Jetstar will soon remove its 7kg carry‑on weight limit. In its place comes a new set of rules that will likely spark debate among travellers. The airline will charge passengers for any standard cabin bag that doesn’t fit under the seat in front. Overall, there is a shifting in focus from weight to size.
From 2 February 2027, all Jetstar domestic and international economy fares booked directly on the airline’s website will include one under‑seat item only. That bag can measure up to 40cm x 30cm x 20cm. To put that into some kind of perspective, Jetstar suggest that the will allow a small backpack, handbag or laptop bag under the seat.
Carry‑on changes
Jetstar is moving to a size‑based model, rather than a weight-based model. Jetstar argues that this will simplify boarding and reduce gate stress. The airline wants to eliminate weigh‑ins and make overhead‑locker space more predictable.
Under‑seat allowance
To begin with, every fare will include one small bag that must fit under the seat.Anything larger, that would need to be stored in the overhead lockers, becomes a paid upgrade.
Of note, Jetstar only specify a maximum size for the under seat bag. They do not specify a weight – but to be fair, there are practical limits to how heavy a small bag could be.
Priority Carry‑On: What Passengers Get
Travellers who need more cabin baggage space can purchase Priority Carry‑On, which includes:
- A second, larger overhead‑locker bag
- Priority boarding for early access to overhead bins
Priority Carry‑On is limited and starts at $25 one‑way on selected flights. Prices vary depending on the route. Here are some examples:
- Launceston to Sydney — from $25
- Adelaide to Brisbane — from $26
- Sydney to Melbourne — from $33
- Perth to Bali (Denpasar) — from $39
- Cairns to Tokyo (Narita) — from $52
These prices highlight how Jetstar is monetising overhead‑locker space while giving travellers the option to board early and secure room for larger bags.
But Why?
Jetstar CEO, Stephanie Tully explains it this way:
We know that weighing carry-on bags at the gate can be frustrating for our customers and for our crew.
To make packing easier we’ve decided to remove the 7kg weight limit, so from February, the main thing customers will need to think about is the size of their carry-on.
By giving customers an underseat bag with the option to add Priority Carry-on, we can make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time.
Our new carry-on baggage model provides more choice to customers while helping to keep our fares low. You only pay for what you need – travelling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need
This change applies to all Jetstar Airways (JQ) flights departing from 02 February 2027 excluding group bookings (10+ passengers). Customers with existing bookings after that date will be upgraded to include Priority Carry-on at no cost. Carry-on changes will not apply to Jetstar Japan (GK) operated flights.
