JetBlue: Making Basic Fares More Affordable with Complimentary Carry-On Bags in Fall

JetBlue is introducing a new policy that will make flying with the airline more affordable. Starting in the fall, all travelers flying on a Blue Basic ticket will receive a complimentary carry-on bag, regardless of when their ticket was purchased. This decision comes as part of JetBlue’s efforts to evolve their offerings based on customer preferences while staying competitive in the industry.

Currently, most Blue Basic tickets do not include a carry-on bag, and travelers who bring a bag have to pay extra to check it ($65 for a first or second checked bag). The exception to this is for transatlantic flights, where Blue Basic tickets include a carry-on bag but travelers have to pay for a checked bag. However, with the new policy, Blue Basic travelers will still have to pay for a checked bag and won’t receive additional perks like ticket changes or no-fee seat selection available in higher fare categories.

JetBlue’s President, Marty St. George, stated that carry-on bags are important to customers, and by including them with Blue Basic tickets, JetBlue wants to make it the preferred choice for travelers. With the new policy, travelers in Blue Basic will receive a carry-on bag and a personal item included with their tickets, similar to those flying on a Blue fare.

This change follows the introduction of a peak and off-peak pricing structure for baggage by JetBlue in March. This change also comes after a slight increase in baggage prices by the airline in February. Other airlines such as United Airlines also charge basic economy passengers for carry-on bags on most flights like JetBlue does now but includes them on certain international routes and charges for checked bags on others.