to the airport as I was having to watch the pennies. But that’s at the end of the event, not the start.
A lot of countries have already started the tourist fee like Dominican Republic and EU going to start ETIAS visa fee soon so on 7 Euros is next to nothing considering the food and a lot of stuff in Thailand are much cheaper than EU and US
How many people are deterred from flying by the ever-increasing passenger duty and other fees and surcharges, most of which go up annually by far more than £7? It’s a pretty safe money grab…
I agree, but the fact the Thai government keeps changing their minds on it must mean they think it will have some sort of impact.
Last time I checked Ankor Wat was in Cambodia not Thailand!!
The image is Wat Chaiwatthanaram, a Buddhist temple in the city of Ayutthaya, Thailand.
It’s not Angkor Wat, it’s a temple in Ayutthaya north of Bankgkok.
I suppose the point is that it’s just more cost for travellers; ETAs here, ESTAs there, ETIAS, departure taxes, arrivals taxes, citytaxes, ecotaxes, electronic tolls, and so on. Having reached a stage where things such as visas compulsory currency exchange have gone in many/most instances, costs and barriers to travel are increasing again because of digitalisation ironically as these things have become easier to impose/levy
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