This led to major airlines adopting policies that protected the value of a ticket in the form of a voucher or digital credit to protect all scenarios. (Who could’ve ever predicted a scenario like the pandemic?! It still makes me shudder…)

British Airways had their own version of this, which they called their ‘Book with confidence‘ policy. This guaranteed that money spent on tickets would be saved in the form of an eVoucher should the reservation be canceled.

Now, in the post-pandemic world of air travel, passengers are returning to airlines in droves, many of whom being holders of these vouchers. Here, I’ll be explaining what the eVoucher is, and how you can use it when flying on British Airways.

The Basics

Think of the British Airways eVoucher as a gift card. It is simply a digital form of credit issued by the airline that can be used towards flights.

These vouchers are typically issued after a person cancels their flight, or as compensation for itinerary interruptions.

Benefits

Here are the things we love about the BA eVoucher:

Flexibility

One of the primary advantages of the British Airways eVoucher is its flexibility. Passengers are able to use what they spent on a canceled reservation for new bookings for their full value.

Convenience

As a digital form of credit, the eVoucher eliminates the need for physical vouchers or paper documentation. This allows for (mostly) seamless booking through the British Airways website, and vouchers are instantly applied.

With some exceptions, travelers are able to use their travel credit without the headache of long customer service wait times and endless searching for pieces of paper they may have received months ago.

Cost-Effectiveness

The eVoucher can be an effective tool for cost-conscious travelers who don’t want the money spent on their ticket to vanish in the event that plans change. And who isn’t cost-conscious when it comes to canceled flights?

It’s a secure way of knowing your money on a boarding pass hasn’t gone to waste.

Redemption Process

Been given an eVoucher and want to know how to apply it to a new flight? Let’s get you boarding that plane and taking to the skies. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Receiving the eVoucher

Got your eVoucher? The British Airways eVoucher is typically issued due to a flight cancellation or disruption, as compensation, or as part of a promotion.

Once you receive the eVoucher, it will be linked to your British Airways account and can be accessed through the BA website or mobile app. You’ll also receive an email with the details of your voucher including its number and monetary value.

Keep hold of this for future reference, so that it’s easy to find when you need it. I personally like to create a folder in my emails so that I know where it’s safely tucked away for when I need it.

Step 2: Selecting Your Redemption Flight

To select the flight you wish to spend your voucher on, simply visit the British Airways website and enter all pertinent information as you normally would. Once you find the flight you want, proceed to book as normal.

Step 3: Applying The eVoucher

Here’s the fun part! Once you reach checkout, you’ll see an option that says, ‘Apply an eVoucher‘.

Select it, and you’ll be prompted to enter your email, last name, and eVoucher code. The value of the eVoucher will apply to your purchase price, and voila, you’re done!

Helpful Tips

OK, so the process was more simple than you thought, right? But before you go rushing in to pick your new flight, here are a few tips that’ll help you get the most out of your eVoucher and avoid any disappointment:

Check Expiration Dates

Don’t let the money spent on your canceled ticket get away from you. Pay close attention to the expiration date on your eVoucher so you can use it in time.

Combine With Promotions

Look out for any promotions or discounts that British Airways is running when you book. You are allowed to apply your eVoucher to a promotional fare, which is a great way to maximize savings!

Plan Ahead

International travel will almost always be cheaper when booking at least a couple of months in advance. Shopping for a flight early can lead to a great deal, squeezing every drop of value out of your eVoucher!

Special Circumstances

Generally, British Airways are pretty helpful in ensuring you aren’t robbed of a flight and can get the very most out of your eVoucher. Here, I explain a few scenarios and their rules:

COVID-19 eVouchers

If your eVoucher was issued during the COVID-19 pandemic through BA’s ‘Book with confidence’ policy, your voucher expires on September 30th, 2025.

With COVID-related vouchers, you MUST use your eVoucher on travel that concludes before the expiration date. For example, if you book a roundtrip flight that leaves September 19, 2025, and returns on September 29, your voucher can be applied.

If you book a flight that returns on October 1, 2025, then it will fall outside the valid window and an eVoucher issued under the policy can’t be applied.

Using an eVoucher on a flight for someone else

Unlike other airlines, a British Airways eVoucher CAN be spent on travel for a person other than yourself.

For security reasons, however, bookings made within four days of departure will have to include the person who the eVoucher was originally issued to.

Funds from baggage & upgrades

If you canceled a British Airways reservation and had already pre-paid baggage and/or purchased an upgrade, those funds will be credited back to you in the form of an eVoucher with the cost of the flight.

How very fair of you, British Airways!

Holiday vouchers

If you booked a vacation package through British Airways Holidays that was canceled and you received a voucher as a result, you’ll need to call BA customer service to redeem it.

Country restrictions

If you’re looking to use an eVoucher to travel to certain countries or regions (primarily Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia), you’ll need to call BA customer service to book.

Here’s the full list of countries you’ll need to contact BA, to see if they can help you use your eVoucher for flights:

Verdict

If you currently hold a British Airways eVoucher, I would recommend using it sooner rather than later. They do expire, and with airlines running promotions to gear up for Euro summer, it’s a great time to start watching flight prices and cash in!

