JetBlue has raised checked bag fees for flights within the United States, Latin America, Canada, and the Caribbean, citing higher operating costs tied to rising fuel prices. The standard first checked bag now costs $59 during peak travel periods and $49 during off-peak seasons, up from $50 and $45, respectively. Travelers who pay more than 24 hours before departure can still receive a $10 discount.
Second checked bag fees have also increased, rising to $79 during peak periods and $69 at other times, with the same advance-payment discount still available. JetBlue said the changes are meant to help offset cost pressures while keeping base fares competitive and preserving onboard features such as complimentary snacks and drinks, Wi-Fi, and seatback entertainment. The carrier maintains a separate baggage fee structure for transatlantic routes.
The move comes as U.S. jet fuel prices have risen sharply, increasing from $2.50 to $4.62 per gallon since the start of the Iran war, according to the Argus U.S. jet fuel index. The increase may also have broader implications for the market, since major U.S. airlines have historically matched one another’s baggage fee increases rather than reversing them later.
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