Jetstar Will Charge Passengers to Use Overhead Bins

Jetstar will begin charging passengers to put their carry-on bags in the overhead compartments starting in February 2027, the Australian budget airline said in a statement Wednesday.

The fee will start at 25 Australian dollars ($18) one way, with the price depending on the route. Travelers who do not pay will still be able to bring a purse, laptop bag or small backpack free of charge, provided it fits within specified measurements and goes under the seat in front of them.

The airline said the change followed feedback in which passengers and staff identified "having bags weighed at the gate and struggling to find room in overhead lockers" as among the most stressful parts of the airport experience.

Under the new system, bags stowed in the overhead bins may weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and will no longer be weighed by staff as passengers line up to board, Jetstar said. The existing 7-kilogram (15-pound) limit will be scrapped for the small item placed under the seat.

"By giving customers an underseat bag with the option to add Priority Carry-on, we can make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time," Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said in a statement. She added that the change would ensure customers paid only for what they needed.

The move makes Jetstar the latest low-cost carrier to charge for carry-on bags, a practice already common among budget airlines in the United States and Europe. Australian and New Zealand airlines have introduced charges for checked luggage, seat selection and some dining and in-flight entertainment options, but an industry analyst said Jetstar was the first to charge for use of the overhead lockers.

"It will ruffle feathers because Australian travelers have got such high expectations," said Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings.com. "For such a long time they lived in a bubble of full-service options only."

Petersen said Jetstar's base fares remained higher than those of European low-cost carriers with similar policies. "Jetstar's starting price is generally well above what Ryanair or Wizz Air can offer, largely because Australia lacks that level of competition and because wages, taxes and operating costs sit much higher here," she said.