Jetstar Airlines Baggage Allowance, Size & Weight Limits 2025

Thinking of flying Jetstar and want to travel light? Good news! The airline has made it easier for travellers to bring more essentials on board by allowing them to double the carry-on allowance to 14kg for a small fee. This way, you can bring what you need without the extra cost and time spent waiting at baggage claim. 

In this guide, we’ll break down Jetstar’s baggage allowances, fees, and packing tips to help you breeze through your journey with ease. Whether you’re a minimalist packer or need a bit of extra space, here’s everything you need to know before boarding a Jetstar!

Overview of Jetstar Airlines

The Jetstar Group is a multi-national airline group consisting of a network of Australian low-cost carriers including Jetstar Airways (a subsidiary of the Qantas Group) in Australia and New Zealand, Jetstar Asia in Singapore, Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam and Jetstar Japan.

Carry-on Baggage Allowance – Cabin Baggage Dimensions Policy

Jetstar carry-on size explained.

Type of fare or bundle	Number of carry-on bags	Weight limits
Starter Fare	2 pieces	7kg combined Exception: 14kg combined for Australia and New Zealand domestic flights
Starter Plus
Flex
Flex Plus
Business	2 pieces	14 kg combined
Business Max

Carry-on allowance for Economy class fares

Passengers with economy class fares are eligible for one main piece of carry-on and one smaller piece. The maximum dimensions for the main item are 56cm (H) x 36cm (W) x 23cm (D), while there are no specific restrictions for the smaller item. The total weight of these two bags shouldn’t be heavier than 7kg. 

And here’s the list of common personal items:

• A purse or handbag
• A laptop in a thin case
• A coat or blanket
• An umbrella
• A camera
• Infant food and items
• Approved duty-free goods

Please note that each piece of baggage must comply with the aforementioned regulations, otherwise, you may have to get checked into the aircraft hold or may not be allowed to carry it on your flight.

Carry-on allowance for Business class fares

Business class flyers and Flex bundle passengers who fly domestic flights Jetstar Airways (JQ) Australia and New Zealand are allowed 2 pieces of carry-on, and they can't weigh more than 14 kg combined. However, here's the catch: Jetstar also requires their passengers to spread the weight across the bags, and neither of them should exceed 10 kg.

What If My Carry-On Is Too Heavy On Jetstar?

If your carry-on weighs more than the allowed limits and you don’t have the 7kg plus extra perk (which we’ll talke more about later), you’ll need to check your bag and pay the carry-on excess baggage fees, which is AUD $75-$80 on avearge. Note that this fess apply even if you have room in your free checked bags allowance.

7 kg Extra Carry-On Baggage

You can double your allowance from 7 to 14 kg with Jetstar

Jetstar also offers carry-on top-up options to let their passengers double their carry-on allowance to 14kg. This is a great upgrade for those flying with a standard economy fare and getting a couple of books or clothes that tip over the 7kg limit. 

This policy also puts Jetstar's carry-on limit in the same league as Qantas. The fee starts at AUD $60 for domestic flights within Australia and NZD $60 for domestic flights in New Zealand. 

It’s worth noting that the earlier you buy the extra 7kg, the cheaper it is. It's a wise move to pre-purchase +7kg during your booking or via Manage Booking instead of paying for it at the check-in or boarding gate. 

Jetstar Checked Baggage 

Number of Checked Bags

Your checked bag allowance depends on your travel class:

If you're flying Economy Starter, you won't be able to check any bags for free. Starter Plus flyers can check up to 20 kilograms of baggage. For a bit more flexibility, Economy Starter Max and Business passengers can check up to 30 kg.

Fare Type	Checked Bag Allowance	Additional Paid Checked Bag Available
Starter	0kg	15kg, 20kg, 25kg, 30kg, 35kg, or 40kg
Starter Plus	20kg	Up to 20kg additional
Flex	0kg	15kg, 20kg, 25kg, 30kg, 35kg, or 40kg
Flex Plus	20kg	Up to 20kg additional
Business and Business Max	30kg	Up to 10kg additional

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Bag Size: No single bag can weigh more than 32kg.
• Extra Bags: You can check as many bags as you like, but make sure the total weight doesn't exceed your allowance.
• Extra Weight: If you bring more than your allowance at the airport, you'll pay a fee for each extra kilogram.

