Are JetBlue’s Baggage Fees Avoidable?

JetBlue offers a range of fares, and its cheapest fare, Blue Basic, doesn’t include a free carry-on. That’s similar to low-cost competitors Spirit and Frontier. But that changes if you’re traveling on or after September 6, 2024. Starting on that date, carry-ons are included in all of JetBlue’s fares, including Blue Basic.

It’s pretty normal these days to pay for checked bags, and that’s the case for JetBlue. Prices are $5-$10 higher per bag during peak travel times.

Blue Plus and Mint get at least one checked bag for free, though, as do Mosaic members and JetBlue Plus cardmembers. And if you’re active duty military, you get two free checked bags for you and your dependents if you book with JetBlue’s military fare class.

Key takeaways

• If you’re flying within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, your first checked bag will cost $35-$40, and your second checked bag will cost $50-$60 on most fares.
• Your first checked bag is included with Blue Plus and Mint fares. Mint fares also get a second checked bag included.
• If you’re pinching pennies, flying during off-peak times will result in lower baggage fees (and likely, lower fares).

Carry-on bag policy

Before September 6, 2024, Blue Basic fares mean that you can only bring a personal item on board. If you bring an additional carry-on, you’ll be required to check it, and you’ll pay a fee of $65 if it’s your first or second checked bag and a whopping $180 if it’s your third checked bag.

After September 6, 2024, all fares include a personal item and a carry-on. Here are the maximum allowable sizes for each one:

• Personal item placed under the seat in front of you: No bigger than 17 inches x 13 inches x 8 inches (length x width x height)
• Carry-on bag stored in the overhead bin: Must not exceed 22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches (length x width x height), including wheels and handles

Regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allow the following items, which don’t count towards your carry-on or checked baggage allowance:

• Duty-free items you may have picked up in the airport — but only a reasonable amount
• One diaper bag for those traveling with a lap infant
• Special items, such as a coat, umbrella, car seat, stroller, etc.
• Assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, canes, walkers, etc.
• Medical devices, like a CPAP machine (I’ve flown with mine on many airlines, and its never been counted as a personal item or carry-on)

The TSA also provides a full list of what you can and can’t bring on board. Some items, while not allowed in your carry-on, can be stowed in your checked bag instead.

Checked bag policy

If you plan to bring more than carry-on bags, JetBlue offers fare options that include different numbers of checked bags. The rates JetBlue charges depend on whether you're on a domestic or international flight, your fare, the number of bags, and when you’re flying.

When you can add bags

You can add up to two bags anytime from when you book to when you get to the airport. JetBlue incentivizes you to add the bags sooner rather than later and gives you $10 off your first two checked bags if you add them more than 24 hours before departure.

If you want to check more than two bags, you’re going to have to wait until 24 hours before departure.

Bag fees

Rates within the U.S., Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean if you add bags at least 24 hours before departure

Source: JetBlue.com

Rates within the U.S., Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean if you add bags less than 24 hours before departure

Source: JetBlue.com

Rates for transatlantic flights if you add bags more than 24 hours before departure

Source: JetBlue.com

Rates for transatlantic flights if you add bags less than 24 hours before departure

Source: JetBlue.com

Peak times

As of this writing, the announced upcoming peak times are:

• June 20. 2024 to September 3, 2024
• November 21, 2024 to December 2, 2024
• December 19, 2024 to January 6, 2025
• February 13, 2025 to February 24, 2025
• April 3, 2025 to April 28, 2025
• June 19, 2025 to September 2, 2025

Bag sizes

Make sure the bag you’re checking meets all size dimensions and weight restrictions; otherwise, you’ll be stuck paying the following oversize or overweight baggage fees:

• Overweight bags: 51-99 pounds: $150 additional fee per checked bag
  • Bags more than 70 pounds aren’t accepted for transatlantic flights
• Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches (overall dimensions including handles and wheels): $150 per checked bag

If you plan to check sports equipment such as a surfboard, skis, or golf bag, or if you want to bring a musical instrument on a JetBlue flight, there may be special rules and fees to be aware of. Be sure to review the requirements so you know what to expect when you head to the airport.

How JetBlue compares with other airlines

JetBlue collects less in baggage fees than competitors Spirit and Frontier. 

How to avoid JetBlue baggage fees

Just because you need more space for your luggage doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pay more for your bags to travel with you. Here are six ways to avoid JetBlue’s baggage fees.

Only pack a carry-on or personal item

Of course, the most obvious way to avoid baggage fees is not to bring checked luggage at all. If you can squeeze everything into a carry-on bag, you can avoid any excess baggage fees altogether. If you’re on a Blue Basic fare, you may want to keep everything in a bag that qualifies as a personal item to avoid the extra fees until the policy changes on September 6.

This might mean more planning on your part. For instance, maybe you can plan ahead for what you’ll wear and only bring the exact number of outfits necessary for your trip in your carry-on. You could also use compression bags, which can save on space but also make your bag surprisingly heavy, so double-check that before you head out.

Join the JetBlue loyalty program

Take a few minutes to join TrueBlue, JetBlue’s loyalty program. It’s free, and you can earn 2X TrueBlue points per $1 spent on airfare booked through the JetBlue app or on jetblue.com.

Once you’re signed up for TrueBlue, you can earn tiles. Tiles are what determines your status, and you’ll need Mosaic status to get two free checked bags. You earn one tile for every $100 you spend on a JetBlue flight, including some extras and fees. You also earn 1 tile for every $1,000 you spend on a JetBlue credit card. You need 50 tiles to earn Mosaic status.

That means to qualify for Mosaic status, you need to spend about $5,000 on JetBlue flights. So this is potentially achievable if you fly JetBlue frequently, but if you’re a casual JetBlue flyer, sign up for TrueBlue for the points that you can use for award flights, but don’t count on Mosaic status.

Buy a premium ticket

Depending on the price and how many bags you need to check, it might be worth purchasing a higher-class ticket instead of paying for a bag separately. This can be determined with some quick math to see which option will provide the most savings.

If you’re checking multiple bags, however, it may not make sense to purchase the Blue Mint fare just to have those two checked bags included. Again, do the math, but in this case, it may be cheaper to pay for your checked bags separately.

Bring your military documentation

All U.S. active duty military traveling for leisure get 5% off base fare and 2 free checked bags up to 50 lbs. You do need to show your DOD Common Access Card when you check your bags, though.

Get a JetBlue credit card

Airline-branded credit cards are generally best for those who fly often with that affiliated airline.

Of course, it depends on your situation as to whether or not you should get one and if the value you get from the card exceeds the annual fee that usually comes with it. Value can be in the form of a free checked bag, discounts on inflight refreshments, or other perks.

Out of JetBlue’s card line-up, the JetBlue Plus Card and the JetBlue Business Card cards both offer a free checked bag, while the JetBlue Card does not.

Here are more details:

Use a general travel card

If you’re a frequent traveler but want more flexibility in the way you redeem rewards than what an airline-branded card offers, a general travel rewards credit card could be a good fit. Some of these cards reimburse for airline incidentals, such as bag fees, while others allow you to transfer points directly to TrueBlue.

Here are a few cards that can help you avoid JetBlue baggage fees:

Bottom line

Overall, JetBlue’s baggage fees are in line with other airlines. While you can’t always avoid checking bags, there are several ways to avoid paying the fees that may come with it. Whether this means racking up loyalty points or buying a higher fare class, consider the options that work best for your situation and always compare the cost of paying a checked bag fee against what it takes to avoid it.