When traveling with Qantas, all passengers receive a free cabin and check-in baggage allowance, and your specific allowance depends on whether you are traveling on a domestic or an international route, and also depends on your selected class of travel and Qantas/oneWorld frequent flyer status.
In this article, I explain Qantas’ free cabin and check-in baggage allowances, and I set out the fees for excess baggage.
Qantas’ web information pages for baggage matters can be found here:
Qantas Cabin Baggage Policy
General Rules
- Cabin baggage must fit under the seat in front of you or in an overhead locker.
- You need to be able to lift your bag into an overhead locker. If your bag is too heavy or too large to fit safely onboard, you will need to check it in.
- When traveling on an itinerary with a domestic and international flight, your international allowance (except for flights operated by Dash 8 turboprop aircraft) applies.
- The carry-on baggage allowance for seated children is the same as for adults.
- There is no carry-on baggage allowance for infants. However, food and diapers required during a flight may be carried in addition to the accompanying adult’s carry-on baggage allowance.
Domestic Carry-On Baggage
On Qantas domestic services you can take either of the following:
 | · One 115cm bag (56 x 36 x 23cm, L x H x D), weighing up to 10kg. |
 | · Two 105cm bags (48 x 34 x 23cm), with one item weighing up to 10kg, and a combined weight total of 14kg. |
 | · One 105cm bag (48 x 34 x 23cm), and one 185cm (60 x 11 x 114cm) non-rigid garment bag, with one item weighing up to 10kg, and a combined weight total of 14kg. |
If you are traveling on a Qantas domestic flight operated by a Dash 8 turboprop aircraft, your carry-on allowance is reduced to one 105cm (48 x 34 x 23cm) item weighing up to 7kg.
International Carry-On Baggage
On Qantas international services in First, Business, or Premium Economy (except flights from Delhi, India) you can take either of the following:
 | · One 115cm bag (56 x 36 x 23cm, L x H x D), weighing up to 10kg. |
 | · Two 105cm bags (48 x 34 x 23cm), with one item weighing up to 10kg, and a combined weight total of 14kg. |
 | · One 105cm bag (48 x 34 x 23cm), and one 185cm (60 x 11 x 114cm) non-rigid garment bag, with one item weighing up to 10kg, and a combined weight total of 14kg. |
For flights from Delhi, India, when traveling in Business Class, your carry-on allowance is one of the following. Additional personal items are not allowed:
 | · One 115cm bag (56 x 36 x 23cm, L x H x D), weighing up to 10kg. |
 | · One 185cm (60 x 11 x 114cm) non-rigid garment bag, weighing up to 10kg. |
For Qantas international services in Economy Class, your carry-on allowance is as follows:
 | · One 115cm bag (56 x 36 x 23cm, L x H x D), weighing up to 7kg. |
 | · One 185cm (60 x 11 x 114cm) non-rigid garment bag, weighing up to 7kg. |
Personal Items
In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop computer bag, overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material, or a small amount of duty-free goods (where permitted).
‘Bulky’ Items in the Aircraft Cabin
Qantas allows ‘bulky items, such as larger musical instruments, diplomatic bags, and technical equipment, to be carried in the aircraft cabin (except on Dash 8 services) in an aircraft seat. You need to book in advance. The maximum permitted dimensions (H x W x D) depend on your travel cabin as follows:
- First Class: 178cm (74 x 51 x 53cm)
- Business Class: 169cm (71 x 50 x 48cm)
- Premium Economy and Economy Class: 158cm (71 x 43 x 44cm).
The maximum permitted weight of a ‘bulky’ item is 7kg, and it must have a restraining point/handle to allow it to be secured safely in an aircraft seat.
Qantas Check-In Baggage
Domestic
A free check-in baggage allowance is included on every Qantas or QantasLink domestic flight, and your allowance depends on your travel class and your frequent flyer status as follows:
If you are traveling on a Dash 8 aircraft, on most routes the check-in baggage allowance is reduced to one item weighing up to 23kg (50lb), except for Lord Howe Island where the check-in allowance is two items, with a combined total weight of up to 23kg (50lb), with the first item not exceeding 14kg (30lb) and the second item not exceeding 9kg (20lb). The total dimensions of each item must not exceed 140cm (55in) calculated by adding together the width, height, and depth of the item of baggage.
International
For international flights, Qantas operates a weight-based allowance on certain routes and a per-item allowance on other routes.
For tickets with both international and domestic legs, the international check-in baggage allowance applies to both legs. If you have separate international and domestic tickets for a journey the international checked baggage allowance is accepted on both flights if the connection time is within the same calendar day.