Today I’m looking specifically at the Premier credit card in this Southwest Airlines credit card review.

Generally speaking, points on an airline card can only be redeemed either with that airline or its partners, and point multipliers only apply to purchases made with companies associated with that particular airline. 

If you’re looking to stretch travel points – quite literally, to the ends of the Earth – you’ll want to look into a transferable points card.

Cards issued through banks themselves (such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One, etc.) will transfer to a multitude of airlines, often at 1:1 ratios, and can include perks like lounge access – something that no Southwest card will offer. When you see an influencer flying business class to exotic destinations paid for entirely through points, they’re using a transferable points card.

That being said, there are travelers out there who are very loyal to Southwest; I doubt there are official numbers on this, but I’ve met more people who rave about Southwest more than any other US airline.

While I’m not their biggest fan, I’ll often look to Southwest when flying with a lot of luggage due to their generous bag policy. If you’re loyal to the airline or a heavy packer who likes to avoid baggage fees, the Southwest Premier card is worth taking a look at. 

New Cardholder Promotion

Southwest is currently running a special for those who open a new account. As a new Southwest Premier Card cardholder, you’ll be treated to 30,000 bonus points plus a companion pass, so long as you spend $4k within three months of the account being opened.

The companion pass is good until February 28th, 2025, and the 30,000 points could be enough for a roundtrip flight based on when and where you travel.

The landing page to apply for the card will lead you to believe that this promotion will only last x amount of days. However, from my research this is scarcity marketing, and the promotion is actually run quite frequently.

Southwest Premier Credit Card Benefits

The most attractive perk of this card, in my opinion, is the companion pass. Once earned, this pass allows you to add a companion to an existing Southwest reservation completely free of charge, so long as there’s space on the flight.

The draw of this benefit cannot be overstated; this is literally a free ticket for anyone of your choosing to travel with you on the same flight. 

Oftentimes, an airline will advertise that they offer a companion pass, but it’s nearly impossible to obtain and is more of a marketing ploy than anything else. To achieve this without the Premier Card, you would have to fly at least 100 one-way flights or earn 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year to qualify for the companion pass.

This easily translates to spending over five figures solely with Southwest and/or taking about two flights a week on the carrier, which is simply not a viable possibility for the overwhelming majority of their customers.

With a Southwest Premier Card, however, the requirement to obtain the pass is to spend $4,000 within three months of opening the account. This is around the normal spending amount for an average person within that time frame.

Of course, this requires financial discipline and good money management. You must ensure that you never get into financial difficulty to meet any credit card’s spending requirements for points.

But if you’re able to sensibly achieve this, obtaining the companion pass is a valuable reward. And let’s not forget that meeting this spending requirement will also grant you 30,00 bonus points on top of the points you’ll accrue from using the card in the first place.

Additionally, this card provides an anniversary bonus of 6,000 points and 1,500 TQPs (tier qualifying points) for every $5,000 spent annually. And what do tier-qualifying points get you?

Well, when you’ve earned 35,000 TQPs you qualify for the prestigious A-List status, which is the only reward tier in Southwest’s frequent flier program. This status grants travelers priority check-in and boarding, a dedicated customer service phone number, and a 25% point earning bonus on Southwest flights.

Like any other travel rewards card, point-earning multipliers can apply depending on the purchase being made and the company it’s being made through. Here are Southwest’s Premier redemption ratios:

Should you have any friends looking for a travel card, there’s a generous referral program. Send your friend a unique link tied to your account to apply for the Premier card, and once they’re approved, you’ll receive a bonus of 20,000 points, with a limit of five people/100,000 points per year.

When flying Southwest, cardholders are provided with two early bird check-ins per year (a system that automatically checks you in 24 hours before your flight, providing a better boarding position), and 25% back on inflight purchases, which on Southwest is essentially just alcohol.

Southwest Premier card holders will also enjoy perks such as no foreign transaction fees and fraud protection provided through Chase Bank, the card issuer.

Southwest Premier Credit Card Drawbacks

This card has two main drawbacks: the first being the $99 annual fee, and the second being that point redemption is limited to Southwest flights exclusively.

While it’s nearly impossible to get out of an annual fee for a rewards card, at least if you plan to use it long term, there are ways to balance that fee out. This will of course depend on the card used, the point value, and other benefits associated with the card.

Though it’s up to each of us as to what we can consider as valuable benefits for the annual fee, there are other cards out there with a similar fee that I would say get more bang for your buck.

Because this card accrues points that can only be redeemed for flights on Southwest, this comes with some major restrictions that you’ll want to consider before applying.

Notably, Southwest doesn’t have a very extensive route network. The airline only operates within North America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, and lacks flights to Alaska and Canada.

This significantly limits how far these points can physically go, and if your goal in the points game is intercontinental travel, then the Southwest Premier Card probably isn’t for you.

Coupled with being restricted to Southwest’s network, you’re subject to falling victim to one of their mass cancellations. These situations can arise with any airline, though Southwest seems to be in the news for this a lot, and the word ‘scandal’ is frequently thrown around when it happens.

