Australians are being urged to double-check their baggage weight before heading to the airport, with some travellers hit with surprise fees of up to $200. As the Christmas travel rush begins, budget carrier Jetstar is under scrutiny for strict baggage enforcement, leaving passengers frustrated and out of pocket.
A Pricey Lesson Before Take-Off
Melbourne businesswoman Catherine Cervasio learned this lesson the hard way. On a recent flight from Melbourne to Sydney, she was hit with a $75 fee for slightly exceeding Jetstar’s seven-kilogram carry-on limit, reports Yahoo Finance. She had booked through Qantas, not realising the flight would actually be operated by Jetstar — a detail that caught her, and several other passengers, off guard.
“It was one of those moments where you just think, really? Over a couple of kilos?” she told Yahoo Finance. Cervasio said her laptop alone weighed five kilos, leaving her with almost no room for anything else. Like many frequent flyers, she travels with work samples, which she’s sometimes had to give away at airports to avoid being charged again.
Her experience isn’t unique. Research from Send My Bag, a luggage delivery service, found that 37% of Australians have paid up to $200 in excess baggage fees on a single trip. Meanwhile, 41% said they’ve had to repack or throw away items at the airport, and nearly a third admitted they’d left gifts behind due to airline weight limits.
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Flights
Budget airlines like Jetstar advertise low fares, but many travellers argue that fees for extras — from checked baggage to seat selection — quickly add up. Baggage restrictions are particularly strict, with a carry-on limit of just seven kilograms. For travellers carrying laptops, cameras, or even heavy jackets, staying within that limit can be nearly impossible.
Industry observers say these charges have become a significant profit driver for airlines. Send My Bag founder Adam Ewart called excess baggage fees an “annoying part of modern travel” and noted that confusing policies between airlines often make things worse. Passengers connecting between budget and full-service carriers may find their baggage allowances change mid-journey — and the penalties can be steep.
Travellers Caught Off Guard
Many of these incidents happen “on the spot” at the boarding gate, when passengers have few options left but to pay. Some travellers report being asked to place their bags on scales just before boarding, only to be charged immediately if they’re over the limit.
Even for those who know the rules, the process can feel inconsistent. A bag waved through on one flight may be weighed on another, depending on staff discretion or flight load. That unpredictability has left some Australians frustrated, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.
Holiday Travel Headaches
With millions expected to travel during the Christmas and New Year period, experts are urging passengers to weigh their bags carefully before heading to the airport. For families carrying gifts, souvenirs, or heavy tech gear, a few extra kilos could make an expensive difference. The advice is simple but worth repeating: check your baggage allowance, read the fine print, and don’t assume all flights under the same booking have the same rules.
As holiday travel kicks into high gear, many Australians are finding that even the smallest oversight can turn into a costly reminder — sometimes to the tune of $75 or more — before they’ve even left the tarmac.