The maximum weight for any single item of international check-in baggage is 32kg (70lb).
Weight-based routes are all Qantas international flights except those to/from North and South America. The total dimensions for each check-in baggage must not exceed 158cm (62in) calculated by adding together the width, height, and depth of the baggage item. For weight-based routes, there is no restriction on the number of baggage items you can take within the specified weight allowance.
The check-in baggage weight-based allowances vary according to your travel class and your frequent flyer status as follows:
For Qantas international flights to/from North and South America the per item check-in baggage allowances vary according to your travel class and your frequent flyer status as follows:
The total dimensions of the item-based luggage allowances are as follows:
- 3 items: 405cm (159in)
- 2 items: 270cm (106in)
- 1 item: 158cm (62in).
OneWorld Frequent Flyer Members
Members of oneWorld frequent flyer programs have baggage allowances as follows:
Additional Check-in Baggage
Overview
If you want to bring more check-in baggage than your free allowance, fees apply. You can purchase additional allowances online in advance or at the airport. The airport rates are higher than the advance online rates.
Domestic (Australia)
Additional baggage allowance may be purchased in advance on an item basis (up to five additional items). For each bag there is a maximum weight permitted, which depends on your Qantas frequent flyer status:
- Non-frequent flyers and Qantas Bronze traveling in Economy – 23kg per item
- Qantas Platinum, Gold, Silver and Qantas Club members traveling in Economy – 32kg per item
- All customers traveling in Business – 32kg per item.
International Except for the Americas
Additional baggage allowances can be purchased in increments of 5kg, 10kg, 15kg, 25kg, or 35kg up to 100kg in total. 35kg is the maximum baggage that can be purchased in a single transaction.
International – the Americas
A maximum of five additional pieces may be purchased in advance, each weighing up to 32kg.
If you already have a booking, then you can simply log in to https://www.qantas.com/au/en/manage-booking.html to check how much it will cost to pre-purchase additional baggage for your flight.
If you do not have a booking yet, you can check the price and purchase additional baggage at the same time as you make your flight booking.
Excess Baggage
Overview
If you turn up at the airport with baggage in excess of your allocated or purchased allowance you will need to pay excess baggage charges.
Where excess baggage charges are charged per item rather than by weight, a heavy charge will also apply at the airport for any single piece of baggage exceeding the weight specified in your check-in baggage allowance. No single item of check-in baggage may exceed 32kg.
Domestic (Australia)
The excess check-in baggage charge for domestic flights in Australia (including QantasLink) is AUD100 for each additional item. For any item weighing more than 23kg, there is an additional charge of AUD50.
International Except for the Americas
The excess check-in baggage charges for weight-based international flights vary by destination as follows:
International – the Americas
The excess baggage charges are AUD300 per item to the Americas and AUD200 per item from the Americas. No heavy charges apply if the additional baggage items weigh less than 32kg.
Sports Items
Sporting equipment can be included as part of your check-in baggage allowance. Charges will apply for any baggage carried in addition to your check-in allowance. You can add sporting equipment to your booking at the Qantas ‘manage booking’ page.
As a general rule, if your sporting equipment and your check-in bags exceed your check-in baggage allowance at check-in, excess baggage rates apply. For example, if your baggage allowance is one item and you are traveling with a check-in bag and a sporting item, this will amount to two items and you will need to pay for the additional item.
Some sporting equipment such as surfboards, surf skis, and windsurfers (sailboards) may not be able to be carried as check-in baggage and will need to be sent as airfreight, and airfreight charges will apply.
The maximum weight of any item of check-in baggage is 32kg (70lb). All sporting equipment items must be properly and securely packed.
