Flying already comes with a long list of extras. Jetstar just added one more: the overhead bin.
The prepaid add-on is called Priority Carry-on, and it includes early boarding along with the overhead space.
Smaller bags still have a free home. Purses, laptop bags and backpacks that fit the size limits can go under the seat in front of you at no cost.
Stephanie Tully of Jetstar said the move is about making the whole process smoother. "By giving customers an underseat bag with the option to add Priority Carry-on, we can make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time," she said.
The airline also said it listened to passengers and crew who called gate bag-weighing and crowded overhead bins stressful. It expects boarding to get smoother.
Get the free Always Be Buying eBook and learn the simple system for building wealth on any income
Not everyone is convinced. Bridget McKenzie, an opposition senator, took to social media and called the fee a "cash grab." Her point: the airline wants to extract extra money from travelers.
Australia's transport minister, Catherine King, is watching too. She said passengers should see any extra fees when buying tickets so there are no "surprises" at the airport. She also said Jetstar claims the change is meant to keep fares affordable, and the airline will have to demonstrate that.
This is a familiar pattern in budget flying. Low-cost carriers get a growing share of their income from add-ons like checked luggage, extra bags, seat selection and boarding priority. And even closer to home, airlines in Australia and New Zealand already charge for checked luggage, seat choices and some food and entertainment.
That spread of fees has caught attention. Consumer groups say the advertised base fare hides the full cost of flying, because so many extras are no longer part of the ticket.
The new fee changes the math for the carry-on bag.
A bag that fits under the seat still costs nothing. A larger bag that used to ride overhead for free now has a price tag starting at A$25, plus whatever you are paying for the ticket and checked luggage.
The new rules also change where the line gets drawn. Overhead-stowed bags can weigh up to 22 pounds, up from the old 15-pound cap, and the gate weigh-in goes away. So the fee buys you more weight headroom, but it buys you less free space.
For travelers, the real question is on the checkout screen. Will Jetstar's base fares stay low enough that the extra charge feels like a choice rather than a bill? The minister wants proof, the senator calls it a cash grab, and the rest of us just want the price on the website to be the price we actually pay.
Download the free Always Be Buying eBook and start putting your money to work today
