Jetstar to Charge Passengers for Overhead Bag Storage Starting 2027, Sparking Outcry

Jetstar, the Australian budget carrier owned by Qantas, announced it will begin charging passengers for overhead bin storage beginning in February 2027. The new “priority carry-on” option will cost $25 AUD, approximately $18, per overhead bag per flight and will include priority boarding privileges. Passengers traveling with smaller items such as backpacks, handbags, or laptop bags that fit beneath the seat in front of them will not incur charges under the updated policy.

The change marks a significant shift from Jetstar’s existing carry-on allowance, which currently permits passengers to bring luggage weighing up to 7 kilograms, roughly 15.4 pounds. Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully framed the fee structure as a mechanism to “streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time” while enabling customers to “only pay for what you need,” according to a company statement.

Steven Arroyo, a retired United Airlines captain and aviation expert in Florida, acknowledged the policy could “certainly expedite the boarding process.” He cautioned, however, that large families will face financial strain from the new charges and suggested other carriers may adopt similar models as fuel costs escalate. Oil prices have doubled in recent years and represent approximately one-third of airline operational expenses, Arroyo noted.

Social media users have responded with sharp criticism, with Instagram commenters likening the fees to “highway robbery” and predicting airlines will soon charge for restroom access. A Reddit user voiced concern that the policy would encourage passengers to “sneak in multiple 10kg bags,” while others defended the measure as fair to travelers with smaller luggage.

Aviation strategy consultant Koen Karsbergen told Fox News Digital that “Jetstar is catching up to a market that got there years ago,” noting that competitors Frontier and Allegiant have excluded overhead bin space from base ticket prices for several years. Despite industry precedent, Karsbergen acknowledged strong consumer resistance, stating “Nobody likes to pay for something we have had before for free.”

Arroyo drew a historical parallel to PEOPLExpress, the now-defunct carrier that pioneered à la carte pricing in the 1980s by charging separately for carry-on bags, beverages, and other amenities. “It has happened in the past in the United States, and it could happen again,” Arroyo said.