The reasons behind these cancellations are often within their control and they seem to happen during busy travel periods, leading to responses from the Department of Transportation directed at Southwest specifically. This is a risk anyone takes when flying Southwest, cardholder or not, and should be considered when deciding to commit to them by taking out their credit card.

The Fine Print

The Southwest Premier card is issued by Chase Bank and is subject to their terms and policies. The APR ranges from 21.49% to 28.49% based on creditworthiness, and a penalty APR of up to 29.99% should any payments be missed.

These rates are fairly standard for mid-range travel cards such as Southwest Premier, but for those with outstanding credit there are lower interest rate options available with transferable point cards.

On top of the $99 annual fee, there’s a fee of $5 or 5% for balance transfers and $10 or 10% for cash advances, depending upon which amount is greater. Late and returned payment fees are $40.

There is no fee for going over your credit limit, though like any credit card, approval for exceeding your limit is decided by the issuing bank.

Point Redemption

The point redemption process on Southwest is straightforward and not unlike other airlines when booking. There are also options to redeem points for merchandise and Southwest gift cards.

Unlike some other airlines, the cost in points of a Southwest ticket is directly related to the cash value of the flight. This makes the process easier on point users when booking, as there’s no constant toggling between price in dollars and points to find the best deal. The cheapest flight by dollar amount will cost the least amount of points, and vice versa for more expensive flights.

Having point redemption tied to the cash value of a ticket also allows point users to take advantage of Southwest’s frequent sales, and roundtrip flights can run under 30,000 points per person depending on the route.

Since the welcome offer includes 30,000 bonus points and a companion pass, if you play your cards right this could equate to round trip air travel for two people simply by using the Premier card on everyday purchases for three months. Travel points win!

Tickets booked though point redemption are also subject to Southwest’s “transfarency” philosophy/policy, meaning no fees for changes or cancellations. 

What I also love about Southwest is that if the price of your flight drops after booking, Southwest will credit the point difference to your account.

This process isn’t automatic, however. You’re in charge of watching the flight price and taking action should it fall below what you paid, but if and when that occurs, simply call Southwest customer service and they’ll provide the credit.

Alternative Southwest Cards

If you want to stay within the Southwest card family but the Southwest Premier Credit Card isn’t for you, there are a few options you could consider:

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

The lowest tier of Southwest cards. There’s a lower annual fee of $69, though point earnings are substantially lowered.

There’s a maximum 2:1 dollars spent to points-earned ratio, including on purchases through Southwest, and anniversary points are cut in half to 3,000/year. There is still the ability to earn a companion pass, though the qualifications remain the same.

There ARE foreign transaction fees with this card, and there is no ability to earn TQPs towards A-List status based on spending. This card does still offer two early bird check-ins per year and 25% back on inflight purchases, as does the Premier Card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority

The highest tier of Southwest cards for personal use. Though there’s a higher annual fee of $149, this card includes an annual travel credit of $75, so for those who frequent Southwest the fee can balance itself out.

There’s a slightly higher anniversary bonus of 7,500 points, and point-earning ratios are the same as the Premier Card. Qualifications for the companion pass remain the same.

Instead of early bird check-in, this card offers four upgraded boardings per year (subject to availability), guaranteeing a boarding position of A1-15. Cardholders earn TQPs on spending at the same rate as the Premier card, and receive 25% back on inflight purchases.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business

A card for business owners who travel frequently on Southwest. For $199, this card offers higher point-earning ratios in certain categories (4:1 on Southwest purchases, 3:1 on hotels) and 9,000 anniversary points.

The welcome offer doesn’t include a companion pass, but instead offers 80,000 points if the $5,000 spending requirement is met within three months. This card also offers TSA-precheck reimbursement, inflight Wi-Fi credits, four upgraded boardings per year, and all other benefits (less the companion pass) that Southwest cards offer.

Alternatives Outside of Southwest

If you’re looking for a wider variety of airlines to redeem points with but still want to have the option of redeeming on Southwest, you are by no means out of luck. Take a look at these options:

Chase Travel Rewards Suite

As Southwest cards are backed and issued by Chase, there’s a slew of cards offered by Chase that have a point transfer ratio of 1:1 with Southwest.

These include the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex cards. Each of these cards come with their own respective fees and point-earning ratios, and are great options for Southwest fans who want to use credit card points for travel beyond North America.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

Marriott Bonvoy points earned through use of their American Express cards are available for transfer to Southwest, albeit at a less desirable ratio. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold, Boundless, Bevy, and Brilliant cards will transfer points to Southwest at a 3:1 ratio, and those points are frankly better spent at Marriott properties.

Still, the option remains should you ever need it as a Marriott Bonvoy cardholder.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I would mostly recommend the Southwest Premier Credit Card to those who are already loyal to Southwest and don’t intend to travel outside of their route network.

What sets this card apart is the companion pass. If you frequently have a travel buddy and are able to sensibly meet the spending requirements to get the pass, then this card is worth your while. For solo travelers like me, however, this isn’t really a factor that comes into play, as it’s a benefit that would rarely be used.

