Jet Blue will begin offering lie-flat seats in their first class section by next spring, the Los Angeles Times reports.
A video of the new design can be seen here.
The major airline's move comes as a surprise given they have only offered economy class seats. In their new business class section, the airline will include lie-flat seats and private suites on flights for the competitive routes between New York and San Francisco and New York and Los Angeles.
The cabin will seat 16 people and include 4 suites, which provide a closeable door for privacy. Rows 1, 3, and 5 will have 2-by-2 seating and rows 2 and 4 will include the suites. The new seats are 6'8" long.
In addition, fliers will be able to adjust the firmness of the seats, which also include a massage function, and a 15-inch wide-screen television at their service. There will also be a "wake-me-for-service" button in case patrons decide to sleep.
The price for the news seats are unknown, but Scott Laurence, Jet Blue's vice president of network planning, told The Wall Street Journal that it will be cheaper than the business class seats on rival airlines.
The coach section will have 143 seats, which is also getting a makeover.
Jet Blue Chief Executive Dave Barger said in a statement:
"Transcontinental routes have had high premium fares we believe we can beat. By offering our own unique seats and enriched service elements that will include some soon-to-be-announced partnerships, we are creating a one-of-a-kind experience that will serve this market in a way only JetBlue can."
The airline plans to add the new amenities to 11 planes, although the lie-flat option may be added to planes that fly other routes as well.
Jet Blue joins other airlines like American, Delta, and United in incorporating lie-flat seats into their first class sections.
