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Jetstar customers will soon need to arrive earlier for check-in and bag drop.Credit:Renee Nowytarger

Passengers were first made aware of the changes on Tuesday via email and text messages. The airline also published a full list of the new rules on itsTravel Alerts page.

The email,titled “Important information for your flight”,listed the new closure times,explaining:“These new times will help prevent delays and help us get you to your destination as soon as possible.”

Currently,passengers travelling domestically can arrive up to 30 minutes prior to departure,while international travellers can arrive for check-in at least 45 minutes before departure,or one hour if they’re flying on a Boeing 787.

From Tuesday,domestic passengers will need to arrive 10 minutes earlier for check-in and bag drop,at least 40 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time,and line up at the boarding gate five minutes earlier,20 minutes prior to departure.

Those on international flights will need to be even more punctual,with check-in closing 60 minutes before departure,and boarding gates closing 20 minutes prior.

Passengers should pay attention to what type of aircraft their upcoming flight uses too,with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner requiring passengers to check in 15 minutes earlier than services using an Airbus A320 or A321.

Despite the shift in times,check-in and bag drop open times remain the same,with domestic flight check-in at the airport commencing two hours before departure,and international flight check-in commencing three hours prior to departure.

Matt Franzi,Jetstar’s chief operating officer,said:“We know our performance hasn’t been up to scratch,and we are working hard to boost punctuality and reliability.”

He said the changes will bring Jetstar in line with the rest of the industry.

“To improve our performance,we’re also recruiting more airport staff,cabin crew and engineering team members and making changes to our check-in,bag drop and boarding times,to bring them in line with other low-cost carriers around the world,” said Franzi.

Jetstar has said the changes,and others it will be making,are about improving punctuality and reliability to benefit customers,with future changes to be communicated by email,text message and on the website.

It comes after the most recent on-time performance report from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics,which found Jetstar to be the country’s least reliable carrier in March,with 7.1 per cent of services cancelled and less than 60 per cent of flights taking off on time.

Jetstar experienced its worst year on record for on-time performance in 2022,as the carrier contended with staffing shortages,COVID outbreaks,aircraft maintenance issues and capacity restraints.

How do Australian domestic airline check-in times compare?

Jetstar: check-in closes 40 minutes before flight
Qantas: check-in opens closes at least 30 minutes before flight
Virgin Australia: check-in closes 30 minutes before flight,
Bonza: check-in closes 40 minutes before flight
Rex Airlines: check-in closes at least 30 minutes before a flight at major city airports,20 minutes for regional airports

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