When I booked this flight a few months in advance, I was sure it had to be a mistake that JetBlue was using an Embraer 190 to go from Orlando to Newark.
JetBlue has plenty of E190s in its fleet and they have been the workhorse for shorter routes in the Northeastern US. JetBlue is quickly replacing them with A220s. While the original plan was to retire them in a few years, that’s been put on hold because of JetBlue’s expansion plans.
That means the E190 will be around for a while longer. There are some advantages of flying on an E190, as well as some downsides.
The Good Things
The E190 has 100 seats spread over 25 rows. There are only 3 rows of Even More Space seats by the bulkhead and the exit rows. The majority of seats on the plane feature the old-style JetBlue lounge chairs with 32 inches of pitch.
While it’s the same legroom as you’ll find on the newest JetBlue A220, it feels roomier because of the heavier cushioning on the seats.
One of the few planes out there that doesn’t have blue seats (here’s why they’re almost always blue).
The E190 has a 2-2 seating plan, which means no middle seats and I don’t have to use our trick of booking an aisle and middle seat.
The Wi-FI was free (as on all JetBlue flights.) When it was working, I was easily able to use my MacBook on the tray table. (I have no idea why my computer looks so dusty in pictures.)
The Not-So-Good Things
The first thing you notice when you get to the seat is the IFE system, which I’m almost definite is the same as when this plane went into service in 2011.
While the screen is very small (and still has the credit card slot for when you had to pay to watch a movie), the content isn’t bad, with 100 channels of SiriusXM and 36 DirectTV stations.
To hear the IFE, you need to plug your headphones into the headphone jack hidden in the armrest.
To control the IFE, there’s a set of buttons on the armrest. 
I forgot about this design where the buttons are exactly where you rest your elbow, causing you to inadvertently change the channel, volume or turn the screen off.
I don’t have a picture of the last thing I want to mention. That’s because there are no power plugs of any kind on the E190. No USB connections. No EmPower jacks. Nothing. Fortunately, flights on the E190 aren’t that long and most devices have more than 2 hours of battery life. However, if you need a boost, make sure to bring your own power source.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t mind our flight on JetBlue’s E190. It’s a bit outdated and I don’t expect them to be updated because the airline is going to eventually stop using them. I don’t depend on airline IFE for entertainment. With functioning Wi-Fi, I was able to work on YMMV while listening to SiriusXM on my Bose wired headphones.
I also have a soft spot for JetBlue’s leather recliner seats. They’re much more comfortable than the newer slimline seats and I don’t have to put a pillow behind my back during the flight to prevent eventually getting low back pain.
I’m not going to actively search out flights on the E190, but I’m not going to avoid flying on them, either.
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