Guide to JetBlue Baggage Fees

Travelers pick JetBlue Airways for its low fares, access to popular destinations and in-flight service. While many people carry their bags on the plane, others choose to check their bags so they can focus on enjoying the flight. If you're #TeamCheckedBags, you need to understand how much JetBlue baggage fees are, when they apply and how you can avoid paying them.

When flying with JetBlue, the number of bags you can carry on or check in, and the fees for doing so, vary based on multiple factors, including:

• The type of ticket.

• The destination.

• The size of the luggage.

• The weight of the luggage.

• What credit card you have.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

JetBlue carry-on allowance

All JetBlue fares include one carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin, as well as one personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. This includes a backpack, purse, laptop bag, approved pet carrier and similar items.

That's a relatively new policy. Up until Sept. 6, 2024, customers on Blue Basic had to pay extra for carry-on bags.

Of course, sometimes the overhead bins fill up before you can board the plane, and you must gate-check a carry-on bag. Domestic travelers with Blue, Blue Extra or Mint fares or who purchased an Even More Space seat are guaranteed that their bag will make it on board.

» Learn more: The guide to Blue Basic on JetBlue

JetBlue checked bag allowance

The airline offers five fare classes. Some include the first checked bag for free, while others charge a fee.

To avoid an oversized-luggage fee, checked bags should be 62 inches or smaller in overall dimensions (length plus width plus height) or weigh less than 50 pounds.

Restrictions on the number of checked bags and their size or weight vary by destination. Destinations with specific limitations include:

• Cuba.

• Dominican Republic.

• Ecuador.

• Guyana.

• Haiti

• Peru.

• Trinidad and Tobago.

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Fees for checked luggage vary depending on your:

• Elite status.

• Where you're flying.

• The fare you select.

• If you prepay for luggage in the app or during booking, or if you pay at the airport.

People with Blue Basic, Blue and Blue Extra fares pay a minimum of $35 for the first bag and a minimum of $50 for the second for flights within the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean if paid at the airport or within 24 hours of departure. JetBlue uses variable peak pricing to determine exact checked bag fees.

Flights between the U.S. and the U.K. or Europe are $65 for the first bag and $105 for the second.

If your fare doesn't include checked bags, you’ll save $5 per bag on the first two checked bags by paying in advance on jetblue.com or in the JetBlue app. The fee for a third checked bag (or more) starts at $200 per bag on flights to the U.K. and Europe and $125 on all others. For anything beyond the first two checked bags, travelers must pay at the airport or during check-in.

Here's what you can expect to pay for your first and second bags on JetBlue:

Within the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America

The fees in the table above apply when bags are added to your reservation at least 24 hours before departure. Bags added within 24 hours of departure will incur an additional $10 fee on top of the numbers noted above. Fares that include complimentary bags do not incur this additional fee regardless of when bags are added.

Between the U.S. and the U.K.

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Excess baggage fees apply to checked bags that weigh more than 50 pounds or are more than 63 linear inches. Checked bags that are 51 pounds (23.13 kilograms) to 99 pounds (44.91 kilograms) are $150 per bag on domestic flights. On flights to or from the U.K. or Europe, the fee is $150 (£120/€140).

Linear inches measure the length, width and height of a checked bag. Bags measuring 63 inches (160 centimeters) to 80 inches (203.3 centimeters), including wheels and handles, owe a $150 fee per bag. The fee is $150 (£120/€140) on flights to or from the U.K. or Europe.

Bags over 80 inches or 99 pounds aren't accepted as checked luggage.

Eligible sports equipment counts as a checked bag, including golf bags, fishing rods, skimboards, skis or snowboards. They can be added to your reservation at any time. Although they may be oversized baggage, there are no additional fees as long as it meets the weight limit. The same JetBlue baggage fees schedule applies to sports equipment as to a piece of standard luggage.

» Learn more: The complete guide to the JetBlue TrueBlue rewards program

JetBlue offers three credit cards, but only two of them include free checked bags.

The JetBlue Plus Card and JetBlue Business Card offer the first checked bag free for the cardholder and up to three companions on the same reservation. To qualify for this benefit, you must use your JetBlue credit card to book your ticket.

While the no annual fee JetBlue Card offers numerous benefits, it doesn't offer free checked bags.

Other credit cards that reimburse JetBlue checked bag fees

JetBlue credit cards aren't the only ones that help travelers avoid paying for baggage fees. Some travel credit cards offer annual credits that cover checked baggage fees. Here are a few travel cards that include these benefits.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Includes a $300 annual travel credit that automatically covers eligible travel purchases like checked bag fees. (Annual fee: $550).

• The Platinum Card® from American Express. After selecting JetBlue as your preferred airline, the card's $200 airline fee credit covers JetBlue baggage fees and other similar charges. (Annual fee: $695, see rates and fees).

All luggage must be checked-in at the airport at least 40 minutes before departure on U.S. domestic flights and 60 minutes for international flights. Passengers must check in their own bags unless they're checking in bags for their family.

JetBlue doesn't accept checked bags more than six hours prior to the flight's scheduled departure time. Flights departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, are an exception: Passengers cannot check in a bag more than four hours before those flights.

Not only can JetBlue passengers pay for their checked luggage ahead of time, but they'll also save $5 off JetBlue baggage fees on the first two bags by prepaying online.

When flying on JetBlue, you may incur fees for checking a bag. JetBlue baggage fees vary based on your destination, the type of ticket or the size of your luggage. You can waive checked bag fees by buying certain fare classes, earning Mosaic elite status or having the right credit card. Extra fees apply when checking multiple bags, if a bag is too large or it weighs too much. Some passengers avoid checked bag fees by stowing their luggage in the overhead bins during boarding.