Though the Southwest Premier Credit Card isn’t bad by any means, it’s more of a niche fit and there are better options on the market that are far less restrictive. If you’re looking for credit card points to take you across the world, save the hard inquiry and look elsewhere.

Historically, the only way to get out of the rat race of the skies was to shell out at least $3k/hour on a private flight charter; a luxury out of the realm of possibility for most people.

Thankfully, JetBlue cofounder Alex Wilcox has created a way to put those days behind us with the introduction of a new airline, JSX (formerly known as JetSuiteX).

JSX is a semi-private airline, meaning they sell individual seats on privately operated aircraft and don’t have to adhere to the same regulations as a typical commercial airline.

Though the cabin is shared with other passengers, a JSX ticket allows travelers the same perks as flying private, the biggest of which being no security screenings and not having to fly out of the main passenger terminal.

A seat will typically cost about the same as a first class ticket on a legacy airline, but they have frequent sales which offer prices more in line with standard economy fares. 

JSX began operating on the West Coast with routes between cities in California as well as to Las Vegas, but have expanded eastward in recent years. They now offer flights in nine states and Mexico, and continue to add more routes each year.

I had the privilege of flying JSX from Houston (Hobby) to Gunnison, CO, with a layover at Dallas-Love Field. Here’s my fully comprehensive JSX review.

Getting The Best Deal On JSX

When looking to book a semi-private flight, there are some key things to be aware of that will help you get the best deal.

For those booking with points, JSX has partnerships with United and JetBlue, allowing passengers to earn miles through MileagePlus and TrueBlue.

MileagePlus members will earn miles based on 100% of their flight length, times whatever multiplier is associated with their status, while TrueBlue members will earn 150 points for the ‘Hop On’ fare or 250 points with the ‘All In’ fare.

The amount of miles the flight will cost can vary greatly based on which airline you book through, but I’ve found short flights (i.e. Burbank to Las Vegas) starting around 50,000 United miles.

Booking with JSX is quite similar to the rate you’d pay for a first class seat on a commercial flight. However, you can get some good deals with JSX, especially when flying in/out of smaller airports. 

Take Gunnison for example. It’s a very small town with an airport that almost exclusively sees leisure travelers heading to the ski resorts in nearby Crested Butte.

I once managed one of these resorts, and when booking travel for guests I would usually find round trip economy tickets starting in the $500-600 range on American and United. Accounting for luggage, especially for those bringing ski equipment, you could easily be looking at $800 per person in economy.

This is where JSX sales can really show competitive advantage. They run these sales every few months, so if time allows, I would recommend watching for when these prices become available (you can also sign up for their email list to be notified).

With a bit of savvy, you could take to the skies on a semi-private flight for a very reasonable price.

Booking JSX

I booked my flight through the JSX website, which was essentially the same process as booking through any other airline. The only inconvenient part about it was that I had to book each leg of my trip separately.

I booked during their Red Stripe Sale; my leg from Houston to Dallas was $199, and from Dallas to Gunnison it was $149. That’s right, these prices were actually cheaper than economy flights on American and United, the only other airlines that fly to Gunnison.

JSX offers two fare classes: ‘Hop On’ and ‘All In’.

A Hop On fare, which is what I booked, includes two checked bags, is non-refundable, and charges for seat selection and flight changes. For a price difference of usually a couple hundred dollars, an All In fare includes three checked bags, is fully refundable, and includes complimentary seat selection and flight changes.

My top reason for flying JSX (besides always being up for trying a new airline) was due to their generous in-cabin pet policy. I was flying with my cat, and JSX didn’t charge a fee at the time to have a pet with you as long as the carrier fits underneath the seat in front of you.

Arriving at the Airport

JSX doesn’t operate out of the main terminals with other passenger carriers. Their terminal in Houston is a small, converted hangar that feels like more of an office than an airport gate (perhaps it was an office at one point).

I had a family member drop me off, and we were able to pull right up to the front door. If you’re using your own vehicle, they offer valet parking for a fee.

A huge perk of flying with JSX is the lack of security rigmarole; there was literally no screening at all. This allows you to show up to the airport only 15 minutes before the flight, which is when boarding and baggage loading starts.

If you’re traveling within Texas or California, flying commercial is often more time-consuming than driving, courtesy of all the processes that take place before getting on the flight.

With JSX, you can be walking in the door at the Houston terminal and walking out of the Dallas terminal in less than 90 minutes. This is a game changer for intrastate business travel, providing the fastest publicly available transit option along major travel corridors like Houston to Dallas or Los Angeles to San Francisco.

HOU Terminal

Check in was a breeze. They took my checked bag, tagged my backpack and cat carrier and handed me my boarding pass in less than two minutes.

The waiting area is pretty small, but for people traveling in groups, they have conference rooms available for use before the flight. They allowed me to use one of these rooms to get my cat ready, which was a lifesaver since he was stressed out and needed to stretch his legs before the first flight.

Boarding JSX Flights

The boarding process was, arguably, the fastest I’ve ever experienced. Once it’s time to board, the agent scans your boarding pass and you walk directly onto the tarmac up to the plane.

