Australian airline Jetstar will charge passengers to use the overhead lockers for their bags
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — For passengers on the budget Australian airline Jetstar, the days of cramming your bag into an overhead locker already full of your seatmates’ full-sized suitcases are coming to an end, but there’s a catch. The carrier will charge…
Australian budget airline Jetstar will soon charge passengers for using overhead lockers to store carry-on bags beginning February 2027. The carrier announced this policy in response to complaints from passengers and staff about having to weigh bags at the gate and struggle to find space in the overhead compartments. Jetstar will charge up to 25 Australian dollars ($18) per bag, depending on the route, for items larger than a purse, laptop bag or small backpack that fit under the seat in front.
The current weight limit of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) for bags stored in the lockers remains unchanged, and passengers will no longer have to wait for airline staff to weigh their bags at boarding. This move makes Jetstar the latest low-cost carrier to introduce a payment system for carry-on bags, which is common among budget airlines in the United States and Europe.
While many airlines worldwide have already charged for checked luggage, seat selection, and some in-flight amenities, industry analyst Sharon Petersen noted that Jetstar is the first to charge for using overhead lockers as passengers in Australia and New Zealand have grown accustomed to full-service options.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
