Jetstar to Charge for Overhead Locker Use from February 2027

Australian budget carrier Jetstar will introduce charges for passengers who want to store carry-on bags in overhead lockers beginning in February 2027. The move makes Jetstar the latest low-cost airline to implement a payment system for cabin baggage storage, following similar policies adopted by budget carriers across the United States and Europe.

Under the new policy, passengers can stow a purse, laptop bag, or small backpack that fits within specified measurements under the seat in front of them at no charge. However, those wishing to use the overhead compartments will pay fees starting from A$25 ($18) one way for shorter domestic flights such as Launceston to Sydney, with prices varying based on route and demand. Longer international routes carry higher charges, with a flight from Cairns to Tokyo costing A$52, while some Sydney to Osaka routes show prices reaching A$60 each way.

The airline said the change follows extensive research and customer feedback identifying bag weighing at gates and struggles to find overhead locker space as the most stressful parts of the airport experience. Jetstar will discontinue its routine practice of weighing cabin baggage at boarding gates, instead asking customers to ensure their overhead bags weigh no more than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) so they can lift them without assistance. The existing weight limit of 7 kilograms (15 pounds) for carry-on bags will be scrapped entirely for the small personal item placed under travelers’ seats.

Airline Defends Policy as Customer Choice Initiative

Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully defended the new policy as a measure to improve the boarding experience and reduce delays.

“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,” Tully said in a statement.

Tully added that the revised baggage model provides more choice while keeping base fares low. The airline emphasized that customers would only pay for what they need, with the philosophy that traveling with less means paying less. Passengers and airline staff consistently named having bags weighed at the gate and struggling to find room in overhead lockers as the more stressful parts of the airport experience, the carrier said in its Wednesday announcement.

A Jetstar spokesperson told the BBC that the prices quoted were a “fair example” of what customers would pay for hand luggage, but prices could rise “based on demand” and could not be guaranteed. The model aligns with baggage policies used by several low-cost airlines, including Britain’s EasyJet and Ireland’s Ryanair, which require passengers to pay separately for larger cabin bags.

Industry First Sparks Debate Among Australian Travelers

Industry analysts noted that Jetstar appears to be the first carrier to charge specifically for use of overhead lockers. Sharon Petersen, CEO of AirlineRatings.com, predicted the move would generate significant controversy among Australian passengers.

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

Like many carriers worldwide, Australian and New Zealand airlines have already introduced charges for checked luggage, seat selection, and some dining and in-flight entertainment options. However, the overhead locker fee represents a new frontier in airline unbundling strategies, where carriers separate previously included services and charge for them individually.

Social Media Reactions Range from Outrage to Support

The announcement prompted mixed reactions from social media users, with some expressing outrage while others supported the airline’s approach. Critics questioned whether Jetstar would next charge passengers to use toilet facilities, with one user posting a pointed question about bathroom fees. Another user wrote that passengers already pay for food, drinks, seats, and checked baggage, wondering what additional charges might come next, including potential fees for soap and toilet paper in bathrooms.

Some commenters expressed confusion over the airline’s logic, noting that carriers encourage passengers to travel with hand luggage only to save costs, only to turn around and charge fees for that very service. The sentiment reflected broader frustration with the progressive unbundling of airline services, which has become common practice among budget carriers globally but remains relatively new for Australian travelers accustomed to more inclusive service models.

Nevertheless, some social media users offered support for the policy, suggesting that the change might reduce congestion at boarding gates and ensure more equitable distribution of overhead locker space. These supporters argued that passengers who genuinely need less baggage space should not subsidize those who maximize their carry-on allowances.

Policy Details and Implementation Timeline

Under the new system, all passengers will receive a smaller bag allowance that must fit under the seat in front of them at no additional cost. Those requiring overhead locker space must purchase what Jetstar calls Priority Carry-on, which combines overhead storage rights with priority boarding privileges. The airline positioned this as providing customers with more choice while maintaining competitive base fares.

Bags stowed in overhead lockers can weigh up to 10 kilograms and will no longer be weighed by airline staff as passengers line up to board. This change addresses one of the key pain points identified in customer research, where gate-side bag weighing created bottlenecks and passenger anxiety during the boarding process. By eliminating routine weighing, Jetstar aims to smooth the flow of passengers onto aircraft and reduce departure delays.

The policy takes effect in February 2027, giving passengers several months to adjust their packing strategies and factor additional costs into their travel budgets. The staggered implementation timeline allows the airline to communicate the changes clearly and adjust systems to accommodate the new pricing structure across its route network.