JetBlue has increased its checked baggage fees for second time this yearmaking it more expensive for travelers to check bags just as the peak holiday travel season begins.
The new fees for tickets purchased from November 3 mean that most economy class passengers traveling in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean will pay at least $50 each way for their first checked bag, up from $39.
The price jumps to $55 during peak travel periods, including Thanksgiving and winter holidays, if passengers pay at least 24 hours before departure. Those who wait until the last 24 hours will pay $60 off-peak and $70 peak.
“We are adjusting checked baggage fees to help offset rising fuel and operating costs,” JetBlue said in an emailed statement. “This helps us keep our base fares competitive while giving customers the choice to pay for a checked bag only if they need it.”
Earlier this year, the first checked bag on most JetBlue domestic economy flights cost $35 during off-peak periods. But that was before Iranian War began in late February with US-Israeli strikes and caused jet fuel prices to fluctuate.
Fees for a second checked bag have also increased, starting at $70 each way during off-peak periods and $75 during peak hours. Passengers who check their bags at the airport can pay up to $85 for a second bag.
JetBluewhich has its flagship terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, had already increased its checked baggage fees in March. This increase helped trigger a a broader series of baggage fee hikes among major US airlinesincluding Delta, United, American and Southwest.
The war with Iran remains unresolvednow traffic is largely restricted through the Strait of Hormuza vital shipping route for global oil supplies. The disruptions have kept jet fuel prices high.
JetBlue executives said during the airline’s third-quarter earnings conference call last week that demand has remained resilient even as fares have increased in response to rising jet fuel prices. JetBlue said the average fuel price reached $3.91 per gallon over the summer, up 57% from a year earlier, and is expected to rise to $4.64 in the final three months of the year, up 85% from the same period last year.
Some travelers, including eligible co-branded credit card holders and members of JetBlue’s loyalty program, can still check their bags for free, the airline said.
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