• Knowing your airline's baggage requirements is important.travelers009 image by robert stahl from Fotolia.com
  
  Flying is supposed to be a stress-free way to travel. However, with increased airport security and stricter baggage requirements, it can end up being quite the opposite. The good news is that long lines at check-in and extra hours spent at the airport are usually preventable with a little advance preparation. One of the most important items to research before your flight is your airline's baggage policy. If you're flying JetBlue, follow these guidelines to board your flight swiftly and easily.
  
  

Carry-On Requirements

• JetBlue allows each passenger to bring one carry-on bag on-board, in addition to one personal item. Personal items include purses, briefcases, or laptops. There is no charge for carry-on items; however, there are some limitations. Your personal item must not exceed 18 inches in length by 15 inches in width by 8 inches in height. These dimension restrictions allow the bag to fit under the seat in front of you. Your carry-on bag must fit in the plane's overhead compartment. For JetBlue's Airbus A320, for example, this means it can be no larger than 26 inches long by 18 inches wide by 12 inches high. For the Embraer 190, this is 24 inches in length by 16 inches in width by 10 inches in height.
  
  

Checked Bags

• If you have bags in addition to your carry-ons, your checked bags cannot exceed 62 inches in overall dimensions (length + width + height) --- and cannot exceed 50 pounds. JetBlue has a first bag free policy, but there is a charge for each additional bag thereafter. The fee for your second bag is $30; your third bag is $75, as of April 2010.
  
  

Oversized Baggage

• JetBlue allows passengers to check overweight or oversized baggage on a load availability basis. Fees do apply, the airline will not accept bags larger than 80 inches and 100 pounds. Check with the airline prior to your flight to ensure you can check your oversized baggage with no issues.
  
  

Reminders

• Arrive early to the airport, as you must check all bags on JetBlue at least 30 minutes prior to departure on domestic flights and 60 minutes prior to departure on international flights. JetBlue will not check bags in more than 4 hours prior to your flight, however. Check with the airline in advance about transporting such items as pets, sporting equipment, firearms and musical instruments.