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While traveling with JetBlue, you must now consider whether you're flying during a peak travel date when checking a bag, as the difference can cost you $5 to $10 a bag.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down what you need to know about the new checked bag fee pricing — including how to avoid it.
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JetBlue checked bag fees
JetBlue already charges a different checked baggage fee based on whether you check your bags within 24 hours of your flight. Now, with the addition of peak and off-peak dates as of March 22, passengers must keep track of another factor when budgeting their trips.
According to the JetBlue website, you must pay $45 for your first checked bag and $60 for your second checked bag if you check your bags within 24 hours of your flight and travel within the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean on an off-peak date.
But if you made the same trip during one of JetBlue's peak dates, you would pay an extra $5 for the first bag ($50) and an additional $10 for the second bag ($70).
Peak season pricing applies to the following dates, assuming you booked your ticket on or after March 22, 2024:
- April 11 to April 29
- June 20 to Sept. 3
- Nov. 21 to Dec. 2
- Dec. 19 to Jan. 6
- Feb. 13 to Feb. 24
- April 3 to April 28
For transatlantic flights, the fee during peak travel times for the first checked bag is $70 when checking within 24 hours, and $115 for the second bag.
When reached for comment about the addition of peak travel pricing, JetBlue told CNBC Select that the change was intended to cover increased costs and to "keep base fares as low as possible and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone."
How to avoid (or at least lessen) checked bag fees
One way to save on baggage fees is by checking your bags more than 24 hours before your flight. This nets you a $10 discount on the fees of checking both your first and second bag.
To avoid checked bag fees entirely (at least on your first bag), you could book your ticket with the JetBlue Plus Card. This airline card offers one free checked bag on JetBlue flights for you and up to three companions on the same reservation. You'd also earn 6X points on every $1 spent on eligible JetBlue purchases.
JetBlue Plus Card
Rewards
6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases; 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on the card and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days.
Annual fee
$99
Intro APR
0% APR on eligible balance transfers that post to account within 45 days of account opening, for the first 12 billing cycles; 19.49% to 29.49% variable thereafter depending on creditworthiness
Regular APR
19.49% to 29.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fees
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Pros
- 5,000 bonus points on your account anniversary
- 10% rebate on JetBlue award flight redemptions
- First checked bag free for you and up to three companions
- 50% off in-flight purchases
Cons
- $99 annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
Of course, the JetBlue Plus Card can only help you with baggage fees if you're flying JetBlue. The good news is that major airlines usually have a co-branded credit card that can help you with baggage fees. The United℠ Explorer Card, for example, lets you check your first bag for free (a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms apply; see rates and fees). In addition, this card provides other perks such as a 25% rebate back (as a statement credit) on food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases on United flights.
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Club℠ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
- No annual fee for the first year
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Club airport lounge passes every year
- Valuable United Airlines perks, such as in-flight purchase discounts and the ability to earn elite status credit through credit card spending
- First checked bag free benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
- United Airlines has a dynamic award chart which can limit the value and flexibility of your miles
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, Group 2 priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Member FDIC
If you prefer flying Delta, then the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is another solid option to avoid baggage fees. Cardholders get their first bag checked for free (and up to 8 companions on the same reservation as the cardmember) on worldwide Delta flights and get a second bag free when flying domestically, and the card earns 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases, making it a versatile tool to rack up rewards. Terms apply.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has the right mix of benefits if you occasionally fly with Delta, such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts.
- Earn up to $300 in travel credit every year
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on eligible flights
- Discounts on eligible in-flight purchases and on Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees).
- Annual fee after the first year
- Delta flight credit benefit has a high spending requirement to earn
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer: As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after your first Card renewal when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get your second bag free when flying domestically.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Send money, split purchases, and focus on the moments that matter – with Send & Split®. Powered by Venmo and PayPal. Enrollment Required. Terms apply.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees.
On the other hand, if you don't want to be tied to one airline, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) card offers a annual statement credit worth up to $300 that can be applied toward checked bag fees on any carrier. Sapphire Reserve cards also come with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with luxury perks including, hotel credits, complimentary hotel elite status, travel credits, dining credits, rideshare and delivery benefits and much more.
- Access Priority Pass lounges, including unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club locations.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
- Complicated list of benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
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For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
