Travel

JetBlue changes bag fees again — now the struggling airline’s policy is both expensive and confusing

By
Social Links for Brooke Steinberg
Published April 3, 2024, 12:18 p.m. ET

Talk about excess-ive.

JetBlue has once again changed its checked bag fee policy — this time implementing dynamic pricing.

The airline, which said it has struggled to turn a profit since the COVID-19 pandemic, already charges even higher fees depending on when you pay for your luggage, but now passengers will need to take the date of their flight into consideration, too.

The first checked bag now ranges from $35 to $60 when traveling within the US, Latin America, Caribbean and Canada, based on factors such as JetBlue member status and, most notably, dates JetBlue determines to be peak or off-peak.

If passengers add a checked bag during booking and at least 24 hours prior to check-in, they’ll get a $10 discount, with prices ranging from $35 for off-peak dates and $40 for peak dates.

Passengers who add a checked bag within 24 hours will have to pay $45 for off-peak dates and $50 for peak dates — an industry high.

Second checked bags now range from $50-$60 when paid in advance, or $60-$70 when added within 24 hours of the flight.

People check in their bags at the JetBlue Airways counter in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on January 31, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The first checked bag now ranges from $35 to $60 when traveling within the US, Latin America, Caribbean and Canada. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Transatlantic flights still have the first checked bag free — except for customers who purchased a Blue Basic fare. They’ll pay $60 to $70.

A second checked bag for transatlantic flights now cost $100-$110 in advance, or $105-$115 within 24 hours of departure.

Peak pricing now applies to all tickets booked on or after March 22, 2024, and affects about half of the year, including summer travel season, popular dates to fly for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, dates around spring break and Easter, as well as dates around Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.

Zach Griff tweeted that he landed at JFK last night at 7pm on
Transatlantic flights still have the first checked bag free — except for customers on Blue Basic, the cheapest fare, which will now cost $60 to $70. Twitter/AirlineFlyer

According to the airline, peak-season pricing for checked bags applies to those traveling on the following upcoming dates:

  • April 11 – April 29, 2024
  • June 20 – Sept. 3, 2024
  • Nov. 21 – Dec. 2, 2024
  • Dec. 19, 2024 to Jan. 6, 2025
  • Feb. 13 – Feb. 24, 2025
  • April 3 – April 28, 2025

“The cost of transporting bags has gone up significantly due to increased wages and higher fuel costs, and we remain unprofitable since COVID. While we don’t like increasing fees, we are making these adjustments to help get our company back to profitability and cover the increased costs,” a spokesperson for JetBlue told Travel + Leisure.

“By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, especially during periods of highest demand for limited space in the cargo hold, we can keep base fares as low as possible and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone.”