From February 2027, Jetstar passengers will no longer get a free overhead cabin bag. The Australian budget airline is replacing its free 7kg overhead allowance with a new paid 'priority carry-on' option, starting at £13 (A$25).
New baggage rules
Under the new policy, all passengers can bring one small underseat bag for free, measuring up to 40 × 30 × 20cm. Those wanting to use the overhead lockers must purchase a priority carry-on fare, which allows a bag up to 56 × 36 × 23cm.
The change mirrors the baggage model used by European budget carriers Ryanair and easyJet. Jetstar currently weighs every carry-on bag at the gate, and passengers with overweight bags are forced to pay fees to board.
Why the change?
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said the airline is making the change to eliminate gate weighing. "We know that weighing carry-on bags at the gate can be frustrating for our customers and for our crew," she said. "To make packing easier we’ve decided to remove the 7kg weight limit, so from February, the main thing customers will need to think about is the size of their carry-on."
She added that the new model will "make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time." The airline says the change offers more choice while keeping fares low: "You only pay for what you need - travelling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need."
Costs vary by route
While the priority carry-on fee starts at A$25 (£13), it increases on longer or busier routes. The most popular route, Sydney to Melbourne, will cost A$33 (£17.30). Flights from Perth to Denpasar, Bali, will be A$39 (£20.45), and from Cairns to Tokyo Narita, A$52 (£27.27).
