Jetstar is reducing its carry-on baggage allowance across all Australian domestic and international flights from late November in both business class and economy.
As Australian Business Traveller tipped earlier this month, the maximum weight per cabin bag on most Jetstar flights will decrease from 10kg to 7kg, bringing it in line with all other major Australian airlines.
From November 25, business class passengers can bring aboard either two bags at a maximum of 7kg each – down from the current 2x10kg limit – or one 115cm bag plus one larger non-rigid garment bag, again at a maximum of 7kg per piece.
Down the back of the bus, economy travellers can continue to bring one main cabin bag and one ‘small item’, but will be capped at a combined total weight of 7kg: also a 30% drop on the current 10kg limit.
Handbags, pocket books, purses, coats and umbrellas are all considered ‘small items’ by Jetstar, as are duty free purchases made ahead of international flights – so pack lightly if you plan to top up your cellar before the journey home.
The only exception to the rule is Jetstar Japan, where passengers on its all-economy flights can continue to bring 10kg of carry-on baggage: keeping it aligned with both Japan Airlines and All Nippon (ANA) which fly on a number of the same routes.
Jetstar's website now displays the new baggage allowance when booking flights that depart after the changeover:
For passengers who had already booked flights prior to October 28 for travel beyond November 25, Jetstar will honour the higher baggage allowance that was presented to the traveller at the time of booking – either 20kg in business class or 10kg in economy.
Whichever limit applies, ‘cabin baggage officers’ are now greeting passengers at the boarding gate in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast to ensure that the airline’s restrictions are being adhered to.
Travellers attempting to bring aboard bags that are too large or heavy will find them placed into the aircraft hold in line with the checked baggage allowance that was purchased for that flight.
Those on a 'carry-on only' fare who exceed the published limits will have to cough up $50 for their newly-checked baggage, whether it’s discovered at the check-in desk or at the boarding gate.
Both Qantas and Virgin Australia already restrict cabin bags to a maximum of 7kg each, as do a number of low-cost carriers that reach Australian shores including Air Asia, Scoot and Cebu Pacific.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Apr 2013
Total posts 48
Another reason to not fly with them...
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
looks like you will end up flying TIGER... as QF/VA/JQ all have the 7kg limit now
21 Feb 2014
Total posts 10
My guess? Tiger follows suit within a few months. The last flight I had with them they were scrambling for space for bags.
My personal issue with 7kg is that if you fly with them you are forced to put things you can't afford to lose in checked baggage, then if they lose said baggage "it's not our fault, you should have put them in your carry-on". Swings and roundabouts.
Also Chris and UTR, VA and QF allow a personal item exclusive of the 7kg limit.
09 Nov 2011
Total posts 88
Jetstar - never have and never will unless it is the only option left in an emergency. Since Jetstar started they have done everything they can to have an element of something to cause anger for their Customers. I feel sorry for the casual cabin crew who essentially cop the brunt of that anger. Virgin and Qantas restrict to 7KG's?? I have flown Virgin very regularly of late both International and domestic and have never been questioned when I appear with my international size carry on - well over 7 KG's at times. The other issue is for International passengers, particularly from the USA that have arrived and find themselves on a Jetstar connection. Most US passengers have at least 2 carry ons as in the US I have never seen the airlines police the passengers boarding with well above the cabin 'limits' Southwest may, but the full service carriers - Delta, American and United do not unless you are on a CRJ where the larger bags are taken at the gate for free and returned to you at the gate on arrival.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Agreed. On the subject of international connecting passengers coming off Qantas flights on to Jetsar, all I can say is serve them right!
Any international passenger building an itinerary and buying a ticket without a) doing their research and/or b) relying on their travel agents is just being foolish, ignorant or both. Let that Jetstar flight serve as a lesson to them.
Once on a Qantas flight from LHR I overhead two pax talking about their first trip to Australia. They were clearly impressed by the upper deck Economy seats they've snagged. They were chatting to the cabin crew and commented that they were curious about the Jetstar flight on their itinerary and I thought, you muppet!