I’ve never had the chance to fly on a true private jet, but I did feel the same sense of sophistication and class that I imagine one would have boarding their own plane. A couple of Instagram photoshoots were even happening at the boarding stairs. A real premium experience for the same cost of a ticket on the Southwest aircraft we could see in the distance.

The flight attendant kindly welcomed everyone onboard and personally directed us to our seats.

Hobby is the smaller of the two commercial Houston airports and has served as a hub for Southwest for decades. I took this flight during one of Southwest’s infamous canceling-every-flight-just-because scandals, and our flight attendant was playfully joking about how we would actually take off and on time.

Within a few minutes of the boarding door closing, we were moving. Since JSX operates out of a private terminal, they’re able to use the smaller runways that only cargo and private aircraft usually have access to, so taking off was quick. We got the usual safety briefing and were up in the air shortly thereafter.

The Aircraft

JSX exclusively operates Embraer’s 135 and 145, in either a 1-2 layout or a 1-1 layout (my HOU-DAL leg was 1-2, DAL-GUC was 1-1). Each seat offers 36 inches of pitch, while exit rows offer 50.

That being said, these seats are not all created equal. On the 1-1 layout, the seats on the left side of the cabin are standalone, while those on the right side of the aircraft have leather cocktail trays and armrests next to them, and have double the underseat storage (see right).

These seats can cost an extra $79-$99 to reserve during booking, but luckily there weren’t many people on my flight, so I snagged one free of charge when I got to Dallas.

Notably, JSX aircraft don’t have any overhead storage bins, which means no larger carry-on bags allowed.

Each reservation includes at least two checked bags up to 50 pounds each, and one personal item that can fit underneath the seat in front of you.

The staff in Houston thankfully weren’t forcing people to put small items in sizers or being especially difficult about it (looking at you, Frontier), but it’s a good thing to keep in mind when flying with them.

HOU-DAL Leg

Shortly after take-off, the flight attendant came around for our drink order. There’s no service cart on JSX; orders are written down and brought out individually.

I’ve flown from Houston to Dallas dozens of times, and due to the short duration of the flight there’s normally a limited refreshment service, if any at all. Not in the case of JSX.

We had access to the full drinks menu, including free alcohol, as well as an array of complimentary snacks. They offer Starbucks coffee on board, which is what I opted for. The flight attendants also came around offering refills despite only having about twenty minutes left before landing, something I found to be a nice touch on a short commuter flight.

Being on a flight with a pet can be stressful, and I’ve had experiences where flight crew were less than pleased to see me traveling with one.

However, the flight attendant on this flight couldn’t have been more accommodating. She went above and beyond to ensure both my cat and I had a comfortable flight; she brought him a bowl of water without having to be asked, and wasn’t uptight about me unzipping the carrier to calm my little guy down.

I travel somewhat frequently with my cat, and when airline staff show kindness to pet owners it leaves me with a great impression.

DAL Terminal

We deplaned directly onto the tarmac in Dallas and luggage was delivered planeside. The terminal in Dallas is considerably larger than the one in Houston and is nicer than some airport lounges I’ve been to.

JSX provided free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the terminal, including espresso-based coffee drinks, with an array of seating options.

Notably, however, there weren’t any private conference rooms like at their other locations. I was banking on these rooms being available so I could take care of my cat during my layover, but after talking to the staff they graciously allowed me into a back office to get him situated.

They also gave me a JSX branded pet bandana, which I still have.

Since I had to book two separate tickets on this itinerary, I needed to check-in again with a gate agent in Dallas. This is when I asked about being moved to the right side of the aircraft, which the agent obliged as the flight was less than half full.

While I appreciated the complimentary seat change, this is where I encountered the only problem I had on my journey…

I had a total of three pieces of luggage with me: a suitcase, a backpack, and a pet carrier. Since I was traveling with a pet, that technically counts as a personal item and I was informed I had to check my backpack.

The staff in Houston let me board with both my cat and backpack, and that was on an aircraft with a 1-2 layout with the potential for a seatmate, so I didn’t quite understand why it was okay on my first flight but not the second with a 1-1 layout, as I wouldn’t be taking space from another person. But, rules are rules and I didn’t see the point in arguing.

The gate agent did allow me to hold onto my backpack until boarding which was nice, and this was only a minor inconvenience which I’m happy to overlook given all the other benefits.

DAL-GUC Leg

Boarding the second flight was just as seamless as the first. Love Field is the smaller of the two Dallas airports with commercial passenger service, and has considerably more private aircraft activity due to its proximity to the city. 

Since this leg was considerably longer than the last, we were treated to a selection of fresh food on top of the normal snack and drink offerings on board. I opted for the fruit and cheese plate, which was surprisingly fresh and had a nice variety, even by on-the-ground standards.

Always one to get my money’s worth, this leg is where I indulged in the complimentary alcoholic beverages that are included in the fare. They have a great selection of medium-to-high shelf spirit options, on top of wine and beer.

I started with a tequila sprite with Cazadores. (Note: on the menu it lists Casamigos, which I prefer and is considered a higher-quality tequila, but you can’t be too picky when it’s free!)

