Baggage fees now have peak pricing on JetBlue.
When traveling with JetBlue, it's important to consider whether you're flying during a peak travel date when checking a bag, as the difference can cost you $5 to $10 a bag.
CNBC Select provides information on the new checked bag fee pricing and ways to avoid it.
JetBlue checked bag fees
Passengers must now consider peak and off-peak dates, in addition to the 24-hour rule, when budgeting their trips with JetBlue.
If you check your bags within 24 hours of your flight and travel within the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean on an off-peak date, you will have to pay $45 for your first checked bag and $60 for your second checked bag, according to the JetBlue website.
If you made the same trip during one of JetBlue's peak dates, you would pay an extra $15 for both bags ($50 and $70).
Assuming you booked your ticket on or after March 22, 2024, peak season pricing applies to the following dates.
- April 11 to April 29
- June 20 to Sept. 3
- Nov. 21 to Dec. 2
- Dec. 19 to Jan. 6
- Feb. 13 to Feb. 24
- April 3 to April 28
The fee for the first checked bag on transatlantic flights during peak travel times is $70 when checked within 24 hours, while the fee for the second bag is $115.
JetBlue explained to CNBC Select that the introduction of peak travel pricing was aimed at covering rising expenses and maintaining low base fares while keeping popular features like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi accessible to all customers for free.
How to avoid (or at least lessen) checked bag fees
To receive a $10 discount on baggage fees, check your bags more than 24 hours before your flight.
To avoid checked bag fees on JetBlue flights, book your ticket with the JetBlue Plus Card, which offers one free checked bag for you and up to three companions on the same reservation, and earn 6X points on every $1 spent on eligible JetBlue purchases.
If you don't want to be tied to one airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers an annual statement credit worth up to $300 that can be applied toward checked bag fees on any carrier. Additionally, Sapphire Reserve cards come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and bonus points for Lyft rides (through 3/31/25).
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