I spent over $700 for a business-class upgrade on JetBlue. The lie-flat seats weren't even the best part.

• I took a 6 ½-hour JetBlue flight from Boston to Los Angeles for work.
• I knew I needed to sleep on the flight, so I upgraded to Mint, JetBlue's business-class cabin .
• For an additional $700, I got great food, amenities, and a seat that converted into a lie-flat bed.

Earlier this year, I took a 6 ½-hour JetBlue flight from Boston to Los Angeles for work.

I initially purchased a standard "Blue" fare, but knew I needed to get some sleep on the flight . When I saw seats available in the Mint cabin — the airline's business-class section offered on select routes — I decided to spend over $700 on an upgrade.

I'd flown in JetBlue's business class before, which was ranked second-highest in JD Power's North American customer satisfaction ranking, so I was pretty confident the cost would be worth it.

Here's what my experience in JetBlue's Mint cabin was like.

JetBlue's Mint cabin offers lots of upgraded experiences.

The Mint cabin offers lots of upgraded experiences, including priority security at certain airports, two included checked bags , and, of course, the experience once you've arrived in the cabin.

All Mint seats can transform into lie-flat beds, complimented by the included Tuft & Needle pillow-and-blanket set. The seat also has a leg rest which can be raised for comfort.

The space comes with a convenient setup to charge and store devices.

The layout is great if you need to charge a device mid-flight, with ample outlets conveniently located near the seat.

There's also a small cubby area for storage, a water bottle holder, and a reading light near the headrest.

The single seats are equipped with a sliding door for privacy.

The seat layout in the Mint cabin varies depending on the aircraft model, but my flight had 16 seats in total. I was lucky enough to secure a single seat, which is often referred to as a "throne" seat. They tend to book up fast, but these single seats are by far the best choice in the cabin.

It was nice to have more space since I didn't have to share a row with another passenger. I even had a sliding door for an additional layer of privacy.

The best part is that throne seats cost the same as other business-class seats. This was the first time I was able to fly in a single seat, and it truly elevated the experience.

I was able to order a drink before takeoff.

Prior to departure, flight attendants came through the cabin to take drink orders. On some other carriers I've traveled with, selections were generally limited to prosecco or water. However, Mint allows you to select whatever you'd like before takeoff.

I ordered the Mint Condition, which included my choice of liquor (I opted for tequila), ginger, lime, cucumber, and mint. The drink was good but a little too sweet. However, having a mixed cocktail on board is a novelty that I like to take advantage of.

For my meal, I got to choose from three of five menu items.

The food in Mint is superior to anything else I've had in first- or business-class cabins on other domestic airlines.

I was able to choose from three out of five menu selections, ranging from soups and salads to proteins and pasta dishes. I could also select from an expanded beverage menu featuring cocktails, a wide selection of wines, and espresso beverages.

The menu rotates every few months, which is perfect for frequent fliers.

The food was fantastic and even included gelato for dessert.

The food in Mint was fantastic. In fact, some dishes weren't just good for airplane food — they'd pass as a great meal in a restaurant as well.

For my meal, I selected the burrata served with olives and crostini, the cacio e pepe, and the chicken Milanese. The cacio e pepe was my favorite, but I was too full to finish the whole meal.

Another perk of flying in Mint is the dessert service, which includes a rotating gelato sundae. The one I had featured lemon marmalade and black-pepper shortbread, which was delicious.

My business-class experience also included an amenity kit.

I was also gifted an amenity kit, featuring an eye mask, toiletries, earplugs, and more. I also received over-ear headphones to use for the duration of the flight.

While this is a far cry from some international airlines' inclusions, which can include pajamas and high-end toiletries, it's nice to have some essentials on long flights without digging through carry-on luggage.

If the price is right, I’ll always upgrade to Mint.

Although I won't splurge on Mint every time it's an option, if the price is reasonable, I think it's a good splurge for longer flights . For a flight longer than 6 hours, I'd probably spend up to $1,000 in order to fly comfortably and have access to the amenities that Mint offers.

Whether I have to work on the flight or just want to get some sleep, it's undeniably more comfortable than flying in the main cabin.

Read the original article on Business Insider