JetBlue Raises Checked-Bag Charges to $70 Ahead of Holiday Travel Season
JetBlue passengers will now have to pay as much as $70 to check their first suitcase, following another round of baggage fee increases announced Tuesday as the airline seeks to offset rising fuel costs and other operating expenses.
The new pricing, which took effect November 3, represents JetBlue’s second increase in checked-baggage charges this year and comes just weeks before the busy Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel seasons.
Under the revised fee structure, passengers traveling on domestic flights and routes to Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean will pay a minimum of $50 each way for their first checked bag when purchasing the service more than 24 hours before departure. That represents an $11 increase from the previous minimum charge of $39.
Passengers traveling during peak periods will pay $55 for their first checked bag when purchasing it in advance. Those who wait until within 24 hours of departure will face a $60 charge during regular travel periods and $70 during peak dates.
The higher prices mean that a traveler checking one suitcase on a round-trip flight during a busy holiday period could spend as much as $140 on baggage alone, in addition to the cost of the airline ticket.
Second checked bags are also becoming more expensive, with fees ranging from $70 to $85 each way, depending on the travel date and when the baggage charge is paid.
For a family of four checking one suitcase per person during a peak travel period, the new charges could total $440 round-trip when paid in advance. Waiting until shortly before departure could increase the family’s baggage bill to $560.
JetBlue said the increases are necessary because of the continued rise in aviation fuel prices and other expenses affecting the airline industry.
“We’re adjusting checked bag fees to help offset rising fuel and operating costs,” a JetBlue spokesperson said.
The airline explained that charging separately for checked luggage allows it to avoid raising base fares for every passenger.
“This helps us keep our base fares competitive while giving customers the choice to pay for a checked bag only if they need one,” the spokesperson added.
The new fees apply to tickets purchased on or after November 3. Travelers who booked their flights before that date will remain subject to the previous baggage rates.
JetBlue’s peak travel periods include November 19 through November 30 for Thanksgiving and December 17 through January 18 for the winter holidays. Additional peak periods are scheduled around other holidays, spring break and the summer travel season.
The airline has also increased baggage charges on certain transatlantic flights. Passengers purchasing its lowest-priced Main Base fares for flights to Europe will now pay at least $80 each way for their first checked bag during off-peak periods, up from $60.
The latest increases follow a previous round of baggage fee hikes in March, when JetBlue raised prices amid a sharp increase in jet fuel costs following the outbreak of the Iran war.
Fuel expenses have become an increasingly serious concern for American airlines. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the beginning of the year, rising from slightly above $2 per gallon in January to approximately $4.41 per gallon this week.
Not all passengers will be required to pay the higher fees. Customers holding eligible JetBlue Plus, Business or Premier credit cards can receive a complimentary first checked bag for themselves and up to three companions traveling on the same reservation.
Members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue Mosaic loyalty program also qualify for baggage benefits, with Mosaic 1 members receiving one free checked bag and higher-tier members receiving two.
Travelers who do not qualify for those exemptions can reduce their expenses by purchasing baggage allowances at least 24 hours before departure, potentially saving as much as $15 per suitcase.
