A Comprehensive Guide To Australian Airline Baggage Limits

One of the considerations that airline passengers must make in preparation for their trip is baggage. From the size and weight, to the number of bags permitted, each operating carrier has its own baggage rules for carry-on and checked luggage.

To avoid excess baggage charges for overweight or oversized pieces, flyers on the same flight should always check the total baggage allowance for their airline and fare type. This way, there should be no pre-departure surprises at the airport in the form of excess baggage fees.

On most airlines, the checked baggage allowance is determined by fare type, class of travel, frequent-flyer status and even route flown. In every case, your travel agent will be able to advise you of the airline luggage size limit and the precise weight allowances available.

Qantas permits up to three pieces of carry-on baggage, depending on their size and weight. On domestic flights your carry-on baggage allowance is one 115cm bag (that has the total linear dimensions 56cm x 36cm x 23cm) so it fits easily into an overhead locker, with a maximum weight of 10kg (7kg maximum for Dash 8 QantasLink services).

Alternatively, you can take two 105cm carry-on bags (48cm x 34cm x 23xm), or one 105cm bag and one 185cm (114cm x 60cm x 11cm) non-rigid garment bag provided the total weight of both pieces doesn't exceed 14kg and neither piece exceeds 10kg.

Carry-on baggage allowances on international flights vary depending on your fare type.

For Economy fares, your maximum cabin baggage allowance is one 115cm item (56cm x 36cm x 23cm) OR one 185cm non-rigid garment bag.

For First Class, Business fares and Premium Economy fares, you're allowed either one 115cm bag with a maximum weight allowance of 10kg OR two smaller 105cm items (one of which may be a 185cm non-rigid garment bag) provided the total weight of both pieces doesn't exceed 14kg and neither piece exceeds 10kg.

In addition to the above allowances for one or two pieces of carry-on baggage for domestic or international travel across all travel classes, you may also take one personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you (ie a laptop, handbag or camera).

For the checked baggage allowances below, Silver, Gold and Platinum Qantas Frequent Flyer members are permitted additional allowances with greater weights or additional pieces depending on the route flown. Check with your travel agent for details. Regardless of travel class, no single piece of luggage can exceed 32kg.

Checked baggage allowances on Qantas include one 23kg piece for domestic flights (with total linear dimensions not exceeding 140cm) and one 32kg piece for South and North America flights.

For all other international flights, guests may check multiple bags as long as they are within the combined 30kg limit and the maximum total dimensions for each piece must not exceed 158cm. Note also that only one piece of baggage with a weight limit of 23kg is permitted on short-haul Dash 8 services.

Premium Economy cabins are offered on domestic and international flights. The checked baggage allowance for domestic flights is two pieces up to 23kg each.

For flights to North and South America, guests may check two pieces with a maximum weight of 32kg for each.

International flights to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, New Zealand and South Africa go by the weight system, with a free 40kg allowance over multiple bags.

No single item should exceed the total dimensions of 158cm or weigh more than 32kg.

Business Class is available on both domestic and international services. Passengers travelling on domestic flights, and international flights to North and South America, are permitted two bags with a maximum weight of 32kg per bag.

Flights to all other international destinations are capped at a total of 40kg over multiple bags.

Similar to Premium Economy, no piece should exceed the dimensions of 158cm or 32kg weight limit.

For international flights to North and South America, First class guests may take up to three pieces of checked baggage each with a weight limit of 32kg. For all other international routes, First Class guests may check up to 50kg in total across multiple bags. As always, no single bag may weigh more than 32kg

Whether it's a domestic or international flight, Virgin Australia has a 7kg carry-on baggage limit when flying Economy - with a couple of options. Those options include either one piece no larger than 115cm (maximum dimensions 56cm x 36cm x 23cm) OR two smaller pieces no larger than 105cm (maximum dimensions 48cm x 34cm x 23cm) one of which can be a 185cm non-rigid garment bag (maximum dimensions 114cm x 60cm x 11cm).

If you're flying Business Class, a 14kg carry-on limit applies to the two-piece options.

However, from 2 February 2026 Virgin Australia's carry-on baggage allowance for Economy guests will change to one 115cm item with an 8kg limit, PLUS one small personal item that must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you with the maximum dimensions of 45cm x 33cm x 20cm. For Business Class guests, the single item allowance also increases to 8kg, but the 14kg limit for the two-piece options is unchanged.

The checked baggage allowances shown below do not include the increased limits given to Silver, Gold and Platinum Velocity frequent flyer members.

Both domestic and international short haul guests enjoy an allowance of one 23kg bag, except for Lite fare (saver fare) guests who are charged baggage fees for every checked item.

Virgin Australia offers international long haul flights through selected partner airlines. Economy guests on these flights may be able to take more luggage depending on the partner airline and whether you've purchased Choice or Flex fare options. For example, Economy flights operated on partner airlines Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines allow Choice fare guests one 25kg bag and Flex fare guests one 30kg bag.

Business Class is offered on domestic and international services. For domestic, short-haul international and long-haul flights, guests enjoy a checked baggage allowance of two bags, each with a maximum weight of 32kg.

These checked baggage limits may differ slightly depending on the airline partner. For example, Air New Zealand permits three bags no heavier than 23kg each, Qatar Airways allows a total weight of 40kg (32kg per bag maximum) and American Airlines allows guests two 32kg bags.

Jetstar's carry-on baggage limits differ for Economy and Business Class. One bag plus one personal item are allowed in Economy, so long as the total weight remains at or under 7kg. The maximum linear dimension of the main item is 115cm (56cm x 36cm x 23cm). The second item must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.

Guests seated in Business may bring two items with a maximum combined weight of 14kg, however no item may exceed 10kg or the maximum linear dimensions of 115cm.  

Items found to be too heavy or too large to fit in an overhead locker must fly as checked luggage and these items will incur an excess baggage fee if not already pre-paid.

Rules around checked baggage differ depending on the fare type. Guests may bring as many bags as they like, provided that the cumulative weight of all bags is within the allowance provided by the fare class travelled on.

For those on Jetstar's Economy Starter fare, baggage must be purchased for an additional fee (up to a maximum weight of 40kg). Online fees are cheaper than those paid at the airport check in counter. The higher Economy Starter Plus fare includes a 20kg checked baggage allowance with the option to purchase an additional 20kg, while Economy Max guests receive a free 25kg baggage allowance with the option to purchase another 15 kilograms.

Business Class passengers have a free checked baggage allowance of 30kg. An additional baggage allowance of 10kg may be purchased for a small fee. Purchasing additional weight will be cheaper when pre-paid online versus at the airport counter.

Although Rex (Regional Express Holdings Limited) entered voluntary administration in July 2024, Rex Airlines still operates domestic routes between main centres and regional towns in all six Australian States.

For all fare types (Flex, Community, Promo and Saver fares) Rex allow one small bag no larger than 105cm (48cm x 34cm x 23cm) plus one personal item. The items' combined weight mustn't exceed 7kg.

The maximum weight for your checked baggage on Rex flights depends on fare type. For Community, Promo and Saver fares, your weight limit is 15kg and the maximum linear dimensions of your baggage allowance is 140cm.

Flex fare travellers, the checked baggage limit is 23kg and the maximum linear dimensions of your baggage allowance is also 140cm.

There are two scenarios in which airport baggage fees must be paid – when a carry-on item is found to be too heavy or too large to take on board, or when baggage has not been pre-purchased.

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