Jetstar to Charge $25 for Overhead Bin Access Starting 2027

Jetstar is taking heat after revealing that travelers will soon face extra charges to store carry-on bags in overhead bins. The Qantas-owned budget carrier plans to introduce fees starting around $25 AUD, or roughly $18 USD, per flight for each bag placed above the seats beginning in February 2027. This new "priority carry-on" purchase grants access to those bins plus priority boarding. Smaller items like backpacks, handbags, or laptop bags that fit under the seat remain free of charge.

The updated rules replace Jetstar's old policy which allowed passengers to bring total carry-on luggage up to 7kg, about 15.4 pounds, on board without restriction. Fox News Digital asked Jetstar for a statement on the matter. Steven Arroyo, an aviation expert based in Florida and a retired captain with United Airlines, told Fox News Digital the move could "certainly expedite the boarding process." He added that other airlines might follow this lead.

"Oil prices have doubled. It's a third of an airline's expense," Arroyo explained regarding rising costs. He noted the financial hit will land hardest on large families traveling together. "If you're traveling with a big family, it's going to [have] impact," he said. The real question remains whether consumers will accept these new fees that airlines are proposing.

Not everyone is happy about the news. Several Instagram users posted pleas to boycott the carrier. One follower called it "Highway robbery, Jetstar! You think it will be less frustrating being charged for locker space than getting your stuff weighed?" Another joked that soon they might also charge to use the toilet. The company views things differently. Stephanie Tully, CEO of Jetstar, said in a press release these fees would "streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time" while letting customers "only pay for what you need."

Some travelers see the logic behind it. One Instagram user admitted, "Fair enough because it's annoying when you have a small carry-on, and it has to be put several seats away from you because someone has a larger case." Another replied, "Maybe if people stopped taking multiple bags or oversized cases to save a few bucks, this wouldn't be needed?" On Reddit, one user said the policy is better than seeing people try to sneak in multiple 10kg bags. Another added, "If we are really lucky, the current carry-on addicts will reconsider."

Insiders say they are not surprised by the charges. Koen Karsbergen, an aviation strategy consultant and educator, told Fox News Digital that Jetstar is catching up to a market that got there years ago. He pointed out that Frontier and Allegiant have not included overhead bin space in ticket prices for several years. Still, Karsbergen isn't shocked by the backlash. "Nobody likes to pay for something we have had before for free," he said.

Arroyo also brought up the now-defunct airline PEOPLExpress. When that carrier began selling tickets in the 1980s, it adopted an à la carte pricing model, charging separately for carry-on bags in overhead bins along with coffee, tea and bottled water. "It has happened in the past in the United States, and it could happen again," Arroyo said. Kelly McGreal of Fox News Digital contributed reporting on these developments.