Jetstar Will Charge for Overhead Cabin Bags From Feb 2027. Here’s What Travellers Need to Know

From 2 Feb 2027, passengers on Jetstar Airways flights will only get one small bag that fits under the seat as part of their standard booking. If you want to bring a cabin suitcase, large backpack or duffel bag for the overhead locker, you will need to pay for the airline’s new Priority Carry-on option.

The add-on will start from A$25 (about S$23) per person, per one-way flight on selected routes, although the final price will depend on the journey and availability. In other words, that compact wheelie bag you have always treated as part of the fare may soon need its own line in your travel budget.

Here is what is changing, who will be affected and what travellers should check before booking.

What will be included for free?

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Under the new Jetstar cabin baggage policy, every booking will include one personal item that can be stored beneath the seat in front of you. Think of a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack.

The maximum dimensions for this free under-seat bag will be:

40cm × 30cm × 20cm

That is compact, particularly if you are heading away for more than a night or two. Travellers who usually fly with a cabin-sized suitcase will almost certainly need to purchase an add-on or check their bag into the hold.

What is Priority Carry-on?

Priority Carry-on will allow passengers to bring a second, larger bag for the overhead compartment. The maximum dimensions for this bag will be:

56cm × 36cm × 23cm

The option also comes with earlier boarding, giving passengers a chance to board and settle in ahead of customers travelling with only an under-seat bag. However, Jetstar notes that boarding order cannot always be guaranteed for operational reasons.

There is another catch: Priority Carry-on will be capacity-limited. Once the allocation for a flight sells out, travellers who need more baggage may have to purchase checked baggage instead. Turning up at the gate with two bags is a risky strategy. You may be allowed to upgrade if Priority Carry-on is still available, but an oversized or excess bag could be sent to the hold and attract additional airport fees.

How much will an overhead cabin bag cost?

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Jetstar says Priority Carry-on will start from A$25 one way on selected flights. These were the airline’s launch examples:

One-way Priority Carry-on fees start from A$25 on Launceston to Sydney, A$26 on Adelaide to Brisbane, A$33 (about S$29) on Sydney to Melbourne, A$39 (about S$35) on Perth to Bali (Denpasar), and A$52 (about S$47) on Cairns to Tokyo (Narita).

These are not fixed rates across the network. The published figures were launch prices for selected flights and dates, and Jetstar says charges can vary. No Singapore-specific Priority Carry-on price has been announced at the time of writing.

For travellers flying from Singapore, this matters. Jetstar Airways currently operates direct services from Singapore to Melbourne, Perth and Bali, and the new rules apply to affected Jetstar Airways services with the JQ flight code. When comparing fares from 2027 onwards, look beyond the headline ticket price and add the baggage option you will actually use.

Is Jetstar really removing the 7kg limit?

Jetstar currently allows up to 7kg of cabin baggage across two items on its standard allowance. From 2 Feb 2027, the airline will move from this combined weight model to a size-led system and says it will no longer routinely weigh cabin bags at the gate.

That does not mean you can bring an exceptionally heavy bag. Under Jetstar’s updated carry-on rules, no single cabin bag may weigh more than 10kg, and passengers must be able to lift and carry their own luggage, including placing an overhead bag into the locker.

So, the practical change is not unlimited cabin baggage. It is less emphasis on the old 7kg combined allowance, stricter attention to the number and dimensions of your bags, and a new charge if you need overhead storage.

Why is Jetstar making the change?

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Jetstar says its research with customers and crew identified two recurring sources of airport stress: having cabin bags weighed at the gate and scrambling for limited overhead locker space.

According to chief executive Stephanie Tully, limiting overhead access to passengers who purchase Priority Carry-on should make better use of locker space, simplify boarding and help more flights leave on time. The airline also frames the policy as a low-cost, pay-for-what-you-use model. Passengers carrying only a small personal item will not be paying for cabin space they do not need.

From an operational point of view, the logic is easy enough to follow. Anyone who has watched a boarding queue stall while bags are rearranged several rows away will understand why airlines want tighter control over the overhead lockers.

Whether travellers see any meaningful reduction in base fares, however, is another question.

What if you already have a Jetstar booking?

There is good news for early bookers. If you booked a flight before 5 Aug 2026 that departs on or after 2 Feb 2027, Jetstar says it will add Priority Carry-on to your booking at no extra cost, regardless of your fare or bundle type. Passengers who had already paid for the airline’s additional 7kg cabin baggage option will receive a refund for that purchase.

Affected travellers do not need to take action. Jetstar says it will issue an updated itinerary and contact customers with more information. Group bookings are excluded.

Travelling with a child under two on your lap? From the changeover date, you will also be able to bring an additional under-seat bag for the infant’s belongings at no extra charge.

Which flights are affected?

The new policy will apply to Jetstar Airways (JQ) flights departing from 2 Feb 2027, except group bookings of 10 or more passengers. It will not apply to flights operated by Jetstar Japan (GK), which will retain its existing weight-based allowance.

This distinction is particularly important if your itinerary includes connecting Jetstar Airways and Jetstar Japan flights, as the baggage rules may differ from one sector to the next.

Jetstar’s checked baggage policy is not changing. Passengers can still purchase checked baggage of up to 40kg per person.

What should travellers do now?

Before clicking “book”, take a moment to price the trip you will actually take.

Measure your everyday backpack. A bag may look small but still exceed the 40cm × 30cm × 20cm under-seat limit.

Compare the total fare. Add Priority Carry-on, checked baggage, seat selection and payment fees before deciding which airline is cheaper.

Buy baggage early. Priority Carry-on is limited, and dealing with an extra bag at the gate can be more expensive and stressful.

Check every flight number. A JQ and GK connection may come with different cabin baggage rules.

Review split-date itineraries carefully. If your outbound flight departs before 2 Feb 2027 and your return flight leaves after it, different allowances may apply to each leg.