10 Aug 2013
Total posts 29
So you are saying that (for example) an uninformed family booking on Qantas should be punished for a controversial practice on the Qantas website. With which the company does little to streamline the experience in regards to baggage?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Yes. That is the germination of the concept of demand and supply. An informed public determines the equilibrium of demand and supply. Being informed can occur through
I'm not suggesting that Qantas is right but the only way Qantas can be reformed effectively is if the market responds accordingly. The market cannot be effectively reformed when people are mollycoddled.
If a passenger chooses to be ill-informed, in the face of freely available information, then "foolish" or "ignorant" would be an appropriate adjective.
Air China - Phoenix Miles
20 Dec 2012
Total posts 105
Always bring my ski jacket when flying them.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 240
Yep, in the words of John Oliver, to say JetStar are the douches of the airline industry is like saying the Titanic was a disappointing holiday.
I understand and acknowledge the counter argument of they are not a full service airline and when you pay peanuts you should expect monkeys.
However, with drip pricing (a case that has the airline currently in the Federal Court,) they aren’t nearly as competitive as they would like us to believe. With Choice Magazine stating that in some cases the difference between a comparable QF ticket and JQ ticket, (that is, with food, entertainment and baggage included on the JQ fare,) was as little as $7 AUD.
Still, the comment has to be made that the service and products customers expect are doubling at twice the speed that the prices they are willing to pay for it decreases. I can assure you first hand that not a day goes past where somewhere in this country a cabin manager or hotel receptionist isn’t dealing with a guest who is acting like a petulant child cause the free internet he got with his $25 dorm bed wasn’t flawless.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
What is your point Jono? I fail to see one. Please explain.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
"...is like saying the Titanic was a disappointing holiday."
oh my god
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
TRB, I think his point is that there is no point to Jetstar?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Yes, sometimes Jetstar can be as expensive as Qantas/Virgin with all the add-ons (which you may or may not need).
Yet other times it can be considerably cheaper.
As always - never assume - check.
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 140
I agree with some of the comments below. Do some research before you buy. Would hate to do an EK then onto a JQ flight (if that isnt already a disappointment for some).
28 Oct 2014
Total posts 1
We may all complain about jetstar... the clientele who use them and their no frills approach to aviation, but we have to respwct the fact that they seem to be one of the few airlines that can actually turn a profit. Although airlines tend to employ large amounts of people... they have virtually zero profitability potential. I refer to the Jim Jefferies skit in which he explains air travel as : "remember in the 60's when the airlines showed glamous stewardesses in their short skirts and hats??? Well its now 2014 and they haven't retired yet!!!"
Flying is not glamorous, for all of us it is simply a means to an end. 7kgs... 10kgs... if you really did a lot of flying you would know the tricks to getting around these silly little rules
09 Sep 2014
Total posts 54
This is sincerely shocking!
European low-cost-carriers give you 10 kg of carry on...and so do most others around the world!
Lufthansa - Miles & More
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 181
Are you sure......... Ryanair Thomas Cook group thomson airways the list goes on
09 Sep 2014
Total posts 54
I don't quite understand what you're trying to say?
Lufthansa - Miles & More
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 181
That none of those European carries offer 10Kg of carry on baggage
09 Sep 2014
Total posts 54
Emmm.. Ryanair gives you 10kg, easyJet gives you unlimited weight but the bag has to be 50x40x20 cm including handles and wheels. Okay you beat me here, Thomas Cook only lets you have 7kg and Monarch only 5kg. But Jet2, Flybe, and Blueair also allows 10kg.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
28 Oct 2014
Total posts 18
I'm glad I've already booked @ $215 return all up, SYD to CHC for a weekend away in March, with 10kg carry on confirmed! I'm the first one to admit to having 'buiness class syndrome"... LOVE Emirates upstairs to Auckland (with points of course)...but I'm not paying double Jetstar pricing for Economy Air NZ, Qantas, Emirates or anyone else. Not always a fan of Jetstar to be honest, but price/value equation if you've scoured the deals, coupled with flight timings to NZ is hard to beat in my opinion, particularly when check-in luggage is not needed.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
29 Oct 2014
Total posts 1
Carry on baggage is a nightmare - people bring huge bags and take all the space so that if you get on at the end of the boarding time and have only a small carry on you have to search around to find any space. It is not the weight limit that bothers me - it is airline failure to enforce any rules about size, weight or number of bags.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Jetstar cuts carry-on baggage allowance