The rules for specific sporting equipment items are as follows:
| Sporting Equipment Item | Rules |
|---|---|
| Bicycle | Bicycles must be suitably packed in a bike box (your own or purchased from most Australian Qantas terminals). The box maximum dimensions are shown below: · length: 140cm (55in) · width: 30cm (12in) · height: 80cm (32in). Bicycles must be packed with: · tyres deflated · pedals removed · handle bars fixed parallel to the frame · the front wheel removed and fixed beside the rear wheel, inside the bike box, if the bicycle length exceeds 140cm (55in). |
| Snow ski or snowboard | No more than one pair of skis, one pair of sticks/poles, and one pair of ski boots is permitted per passenger. |
| Fishing rods and tackle | To be accepted for carriage, rods must be protected in a PVC cylinder with screw ends, or in PVC plumbing or electrical tubing. Fishing rods must not be strapped to suitcases and the length cannot exceed 277cm (109in). |
| Golf clubs, bags, and trolleys | Golf bags and collapsible trolleys are carried as check-in baggage and are exempt from normal linear dimension restrictions on Qantas-operated services. |
| Scuba diving gear | You can check in scuba items such as a face mask, snorkel and fins (pair), harness and safety vest, knife and spear gun, regulator and pressure gauge, tank, and weight belt. Knives must be carried in check-in baggage. Spear guns must be unloaded with spears packed separately. Flares, incendiary or explosive spearheads will not be accepted at all in check-in or cabin baggage. Compressed air or gas tanks will only be accepted if empty and the regulator tap is open. |
| Surfboard or surf ski | To carry a surfboard or surf ski as baggage, the fins must be removed where possible and placed in an enclosed compartment or taped to the board. Paddles must also be taped to the board. At check-in, you will need to attach a fragile tag to the bag and you must complete and sign the limited release portion of the baggage tag. These items are only accepted if they are enclosed in a surfboard bag with a maximum weight of 32kg (70lb) and 277cm (109in) in length. If traveling on a QantasLink Dash 8 aircraft, the maximum surfboard or surf ski bag dimensions must not exceed 240cm.Boards/skis that exceed 277cm (109in) in length – or 240cm for travel on QantasLink Dash 8 aircraft must be sent as airfreight. |
| Windsurfer (sailboard) | One sailboard kit consists of not more than one board, mast, boom, and sail, and the maximum permitted length is 277cm (109in). Windsurfers cannot be carried as check-in baggage on domestic flights. They must be sent as airfreight and air freight charges will apply. On international routes, these items are only accepted if enclosed in a bag that does not exceed 32kg (70lb) in weight and its length does exceed 277cm (109in). |
| Water skis | Maximum weight of 32kg. |
Musical Instruments
A musical instrument in its hard-shell case that weighs no more than 7kg and does not exceed 142cm (85 + 34 + 23cm) can be taken as carry-on baggage and placed in an overhead locker.
If the total linear dimensions are 105cm or less, then the musical instrument is equivalent to a 105cm carry-on bag. If the total linear dimensions are between 105cm and 142cm then the musical instrument is equivalent to a 115cm carry-on bag.
Larger musical instruments such as most guitars are unlikely to fit within the musical instrument allowance and must be checked in. Alternatively, you can purchase an extra seat and carry your instrument as a ‘bulky item’, see above.
Musicians who are registered members of an eligible musical association can request an additional baggage allowance while traveling on an Australian domestic Qantas or QantasLink flight. You are allowed a total of three items of check-in baggage per musician, with a weight allowance applicable to your class of travel and frequent flyer status.
Traveling With Infants and Children
Infants
Infant check-in baggage allowances are as follows:
Infant items include:
- collapsible stroller or push-chair
- collapsible cot or bassinet
- car seat or baby capsule.
The total weight of the maximum of 3 infant items is 32kg (70lb).
Children
A child traveling in its own seat has the same allowance as an adult ticket and can check in up to two child items free of charge, each weighing up to 32kg. These child items include:
- car seat
- collapsible stroller or pushchair.
Summary and Conclusions
When traveling with Qantas, your cabin and check-in baggage allowances will vary according to whether you are traveling on a domestic or an international route, and also with your selected class of travel and Qantas/oneWorld frequent flyer status.
All domestic and international passengers are allowed one free personal item and a carry-on allowance. The permitted number/weight of carry-on bags varies by route.
For check-in baggage, the item concept applies for domestic routes and for international routes to/from the Americas. The number of check-in baggage items allowed depends on your travel class and your Qantas/oneWorld frequent flyer status. The standard economy domestic allowance is one item weighing 23kg. The standard allowance for passengers traveling on international routes to/from the Americas in economy is one item weighing 32kg. For international routes except the Americas, the weight concept applies, and the standard economy allowance is 30kg.
If you are a member of the Qantas frequent flyer program, or another oneWorld alliance frequent flyer program (except oneWorld Ruby) you are entitled to generous additional check-in baggage allowances.
You can purchase additional baggage allowances in advance if needed – up to five items for item-based routes, and up to 100kg for weight-based routes. If you turn up at the airport with more baggage than your free allowance, or purchased amount, you will need to pay excess baggage charges. Qantas’ item-based excess baggage charges compare reasonably well to other international carriers, but you could be paying up to AUD300 per item on an international route. For international weight-based routes, the excess baggage charges apply per kg, and for some routes, the excess baggage charge is as much as AUD80 per 1kg!
