Virgin Australia Baggage Allowance 2026, Carry-on & Checked Bag Rules
Virgin Australia economy class passengers can bring one standard cabin bag up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm weighing 8 kilograms plus one personal item up to 45 x 33 x 20 cm which is larger than on most other airlines, and checked baggage depends on your fare type with Lite fares including zero checked bags while Choice and Flex fares include one free bag of 23 kilograms and business class includes two free bags up to 32 kilograms each with a 158 centimetre linear size limit.
Published on July 9, 2026 · Last verified on July 10, 2026 by Luggage Validator
5/10
Virgin Australia 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 × 14.2 × 9.1 in)
Overhead bin · 8 kg (18 lbs)
Personal Item
45 × 33 × 20 cm (17.7 × 13 × 7.9 in)
Under seat ·Not specified
Checked Baggage
≤ 158 cm (62.2 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 Australia.
Coat or jacket
Umbrella
Crutches and walking aids
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 22×14.2×9.1in | 8 kg 18 lbs |
| Personal Item Under seat · per piece | 1 pc | 45×33×20cm 17.7×13×7.9in | Not specified |
| Checked Baggage Cargo hold · piece system | 1 pc free | ≤ 158 cm 62.2 in | 23 kg 50 lbs |
Full Cabin Class Comparison
Compare allowances across all fare types and cabin classes for your selected route.
| Item | Lite | Choice | Flex | Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Item Under seat | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc |
| Personal Item Size L × W × H | 45×33×20cm 17.7×13×7.9in | 45×33×20cm 17.7×13×7.9in | 45×33×20cm 17.7×13×7.9in | 45×33×20cm 17.7×13×7.9in |
| Carry-on Pieces Overhead bin access | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 2 pc |
| Carry-on Size L × W × H | 56×36×23cm 22×14.2×9.1in | 56×36×23cm 22×14.2×9.1in | 56×36×23cm 22×14.2×9.1in | 56×36×23cm 22×14.2×9.1in |
| Carry-on Weight Per piece | 8 kg 18 lbs | 8 kg 18 lbs | 8 kg 18 lbs | 7 kg 15 lbs |
| Free Checked Bags Piece system | No | 1 pc | 1 pc | 2 pc |
| Checked Bag Size Max per piece | - | ≤ 158 cm 62.2 in | ≤ 158 cm 62.2 in | ≤ 158 cm 62.2 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 Lite fare with Virgin Australia from Melbourne to Sydney and completely forgot that there is no free checked baggage included, so I had to pay about 65 Australian dollars at the airport for my 20 kilogram suitcase which was definitely more expensive than adding it online before the flight.
65 AUD
I was pleasantly surprised that the personal item allowance on Virgin Australia is 45 x 33 x 20 centimetres which is noticeably bigger than the 40 x 30 x 15 centimetre limit on most other airlines, so my regular sized backpack fit perfectly into that category without any problems at all.
Flew business class on Virgin Australia from Brisbane to Perth and really appreciated being able to bring two carry on bags with a combined total of 14 kilograms, and even though each bag can only weigh 7 kilograms individually it was still more than enough space for all my work documents and laptop gear.
Went through security at Sydney Airport for my Virgin Australia flight to the Gold Coast and the standard 100 millilitre liquid rule applied just like everywhere else, so I kept all my toiletries in a clear plastic bag and everything passed through the security checkpoint completely smoothly with no issues at all.
Common Luggage Compatibility
Based on Virgin Australia · 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 | OK | 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 Australia?
Economy class passengers on Virgin Australia can bring one standard cabin bag for the overhead locker with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23 centimetres including wheels and handles, and the bag can weigh up to 8 kilograms which is slightly more generous than the 7 kilogram limit used by many other Australian airlines.
Every passenger also gets one personal item that goes under the seat in front, and the personal item can be a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack as long as it fits within the official size limits for that category.
This free carry on allowance applies to all economy fare types including the cheapest Lite tickets, so every passenger gets at least one cabin bag and one personal item no matter which fare they book.
How big is the personal item allowance on Virgin Australia?
The personal item allowance on Virgin Australia is noticeably larger than on most other airlines, and the maximum dimensions are 45 x 33 x 20 centimetres compared to the more common 40 x 30 x 15 centimetre limit used by many other carriers around the world.
Acceptable personal items include a handbag, laptop bag, small backpack or briefcase, and the item must fit completely under the seat in front of you so that it does not take up any space in the overhead lockers.
Because the personal item is quite generous on Virgin Australia a lot of travellers use a medium sized backpack as their under seat bag and then pack their rolling suitcase for the overhead bin.
How much checked baggage comes with each Virgin Australia fare type?
The cheapest Lite fare on Virgin Australia does not include any free checked baggage at all, so if you book that fare you have to pay extra for any suitcase that goes into the cargo hold on your flight.
Both Choice and Flex economy fares include one free checked bag weighing up to 23 kilograms, and the only difference between those two fare types is flexibility for changes and refunds rather than the actual baggage allowance.
Business class passengers get two free checked bags weighing up to 32 kilograms each, which is significantly more than economy and means business travellers can pack quite a lot of luggage without paying extra fees.
What extra carry on baggage do you get in Virgin Australia business class?
Business class passengers on Virgin Australia are allowed two standard cabin bags instead of just one, with a combined total weight allowance of 14 kilograms across both bags and each individual bag weighing no more than 7 kilograms on its own.
Even though each business class bag is limited to 7 kilograms instead of the 8 kilogram single bag limit in economy, being able to bring two bags gives business travellers much more total capacity for their hand luggage.
Business class passengers still get the same personal item allowance as everyone else, so you can have two overhead bags plus one under seat item for a total of three pieces of hand luggage on business class fares.
Can I add checked baggage to a Virgin Australia Lite fare?
Yes, you can absolutely add checked baggage to a Lite fare on Virgin Australia, and you can pre purchase it online through the website or mobile app before your flight or you can simply pay for it at the airport when you check in.
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 ahead of time you add the bag to your existing booking.
Many travellers find that booking a Lite fare plus one pre paid checked bag works out cheaper than buying a Choice fare outright, so it is always worth comparing the total cost before you decide which ticket type to book.
All baggage rules on this page are from the official Virgin Australia 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 Australia contribute your update