Which has the bigger carry-on allowance, JetBlue or Southwest?

JetBlue: 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm). Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 in (61 × 41 × 25 cm). Southwest allows the larger bag.

Do JetBlue and Southwest include a carry-on on basic economy?

JetBlue: Main Base (Blue Basic until July 27, 2026) includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra, and changes cost a fee. Southwest: Even the Basic fare includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.

Which is more reliable, JetBlue or Southwest?

In 2025 JetBlue arrived on time 72.3% of the time (1.7% cancelled) and Southwest 77.8% (0.8% cancelled), according to U.S. DOT data.

Which has more legroom, JetBlue or Southwest?

Standard economy legroom is about 32 in on JetBlue and about 31 in on Southwest. Both sell extra-legroom seats.

Which has better Wi-Fi, JetBlue or Southwest?

JetBlue: Free Fly-Fi for everyone, no login needed. Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members since October 2025.

Which cancels fewer flights, JetBlue or Southwest?

In 2025 JetBlue cancelled 1.7% of its flights and Southwest 0.8%, so Southwest had the edge (U.S. DOT data).

Are JetBlue and Southwest partners?

They aren't in the same alliance (JetBlue: none; Southwest: none), so miles and status generally don't transfer between them.

B6 vs WN · 2026 comparison

JetBlue vs Southwest

JetBlue wins on cheaper checked bags, more legroom and better Wi-Fi access; Southwest wins on a bigger carry-on, a better on-time record and fewer cancellations. Here's how they compare on bags, fees, comfort, reliability and loyalty.

Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction

JetBlue

Wins 3 categories

Cheaper checked bags
More legroom
Better Wi-Fi access

Southwest

Wins 3 categories

A bigger carry-on
A better on-time record
Fewer cancellations

Quick verdict

JetBlue wins on cheaper checked bags, more legroom and better Wi-Fi access; Southwest wins on a bigger carry-on, a better on-time record and fewer cancellations. Both include a carry-on on every fare.

Carry-on size: JetBlue: 22 × 14 × 9 in · Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 in
Carry-on on the cheapest fare: JetBlue: Included on every fare · Southwest: Included on every fare
First checked bag (regular economy): JetBlue: $39–$49 · Southwest: $45
Standard economy legroom: JetBlue: About 32 in · Southwest: About 31 in
Wi-Fi: JetBlue: Free for everyone · Southwest: Free for members
On-time arrivals (2025): JetBlue: 72.3% · Southwest: 77.8%

Side by side

	JetBlue	Southwest
Bags
Carry-on size	22 × 14 × 9 in	24 × 16 × 10 in
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Included on every fare	Included on every fare
Carry-on weight limit	None published	None published
Personal item	17 × 13 × 8 in	16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in
First checked bag (regular economy)	$39–$49	$45
Comfort
Standard economy legroom	About 32 in	About 31 in
Wi-Fi	Free for everyone	Free for members
Reliability
On-time arrivals (2025)	72.3%	77.8%
Flights cancelled (2025)	1.7%	0.8%
Network
Alliance	None	None
Loyalty program	TrueBlue	Rapid Rewards
Main hubs	JFK, BOS, FLL, MCO, SJU	DEN, LAS, MDW, BWI, DAL

Highlighted values are better for travelers. Fees are for U.S. domestic economy flights; on-time data is 2025 U.S. DOT figures for each airline's own flights.

Bags and fees

JetBlue allows a carry-on up to 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm), and Southwest up to 24 × 16 × 10 in (61 × 41 × 25 cm), so Southwest's is roomier.

Both include it on their cheapest fares.

Neither publishes a carry-on weight limit.

Personal items: 17 × 13 × 8 in (43 × 33 × 20 cm) on JetBlue, and 16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in (41 × 34 × 20 cm) on Southwest.

A first checked bag on JetBlue costs $39–$49 on U.S., Caribbean, Latin America and Canada flights, and a first checked bag on Southwest costs $45 on flights within the U.S. mainland.

Basic economy

JetBlue (Main Base): Main Base (Blue Basic until July 27, 2026) includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra, and changes cost a fee.

Southwest (Basic): Even the Basic fare includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.

Seats and Wi-Fi

JetBlue gives about 32 in of legroom in standard economy and Southwest about 31 in, an edge for JetBlue. JetBlue: About 32 in in Core, the most of the big U.S. airlines. Southwest: 31 in standard since assigned seating began; Extra Legroom rows 34–36 in.

Wi-Fi on JetBlue: Free Fly-Fi for everyone, no login needed. On Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members since October 2025.

On-time performance

In 2025, JetBlue landed 72.3% of its flights on time and cancelled 1.7%; Southwest landed 77.8% on time and cancelled 0.8%. That makes Southwest the more punctual of the two. The figures come from the U.S. DOT and count each airline's own flights, not regional partners.

Loyalty and where they fly

JetBlue is not in an alliance and Southwest is not in an alliance.

Loyalty programs: TrueBlue (JetBlue) and Rapid Rewards (Southwest).

JetBlue's main hubs are New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO), San Juan (SJU). Southwest's are Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Chicago (MDW), Baltimore (BWI), Dallas (DAL). The best choice often comes down to which airline flies nonstop from your airport.

Which should you book?

Choose JetBlue if you want…

cheaper checked bags
more legroom
better Wi-Fi access
nonstops from JFK, BOS, FLL

Choose Southwest if you want…

a bigger carry-on
a better on-time record
fewer cancellations
nonstops from DEN, LAS, MDW

On a route both fly, the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper trip: add the bags you'll actually bring, and check the fare rules before you book.