JetBlue has raised its checked bag fees again, the second increase this year. For trips booked after Nov. 3, 2026, your first checked bag in economy now starts at $50 each way, and that’s the cheaper price you get for paying ahead. If you’re flying JetBlue over Thanksgiving or the holidays, this hits right when most people check bags.
The new fees
Per JetBlue’s fees page, for flights within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada on Main and EvenMore fares, including Base and Flex (as of November 2026):
- First bag: $50 off-peak, $55 peak
- Second bag: $70 off-peak, $75 peak
- Third bag and up: $200 each
Those prices assume you add the bags at least 24 hours before departure. JetBlue says you “save up to $15 on each of your first 2 checked bags” by doing that. If you wait, The Hill reports the first bag runs $60 off-peak or $70 peak, and the second $75 or $85. News reports put the previous first-bag fee at $39 off-peak and $49 peak.
Peak dates matter more than usual right now. JetBlue’s list includes Nov. 19–30, all of December and Jan. 1–18, 2027, plus stretches in February, April, May and late summer. Most holiday trips land squarely on peak pricing.
If you booked before Nov. 3, JetBlue says to check Manage Trips for the bag fees that apply to your reservation.
Who still checks a bag free
- Mosaic 1: first bag included; the second costs the same as everyone else.
- Mosaic 2, 3 and 4: first and second bags included.
- JetBlue Plus or Premier cardmembers: first bag included. The Hill reports this also covers up to three companions on the same booking when you pay with the card, and that the JetBlue Business card gets it too. Check your card’s terms to confirm before you count on it.
- BlueFirst and Mint fares: bags are included, though Base versions of those fares include only the first.
One catch: the free first bag only applies on JetBlue-operated flights, not codeshares or partner-operated flights.
What to do
Add your bags at least a day out, every time. Waiting until the airport on a peak date could cost you $70 for the first bag instead of $55. For a family of four each checking one bag round trip, that’s eight bag fees, so the gap adds up quickly.
Then do the card math. A free first bag for you and up to three companions could cover several bags on a single family trip, so if you fly JetBlue a couple of times a year and check bags, a JetBlue card’s annual fee may pay for itself. If you fly JetBlue once a year solo, it probably won’t.
Our take
This is a plain price hike, and it makes JetBlue’s cheapest fares less of a bargain than they look. A spokesperson told The Hill the change helps “offset rising fuel and operating costs.” That may be true, but it’s still roughly $11 more per first bag off-peak than before.
The people who come out ahead are Mosaic members and JetBlue cardholders, whose perks just got more valuable. Everyone else should compare total trip cost, bags included, against other airlines before booking. If you travel carry-on only, you can mostly ignore this. If you’re a casual JetBlue flyer with a checked bag and no card or status, this is the moment to price out the alternatives.
Related on Points Capital: JetBlue’s 2027 Mosaic Changes: Free BlueFirst Upgrades for Every Tier; Chicago to Mexico for the Holidays on Points vs. Cash: Which Airline Wins Once the Bags Are Counted; AirTags and Lost Luggage: How to Share Your Tracker’s Location With Your Airline.
Source: JetBlue Optional Services and Fees; The Hill (Nov. 5, 2026); Travel Noire via Yahoo.
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