JetBlue adds back perk for basic economy passengers: 'It's about time'

(NEXSTAR) – JetBlue will soon allow the airline’s basic economy passengers to bring a single carry-on bag in addition to a smaller personal item, free of charge.

The policy change, which takes effect on Sept. 6, is intended to keep JetBlue “competitive” in the airline industry, the carrier announced in a press release issued Tuesday.

“Carry-on bags are an important part of travel to customers, and when presented with a choice between JetBlue’s award-winning service and another carrier’s basic offering, we want JetBlue to be the easy winner,” said JetBlue President Marty St. George in Tuesday’s release.

Currently, JetBlue’s basic economy travelers — or “Blue Basic,” as JetBlue calls this tier — are only allowed “a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you,” per JetBlue’s website. Carry-on bags brought to the gate will be checked at a fee of $65 for the first two, and $180 for a third.

JetBlue does, however, allow ticketholders at all other levels to bring a complimentary carry-on.

JetBlue is one of only a handful of major American carriers to charge for the first carry-on bag with a basic economy ticket, the most notable being United Airlines, which charges a carry-on fee for most flights within North America). Other low-cost carriers, such as Spirit and Frontier, charge economy passengers for carry-on bags as well.

As confirmed by a representative for JetBlue, the carrier didn’t always charge its basic economy passengers for carry-on bags. JetBlue had previously offered a free carry-on upon the introduction of the Basic Blue fare in 2019, but removed the perk in 2021 “to further reduce the fare and stimulate travel demand after the COVID-19 pandemic,” a representative for JetBlue explained in an emailed statement provided to Nexstar.

Some users on social media weren’t so quick to forget that JetBlue once offered a free carry-on to all passengers, either.

“Haven’t flown with them since they started charging,” one X user commented.

“It’s about time to change it back,” another said.

JetBlue further explained that all basic economy passengers flying after Sept. 6 will be eligible for a complimentary carry-on, regardless of whether they already purchased tickets. Carry-on bags will also be allowed depending on space in the aircraft; bags that don’t fit will be checked free of charge at the gate, the airline said.

“As the airline industry changes, we always look for ways to evolve our offering in response to customer preferences when they are evaluating airline options,” a spokesperson for JetBlue said.