JetBlue to Eliminate Free Checked Bag on Some Flights
Airline announced new fare structure for 2015.
— -- JetBlue Airways announced plans today to eliminate free checked bags on some tickets starting next year.
The move will leave Southwest as the only domestic airline to let all fliers check at least one bag free of charge.
In early 2015, the airline will offer what is calls "fare families" or "branded fares." Customers will be able to choose between three fare options, one of which is designed for customers who do not plan to check a bag. The other two will allow one and two free checked bags along with other benefits.
The airline also said it will refit its Airbus A320s in 2016 to increase the number of seats.
The move comes as the New York-based airline seeks to improve profits. The nation's 15 largest carriers collected a combined $3.5 billion in bag fees in 2012.
It's not clear how much a customer who purchases the fare that does not include a checked bag will have to pay if they end up doing so. Other airlines generally charge $25 one-way for the first checked bag, though there are variations depending on when and how the bag is paid for.
