JetBlue luggage fees: Peak season rates jump to $70

JetBlue has increased its fees for checked baggage for the second time this year, with the new rates taking effect on tickets purchased after November 3.

The price of the first checked bag for economy passengers flying within the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean has risen from $39 to a minimum of $50 per segment. During periods of high demand, such as Thanksgiving and winter holidays, the fee is $55 if payment is made at least 24 hours before departure. Passengers waiting until the final 24 hours will pay $60 in low-demand periods and $70 in high-demand periods.

The carrier attributed the increase to rising operational and fuel expenses. In an email statement, JetBlue said the adjustments help it keep base fares competitive while allowing customers to pay for checked bags only if they choose to. At the start of the year, the first checked bag on most domestic economy flights cost $35 during low-demand times. That rate changed after the conflict with Iran began in late February, when attacks by the United States and Israel caused volatility in aviation fuel prices. The fee for a second checked bag now starts at $70 in low-demand periods and $75 in high-demand periods, with airport drop-off fees reaching up to $85.

JetBlue, based at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, had previously raised baggage fees in March. That move contributed to a wider wave of price increases among major U.S. carriers, including Delta, United, American, and Southwest. The conflict with Iran remains unresolved, keeping traffic largely restricted through the Strait of Hormuz. This key shipping route for global oil supplies has kept aviation fuel prices high. During its third-quarter earnings call last week, JetBlue executives stated that demand remained strong despite the rising fares. The airline reported its average fuel price hit $3.91 per gallon in the summer, a 57% increase from a year ago. It projects the average will rise to $4.64 in the final quarter of the year, an 85% increase over the same period last year.

Some travelers, including eligible holders of co-branded credit cards and members of the JetBlue loyalty program, can still check bags for free, according to the airline. The carrier’s next scheduled change is the application of these new tiered rates to all new bookings made after the November 3 cutoff.