Article: Jetstar to Charge for Carry-On Bags, Add Priority Boarding

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/jetstar-priority-boarding-carryon-charges/

Jetstar to Charge for Carry-On Bags, Add Priority Boarding is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Jetstar to Charge for Carry-On Bags, Add Priority Boarding

Jetstar will stop weighing carry-on bags, instead charging passengers extra for bags that don't fit under the seat in front. It's also adding priority boarding - for a fee, of course.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[MG1]

I hope that if you have QF status that the perks you get on JQ remain unaffected (likewise, if you purchase the Max bundles)?

 

[Mattg]

I hope that if you have QF status that the perks you get on JQ remain unaffected (likewise, if you purchase the Max bundles)?

Unless I'm missing something, the only perk of Qantas status on Jetstar is domestic lounge access? That isn't changing.

 

[MG1]

Unless I'm missing something, the only perk of Qantas status on Jetstar is domestic lounge access? That isn't changing.

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Saab34]

The priority line makes sense, enables them to push all the pre paid carry on crowd automatically via one lane, while ground staff can walk the non priority lane looking for rollers to fine.

Standby for all the nonsense negative press about to hit ‘never flying Jetstar again, we will now fly Virgin’….and end up on Jetstar anyway when they vote with their wallet.

It does start to get a bit pricey if wishing to take checked baggage plus a roller onboard, VA will likely gain a bit from this no doubt. Those classic redemptions likely have become better value now.

 

[BrianQQ]

We have lost the plot. I expect VA to follow suit very soon.

 

[Mwenenzi]

JQ newsroom.

https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/newsroom/jetstar-to-update-its-carry-on-baggage-model-aus

Wil the base fare be dropping by at least $25?
Will a "Underseat bag (included in every fare): up to 40 × 30 × 20cm" actually fit under all and every seat. I doubt it.

I flew JQi 10 days ago. My carry on backpack, with 15" laptop, weighed 6.5kg, but does not fit under a seat. [45x37x25]. After schedule [1st] I always compare the all up costs of base fare, seat selection, checked bag, carry on bag (for JQ now) [2nd]. Then frequent flyer benefits (if any) considered [3rd]. For me this will mean less JQ flights. Even Air NZ will be in play.

A few months ago I had a QF JQi award AU to NZ. Paid JQ extra for seat selection, but checked bag was included, Will the QF award on JQ include the new "priorirty bag" carry on fee? Or need to pay more cash for my backpack carry on?

 

[kpc]

Just a poorly disguised money grab by Jq. My leg room is already very limited and will be even worse if there is a bag under the seat in front of me!

 

[WilsonM]

A few months ago I had a QF JQi award AU to NZ. Paid JQ extra for seat selection, but checked bag was included, Will the QF award on JQ include the new "priorirty bag" carry on fee? Or need to pay more cash for my backpack carry on?

From the article:

"Passengers who book a Jetstar flight as a Qantas Classic Reward, or as a codeshare marketed by another airline, will automatically receive a complimentary “Priority Carry-on”. Classic Reward bookings on Jetstar will also continue to include 20kg of checked baggage."

 

[MH_fan]

Another reason not to fly JQ. I never check in luggage (even for international) and only have 1 carry-on bag. So whatever fare/bundle I choose, I will always have to pay extra for the overhead space from Feb onwards. No thanks. I will never consider JQi ever again, especially now with no lounge access and having to pay for overhead luggage space.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Gotta say it does work really well for Ryanair! Friend of mine did three flights and booked the priority 2-bag cabin option. And then adding a hold bag was really quite cheap.

Compare to easyjet where by the time you add bags and cabin bags the fare is often more expensive than BA!

I wonder how JQ is going to price the checked bag option? Will it be cheap like Ryanair? I reckon they’ll still price competitively with VA.

 

[RooFlyer]

We have lost the plot. I expect VA to follow suit very soon.

Why do you expect that? Qantas is more rapacious (and part of the same Group) - so more likely?

 

[aikman]

It would be ok if they had Ryanair pricing, but they don't. I hope passengers take into account this new fee when choosing their airline instead of blindly choosing Jetstar because of the impression that it must be the cheapest.

The MEL T4 queueing system is terrible as it is. Where would you even put in separate priority boarding queues?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why do you expect that? Qantas is more rapacious (and part of the same Group) - so more likely?

I can’t see QF following this as a premium carrier. But VA? Yep.

 

[transpactraveller]

So they're basically adopting the Ryanair pricing model. Except Ryanair base fares without cabin bags are like €20. I doubt we will see JQ drop their base fare to match Ryanair prices...

 

[LondonAussie]

Except Jetstar is starting this farce just when Ryanair will be ending it - courtesy of the EU legislating that overhead bags must be included in all airfares in the EU and on EU-based airlines.

Once again Australia is stuck in the past with poor consumer protections.

Given the timing it looks like QF executives are doing this as an FU to the EU, or gloating that they have the politicians in their pockets downunder.

 

[Chatswood]

The priority line makes sense, enables them to push all the pre paid carry on crowd automatically via one lane, while ground staff can walk the non priority lane looking for rollers to fine.

Standby for all the nonsense negative press about to hit ‘never flying Jetstar again, we will now fly Virgin’….and end up on Jetstar anyway when they vote with their wallet.

It does start to get a bit pricey if wishing to take checked baggage plus a roller onboard, VA will likely gain a bit from this no doubt. Those classic redemptions likely have become better value now.

Interestingly Community Virgin Australia recently did a survey about changing the carry-on allowance, one of the options includes underseat storage and free checked baggage. Let’s see whether they roll this out now with JQ’s change.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

For me my weekend trips the increase from 7 to 10 for my backpack which can go under the seat I'm actually ok with this. I found my roll.a board if I needed it was always heavier than 7 and needed to pay for the 14kg allowance anyway.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Except Jetstar is starting this farce just when Ryanair will be ending it - courtesy of the EU legislating that overhead bags must be included in all airfares in the EU and on EU-based airlines.

Once again Australia is stuck in the past with poor consumer protections.

Given the timing it looks like QF executives are doing this as an FU to the EU, or gloating that they have the politicians in their pockets downunder.

it’s just the base/default fare must be advertised including an overhead bag.

Cheaper prices can still be offered for those wanting to forego the larger cabin bag. it just can’t be the base lead-in fare.

 

[transpactraveller]

Except Jetstar is starting this farce just when Ryanair will be ending it - courtesy of the EU legislating that overhead bags must be included in all airfares in the EU and on EU-based airlines.

Once again Australia is stuck in the past with poor consumer protections.

Given the timing it looks like QF executives are doing this as an FU to the EU, or gloating that they have the politicians in their pockets downunder.

They're obviously very confident that Australia's not getting EU261 style consumer protections anytime soon