Jetstar will start charging extra for overhead locker storage from 2 February 2027, in a change affecting passengers across its domestic and international network.
Under the new policy, the airline's standard fares will include just one small bag that fits under the seat, weighing up to 10kg. Passengers who want to store a carry-on suitcase in the overhead locker will have to pay for a new "Priority Carry-on" option.
Jetstar is Qantas's budget airline arm, flying domestic routes across Australia as well as international services to destinations including Bali, Japan and New Zealand.
Priority Carry-on starts from $25 on domestic flights and $39 on international flights, with the exact price depending on the route. Passengers who pay for it also get to board early, after business class but ahead of other economy passengers.
Why Jetstar is making the change
Jetstar chief executive Steph Tully said she expected the change would make boarding and disembarking faster, since the majority of passengers would choose the base fare.
"We know that weighing carry-on bags at the gate can be frustrating for our customers and for our crew," Tully 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."
"By giving customers an under-seat 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," she said.
"Our new carry-on baggage model provides more choice to customers while helping to keep our fares low. You only pay for what you need, travelling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need."
Jetstar said it would continue to enforce the 10kg carry-on limit. If staff believe a bag exceeds that limit, it will be weighed and additional fees may apply, as is currently the case.
The airline will also replace its gate scales with bag-sizing frames, with bags only weighed if they appear to be over the 10kg limit. An adult travelling with an infant will be allowed a second under-seat bag for baby items at no extra cost.
How Jetstar compares to Qantas and Virgin Australia
Carry-on rules differ across Australia's major airlines. Qantas allows up to 14kg across multiple bags on most domestic flights, while Virgin Australia permits one 8kg carry-on bag plus one personal item, after changing its own rules earlier this year.
Pricing and size limits
Priority Carry-on pricing varies by route. It starts from $25 one-way between Launceston and Sydney, $26 between Adelaide and Brisbane, $33 between Sydney and Melbourne, $39 between Perth and Bali, and $52 between Cairns and Tokyo.
The included under-seat bag must measure no more than 40cm by 30cm by 20cm. The optional overhead carry-on bag, covered by Priority Carry-on, can measure up to 56cm by 36cm by 23cm.
What happens to bags that don't fit
Jetstar said that if a bag does not meet the size limits or appears to weigh more than 10kg, it may be checked. If a bag is found to be oversized at the gate, the passenger will have to pay a fee to have it checked into the aircraft's hold.
What travellers who have already booked need to know
Passengers who have already booked a Jetstar flight departing on or after 2 February 2027 will not have to pay for the new carry-on option. They will be automatically upgraded to include Priority Carry-on at no extra cost.
