JetBlue walks back most restrictive part of basic economy policy
JetBlue is making a big — and welcome — change to its basic economy fare.
Beginning Sept. 6, travelers booking the Blue Basic fare will be allowed to bring a full-size carry-on bag with their ticket.
This change will apply to all new and existing basic economy tickets for travel beginning Sept. 6, regardless of the purchase date.
Any full-size carry-on will be subject to the usual size limits and will be in addition to the one small personal item that needs to fit below your seat.
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However, while basic economy travelers will technically be allowed to bring a rollaboard through security, there's no guarantee that it'll actually make it into an overhead bin.
That's especially true for those purchasing the cheapest JetBlue fare because unless you have Mosaic elite status, you're boarding at the end.
In fact, JetBlue even acknowledged this reality in the fourth paragraph of its press release.
"While many of JetBlue’s aircraft are outfitted with larger overhead bins to accommodate more customers, in the event of space constraints, customers may be required to check carry-on bags at the gate for no additional charge," reads the press release.
(Note that JetBlue’s carry-on guarantee, which provided a flight credit if there’s no room for your carry-on, was cut late last year and no longer applies to any fares.)
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Even so, this represents a nice improvement for this fare product that first debuted in 2019. When these fares debuted, JetBlue allowed flyers to bring a carry-on bag, but it then walked back this inclusion in 2021 when it overhauled its fares and eliminated (most) change and cancellation fees.
Once this change was enacted in July 2021, JetBlue became one of the most restrictive U.S. airlines by not allowing basic economy flyers to travel with a full-size carry-on bag.
But now, going forward, the only major U.S. airline that doesn't allow full-size carry-on bags for basic economy travelers is United Airlines.
As part of the news, JetBlue isn't adjusting any other aspect of its fare products. Basic economy tickets cannot be changed, and cancellations are allowed for a $100 fee per person for all flights except transatlantic flights, which come with a $200 cancellation fee.
Same-day changes and standby are not available with Blue Basic tickets, and there are no checked bags included with this fare.
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JetBlue is seemingly making this move as a way to boost profitability, as the carrier has struggled to stay in the black in recent quarters.
"Carry-on bags are an important piece 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,” Marty St. George, president of JetBlue, said in a statement.
"This is a win-win as we improve the customer experience and keep JetBlue competitive in our industry," he added.
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.