‘Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?’: One traveller's shocking experience with carry-on fees
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A British expat’s recent experience with Jetstar’s carry-on baggage policy has sparked a wave of confusion and frustration.
After being forced to remove excess weight from her luggage, she found an unusual loophole that allowed her to carry the same items on board.
What followed left many questioning the logic behind the airline’s rules and fees.
A British expat flying from Brisbane to Melbourne encountered an unexpected situation with Jetstar’s carry-on baggage policy.
After her luggage was weighed, she was informed that it exceeded the airline’s 7 kg carry-on limit by 3 kg, leading to a $70 charge.
Instead of paying, she quickly discovered a peculiar loophole in the airline’s rules.
As Jetstar staff observed, the woman unloaded her belongings from her bags until they met the weight requirement.
Once the bags were rechecked, she was given the go-ahead to board, but she was allowed to carry her extra items by hand.
In a social media video, she expressed her disbelief, saying: ‘Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?’
‘Tell me how that makes any sense whatsoever,’ she continued.
Her frustration was evident as the situation seemed illogical, especially since she could still bring the same items on board.
Despite this, the woman commended the staff for not creating a fuss over the matter.
She explained that she was able to remove all her water, snacks, and a book, which she then carried in her hands.
Jetstar’s spokesperson clarified the airline’s baggage policies, explaining that these measures were in place to ensure a smooth boarding process and the safe stowing of items.
The airline spokesperson said: ‘Being a proudly low-cost airline, we offer customers incredibly low fares which all include carry-on baggage allowance of 7 kg across two items.’
The airline also noted that excess baggage can be pre-purchased at a discounted rate, but those who exceed the limit without pre-purchasing will face additional fees.
Source: Tiktok/ukmidwifedownunde
The expat’s experience raised eyebrows among social media users, with one commenter noting, ‘They are being kind and saving you $70.’
Another user added: ‘This is the perfect example of amazing staff trying to protect you from corporate greed.’
However, a third person shared their own experience, saying: ‘I had to put all my work clothes/shoes on from the day before to ‘make weight’…. Saved me the same $70 though… apparently the ground staff are on commission if they catch such cheaters.’
One user, however, couldn’t understand the logic behind the airline’s policy, saying: ‘It makes no difference to the weight going on the plane! You are right, it makes no sense.’
Jetstar did not immediately respond to additional comments when contacted.
In a previous story, we covered a shocking incident where a passenger forced a Jetstar flight to turn around mid-air.
The passenger’s actions led to serious consequences, including a no-fly ban.
You can read all about this dramatic turn of events here.
With so many travellers now sharing their experiences, do you think airlines should rethink their carry-on baggage rules? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
After being forced to remove excess weight from her luggage, she found an unusual loophole that allowed her to carry the same items on board.
What followed left many questioning the logic behind the airline’s rules and fees.
A British expat flying from Brisbane to Melbourne encountered an unexpected situation with Jetstar’s carry-on baggage policy.
After her luggage was weighed, she was informed that it exceeded the airline’s 7 kg carry-on limit by 3 kg, leading to a $70 charge.
Instead of paying, she quickly discovered a peculiar loophole in the airline’s rules.
As Jetstar staff observed, the woman unloaded her belongings from her bags until they met the weight requirement.
Once the bags were rechecked, she was given the go-ahead to board, but she was allowed to carry her extra items by hand.
In a social media video, she expressed her disbelief, saying: ‘Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?’
‘Tell me how that makes any sense whatsoever,’ she continued.
Her frustration was evident as the situation seemed illogical, especially since she could still bring the same items on board.
Despite this, the woman commended the staff for not creating a fuss over the matter.
She explained that she was able to remove all her water, snacks, and a book, which she then carried in her hands.
Jetstar’s spokesperson clarified the airline’s baggage policies, explaining that these measures were in place to ensure a smooth boarding process and the safe stowing of items.
The airline spokesperson said: ‘Being a proudly low-cost airline, we offer customers incredibly low fares which all include carry-on baggage allowance of 7 kg across two items.’
The airline also noted that excess baggage can be pre-purchased at a discounted rate, but those who exceed the limit without pre-purchasing will face additional fees.
Source: Tiktok/ukmidwifedownunde
The expat’s experience raised eyebrows among social media users, with one commenter noting, ‘They are being kind and saving you $70.’
Another user added: ‘This is the perfect example of amazing staff trying to protect you from corporate greed.’
However, a third person shared their own experience, saying: ‘I had to put all my work clothes/shoes on from the day before to ‘make weight’…. Saved me the same $70 though… apparently the ground staff are on commission if they catch such cheaters.’
One user, however, couldn’t understand the logic behind the airline’s policy, saying: ‘It makes no difference to the weight going on the plane! You are right, it makes no sense.’
Jetstar did not immediately respond to additional comments when contacted.
In a previous story, we covered a shocking incident where a passenger forced a Jetstar flight to turn around mid-air.
The passenger’s actions led to serious consequences, including a no-fly ban.
You can read all about this dramatic turn of events here.
With so many travellers now sharing their experiences, do you think airlines should rethink their carry-on baggage rules? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Hmm this is where we get that saying Whinging Pom