Jetstar rewards those paying early for their baggage fees

Checked baggage fees

If you don’t pay for your checked baggage allowance beforehand, you will be charged for the fees at the airport check-in desk. The fees below apply for the first 15 kg of checked baggage allowance per passenger:

Domestic flights:

• Australia: AUD $55
• New Zealand Domestic: NZD $55
• Japan: JPY 4600

International flights:

• Jetstar Asia (3K) International flights: JPY ¥6,600, USD $50, VND 1,200,000₫, THB ฿1,600, SGD $65, IDR Rp720,000, PHP ₱2,700, TWD $1,500, CNY ¥350, LKR Rs. 15,000, and MYR RM220.
• Jetstar Japan (GK) international flights: PY ¥6,500, TWD $1,500, PHP ₱2,700, and CNY ¥350.
• Jetstar Airways (JQ) international flights: THB ฿1,850, FJD $120, KRW ₩68,000, USD $55, JPY ¥7,800, VND 1,280,000₫, AUD $80, IDR Rp820,000, SGD $75, and NZD $80.

You'll be charged a fee for each extra kilogram of checked baggage that exceeds your pre-purchased allowance as well as each additional kilogram above the first 15kg of checked baggage purchased at the airport. 

For domestic flights in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, the fees per kg are respectively AUD $20, NZD $20, and JPY ¥1,000. For international flights, the fee is around $20-$25 depending on routes.

Jetstar Oversized Baggage Policy

You'll need to pay a fee for any item with a side longer than 1 meter (39 inches), except for assistive devices, mobility aids, medical equipment, and infant items (which can be checked for free). 

Maximum length:

Oversized item length limits depend on your aircraft and service. Here's the max length for different aircraft you may want to take note of:

• Domestic Flights on Jetstar Airways (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K), and Jetstar Japan (GK) A320, A321, and Boeing 787 aircraft: Maximum length for oversized items is 2.3 meters.
• International Flights on Jetstar Airways (JQ) Boeing 787 aircraft: Maximum length for oversized items is 2.77 meters.

And here's the handling fee for oversized baggage that you may need to pay:

• Domestic and International flights with Jetstar Airways (JQ): AUD / NZD $25
• Domestic and International flights with Jetstar Japan (GK): JPY ¥2,500 / HKD $140 / TWD $550 / PHP ₱900 / CNY ¥120.
• International flights with Jetstar Asia (3K): SGD $25 / VND 400,000.

The above fee is charged for each oversized item on a per-flight basis, with each passenger allowed to bring up to two oversized items. Notably, this fee is separate from the checked baggage allowance and does not increase your overall baggage limit.

Jetstar hold bags rules and policies you must follow. Photo by smolaw11 - stock.adobe.com

Things To Know When You Flying With Jetstar

Flying with Musical Instruments

You can fly with your musical instruments either as carry-on or checked items. Small items within Jetstar cabin allowance (not exceeding 7kg and 85 x 36 x 23 cm) can board as a carry-on. You can also pay for an extra seat for any musical piece that’s lighter than 15kg, as long as it has a handle to be safely strapped to the seat. 

If your bag weighs more than 15 kilos, you’ll need to check it in. And if you’re planning to bring a musical instrument, it’s best to let the airline know before you book your flight. They can tell you if it’s okay to bring it on board as there's always a limited capacity for these items.

Flying With An Infant

Got a baby or toddler travelling with you? You can bring their stuff like infant car seats, cots, high chairs, and strollers for free as checked baggage without any extra charge. However, if the infant travels without a seat of their own, you must carry baby care stuff in your own carry-on allowance.

Sport Equipment & CPAP

If you plan to bring sports equipment, you'll need to make sure its single-side length shouldn't exceed 1 metre (packaging + handles + wheels included). If any side goes over 1 metre, you'll need to pay a handling fee for oversized items at 25 AUD, per flight. 

Your sports equipment will count towards your checked bag so make sure you buy enough weight allowance beforehand.

CPAP machines, whether they're electric or battery-operated, can be taken aboard Jetstar flights. However, only electric CPAP machines can be used on the plane. If you've got a battery-operated item, you need to present a CPAP Clearance Form.

Prohibited Items On Jetstar

You cannot bring the following items on board:

• Cases designed for dangerous goods like lithium batteries or explosives.
• Disabling devices: Items that release irritants, such as pepper spray or mace
• Electroshock weapons: Devices like Tasers.
• Self-balancing boards
• Plasma lighters with lasers.
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
• Smart bags with non-removable batteries.

Booking And Checking Process With Jetstar

Booking With Jetstar

Courtesy of Jestar’s website

You can book your flight with Jetstar in just a few simple steps:

1. Find Your Flight: Search for your ideal flight by entering suggested info on the Jetstar website.
2. Pick Your Perfect Seat: Choose your preferred dates and times.
3. Customize Your Trip: Add baggage, meals, or seat selection.
4. Pay and Go: Complete your booking and make payment.

Want to book on the go? You can use the Jetstar app on your iPhone or Android. Online travel agencies might be another great option if you have time to search for great deals around. However, you won't have as much flexibility as with booking directly with the airline when it comes to booking changes and flight cancellations.

