Jetstar announced this week that starting next year, airline tickets will include only one personal item that fits under a seat, with customers charged additional fees for carry-on luggage stored in overhead bins. The move represents the latest in a series of pricing changes across the aviation industry, where carriers have increasingly separated basic services from base fares and created additional revenue streams through various add-on charges.
Consumer advocates have criticized the policy as obscuring actual ticket costs. Graeme Hughes, a consumer expert at Griffith University, noted that while the strategy allows airlines to advertise lower headline prices, the additional charges accumulate during the booking process, making it difficult for travelers to compare fares across carriers. Andy Kelly from the consumer group Choice characterized the approach as a straightforward revenue-generating tactic that complicates price assessments.
Jetstar justified the change by citing industry practices among other low-cost carriers globally and asserting that the model helps maintain lower base fares. However, aviation experts have expressed concerns about the approach. Dr Ian Douglas from the University of New South Wales noted that while European low-cost carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet charge carry-on fees, Jetstar’s adoption of this model marks a shift from its traditional positioning in the Australian market.
Carry-on fees vary significantly across carriers. Ryanair charges between €/£12-€/£36 when booked in advance, while EasyJet charges up to £60 at the gate. Jetstar’s fees will depend on flight length, with potential costs exceeding $100 for international routes. By comparison, major US carriers like Southwest and JetBlue include both personal items and standard carry-on bags in base fares, while others charge based on route.
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