Jetstar will introduce a fee of up to $52 for passengers to place carry-on baggage in overhead lockers, starting February 2027. The airline announced the change on 5 August 2026, outlining 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 who want to bring a second, larger bag for overhead storage must buy Jetstar's 'Priority Carry-on' add-on. That fee also includes early boarding among the first passengers. The cost depends on the route: $25 for Launceston to Sydney, $33 for Sydney to Melbourne, and up to $52 for Cairns to Tokyo. Customers can also buy 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 size limits for cabin baggage stay the same. Underseat bags can measure up to 40x30x20cm, while overhead bags can be up to 56x36x23cm. Checked baggage allowances remain unchanged and can be purchased for up to 40kg per passenger.

CEO Stephanie Tully said 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 parts of the airport experience (The Guardian).

The transition follows 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). Before 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).

Some 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 what the aviation industry calls 'ancillary revenue' — the practice of charging separately for services that were once bundled into the ticket price, such as seat selection, meals, and now overhead bin access. By turning a previously included cabin feature into a discrete, route-priced product, Jetstar creates a new revenue stream. The elimination of gate weighing also shifts the operational burden of baggage compliance from staff at the boarding door to the passenger's purchasing decision, which streamlines gate procedures. Whether the reduction in gate friction offsets the customer friction of paying for previously free overhead access depends on how passengers adapt to the fee structure.

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