The "7kg Wall" of LCCs: The Benefits of Cheap Flights Were Erased by Baggage

Onigiri LLC (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Partner: Mami Aoki) will launch a project for the fully automatic compression bag with a built-in pump "MIGARU" on the support purchasing service Makuake starting April 14, 2026.

This release focuses on the reality of "baggage limits and excess fees" that many travelers face when using LCCs (Low-Cost Carriers) and conveys how MIGARU solves this issue.

1. The rapid growth of LCCs and the left-behind "baggage problem"

The Golden Week of 2026 offers up to 11 consecutive holidays. As LCCs announce flight increases, many first-time LCC travelers face the "7kg wall" at the airport.

Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) are steadily increasing their presence in the Japanese aviation market. According to an analysis by the JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co., the LCC share of international flights to and from Japan reached 31% in the summer of 2023, rapidly recovering to a level significantly exceeding the pre-COVID summer of 2019 (23%).

Source: JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co., "Post-COVID International Flight Expansion: Uncovering the Background of LCC Breakthroughs" (March 2024) https://www.tourism.jp/tourism-database/column/2024/03/lcc-after-covid/

In a survey by MyVoice Communications (April 2024, 9,557 respondents), over 30% intend to use LCCs. The figure reaches 50% especially among those in their 10s and 20s, showing that LCCs are becoming an "ordinary means of transportation" centered on the youth.

Source: MyVoice Communications, "Survey on the Use of Airlines (5th)" (April 2024) http://www.myvoice.co.jp/biz/surveys/30911/index.html

However, while the spread of LCCs progresses, there is a problem that users repeatedly face. That is the "baggage limit".

2. The "7kg wall" commonly imposed by 5 major LCCs

Major domestic LCCs (Peach Aviation, Jetstar Japan, Spring Airlines Japan, ZIPAIR, AirAsia) have set the weight limit for carry-on baggage at 7kg. This is 3kg less than the 10kg limit of full-service carriers like ANA and JAL, and this "3kg difference" greatly restricts travelers' packing.

*Based on information from each company's official website as of 2025. Conditions may vary depending on the fare type.