JetBlue raises checked-bag fee again to ‘help offset’ operating costs

(NEXSTAR) – Less than a year after raising its checked-bag fees, JetBlue is once again increasing those same charges for most travelers.

The airline’s website now indicates that travelers who book flights after Nov. 3 will pay $50 to check their first bag on off-peak flights within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean or Canada. At peak times, that fee increases to $55. Want to check a second bag? That’s now $70 at off-peak times and $75 at peak.

But that’s only if customers pay for their checked bags at least 24 hours before departure. Travelers who check bags within 24 hours of takeoff will be charged $60 for their first bag during off-peak times, and $70 for peak flights. A second bag is $75 off-peak, and $85 peak.

The prices reflect a significant jump from JetBlue’s previous checked-bag fees, which were already increased months ago in late March. Before this week, the fee for the first checked bag started at $39 (or $49 off-peak) and a second bag started at $59 (or $69 at peak times).

As was the case in March, JetBlue cited rising costs of jet fuel as one reason for the increases.

“We’re adjusting checked bag fees to help offset rising fuel and operating costs. This helps us keep our base fares competitive while giving customers the choice to pay for a checked bag only if they need one,” a spokesperson for the airline wrote in an emailed statement.

JetBlue currently allows passengers one carry-on item, at no additional charge, as well as one personal item.

With the new fee structure in place, the company is encouraging passengers to add their checked bags to their bookings sooner rather than later, in order to avoid charges incurred for checking bags within 24 hours of the flight. The carrier also said JetBlue will continue to waive the fee for certain travelers — namely, those who belong to its status programs or sign up for its JetBlue-branded credit cards.

“JetBlue Plus, JetBlue Business and JetBlue Premier Cardmembers will continue to receive their first checked bag free for the primary Cardmember and up to three travel companions when using their card to book JetBlue flights,” reads the airline’s statement. “TrueBlue Mosaic members will also continue to enjoy one free checked bag for Mosaic 1, and two free checked bags for Mosaic 2, 3 and 4.”

The company isn’t alone in raising its checked-bag fees in 2026. Around the same time that JetBlue raised its fee in March — and amid rising oil prices since the start of the war in Iran — U.S. carriers including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all raised their checked-bag fees for the average traveler.