JetBlue Just Increased Its Checked Bag Fees
FlyerTalk January 16, 2020
JetBlue has increased its checked bag fee to $35. Now the question is, will the other airlines follow suit?
Just a little over a year after JetBlue first raised its checked bag fee to $30, the airline has released another price increase. Now it will cost you $35 to check your first bag on JetBlue, and $45 to check your second bag.
However, JetBlue is retaining its early check-in discount. If you pay for your checked bag online, at least 24 hours before your flight departs, you’ll get a $5 discount on your first and second bag making them $30 and $40 respectively.
A Sign of Increases to Come?
Back in August 2018, JetBlue became the first major airline to charge $30 for the first checked bag while the industry standard among other major carriers was just $25.
Shortly after they increased their checked bag fees, the other major carriers followed suit making $30 the standard. Now that JetBlue has increased its checked bag fees we can’t help but wonder if the other carriers will follow suit.
Our Recommendations for Checking Bags on JetBlue
If you’re going to check a bag on JetBlue, be sure to do it online. You can save $5 on your first two checked bags bringing them down to $30 and $40 each.
However, if you are booking a seat in Mint or you’re a TrueBlue Mosaic member, both your first and second checked bags are still free. If you’re a JetBlue Plus cardmember, your first bag is free. Your second bag will cost $45.
To read more about JetBlue’s new checked bag policy, head to JetBlue’s Bag Info page.
They didn't charge for first checked bag until a couple years ago. Worst news for me is they are abandoning OAK completely - after nearly 20 years. Now have to take long ride to SFO.
I can hear the JetBue announcement now...."in the event of a sudden depressurization, oxygen masks will be available at the rate of $5 for the first minute and $2.5 for each subsequent minute. Simply slide your card through the reader to release the mask and then insert an additional one-time $15 oxygen release fee, or $50 for those passengers not seated in JetBlue Mint. You will receive a 5% discount for all minutes (after the first 120) for using your JetBlue visa. Please be sure to pay for your child's mask before providing them with any life-saving oxygen."
...so when do they plan to put pay loos onboard? This nickel and diming rubbish is getting out of hand. It used to be you only paid a fee for overweight, oversize, or excess number of bags. Crikey it's getting top the point that if you travel with more than one checked item, it's going to become more economical to just book a seat in First (as your first two bags are free) than fly "premium" coach as you still have to pay luggage fees in spite of the stiff markup from "Steerage Class".
Of course the other airlines will follow suit, to "remain competitive". Don't mind the fact that matching every increase is an anti-competitive move!
And absolutely no reason or justification for the increase. Just more money directly to the bottom line for the exact same service...