Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar will abandon its famous 7kg weight limit for cabin baggage in favor of a system based on bag dimensions. This change, presented as a simplification, comes with a less popular twist: overhead bin space will no longer be automatically included in the ticket price.
Until now, Jetstar passengers have had to contend with a well-known constraint for low-cost carriers: not exceeding 7kg for their hand luggage, or risking a penalty at the check-in counter, generally between 60 and 85 Australian dollars. From February 2, 2027, this weight restriction will disappear entirely. Passengers will have to pay to place their bags in the overhead bin.
The airline, a subsidiary of the Qantas Group, states that this decision follows extensive consultation with its customers and crew. Feedback consistently pointed to the same conclusion: weighing luggage at the boarding gate and scrambling for available overhead compartments were among the most stressful aspects of air travel.
One bag under the seat included, the rest at an extra cost
Specifically, every Jetstar Airways booking will continue to include one free personal item, a backpack, handbag, or laptop bag, provided it fits entirely under the seat in front of it. Its maximum dimensions will be 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Families traveling with an infant can also bring a second bag of this size for the baby’s belongings, at no extra charge.
However, any passenger wishing to bring a larger bag for the overhead compartment will now need to purchase an option called “Priority Carry-on.” This allows for a second bag with larger dimensions (56 x 36 x 23 cm) and also grants priority boarding. Its price, which varies depending on the flight distance and destination, will roughly range from $18 to $50 depending on the route, with longer flights logically being the most expensive.
Another important point to note: under-seat baggage will still be subject to size checks, not weight checks. A bag too large for this free format will incur excess baggage fees, requiring the owner to check it in or purchase an additional baggage allowance directly at the boarding gate. → Discover more details about the baggage allowance applied to Jetstar domestic and international flights.
What will remain the same
Checked baggage is not affected by this reform. It will remain available for separate purchase, as it is now, up to a limit of 40 kg per passenger.
Furthermore, the new pricing structure will only apply to flights operated under the Jetstar Airways (JQ) code. Flights operated by the Japanese subsidiary Jetstar Japan (GK) will continue to operate according to their own rules, as will group bookings of ten or more passengers.
And what about those who have already booked?
Reassuring news for travelers who already have a ticket for a flight after February 2: Jetstar has announced that they will automatically benefit from the Priority Carry-on option at no extra cost. This is a way for the airline to defuse some of the criticism by preventing customers who booked before the announcement from being penalized retroactively.
A strategy that follows the global low-cost trend
By tightening the rules around cabin space while promising lower base fares, Jetstar is adopting a strategy already well established among other low-cost carriers worldwide, notably Ireland’s Ryanair and the US’s Frontier, which have long applied similar à la carte pricing models for carry-on baggage.
Jetstar’s management defends a simple rationale: by only charging for services actually used, the company hopes to maintain more attractive introductory prices for passengers travelling light, while streamlining boarding and reducing delays related to finding available storage space.