An Australian traveler has shared his clever trick for avoiding extra charges for overweight carry-on luggage when flying with Jetstar.
If you carry more than 7kg of hand luggage on a Jetstar domestic flight, the airline will charge you $55 for the first 15kg over it. For international flights, it costs $80.
To enforce the rule, Jetstar typically weighs passengers’ bags just before boarding the plane.
But one frequent traveler has revealed one simple thing Australians can do to avoid these “excessive charges”.
‘I’ve been on at least 100 Jetstar flights. I have had my bag weighed zero times with this method,” they said in Reddit.
The traveler’s advice was to try to be one of the last people to get on the plane.
‘They put the scale away when the last people got on. Your luggage will not be heavy,” said the frequent traveler.
“Your seat will still be there when you board.”
A lesser-known travel trick to avoid astronomical carry-on baggage fees at the airport has been revealed (pictured, airline staff weighing passengers’ suitcases)
They said there was nothing wrong with moving to another gate while airline staff weighed other passengers’ bags.
“There is nothing illegal about sitting next door so you can watch them remove the scales,” they said.
Other Australians shared their own tricks for avoiding baggage fees.
‘Always carry a big coat with many pockets. “Anything over (the weight limit) can be put in your pockets,” one said.
“My laptop tends to be the heaviest item in my backpack, so I have a folded jacket in my arms and the laptop slides comfortably inside,” said a second.
The traveler’s first piece of advice was to always try to be one of the last people to board (file image)
Other Australians shared their own tricks to avoid baggage fees
A third wrote: “Give all your heavy things to someone (if you’re traveling together) and after weighing and labeling them, put them back.”
“Either in the pockets, or on the floor until they weigh it.”
One Australian suggested people check luggage weight: “My carry-on luggage rarely weighs more than 5kg because I wear a light backpack.”
They said many travelers underestimated how heavy some luggage, especially wheeled duffel bags, can be.
‘My older canvas model weighed a considerable 3.8kg when empty. Thick, padded backpacks are the same,’ they said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jetstar for comment.