I rounded this off with a chardonnay from Josh Cellars, and though it’s not the nicest wine in the world, they did give me the entire 375ml bottle, which paired perfectly with views of the southern Rockies and being nestled up with a book.

All this merriment of course led to me using the lavatory. Though I didn’t get a picture, it was quite modern and shockingly clean for airplane bathroom standards.

There were faux marble finishings and a large, well-lit mirror, adding a luxurious feel. Not quite the shower suite on Emirates, but better than expected for a two-hour domestic flight.

The flight attendant on this leg provided the same great service that I received on the first. She was very attentive and consistently came up and down the aisle throughout the flight, offering to serve us up until our final descent.

One thing that stood out to me is that she would freshen up the lavatory after every couple of uses. I’ve seen this done on international flights in premium cabins, but never that frequently and certainly never on a domestic flight. The flight crew on JSX gets a 10/10 from me.

Upon landing in Gunnison, our luggage was delivered planeside, and I didn’t have to wait at all – a welcome surprise as the bitter mountain cold nipped at my mood slightly. We were led across the tarmac and through a back hallway, and after a ramp agent quickly asked to pet my cat, my first semi-private experience concluded.

Verdict

If you’re shopping for a flight on a route that JSX offers, or you’re okay with slight itinerary modifications, I cannot recommend JSX enough.

The benefits of flying semi-private are what sell this experience, the biggest of which I would say is the lack of laborious security screening. JSX has done a great job of removing the stressful parts of air travel – being able to show up at the terminal and just fly is really the only edge JSX needs to be competitive with legacy airlines.

The semi-private space is growing, however, and the superior service and amenities JSX provides will help set them apart going forward. Flying with them was a genuine pleasure and I look forward to doing it again soon.

Anyone who’s flown North American domestic first class in the past twenty years is aware of its widespread mediocrity.

For an average of 3-4x the price point of standard economy, one can expect nothing more than a mildly improved seat, extra baggage allowance, free drinks, and a mosquito net to separate yourself from the passengers unlucky enough to have to pay for those amenities separately.

There’s typically no lounge access, no private suite to showcase on Instagram, and no apparent reason for the average traveler to justify the splurge. While it’s a step above intra-Europe business class, the bar isn’t particularly high.

Enter Delta.

The A321neo

With the addition of the A321neo came the only notable change to a first-class recliner seen from a legacy airline this century. I recently had the chance to fly this product on DL630 with service from Minneapolis to Anchorage.

Though other airlines such as American and Hawaiian have taken delivery of the neo, Delta is the only carrier that made any significant alterations to the in-cabin experience.

Delta could have run with the pack, installing their past products, and called it a day. Yet with post-pandemic travel seeing premium cabins being booked more than ever and premium passengers being pickier than ever, it’s important for an airline to look at new ways to stay competitive.

For Delta, this manifested in a serious redesign of the domestic first-class experience, a leap I’m thrilled that they took. 

My introduction to this seat was made simply through luck; as a silver medallion member, I was the last of the frequent flyer group to qualify for a complimentary upgrade, and the odds were seemingly not in my favor. When I started my journey at Houston-Bush Intercontinental, there were two first class seats left on my second leg with three people in line ahead of me.

I boarded the IAH-MSP flight with low expectations and accepted the itinerary I paid for.

My first leg was pleasant and uneventful.

Upon landing, I took my phone off airplane mode, ending my break from the duties of digital citizenship. That’s when I saw the magical notification: I got an upgrade on my next flight. I don’t know how it happened, but I wasn’t in any place to question why the Delta gods put me in their favor. The excitement gave me the push I needed to make my 35-minute connection time. Exploring MSP would have to wait until later; I had to run.

Delta’s A321neo Seat Configuration

I made it to my gate as Comfort+ was boarding and quickly made it down the jet bridge. Delta’s A321neo features twenty first class seats in a 2-2 configuration; my seat assignment was 4B, an aisle seat in the second-to-last row. 

The first thing to strike me about the A321neo was how modern it felt. Even though the aircraft has been in service for some time now, the cabin was free from the noticeable dirt and wear seen on aircraft that have been flying for years.

The mood lighting was set to a pleasant pinkish-red and was accompanied by Taylor Swift’s “Lover” as boarding music. As an aviation geek and a Swiftie, I was thrilled.

First Impressions

The overhead bins had a generous amount of storage, similar to those on a wide-body aircraft. These similarities were a continuing theme, as the A321neo didn’t have the same cramped feeling that some narrow-bodied planes do.

I am 6’2” and I often have to duck when walking through smaller aircraft so my head doesn’t hit the ceiling. On this flight, however, I was able to stand comfortably in the spacious cabin.

Waiting for me at my seat was a Delta One amenity kit, a touch that costs the airline next to nothing but can mean everything to a passenger, especially those who normally wouldn’t fly first class and chose to treat themselves.

The kit was in a small pouch made by sustainable Mexican apparel brand Someone, Somewhere. In it was an eye mask, a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste, a pen, ear plugs, and lotion from the brand Grown Alchemist. I still use the pouch today to carry flash drives, and it has held up well since my flight. 

