Gone are the days where you could check one bag on JetBlue for free. According to NBC Connecticut, even though the airline was able to hold out for years, they will now be charging up to $25 for checked bags.
If you have a flight on JetBlue already booked, this does not apply to you. It only applies to new bookings. JetBlue’s executive vice president, Marty St. George, told NBC Connecticut that the money from the bag fees will go towards new seats and TVs.
NBC Connecticut says if you check in online or at a kiosk you can save some money:
Those with the cheapest tickets will pay $20 each way if they check in online or at a kiosk. The fee jumps to $25 if they go to the counter. A new fare class that costs about $15 extra each way would include one free bag.
Instead of having a fixed bag fee, JetBlue has come up with a different system. They rolled out three new fare classes. Here is a quick description of each:
- Blue – the cheapest fare, doesn’t include a checked bag (passengers can add one later at a higher cost.
- Blue Plus – this includes one free checked bag, more frequent flier points, and lower fees if you need to make changes to your reservation.
- Blue Flex – the most expensive fare class, comes with two free checked bags, and you can make changes without any penalty.
As stated in the article about the fare difference:
The fare difference between Blue and Blue Plus will change based on route and demand but should be “about $15,” according to JetBlue. Blue Flex would cost about $100 more each way than the cheapest tickets and is fully refundable.
Even though JetBlue is doing away with free checked bags for everyone, they are also reducing some other fees. For instance, instead of it costing $50 for a second checked bag it will now cost $35 (prices are for each way). Also, it used to cost $75 to $150 to make changes to a reservation, but that is dropping to $70 to $135 for the cheapest tickets and $60 to $120 for Blue Plus.
The move comes because of pressure from investors and Wall Street analysts.
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
Source: NBC Connecticut