JetBlue's new ticket policy entitles every passenger to a carry-on bag

JetBlue customers will now get a free carry-on bag regardless of what tier of ticket they purchased. As of Friday, Blue Basic fares, JetBlue's basic economy bundle, will include a carry-on bag, even if the passenger purchased their ticket in advance.

Previously, JetBlue passengers had to purchase a more expensive ticket bundle or pay an extra fee to carry on an overhead bin sized bag with a Blue Basic ticket.

“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,” Marty St. George, JetBlue's president, said in a statement . “We’re always looking for ways to evolve our offering in response to customer preferences. This is a win-win as we improve the customer experience and keep JetBlue competitive in our industry.”

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JetBlue's Blue Basic fares are still the most restrictive ticket option the airline sells. Although it now includes a free carry-on bag, it does not include free checked luggage or advanced seat selection. Blue Basic tickets also incur a $100 cancellation fee.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JetBlue's new ticket policy entitles every passenger to a carry-on bag