Checking With Jetstar

Online check-in: 

Online check-in can save you time and hassle at the airport. You can conveniently check-in online 1-48 hours before your domestic flight and 2-48 hours before your international flight. For domestic flights within Australia and New Zealand, online check-in is available 28 days to one hour prior to departure.

Airport check-in:

There are some cases in which Jetstar passengers can't check in online from home. You cannot check-in online if you're travelling to or from the US, departing from an international terminal for a domestic flight, boarding with an infant, etc. 

In such cases, the procedures must be completed at the airport check-in counter. We advise you to double-check your check-in window at the airport and arrive as early as possible to get things done. According to our editor's experience, check-in is pretty smooth and quick with Jetstar. 

Step 1: You will need to complete the check-in at the counter and check in your luggage at the bag drop section (if any)

Step 2: Join the queues for security checks

Step 3: Get ready to jet off at the boarding gate.

Jetstar also has something called Straight to Gate check-in on international flights. You are eligible for this option if you travel without hold bags and visa/special entry requirements. It’s a great chance to try travelling with a carry-on only—arrive at the airport, breeze through, and once you land, hit the ground running.

Tips for Avoiding Baggage Fees when Flying With Jetstar

Travelling light can help you avoid add-ons and checked bag fees entirely.

Pack Less or Pay More

Jetstar is among the airliners that weigh baggage frequently. The rules state that your carry-on combined weight shouldn't weigh more than 7kg. So, the strategy is to pare down your wardrobe and travel essentials. Also, you can try swapping your hard-shell suitcase with a lighter canvas backpack to further cut down the weight.

At only 600 grams, our lightweight CABINZERO 28L backpack manages to be the most reliable under-seat backpack for +1M travellers. Our personal item-sized bag works well for most airlines, from lax to strict allowance restrictions. 

Why you'll love our 28L CABZINZERO backpacks:

• Fit well under the seat of most airlines
• Large main compartment
• Budget price point
• Quality material

Wear the Heaviest & Bulkiest Items

When you realise your carry-on is slightly overweight at the airport, you can try to wear the heaviest clothes and fill your pockets with more items. This is a golden trick especially when you just go over the 7kg limit but your baggage weight doesn't justify the cost of the extra 7kg.

Pay Early for Less

As Jetstar has mentioned, paying for baggage at the airport is the most disruptive part of their operations. It's a solid reason for them to charge their passengers less if they pay for their checked bags ahead of time compared to checking bags at the airport or close to their departure.

FAQs

1. Can you take two bags as carry-on Jetstar?

Yes, you can take up to two carry-on bags on Jetstar flights, with a maximum combined weight of 7kg. To avoid confusion, let us clarify: Jetstar doesn't have a concept of a “personal item" like other airliners you’re probably familiar with. 

However, the smaller carry-on item that Jetstar mentions is definitely a personal item such as a handbag, purse, laptop, camera, etc. This item can board with you as long as it fits under the seat in front.

2. How strict is Jetstar with a carry-on? Do they weigh bags at the gate?

Jetstar is pretty strict when it comes to hand luggage. Before most Jetstar flights, luggage is measured and weighted, and the staff will put a sticker on the compliant bag as a sign of approval. In other words, you can’t board the plane without getting your bags checked and tagged.

If your suitcase/backpack is just slightly heavier, think about wearing the bulkiest and heaviest item (such as coats) or filling up your pant pockets. If you know you're way over the weight limits, we recommend purchasing extra weight online as gate-checking always comes at steeper prices.

3. Do Qantas frequent flyers get a bigger baggage allowance on Jetstar?

No. Quanta club cardholders and Qantas Frequent Flyer members, regardless of their tiers, are treated equally to regular flyers on Jetstar flights. Every passenger should stick to the Jetstar baggage allowance on their ticket, whether it's carry-on or checked baggage. 

4. Should I get the Economy Flex bundle or the extra 7kg baggage allowance?

There are two ways passengers with basic fares can get more weight allowance: through the Economy Flex bundle or the 7kg top-up option. The prices for these two options may differ between routes, so it’s best to check them out for your specific flight.

The +7kg will only let you double your weight limit. However, the Economy Flex bundle includes an extra 7kg, plus additional perks like free seat selection, flexible flight changes, and cancellable flights with credit vouchers.

Know Before You Go!

Jetstar is among the strictest carriers when it comes to luggage inspection, and if you bring more than what your ticket allows, you might face extra costs. It's better safe than sorry: you can choose to stay within your limits or pre-purchase extra if needed.

If you are still looking for an underneath and cabin-ready backpack, you may want to check out our CABINZERO 28L collection. We make bags that can become your great companions on your journey to travel light and hassle-free. Still have questions? Leave a comment below! Stay tuned for our next post.