Albuquerque, NM ( KKOB) –The budget Australian airline Jetstar may be a harbinger of things to come for American air carriers. Beginning February of next year Jetstar will charge passengers for stowing carry-on bags in the overhead compartments. The move came after passengers and airline staff named “having bags weighed at the gate and struggling to find room in overhead lockers as the more stressful parts of the airport experience. Passengers could stow a purse, laptop bag or small backpack that fitted within specified measurements under the seat in front of them for no charge, Jetstar said. The cost of using the overhead compartments in the cabin would start from 25 Australian dollars ( or $18 U.S. dollars) one way, with the price increasing depending on the route. The company’s CEO said that the move would ensure customers only paid for what they needed.
