JetBlue now charges $50 for a first checked bag on U.S., Canada, Latin America and Caribbean flights, up from $39, on tickets bought from November 3, 2026. That’s the off-peak price when you add the bag more than 24 hours before departure. Peak dates and last-minute bags cost $55 to $70, and the second bag is now $70 or more.

What changed

  • Before: $39 for the first bag and $59 for the second, off-peak and paid in advance, as Upgraded Points reports.
  • Now, off-peak: $50 for the first bag and $70 for the second if you add them more than 24 hours out, per JetBlue’s checked bag page. Within 24 hours they cost $60 and $75.
  • Now, peak dates: $55 for the first bag and $75 for the second in advance, or $70 and $85 within 24 hours.
  • Transatlantic: Main Base and EvenMore Base fares pay $80 for the first bag off-peak, up from $60, and $90 on peak dates.
  • Third bag or more: $200 each on most routes.
  • Who it affects: anyone on Main Base, Main, Main Flex or EvenMore fares within the Americas who has no JetBlue status or JetBlue card.
  • This year’s history: Doctor of Credit counts it as JetBlue’s second bag fee increase of 2026. The first bag cost $35 in January.

Key terms

  • Old bookings keep old fees: JetBlue’s page says, “For bookings made before 11/3, check Manage Trips for applicable bag fees.”
  • Peak dates: November 5 to 11 and November 19 to 30, all of December, and January 1 to 18, 2027, among others on JetBlue’s calendar.
  • Refunds: bag fees come back only if you cancel the whole booking before departure.
  • Paying with points: you can pay for checked bags with TrueBlue points any time before check-in, through Manage Trips.
  • Size and weight: bags over 50 pounds or 62 inches pay $150 more for each limit they break.

Who still checks a bag free

  • Mint and BlueFirst: the first bag is included on every Mint and BlueFirst fare, and the second on Mint, Mint Flex, BlueFirst and BlueFirst Flex.
  • Mosaic 1: first bag free.
  • Mosaic 2 to 4: first and second bags free. JetBlue’s Mosaic page says companions get the benefit only when the Mosaic member checks in and flies every segment with them on the same reservation. Our Mosaic upgrade post covers the status tiers.
  • JetBlue Plus card ($99 fee): Barclays’ card page lists a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to 3 eligible companions. You need to pay with the card, and everyone must be on the same itinerary.
  • JetBlue Premier card ($499 fee): the same first bag for you and 3 companions, per Barclays’ Premier page.
  • The no-fee JetBlue Card: no free bag. JetBlue’s card list shows it at 10,000 bonus points.

Our take

Take a family of four flying round trip once a year with one bag each. Their bag bill went from $312 to $400 (8 bags at $50), or $440 on peak dates. The $99 JetBlue Plus card covers all four people’s first bags, so it saves about $300 a year after its fee on that one trip. Its welcome offer pays 60,000 points after $1,000 in spending and paying the fee in 90 days. That’s about $780 at the 1.3 cents per TrueBlue point we use in our Mosaic post. The airline credit cards page lists the other airline cards we’ve covered.

We’d get the Plus card if you fly JetBlue with checked bags at least once a year, or with a companion twice a year. A solo traveler who checks one bag on one round trip saves $100 against a $99 fee, which is a wash. Skip the Premier unless you’d use its other perks, because the bag benefit is the same as on the $99 card.

If you rarely check a bag, add it more than 24 hours ahead to save $5 to $15 per bag. Pack light on peak dates, when a bag added within 24 hours costs $70. Our baggage fees page compares Southwest’s $45 first bag and its card waiver. You can also fill a TrueBlue account from Bilt, as our Bilt to JetBlue post shows, and use the points for bag fees. Our best travel credit cards guide covers the flexible cards we’d get before an airline card, and our points valuation guide shows how we price airline points.

FAQ

How much is JetBlue’s first checked bag now?

$50 off-peak and $55 on peak dates when you add it more than 24 hours before departure. Within 24 hours it’s $60 off-peak and $70 peak.

Does the new fee apply to flights I already booked?

No. JetBlue tells travelers who booked before November 3 to check Manage Trips for the fee that applies to them.

Which JetBlue credit cards give a free checked bag?

The JetBlue Plus card ($99) and the JetBlue Premier card ($499). Each covers the first bag for you and up to 3 companions on the same itinerary when you pay with the card. The no-fee JetBlue Card doesn’t.

Do JetBlue Mosaic members still check bags free?

Yes. Mosaic 1 members get the first bag free, and Mosaic 2 to 4 members get the first and second bags free.

Can you pay JetBlue bag fees with TrueBlue points?

Yes. You can pay with TrueBlue points any time before check-in, through Manage Trips on jetblue.com or My Trips in the JetBlue app.

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