JetBlue raises checked bag fees as fuel prices surge
Experts warn that other carriers may follow suit now that JetBlue has raised fees.
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JetBlue has raised its checked bag fees by as much as $9 in a move the airline says was necessary to keep up with the rising cost of fuel as gas prices continue to surge because of the ongoing war in Iran.
The new fees went into effect on Monday.
Most domestic economy passengers will pay $39 for their first checked bag, which is up from $35.
Peak travelers will pay $49 for their first bag instead of $40.
The cost of a second bag went up $9 also, from $50 to $59 for off-peak periods, and from $60 to $69 for periods of peak demand.
The national average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.06 today, according to AAA. That number is up 8 cents from last week and $1.08 from this time last month. The Long Island average is just shy of $4 at $3.94 today, which is up 6 cents from last week and $1.07 from this time last month, according to AAA.
Experts caution that other airlines may follow JetBlue's lead to remain competitive.
A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, which operates out of MacArthur Airport, told News 12 in a statement: "We don’t have any immediate plans to increase fees due to macroeconomic factors."
News 12 reached out for comment to the other carriers that fly out of MacArthur Airport: Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Cape Air and Frontier Airlines, but has not yet heard back.
