JetBlue Airways is again with its second price hike for checked bag charges in only a matter of months.
This time, the New York-based provider is quietly including a brand new demand-based pricing mannequin for checked baggage.
JetBlue’s new peak and off-peak checked bag pricing construction is already reside; it took impact March 22 with no discover supplied by the provider.
Need extra airline-specific information? Join TPG’s free biweekly Aviation e-newsletter.
This information was first reported by NerdWallet and later confirmed by TPG with a provider spokesperson.
Along with charging completely different costs primarily based on while you buy your checked bag — baggage added earlier than the check-in window are as much as $10 cheaper — the provider will now cost extra for luggage when touring throughout a so-called “peak” interval.
You will discover the complete desk of JetBlue’s up to date checked bag charges under, however the provider will now cost as a lot as $70 for a checked bag — an industry-leading worth that resembles one thing you’d probably discover on an ultra-low-cost provider.
Throughout peak journey instances, JetBlue will cost an extra $5 for the primary checked bag and an extra $10 for a second checked bag for all flights inside the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. Word that the primary worth within the desk under represents the price of a checked bag bought greater than 24 hours earlier than departure.
| Fare | Off-peak | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Blue, Blue Fundamental, Blue Additional | First bag: $35/$45 | First bag: $40/$50 |
| Second bag: $50/$60 | Second bag: $60/$70 | |
| Blue Plus | First bag: Included | First bag: Included |
| Second bag: $50/$60 | Second bag: $60/70 |
JetBlue defined the speed hike to TPG with the next assertion.
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
The price of transporting baggage has gone up considerably as a result of elevated wages and better gasoline prices, and we stay unprofitable since COVID. Whereas we do not like rising charges, we’re making these changes to assist get our firm again to profitability and canopy the elevated prices. By adjusting charges for added companies that solely sure clients use, particularly during times of highest demand for restricted area within the cargo maintain, we will preserve base fares as little as attainable and guarantee buyer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi stay free for everybody.
For transatlantic flights throughout peak journey instances, a primary bag stays included for all fares besides Blue Fundamental. JetBlue is rising the primary checked bag for Blue Fundamental clients by $5 and rising the second checked bag by $10 for all clients.
As for what’s thought-about a peak time interval, JetBlue explains on its up to date web site that “peak-season pricing applies to checked baggage throughout high-traffic intervals, together with Presidents’ Week, Thanksgiving and Winter holidays, and peak spring and summer season journey seasons.”
Translating that description to numbers reveals that JetBlue’s peak pricing applies to just about half of the yr. Over the course of the subsequent one year, JetBlue is charging increased bag charges on 158 days.
The longest stretch of peak pricing applies from June 2 to Sept. 3, which covers primarily your entire summer season season. Even when you’re touring on a quiet Tuesday or Wednesday in the summertime, count on to pay extra for a checked bag.
The total checklist of peak journey dates consists of April 11-April 29, June 20-Sept. 3, Nov. 21-Dec. 2, Dec. 19-Jan. 6, Feb. 13-Feb. 24, and March 3-March 28.
JetBlue’s Mosaic elite clients, in addition to these touring in Mint enterprise class, will nonetheless get pleasure from two free checked baggage throughout journey. These with the JetBlue Plus Card can even proceed to obtain their first checked bag without cost.
Whether or not different airways match JetBlue’s up to date pricing construction is anybody’s guess, however as we have been reminded over the previous few weeks, the airline {industry} largely ascribes to the “monkey see, monkey do” mantra.
Earlier this yr, Alaska Airways and JetBlue quietly up to date their checked bag charges. Just a few days later, American Airways, Delta Air Strains and United Airways rapidly matched the elevated pricing.
Most of the carriers defined that these updates have been being made to regulate to inflationary pressures.
In February, when JetBlue raised checked bag charges for the primary time this yr, the provider shared an almost similar assertion to the one which it gave TPG on Monday.
In current weeks, JetBlue has been working exhausting to return to profitability now that the Spirit Airways merger is useless. The provider has launched new seat charges, raised checked bag charges (twice) and realigned its community to return to profitability.
Beneath you will discover a desk evaluating the up to date checked bag charges for home flights on the key U.S. carriers. Word that when two costs are introduced, the decrease one is charged for getting the bag earlier than the check-in window opens.
| Airline | First bag | Second bag |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airways | $35 | $45 |
| American Airways | $35 or $40 | $45 |
| Delta Air Strains | $35 | $45 |
| Frontier Airways | Varies | Varies |
| JetBlue | As much as $50 | As much as $70 |
| Southwest Airways | Free | Free |
| Spirit Airways | Varies | Varies |
| United Airways | $35 or $40 | $45 or $50 |
Associated studying:
