Making Financial Headlines · Page 7
JetBlue Raises Bag Fees Again, Keeping the Suitcase on Its Own Payment Plan
· New York time
JetBlue raised baggage fees for the third time in a year as fuel costs continued to climb. The increase adds to the price travelers may pay beyond the base fare when they check a bag. Fuel is a significant operating expense for airlines, and higher costs can put pressure on their finances. Baggage charges are one way carriers collect revenue separately from the advertised ticket price, making the total cost of a trip depend on what a passenger needs to bring. The latest increase is notable for its frequency: three changes in a year give travelers another detail to check before comparing fares. A low initial fare can look different once a checked suitcase is included, even though the ticket and the bag are part of the same journey for the person traveling. The airline's challenge is to cover its costs; the passenger's challenge is to keep a sweater from becoming a separate budget line. Modern travel has made the suitcase an unusually accomplished negotiator, capable of increasing the price of a trip without choosing the destination. JetBlue's latest fee rise does not change where the bag goes. It changes how much a traveler may have to pay to send it there, which is a small distinction until the total appears at checkout.
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