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JetBlue Raises Checked-Bag Fees Up to $9 as Fuel Costs Surge

JetBlue says higher bag charges help keep base fares competitive during a fuel-price spike.

Overview

  • JetBlue, which put the new prices in place Monday, now charges $39 on off-peak dates and $49 on peak dates for a first checked bag.
  • Second bags now cost $59 off-peak and $69 on peak dates, the $10 fee for adding bags within 24 hours still applies, and the new rates apply only to new or reissued tickets.
  • The airline cites rising operating costs driven by a jump in jet fuel after Strait of Hormuz disruptions, with Argus data showing U.S. jet fuel near $4.62 a gallon, up about 80% since late February.
  • Many travelers remain exempt, including co-branded credit card holders, TrueBlue Mosaic elites, and most transatlantic passengers who already get a free first bag.
  • No major U.S. rivals have matched the increase yet, but JetBlue has led past fee moves in 2018 and 2024, a pattern that often prompts copycat hikes when fuel stays high.