JetBlue has increased its checked baggage fees for the second time this year, making it more expensive for travelers to check bags just as the peak holiday travel season begins.
The new fees for tickets purchased from November 3 mean that most economy class passengers traveling in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean will pay at least $50 each way for their first checked bag, up from $39.
The price rises to $55 during peak periods, including Thanksgiving and winter holidays, if passengers pay at least 24 hours before departure. Those who wait until the last 24 hours will pay $60 off-peak and $70 peak.
Earlier this year, the first checked bag on most JetBlue domestic economy flights cost $35 during off-peak periods. But that was before the war in Iran began at the end of February with American-Israeli strikes and caused jet fuel prices to fluctuate.
Fees for a second checked bag have also increased, starting at $70 each way during off-peak periods and $75 during peak hours. Passengers who check their bags at the airport can pay up to $85 for a second bag.
JetBlue, which has its flagship terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, had already increased checked baggage fees in March. The increase helped spark a broader round of baggage fee hikes among major U.S. airlines, including Delta, United, American and Southwest.
The airline said in the spring that the increases were intended to help offset rising operating costs while allowing the airline to keep its base fares competitive. The Associated Press sent the airline email requests for comment on the latest fee increases Wednesday.
The war with Iran remains unresolved, largely restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil supplies. The disruptions have kept jet fuel prices high.
JetBlue executives said during the airline’s third-quarter earnings conference call last week that demand has remained resilient even as fares have increased in response to rising jet fuel prices. JetBlue said the average fuel price reached $3.91 per gallon over the summer, up 57% from a year earlier, and is expected to rise to $4.64 in the final three months of the year, up 85% from the same period last year.
JetBlue said some travelers, including eligible co-branded credit card holders and members of JetBlue’s loyalty program, can still check their bags for free.
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