The Qantas-owned Jetstar carrier announced a new overhead locker charge, creating a variable-priced product. The new “Priority Carry-on” option would start at A$25 one way on selected flights, with launch examples reaching A$52 for Cairns to Tokyo.
Jetstar’s terms, however, state that those prices reflect limited availability on selected flights between February 2 and March 18, 2027, and may vary.
The airline’s official announcement lists example prices of A$25 from Launceston to Sydney, A$26 from Adelaide to Brisbane, A$33 from Sydney to Melbourne, A$39 from Perth to Bali, and A$52 from Cairns to Tokyo. Payment fees may also apply depending on how the booking is paid.
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A booking check by The Guardian found that overhead carry-on access for a Melbourne-Tokyo itinerary cost A$86 outbound on February 6 and A$108 for the February 20 return. That would bring the round-trip add-on to A$194 for one passenger.
Beginning February 2, 2027, base fares on Jetstar Airways flights will include one bag measuring no more than 40 by 30 by 20 centimetres. The item must ordinarily fit beneath the seat in front of the passenger.
Customers who purchase Priority Carry-on can bring a second bag measuring up to 56 by 36 by 23 centimetres for the overhead locker. The upgrade also places them ahead of standard economy passengers in the boarding order, although Jetstar says priority boarding cannot always be guaranteed because of operational requirements.
No single cabin bag may weigh more than 10 kilograms. Jetstar will stop routinely weighing carry-on bags at boarding gates, replacing its current combined 7-kilogram allowance with an item-and-size model.
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Priority Carry-on will have limited availability and can sell out. Passengers arriving with two items without the upgrade may purchase it at the gate if capacity remains. Otherwise, the additional bag may have to be checked, with further charges applying.
The change lands as Jetstar’s add-on revenue is already contributing to stronger financial results. Qantas Airways reported that Jetstar Group generated A$3.12 billion in revenue during the six months ended December 31, 2025, an increase of 8% from the previous year. Underlying earnings before interest and tax rose 12% to A$492 million, while the operating margin increased by 0.6 percentage points to 15.8%.
Jetstar’s Australian domestic network delivered A$372 million in underlying EBIT and a 22% margin. Qantas attributed the result partly to higher ancillary revenue, alongside strong demand, higher load factors, and new aircraft efficiencies. More than half of Jetstar’s domestic passengers travelled on base fares below A$150 during calendar 2025.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said passengers travelling with less would pay less and that the model would help keep fares low.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Catherine King told The Guardian that Jetstar would need to demonstrate that claim and clearly disclose what customers receive when purchasing a ticket.
In addition, Jetstar is also presenting the policy as an operational change intended to reduce boarding delays. The airline said customers and employees identified gate-side bag weighing and competition for overhead space as major sources of stress. Tully said limiting overhead access would streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time.
The latest Australian government data shows room for improvement. Jetstar recorded an on-time departure rate of 75% across 6,944 scheduled domestic sectors in June 2026, compared with an industry average of 81.9%. It ranked last for punctuality among the eight reporting airlines, although its 0.9% cancellation rate was below the 1.5% industry average.
Jetstar has not provided a target for how much the baggage changes could improve those figures.
Customers who booked before August 5 for travel after the February 2027 transition will receive Priority Carry-on without an additional charge. Jetstar will also refund passengers who previously bought its additional 7-kilogram cabin baggage option.
The new model applies to Jetstar Airways flights, excluding group bookings of 10 or more passengers. Jetstar Japan flights will remain under the existing weight-based baggage rules.
