JETSTAR: Halves baggage allowance, charges now apply

From 2 February 2027, Jetstar’s cheapest Economy fares will include only one small bag, measuring no more than 40 x 30 x 20cm, which must fit under the seat in front. But it can weigh up to 10kg. The current free allowance of one main cabin bag plus one small item, sharing a miserly 7kg limit, disappears.

Travellers wanting a wheelie bag, duffel or larger backpack in the overhead locker will need to buy Jetstar’s new ‘Priority Carry-on’. That adds a second bag of up to 56 x 36 x 23cm and priority boarding, behind Business Class but ahead of passengers travelling with only an underseat bag.

Cost of Priority Carry-on

Jetstar says Priority Carry-on will start at AU$25 on routes such as Launceston–Sydney, cost around AU$33 between Sydney and Melbourne, and rise to AU$52 on Cairns–Tokyo. As you can see, prices vary by route and will generally be cheapest when added during the initial booking.

The good news is that Jetstar says it will no longer routinely weigh cabin bags at the gate, although no individual item may exceed 10kg and passengers must be able to lift and carry their own luggage.

One of the proclaimed purposes is to make boarding quicker by reducing the number of passengers competing for overhead space.

De-stressing comes with a revenue stream

Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully says customer and crew research identified baggage weighing and the scramble for locker space as two of the most stressful parts of the airport experience. The airline argues the change offers more choice, makes boarding smoother and helps flights depart on time.

Operationally, that makes sense. Overhead-bin Tetris slows boarding, blocks aisles and causes arguments when someone in row 28 deposits a suitcase above row eight.

Commercially, however, this is classic low-cost-carrier alchemy: take something previously included, repackage it as a benefit and attach a price. ‘You only pay for what you need’ sounds good until what you need is somewhere to put an ordinary cabin suitcase.

A couple travelling return between Sydney and Melbourne could pay around $132 simply to bring two overhead bags. Those choosing the free option will also surrender some leg space to the bag under the seat. That cost is worth factoring in when you are comparing airline fares. In my experience, once you price all the extras like food and a beverage, often the more traditional carriers like Qantas and Virgin Australia come out equal, or better than Jetstar.

Jetstar goes EasyJet/Ryanair

The model closely follows Ryanair, whose basic fare includes a 40 x 30 x 20cm underseat bag, with a larger 10kg cabin bag reserved for passengers buying a ‘Priority’ fare. EasyJet similarly includes one small underseat bag and charges for a larger overhead item, although its free bag is more generous at 45 x 36 x 20cm.

As 2PAXfly reported when Virgin Australia tightened its own luggage rules, Virgin’s current Economy allowance remains comparatively generous: one 8kg overhead bag plus a personal item measuring up to 45 x 33 x 20cm. Qantas domestic Economy is more generous again, allowing up to 14kg under its permitted carry-on combinations and including a 23kg checked bag with most domestic Economy fares.

Jetstar Business Class passengers will retain an underseat and overhead bag. Jetstar Japan flights are also excluded from the change.

Passengers who booked before 5 August 2026 for travel from 2 February 2027 will receive Priority Carry-on without charge. Anyone who already paid for the additional 7kg carry-on option will be refunded.

2PAXfly Takeout

For genuine minimalist travellers, the new system could be an improvement. No waiting for weigh-in and less fighting for locker space.

Otherwise, this is just another way for Jetstar to make more money, with some boarding efficiency as a side benefit.

Let me tell you, I don’t want to be at check-in or the gate for the first month, that’s February 2027 of this new policy’s implementation. Jetstar will break TikTok with outrage videos.

Just remember that although the base fare on Jetstar may still look cheap, add a seat, a suitcase, and now somewhere above your head to put it, and the price difference between Virgin Australia or Qantas when you compare price and service, like for like, can narrow considerably.