The seat itself was generously padded and felt like those in a Delta One suite. Despite my tardiness, the flight attendant happily hung my coat and served me a pre-departure beverage.

A noteworthy aspect of Delta’s domestic first-class product is that the food and beverage is served with proper table and glassware; this is something that’s often hit-or-miss on other legacy carriers. It’s these smaller details that really drive home the premium experience.

Sipping my ginger ale, I started to become acquainted with my home for the next six hours. There are privacy dividers between each seat, and they’re adorned with winged headrests, helping prevent those awkward shoulder-to-shoulder moments that are often otherwise inescapable.

Another pro of the winged headrests is that aisle seat passengers will have something sturdy to rest their head on when sleeping, a luxury formerly reserved only for those in window seats.

Passengers seated in this configuration also have access to their own personal power outlet and USB port, a small cubby in the armrest that I used to store my phone and air pods, and a slot adjacent to the under-seat storage designed to fit an average sized laptop. The only shared part of this configuration is the cocktail tray attached to the armrest, which still had ample space for both glasses. American Airlines, please take notes.

One of the many perks that comes with flying Delta is that nearly all their narrow-bodied fleet is equipped with seat-back entertainment screens. Though the other legacy carriers have free entertainment that can be streamed using your personal device, in my opinion the seat-back screen drastically improves the flight experience, regardless of cabin class.

A321neo passengers in the front of the plane will be treated to a 13-inch HD touchscreen complete with Delta Studio, an award-winning IFE system.

Side Note: While I will always take seat-back screens over lack thereof, I miss the days when flight attendants gave the safety announcement opposed to a video. I can appreciate the importance of streamlining, especially regarding safety, but it’s a treat when a flight attendant makes the otherwise lackluster safety speech funny and engaging. Though for the sake of modernization, I suppose those days are behind us.

After I got settled in, we pushed back from the gate and the typical pre-takeoff rituals ensued. Our expected flight time was six hours and five minutes gate-to-gate, with a takeoff-to-touchdown time of about five hours and fifteen minutes. A perfect amount of time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the result of Delta’s product development think tank.

It’s fair to say that a new airline seat can only be judged accurately in an airline’s favorite environment: a sold-out flight.

Minus the occasional exception, the prime goal of an aircraft cabin layout is to pack in as many seats as possible, maintaining the delicate balance between profitability and keeping cabin conditions humane (I think the term “comfortable” can be a bit of a stretch these days, particularly in domestic economy). 

Seat Pitch & Legroom

As a tall person, I, albeit ironically, get the short end of the stick in this exchange. Even some first-class seats can be tight for those of us over six feet, but I am pleased to report that I fit not only comfortably in Delta’s new premium seat design, but even with my backpack under the seat in front of me, I had a little bit of legroom to spare.

I’d like to extend my sincerest gratitude to whoever spoke up for us in the meeting where Delta decided on their new seat on seat pitch. 

The one criticism I have thus far is that the new seat appears to be a shell design with a fixed back – it’s not. This means that when the seat reclines, the entire seat back moves, often into the knees of the person seated behind you. A fixed shell seat, on the other hand, will remain stationary and only the cushioned portion of the seat will move. This is becoming more common with long haul premium economy seat designs.

As both a tall and somewhat self-conscious individual, I think this is a missed opportunity on Delta’s part. A fixed shell not only spares you the guilt of diminishing a fellow passenger’s personal space, but it also spares us vertically enhanced people from having our precious pitch taken from us. 

Fun fact: “pitch” refers to the distance between your seat and the back of the seat in front of you. Though not necessarily the same thing as legroom, it’s a good metric to use when flight shopping.

My Delta A321neo Flight Experience

During taxi and takeoff, our flight attendant allowed us to hold on to our pre-departure beverages. I’m not sure if there are government regulations surrounding this, but I’ve been on several flights where they had to be chugged before departure.

Again, it’s the little things like this that really make a travel experience. Shoutout to that flight attendant, unless it’s against regulation, in which case shoutout rescinded.

Once we reached a safe altitude, our flight attendant once again came around, refilled our drinks, and offered a variety of snacks. First class and Comfort+ passengers on Delta are treated to several full size sweet and savory goodies to choose from compared to the usual fare of Biscoff cookies and mini pretzels in economy. Of course, I still had to get a pack of Biscoff; this is Delta, after all.

I’m always impressed with the selection of entertainment options Delta has to offer. They have a tasteful blend of new, not-so-new, and classic movie options along with full seasons of popular network television shows and live DIRECTV. I started with Ocean’s 8, a jewelry heist movie starring Sandra Bullock that had been on my to-watch list. Whatever is on your list, it’s a safe bet that Delta Studio will have a title for you to cross off.

Dining Options

About an hour into the flight, we gave our dinner orders. We had three options: beef short rib with mashed potatoes and roast vegetables, wild mushroom ravioli with grilled vegetables in a garlic-herb butter sauce, and grilled chicken breast over couscous with grilled broccolini.

