Virgin Atlantic Airways Baggage Allowance 2026, Carry-on & Checked Bag Rules
Virgin Atlantic Airways economy class includes one cabin bag up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 56 x 36 x 23 cm weighing 10 kilograms plus one personal item up to 16 x 12 x 6 inches or 40 x 30 x 15 cm, and Classic and Delight fares include one free checked bag of 23 kilograms or 50 pounds with a very generous maximum linear size of 208 centimetres or 82 inches which is much larger than the standard 158 cm limit on most other airlines, while Economy Light fares do not include any free checked baggage at all.
Published on July 9, 2026 · Last verified on July 10, 2026 by Luggage Validator
5/10
Virgin Atlantic Airways Baggage Policy Strictness
Moderate
Overview
Standard baggage allowance for your selected route and fare class. All dimensions include wheels and handles.
Carry-on Bag
56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in)
Overhead bin · 10 kg (22 lbs)
Personal Item
40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in)
Under seat ·Not specified
Checked Baggage
≤ 208 cm (82 in)
1 free pc · 23 kg (50 lbs)/pc
Free Special Items
Items you can bring for free that do not count toward your standard baggage allowance on Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Coat or jacket
Umbrella or walking stick
Mobility aids and crutches
For passenger's own use
Collapsible stroller
One fully collapsible stroller per infant
Duty free items
Purchased at the airport on the day of travel
Standard Economy Allowance
Quick reference for your selected route type. See below for full cabin class comparison.
| Baggage Type | Free | Max Size | Weight Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on Bag Overhead bin · per piece | 1 pc | 56×36×23cm 22×14×9in | 10 kg 22 lbs |
| Personal Item Under seat · per piece | 1 pc | 40×30×15cm 16×12×6in | Not specified |
| Checked Baggage Cargo hold · piece system | 1 pc free | ≤ 208 cm 82 in | 23 kg 50 lbs |
Full Cabin Class Comparison
Compare allowances across all fare types and cabin classes for your selected route.
| Item | Light | Classic | Premium | Upper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Item Under seat | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc |
| Personal Item Size L × W × H | 40×30×15cm 16×12×6in | 40×30×15cm 16×12×6in | 40×30×15cm 16×12×6in | 40×30×15cm 16×12×6in |
| Carry-on Pieces Overhead bin access | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 2 pc |
| Carry-on Size L × W × H | 56×36×23cm 22×14×9in | 56×36×23cm 22×14×9in | 56×36×23cm 22×14×9in | 56×36×23cm 22×14×9in |
| Carry-on Weight Per piece | 10 kg 22 lbs | 10 kg 22 lbs | 10 kg 22 lbs | 12 kg 26 lbs |
| Free Checked Bags Piece system | No | 1 pc | 2 pc | 2 pc |
| Checked Bag Size Max per piece | - | ≤ 208 cm 82 in | ≤ 208 cm 82 in | ≤ 208 cm 82 in |
| Checked Bag Weight Per piece max | - | 23 kg 50 lbs | 23 kg 50 lbs | 32 kg 70 lbs |
Recent Traveller Feedback
Booked the cheapest Economy Light fare with Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York and did not realize until later that there is no free checked baggage included at all, so I had to add one 23 kilogram bag separately for about 65 pounds which was still cheaper than upgrading to the Classic fare for my whole trip.
65 GBP
I was really surprised that Virgin Atlantic allows much larger checked bags than most other airlines because the maximum total linear dimension is 208 centimetres or 82 inches instead of the usual 158 centimetre limit, so my extra large suitcase was totally fine even though it would have been oversized on other carriers.
Flew Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic from Manchester to Atlanta and really enjoyed being able to bring two full size carry on bags weighing up to 12 kilograms each plus a personal item, which was perfect for all my work gear and travel essentials on the business trip.
Travelled Premium Economy on Virgin Atlantic from London to Johannesburg and was very happy with the two free checked bags of 23 kilograms each, which gave me plenty of space for all my clothes and camera equipment for the two week safari holiday.
