In the immediate aftermath of the U.S.-Israeli strike in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, almost every major airline attempted to sidestep immediately passing on the higher cost of jet fuel onto the passenger through raised fare prices by instead raising baggage fees.
In March 2026, JetBlue Airways became the first major carrier to raise the cost of luggage on domestic flights from $35 to $39 on top of additional fees for those who wait until less than 24 hours before departure to add luggage to their booking.
United Airlines became the next to raise the cost of a checked bag on North American flights to $45 while Delta Air Lines also followed with a bump of $10 shortly after.
JetBlue to charge $70 for checked bags during peak travel periods
Nearly nine months into the unrest that shows no signs of slowing down, jet fuel prices still sit at historic highs. Citing this expense, JetBlue has now raised the cost of checking a bag for the third time since the start of the year after making small adjustments to extra fees following the major increase in March 2026.
This time, the price will go up from $45 to $50 for economy travelers on flights within North America that pay for their baggage at least 24 hours before the flight and $60 if paid within 24 hours of departure.
Related: JetBlue Airways exits entire market
The airline is also adjusting its peak holiday and summer pricing from $49 to $55 when booked ahead of time and $70 for those who pass the 24-hour window. The latter price for a basic bag within the 50-pound limit means that JetBlue had set a new high for the highest baggage fees across the industry.
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“Adjusting checked bag fees to help offset rising fuel and operating costs”: JetBlue on bag fee increase
“We’re adjusting checked bag fees to help offset rising fuel and operating costs,” JetBlue said in its statement on the increases. “This helps us keep our base fares competitive while giving customers the choice to pay for a checked bag only if they need one.”
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Jet fuel prices sat at $4.44 a gallon as of Nov. 4, up from an average of $2.42 per gallon in November 2025. The increases do not affect JetBlue economy travelers on transatlantic flights where a checked bag is included in the price of the ticket or travelers in higher fare classes.
Some of JetBlue’s premium branded Chase Sapphire credit card also give their holders free checked bags as a member perk.
But for those wanting to bring a second bag, the final price tag will get even steeper with an increase from $70 to $75 and up to $85 during peak periods. The fees have come into effect on Nov. 3 and apply for all bookings after that date (those who already purchased their ticket prior to that date will be subject to the old pricing structure even if travel is still many months ahead).
Related: The domino effect of airlines raising baggage fees has started
