JetBlue and Gate Checked Bags

[Calantha]

Does anyone have experience with JetBlue doing courtesy gate checking of carry-on bags or do you have to wait for them to decide the flight is full and call people up? We always fly United to Orlando, but for our next DCL trip, we're going to San Juan, and JetBlue was the best option for us. I usually try to dump at least one bag to make things easier to manage.

 

[Jimsig]

@Calantha My last few JB flights they have made announcements at the gate before boarding asking if anyone is interested in checking a bag they planned to carry on. You could always ask at the gate if they will even of they haven't made the announcement.

 

[Mle8308]

I fly JetBlue a lot due to their flight schedule. About 20% of the time they will do an announcement about volunteers to check carry on bags. I always volunteer because I hate trying to haul my bag into the overhead compartment and I don't care about waiting at baggage claim. But if they don't ask, it's no big deal. Never experienced them do a courtesy bag check but I did see them charge a person. If they don't announce, you can ask, I have, and most of the time they politely say no, it's not necessary. I can understand, it does make more work for them when it's not needed. Now that they have the Blue Basic fare, I've noticed less of a need for them to gate check bags. Best option if you don't want to haul it around is to check it.

 

[sam_gordon]

Does anyone have experience with JetBlue doing courtesy gate checking of carry-on bags or do you have to wait for them to decide the flight is full and call people up? We always fly United to Orlando, but for our next DCL trip, we're going to San Juan, and JetBlue was the best option for us. I usually try to dump at least one bag to make things easier to manage.

So check it?

 

[piccolopat]

If you don't want to deal with your bag, just check it.

 

[Jimsig]

So check it?

If you don't want to deal with your bag, just check it.

I would guess the OP is trying to avoid paying the checked bag fee either all together or avoid paying for a second bag by checking it at the gate.

 

[Calantha]

I would guess the OP is trying to avoid paying the checked bag fee either all together or avoid paying for a second bag by checking it at the gate.

Yes. I'm already checking bags and have a child and a handicapped person. Thank you for answering my question by the way.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes. I'm already checking bags and have a child and a handicapped person. Thank you for answering my question by the way.

Just my opinion, but I also would not want to fuss with a second carry on bag. Hence, I would check it. Yes, it costs extra money, but there's a value in not having to worry about it.

 

[Anthony1971]

Jet blue charges for the carry on bag unless you buy the mid tier ticket in which case a carry on bag with guaranteed overhead space is included as well as a seat assignment and earlier boarding. With that it is unlikely unless most bought the mid tier ticket. Not sure but the line after may get to point where those who need to pay at the gate for carryon May get checked if there is no overhead space left.

 

[DisRoss]

I have gate checked bags with JetBlue a few times and it’s never cost money. Sometimes they just announce it asking of folks will volunteer. Sometimes they will even offer a $25 travel bank credit if they need people to gate check bags. Flying from Boston to Palm Beach in February, the person at the checked bags desk before security even told me I could ask to gate check a bag and they’d give the $25 credit and that’s exactly what happened. Sometimes they don’t take gate checked bags at all. Ultimately, credit or not, I probably wouldn’t hate chwck a bag unless I was already checking other bags. I’d rather not deal with collecting baggage after the flight, but it’s really no big deal to me if I am checking 2 instead of 1.