JetBlue Quietly Increases Baggage Fees … Again!

Remember when we all thought bag fees were going to be temporary? Just until the cost of fuel goes down, right? Not only are the fees here to stay, but they are also rising, much like inflation.

JetBlue is the most recent airline to hike baggage costs, and it was done discreetly and without much publicity — twice in 2 months. The fee you pay to check your back will now depend on when you check your luggage and when you’re flying.

Let’s take a look at the details of this most recent baggage price hike.

JetBlue Adds Peak and Off-Peak Pricing

JetBlue raised the cost to check your bag on February 1, 2024, and it has now gone one step further by adding peak and off-peak pricing to its baggage fee chart. The price you’ll pay will depend not only on when you choose to check your bag, your fare class, and where you’re going but also on when you’re flying.

The peak and off-peak pricing applies to bookings made on or after March 22, 2024. These peak travel dates include:

• April 11, 2024 to April 29, 2024
• June 20, 2024 to September 3, 2024
• November 21, 2024 to December 2, 2024
• December 19, 2024 to January 6, 2025
• February 13, 2025 to February 24, 2025
• April 3, 2025 to April 28, 2025

Those traveling in Blue Basic, Blue, and Blue Extra fare classes will need to pay to check bags, while anyone with Blue Plus or Mint will be able to check bags for free.

If you pay for a checked bag more than 24 hours in advance, the cost is $35 for your first bag during off-peak dates and $40 during peak dates.

Procrastinators and those who didn’t actually think they’d need to check a bag are out of luck. Rates for checking your bag less than 24 hours before departure are $45 for the first bag during off-peak times and $50 during peak dates.

How to Avoid Checked Bag Fees

As you’ll likely note up there, there are a few ways to give JetBlue’s bag fees a miss. Those who have The JetBlue Plus Card can check a bag for free, no matter their fare class, as long as they use the card to pay. Those who have JetBlue elite status are also eligible for free checked bags, which makes this a valuable perk for Mosaic members.

Finally, several cards will offer credits that reimburse you for incidental travel expenses, upon enrollment. This includes The Platinum Card^® from American Express, the Bank of America^® Premium Rewards^® Elite Credit Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, among others.

You’ll want to double-check the features on these cards since some may automatically reimburse, while others require you to enroll before you can get the benefit.

Final Thoughts

It’s never good news when new fees get passed along to customers, and JetBlue has been on a tear recently. JetBlue raised prices for checked luggage in February and has now added peak and off-peak pricing.

Unfortunately, those who check their bags last-minute are the heaviest hit, with fees of up to $50 for a single checked bag.