Your handbag or laptop may be included in carry-on baggage limits. Picture: istock

Be careful, because you might be slapped with a hefty fee. Shocked Jetstar passengers have recently taken to the budget carrier’s social media pages to complain they have been hit with a $50 fee for going over the airline’s carry-on weight restrictions — because they have had to weigh their handbag along with their main carry-on bag.

But the thing is, they are actually in the wrong. Handbags aren’t necessarily excluded from the carry-on weight limit and it appears airlines are starting to crack down.

Handbags aren’t always excluded from the carry-on restrictions.Source:Facebook

Jetstar has a strict policy regarding cabin baggage, which includes one main item per person and one small personal item, and the combined weight must be 7kg or under.

And yes, a small personal item includes a handbag. It also includes a laptop in a “thin case”, a small camera, and duty-free goods, among other things.

According to a Jetstar spokesman, the airline’s carry-on policy has “always included a combination of a main bag and small bag, such as a handbag or laptop case”.

However, the confusion could have come because the budget carrier cut its weight allowance from 10 kilograms to 7 kilograms in 2014.

At the time of the announcement, a spokesman said it was to keep customers happy and speed up the boarding process.

“We know many customers get frustrated when there is not enough room for their bags in overhead lockers. To address this we are reducing the amount of baggage that customers can bring on board, which will align us with other carriers in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region,” the spokesman said.

“This change will help speed up the boarding process, enable more flights to depart on time and ensure all customers get their fair share of overhead locker space.”

Jetstar passenger complains about weighing handbagSource:Facebook

And Jetstar is maintaining this is still the case, saying the 7kg limit, including a handbag or laptop, is designed “to ensure everyone has their fair share of locker space to store their bags”.

Jetstar isn’t the only airline that includes handbags as a part of their carry-on allowance. Tigerair Australia has the same policy.

“Tigerair Australia customers are provided with a 7kg carry-on luggage allowance free of charge,” a spokesman told news.com.au.

“The 7kg carry-on allowance may be spread across up to two separate pieces of cabin baggage, including handbags and purses.”

According to the Virgin-owned low-cost airline, having a 7kg combined allowance allows budget carriers to keep their fares low.

“Tigerair’s model is all about providing the lowest fare for the seat, then allowing the customer to pick and choose what optional extras, if any, they wish to pay for,” the spokesman added.

“As we are a low cost carrier, we allow you the choice to choose the travel options you want rather than lump you with a one fare fits all — many of our passengers like the fact they are able to tailor their travel to meet their needs and save money on their flight to have more in their pocket to spend when they get there.”

But this isn’t the case for all our major Australian airlines. Virgin Australia and Qantas both allow one personal item in addition to the 7kg limit — meaning your handbag or laptop is safe, at least for now.