Common Luggage Compatibility
Based on Virgin Atlantic Airways · Economy class. Compare luggage compatibility across all fare types and cabin classes using the filters above.
| Luggage | Personal Item | Carry-on | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
Regular Backpack | OK | OK | OK |
16" Under-seat Briefcase | Over Limit | OK | OK |
18" Cabin Suitcase | Over Limit | OK | OK |
Standard 20" Carry-on | Over Limit | OK | OK |
22" North American Carry-on | Over Limit | OK | OK |
24" Medium Checked Suitcase | Over Limit | Over Limit | OK |
26" Mid-size Checked Suitcase | Over Limit | Over Limit | OK |
28" Large Checked Suitcase (IATA Standard) | Over Limit | Over Limit | OK |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the carry on size and weight limit for Virgin Atlantic?
Every Virgin Atlantic passenger in economy class or premium economy can bring one main cabin bag with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23 centimetres or 22 x 14 x 9 inches including wheels and handles, and the bag must weigh no more than 10 kilograms or 22 pounds.
You are also allowed one smaller personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag that measures up to 40 x 30 x 15 centimetres or 16 x 12 x 6 inches, and this item must fit completely under the seat in front of you on the aircraft.
This free carry on baggage allowance applies to every fare type on Virgin Atlantic including the cheapest Economy Light tickets, so every passenger gets at least one cabin bag and one personal item no matter which ticket they book.
Does every Virgin Atlantic fare include free checked baggage?
No, not every Virgin Atlantic fare includes free checked baggage, and the cheapest Economy Light fare does not come with any hold baggage at all so you have to pay extra if you want to check a suitcase on that ticket type.
Economy Classic and Economy Delight fares both include one free checked bag weighing up to 23 kilograms or 50 pounds, and the only difference between those two fares is seat selection and priority boarding rather than baggage allowance.
Premium Economy includes two free checked bags of 23 kilograms each, and Upper Class business class includes two free bags weighing up to 32 kilograms or 70 pounds each, which is the highest allowance available on Virgin Atlantic.
How big can a checked bag be on Virgin Atlantic?
Virgin Atlantic has one of the most generous checked bag size limits among major airlines, and the maximum total linear dimension is 208 centimetres or 82 inches per bag which is calculated by adding together the length plus width plus height of your suitcase.
This 208 centimetre limit is significantly larger than the standard 158 centimetre linear limit used by most other international airlines, so many suitcases that would be considered oversized on other carriers are completely fine on Virgin Atlantic flights.
The official maximum individual dimensions are 90 x 75 x 43 centimetres or 35.5 x 29.5 x 16 inches, and as long as your bag stays within those measurements you will not be charged any oversized baggage fees.
What extra baggage do you get in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class?
Upper Class passengers on Virgin Atlantic are allowed two full size cabin bags instead of one, with each bag weighing up to 12 kilograms, plus one personal item the same size as in economy class, which gives business class travellers significantly more hand luggage capacity.
For checked baggage Upper Class includes two free bags of up to 32 kilograms or 70 pounds each, which is 9 kilograms more per bag than the 23 kilogram economy limit, and both bags still fall under the same generous 208 centimetre linear size limit.
Upper Class is the highest cabin on Virgin Atlantic because the airline does not offer a separate first class product, so all premium benefits are included in the Upper Class business cabin.
Can I add checked baggage to an Economy Light ticket on Virgin Atlantic?
Yes, you can absolutely add checked baggage to an Economy Light ticket on Virgin Atlantic, and you can either pre book it online through the website or mobile app before your flight or pay for it at the airport when you check in for your journey.
Booking your extra baggage online in advance is almost always much cheaper than paying at the airport, and the exact price depends on your route and how far in advance you add the bag to your booking.
Many travellers find that Economy Light plus one pre paid checked bag works out cheaper than upgrading to Economy Classic, so it is worth comparing the total cost before you decide which fare type to book.
All baggage rules on this page are from the official Virgin Atlantic Airways website. Last updated July 10, 2026. Before you fly, please check the official site again to make sure nothing has changed.
Help keep this data accurate. If you spot outdated baggage rules or have recent experience flying with Virgin Atlantic Airways contribute your update