Jetstar will introduce a fee of up to $52 for passengers to place carry-on baggage in overhead lockers, effective February 2027. The airline announced the update on 5 August 2026, detailing a structural shift in its cabin baggage model that also removes the long-standing 7kg carry-on weight limit.

Under the new framework, every booking includes one underseat bag, such as a backpack, handbag, or laptop bag. Passengers wishing to bring a second, larger bag for overhead storage must purchase Jetstar's 'Priority Carry-on' add-on. This fee includes early boarding among the first passengers. The cost varies by route: $25 for Launceston to Sydney, $33 for Sydney to Melbourne, and up to $52 for Cairns to Tokyo. Customers can also purchase an extra 7kg weight allowance at the time of booking, with prices varying by route, such as $32 for Melbourne to Sydney (News.com.au).

The physical dimensions for cabin baggage remain specified. Underseat bags can measure up to 40x30x20cm, while overhead bags can be up to 56x36x23cm. Checked baggage allowances remain unchanged and are purchasable for up to 40kg per passenger.

CEO Stephanie Tully stated the airline is removing carry-on bag weighing at the gate to reduce frustration for customers and crew. Jetstar will no longer routinely use cabin baggage scales, though it will still ask customers to keep carry-on bags to 10kg so they can safely lift them. The carrier said the changes follow research and feedback identifying gate bag-weighing and crowded overhead lockers as stressful elements of the airport experience (The Guardian).

The transition involves a clear timeline. Flights departing before 02 February 2027 operate under the existing allowance, based on a 7kg or 14kg two-item weight limit (Jetstar Carry-on Baggage Update). Prior to this update, standard Starter fares included a 7kg allowance shared across two items, with the main item stored overhead and a small item under the seat (Jetstar Baggage).

Specific accommodations remain in the new model. Customers traveling with an infant can take an extra underseat bag for baby items at no additional cost.

The broader context here involves the continuing evolution of ancillary revenue strategies in low-cost aviation. By monetizing overhead bin access, Jetstar converts a previously bundled cabin feature into a discrete, route-priced product. The elimination of gate weighing shifts the operational burden of baggage compliance from staff at the boarding door to the passenger's purchasing decision, streamlining gate procedures while opening a new revenue stream. Whether the reduction in gate friction offsets the customer friction of paying for previously free overhead access depends on passenger adaptation to the fee structure.

The official announcement, titled 'Jetstar to update its carry-on baggage model,' is published on the Jetstar newsroom (Jetstar Newsroom).