BY MIRABEL ODETA
SYDNEY — Budget airline Jetstar will begin charging passengers to store carry-on luggage in overhead compartments starting in February 2027, becoming the first airline in Australia to introduce a separate fee for the service as it seeks to reduce boarding delays and improve the travel experience.
The airline announced Wednesday that passengers will continue to be allowed one small personal item, such as a purse, laptop bag or compact backpack, free of charge as long as it fits beneath the seat in front of them. Travelers who wish to place a larger carry-on bag in the overhead bins will be required to purchase an additional option, with prices starting at 25 Australian dollars (about $18) for a one-way flight. The exact fee will vary depending on the route.
Jetstar said the new policy follows customer feedback identifying crowded overhead compartments and carry-on bag inspections at boarding gates as some of the most frustrating aspects of air travel.
Under the revised policy, passengers who pay for overhead storage will be allowed to bring a carry-on bag weighing up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds). Airline staff will no longer weigh those approved bags at the boarding gate, a change the carrier says will speed up the boarding process.
At the same time, Jetstar will eliminate its current 7-kilogram (15-pound) weight limit for personal items stored beneath passengers’ seats, giving travelers greater flexibility for smaller bags that do not require overhead storage.
The airline said the new system is designed to make better use of limited cabin storage space while reducing delays caused by passengers searching for room in crowded overhead bins.
Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Tully said the policy gives customers greater choice by allowing them to pay only for the services they use while helping flights depart on schedule.
She said providing every passenger with a free under-seat baggage allowance while offering optional priority carry-on access would improve boarding efficiency and reduce congestion inside the aircraft cabin.
The move aligns Jetstar with a growing number of low-cost airlines in Europe and the United States that charge separately for overhead carry-on luggage while keeping base fares lower for travelers who choose to pack light.
Industry analysts said, however, that the change may surprise many Australian travelers, who have traditionally been accustomed to more generous cabin baggage allowances than those offered by ultra-low-cost carriers overseas.
Sharon Petersen, chief executive officer of AirlineRatings.com, said the policy is likely to generate mixed reactions among passengers because Australian consumers generally expect more services to be included in the ticket price.
She noted that while charging separately for overhead luggage is common among airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, Jetstar’s fares typically remain higher than those offered by many European budget carriers because of Australia’s higher labor costs, taxes and operating expenses, as well as a less competitive domestic aviation market.
Like many airlines worldwide, Jetstar already charges for optional services including checked baggage, seat selection and certain onboard food, beverages and entertainment options. The addition of an overhead carry-on fee represents another step in the airline’s strategy of unbundling fares, allowing travelers to customize their ticket based on the services they choose to purchase.
The new baggage policy is scheduled to take effect in February 2027 for eligible Jetstar flights.
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