JetBlue has quietly hiked the price of checking a bags — sparking outrage on social media from passengers who branded the move a greedy cash grab.
The New York-based airline is now charging travelers $45 for their first stardard-size bag checked within 24 hours of departure — and $60 for a second bag.
JetBlue is offering a $10 discount for passengers who are ahead of the game: The first checked bag paid for at least a day before departure is $35, while the second is $50.
Previously, checking one bag with the airline cost $35 no matter the timing, with a second one priced at $45 more.
The change wasn’t widely communicated by JetBlue. Rather, the airline quietly updated the “Bag Info” on its website, where fine print says that the price increase was implemented on Feb. 1.
The stealthy change drew the ire of passengers on social media, including one by the name of Yau who called the juiced-up baggage fees “atrocious.”
“Inflation and greed rising,” the hacked-off customer added of the new pricing model.
“@JetBlue has changed all of the policies that’s made me a loyal costumer and I’m tired of their mess!” yet another furious customer wrote.
Earlier this month, travelers took to X confused by the cost of checking their luggage. “@JetBlue I went to go add my checked bags. It’s a month away from my flight and it says it’s $35. I thought it was $30????” one user wrote.
JetBlue was among the first to raise its checked-baggage fees to $30 back in 2018. Less than 18 months later, the airline increased the price again and by January 2020, the airline’s fee for checking one bag was $35.
JetBlue told The Post that hiking baggage fees was “one step we are taking to get our company back to profitability and cover the increased costs of transporting bags.”
The price increase, which was earlier reported on by The Points Guy, does not apply to JetBlue’s transatlantic flights, which have their own price chart.
“The cost of doing business has gone up significantly due to increased wages, higher fuel costs, and other inflationary pressure, and we remain unprofitable since COVID.”
“By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, we can keep base fares low and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone,” the airline added.
It also noted that JetBlue’s Mosaic elite customers, as well as those traveling in Mint business class, will still get two free checked bags, while those with the JetBlue Plus Card will also continue to receive their first checked bag for free.
JetBlue’s new checked bag fees are just the latest ancillary charge the airline has been jacked up.
Earlier this year, the airline started charging a preferred seating fee. The initiative, called “Core Preferred,” makes aisle and window seats in favorable locations on the plane — such as the front and in the exit row — more expensive.
The price of booking one of JetBlue’s so-called “Even More Space” seats with additional legroom also got a price hike late last year as part of its dynamic pricing algorithm based on factors like route and demand, according to The Points Guy.
JetBlue and Spirit were the two airlines to lose money in 2023 as larger rivals reported stronger profits.
However, JetBlue has insisted that its recent cost-cutting plans mean it will be “approaching break-even” in 2024 despite offering $3.8 billion to acquire ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit — a move that was blocked by a federal judge last month.
JetBlue and Spirit are appealing the decision, which would have created the nation’s fifth-largest airline.
It also recently announced changes among its C-suite ranks. As of Monday, Joanna Geraghty, formerly the company’s president and chief operating officer, succeeded Robin Hayes as CEO.
American Airlines also made headlines this week for lifting its baggage fees.
The Forth Worth, Texas-based airline announced Tuesday that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from $30 to $35 online and $40 if purchased at the airport.
The fee for a second checked bag will rise from $40 to $45 both online and at the airport.
The airline is also raising bag fees by $5 for short international flights including those to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean — now $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second.
American last raised bag fees in 2018 after introducing bag fees back in 2008 — when checking a bag cost just $15 — to cope with the rising cost of jet fuel.
Since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major US carriers. American easily led the industry by raising $1.4 billion in bag fees in 2022, the last year for which Transportation Department figures are available.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
