Jetstar, an Australian budget airline, has announced that passengers will be charged more if they want to put bags in overhead compartments.
While other international carriers — including Ryanair and easyJet — have similar policies, the decision announced this week is a first for Australia.
What’s happening?
Jetstar, which is owned by Qantas, has a free carry-on allowance of seven kilograms, or a bit over 15 pounds, at the moment.
From next February, Jetstar passengers will be able to take 10 kilograms, or about 22 pounds, on board. Those traveling with a small bag — such as a backpack or laptop holder — will be able to place it under the seat for free.
But larger carry-on bags will incur a one-way fee starting from 25 Australian dollars, or $17.65. The airline said that, where possible, passengers who choose this option will be able to board first.
Stephanie Tully, Jetstar’s chief executive officer, said the changes would streamline boarding, help flights depart on time and make the best use of overhead bin space.
“You only pay for what you need — traveling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need,” she said in a statement this week.
Jetstar said the new changes came from “extensive research and feedback from customers and crew,” who complained about struggling to find room in the overhead compartments.
The practice of selling separate add-ons — such as seat selection, Wi-Fi or meals — is known as “unbundling.”
How have passengers reacted?
The decision has been met with dismay in Australia, where there is little competition in the airline industry and distances between major cities are vast.
David Pocock, an independent politician, said the government could do more to hold airlines accountable, particularly when there were few options available to consumers.
“Seems like you have to check yourself in these days, do everything yourself and then get charged for everything,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“I think there’s a real role for regulation and actually ensuring that Australians get better service,” he added.
The Chaser, a satirical website, joked that Jetstar had brought in a “sitting inside the plane” fee that was “designed to help passengers who struggle picking seats.”
Ian Douglas, an honorary senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales’ school of aviation, said the move was down to economics.
“These days, the airfares no longer cover the full cost of operating,” he said.
He said that airlines were “totally dependent” on additional revenue, whether it was from “baggage fees, seat allocations, catering, frequent flyer points or all the ancillary revenue streams that come in.”
He added that it made sense for budget airlines in Europe to offer different baggage prices, because there were so many carriers for consumers to choose from.
But in Australia, there is essentially only one main budget option: Jetstar.
“We’re stuck with limited competition in a relatively small population and a large continent,” Mr. Douglas said.
What Happens Elsewhere?
Budget airlines are known for making the most of add-on costs.
Perhaps most famously, in 2009, Ryanair considered charging its passengers to use the toilet. The so-called “spend a pound to spend a penny” policy was never implemented. Ryanair’s group chief executive officer, Michael O’Leary, has also defended its policy of making people pay extra if they want to sit with friends or family.
Spirit, an American carrier that ceased operations earlier this year, was outed in 2020 for charging customers up to $20.99 for booking flights on the phone or online — the only way to avoid the charge was to book in person at the airport.
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