Travelers rage as budget airline plans overhead bag fee: ‘Highway robbery’

Jetstar is facing some pushback after announcing its passengers will soon have to pay extra to place theircarry-on bagsin an overhead bin. 

The Australian budget airline, owned by Qantas, will require passengers to pay fees from $25 AUD (about $18) per overhead bag per flight starting in February 2027.

The “priority carry-on” purchase will include priority boarding.Passengers will not be charged for a smaller bag, such as a backpack, handbag or laptop bag that can fit under the seat in front of them.

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The updated policy replaces Jetstar’s previous carry-on rules, whichallowed passengersto bring carry-on luggage up to a total of 7kg (about 15.4 pounds) aboard.

Jetstar has ignited backlash among some customers (not pictured) after announcing that flight passengers will soon have to pay extra to place carry-on bags in an overhead bin.(Jetstar)

�certainly expedite the boarding process.”

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He also said other airlines may follow suit.

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“Oil prices have doubled.It’s a third ofan airline’s expense,” he said.

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“If you’re traveling with a big family, it’sgoing to [have] impact,” Arroyo said.

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Starting in February 2027, the airline will require passengers to pay fees for overhead bin space.(iStock)

“That’s going to be the main focus.Will the consumer accept these new fees that airlines are proposing?”

Some travelers have not reacted well to the news.

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A number of Instagram users responded with pleas to boycott. 

“Highway robbery, Jetstar!You think it will be less frustrating being charged for locker space than getting your stuff weighed?” an Instagram follower commented.

Jetstar said its new policy will “streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time.”(Jetstar)

A second person quipped, “Soon they will also charge to use [the] toilet.”

The company sees it differently. Stephanie Tully, CEO of Jetstar, described the fees as a way to “streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time” while allowing customers to “only pay for what you need,” according to a companypress release.

The company wants to “streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time.”

Some travelers agreed with the new policy.

“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,” an Instagram user said.

“Maybe if people stoppedtaking multiple bagsor oversized cases to save a few bucks, this wouldn’t be needed?” another replied.

Some flight passengers feel the company is nickel-and-diming customers.(iStock)

On Reddit, a user said the new policy was better “than people trying to sneak in multiple 10kg bags.” 

“If we are really lucky, the current carry-on addicts will reconsider,” another Reddit user said.

Airline insiders said they aren’t surprised bythe new charges. 

“Jetstar is catching up to a market that got there years ago,�

Karsbergen said Frontier and Allegiant haven’t included overhead bin space in their ticket prices for several years.

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Still, Karsbergen isn’t surprised by the backlash. 

“Nobody likes to pay for something we have had before for free,” he said.

Budget airlines in the U.S.also charge a fee for standard overhead bin space.(iStock)

Arroyo pointed to the now-defunct airline PEOPLExpress. 

When PEOPLExpress beganselling ticketsin the 1980s, the carrier adopted an à la carte pricing model, charging separately for carry-on bags in overhead bins, coffee, tea and bottled water.

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“It has happened in the past in the United States, and it could happen again,” Arroyo said.