Each entrée was served with a warm dinner roll and a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette. I had to skip the salad due to an allergy, but they looked fresh. These were served on proper dinner plates with metal cutlery and a cloth napkin not unlike what you’d find in a restaurant.

I opted for the mushroom ravioli paired with a glass of Imagery Prosecco. The meal was fine; not what I would refer to as cuisine, and nothing compared to what airlines such as Qatar are serving up in their premium cabins, but still satisfactory, as a hot meal on a medium range flight is always a welcome luxury.

The Prosecco is a skip. I’m not a sommelier by any means, but even in a proper glass it was still evident by the taste that it came from a can.

Sleeping Arrangements

After dinner and my movie were over, it was time for the sleep test. Now, I want to insert the disclaimer that I typically don’t sleep at all when seated upright, but I gave it a shot as this was an evening flight and I still had a few hours to kill. I was unsuccessful.

Having the winged headrest was nice to lay my head against, and for an airline recliner, this seat has everything going for it and more in terms of being sleeper friendly; my fellow passengers were out cold. 

The Cabin

The upside of my mid-air nocturnal state is it gave me the opportunity to appreciate the newly added, finer details of the A321neo. The ceiling had an intricate geometric design which changed color in accordance with the mood lighting and spanned the entire length of the aircraft.

There was a proper bulkhead and curtain separating first class from the rest of the plane. I don’t particularly care about cabin separation or if economy passengers use the front lavatory, but it was refreshing to see that there was more thought put into the layout beyond a piece of mesh fabric hanging from the ceiling that serves no practical purpose other than reminding those in the back that they are indeed, in the back.

The designers at Airbus were clearly focused on the passenger experience. The “neo” in A321neo stands for “new engine option”, and since the main selling point is a more efficient and faster engine, Airbus could have just stuck new turbines on the existing A321 and called it a day.

Thankfully, they took the opportunity to go back to the drawing board and look at ways to improve what I can only describe as the inflight vibe, the result of which is a more modern and open feeling cabin. I flew Comfort+ on my return flight and maintained this sentiment.

Despite the improved overall experience, the one thing which remains stagnant is the lavatory. Unless you find yourself in an Emirates A380 shower spa, I don’t think there’s an escape from the coffin like environment of an airplane bathroom, especially on a narrow-body. I will overnight ship my credit card to the first airline who finds that workaround.

Additionally, the cabin was notably quiet in comparison to your average, run-of-the-mill narrow-body, and the neo is advertised as the quietest aircraft in its class. This is largely thanks to the Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared Turbofan engines coupled with a slightly modified fuselage designed to be optimally aerodynamic.

On top of the noise reduction, the aircraft burns 16% less fuel and has lower carbon emissions opposed to its predecessor. This is great news as the aviation industry looks towards long-term sustainability.

Soon enough, the flight tracker showed us nearing Anchorage, and shortly after entering Alaskan airspace, we began our initial descent. The cabin slowly came back to life as flight attendants brought up the lights, queuing the low groans of those abruptly interrupted from their sleep; the pre-performance orchestral tuning of a commercial landing, if you will.

We touched down at roughly 8:00 PM local time, and after a short taxi to the gate, I had to bid farewell (for now) to what was the best first-class recliner I’ve flown in recent memory.

Verdict

Overall, I had a fantastic experience, though I feel that saying Delta out did themselves on this product is somewhat of a reach. The Delta One suite is perhaps the best premium cabin produced by any US airline ever, though it was great to see that their product development team pulled some of the Delta One elements and applied them to this design.

That being said, I don’t believe Delta’s aspirations with the new seat were to upstage themselves, but to upstage their competition; a goal they not only achieved but surpassed, leaving a large gap for other airlines to bridge should they want their domestic first class to remain competitive.

If you’re looking to fly premium within North America, I think this is a great product to seek out. For Delta Skymiles Medallion members who are already loyal to the airline, I would recommend looking for this aircraft in your next flight search.

More first-class seats mean more opportunities for a complimentary upgrade, and the seat itself is far superior to your typical recliner. Leisure travelers looking to splurge can easily deal shop this experience, especially if you wait until the last minute after booking before frequent flyers start getting upgraded.

Helpful hint: if you’re given the chance to bid for an upgrade, do so, but bid $1 above the required minimum amount. Many of these systems are automated and will select your bid over those who went for the minimum. This strategy works on several airlines, and I’ve had about a 60% success rate using it.

If you’re shopping with credit card points that can be transferred to an array of airlines, it’s imperative to keep in mind that not all first-class flights are created equal. The same number of points can get you access to a wide spectrum of experiences, and it’s important that you research the aircraft before booking. All that’s needed is one entry into Google Images with the airline name, aircraft type, and cabin class. In this example, you’d search “Delta A321neo first class”,

Beyond my one criticism that the lack of a fixed shell design was a missed opportunity, this update was both refreshing and needed.

It’s my hope that the other US legacy carriers will soon follow suit and work on updating their domestic first-class, but only time and the market will tell. Until then, I look forward to seeing what is coming next from Delta and the other game changing airlines looking to the future of passenger air travel.