Qantas Airways Baggage and Carry-on

What is the carry-on allowance?

On Qantas Airways and QantasLink flights, the carry-on allowance varies as piece number, size and weight depending on itinerary and/or aircraft. In addition to the carry-on allowance, it is Qantas’ policy to allow passengers to carry on board one small personal item.

What is Qantas’ policy on checked baggage allowance?

Qantas’ policy on checked baggage allowance differs based on itinerary:

• On domestic flights and flights to/from North and South America, the Piece Policy with a maximum weight per piece applies.
• On international flights, except to/from North and South America, the Weight Policy applies for checked baggage.

All passengers have a free baggage allowance that varies depending on itinerary, cabin class, Qantas Frequent Flyer status, or Qantas Club membership.

Which baggage policies apply in the case of codeshare flights?

If your travel involves one or more codeshare flights (flights that do not have a QF flight number), and the ultimate ticketed origin or destination is within the US or Canada, baggage policies, applied to all the flights in your itinerary (its own baggage rules or that of another airline), will be determined by the airline whose flight number appears first on your ticket. Usually, for travel between Australia and the US, Qantas’ baggage policies will apply.

For all other international itineraries (other than from or to the USA), the baggage policy of the most significant carrier will apply. When booking your flights online, your baggage allowance will be showed on the “Review” page before you complete your booking. In addition, you can view your baggage allowance at any time through “Manage your booking”.

You should contact your travel agent if you used one to book your travel.

Carry-on Baggage

Baggage you wish to carry on board must not exceed your carry-on allowance. Also, your carry-on must not include dangerous goods unless permitted. You must declare in advance or at the time you check in if you are traveling with dangerous goods. Any piece of carry-on must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. Depending on route, class and aircraft, the following carry-on allowances apply on Qantas and QantasLink flights.

• Australian domestic flights:
  • 2 bags x 105 cm (41 in) OR 1 bag x 115 cm (45 in).
  • One bag x 105 cm (41 in) can be substituted with one non rigid garment bag x 185 cm (73 in).
  • A maximum of 10 kg (15 lbs) per piece with a total weight of maximum 14 kg is permitted.
  • Exception – Dash 8 services: 1 bag x 105 cm (41 in) with a maximum weight of 7 kg (15 lbs).
• International flights:
  • First, Business and Premium Economy Class:
    • 2 bags x 105 cm (41 in) OR 1 bag x 115 cm (45 in).
    • One bag x 105 cm (41 in) can be substituted with one non rigid garment bag x 185 cm (73 in).
  • Economy Class:
    • 1 bag x 115 cm (45 in) that can be substituted with one non rigid garment bag x 185 cm (73 in).
  • For all classes, a maximum of 7 kg (15 lbs) per piece is permitted.

Maximum dimensions refer to total linear dimensions (length plus height plus depth) as follows:

• 105 cm (41 in) = 48 cm (19 in) + 34 cm (13 in) + 23 cm (9 in)
• 115 cm (45 in) = 56 cm (22 in) + 36 cm (14 in) + 23 cm (9 in)
• 185 cm (73 in) = 60 cm (24 in) + 114 cm (45 in) + 11 cm (4 in)

One personal small item (handbag, small camera, laptop computer in a slim bag, etc.) may be carried on board, in addition to your carry-on allowance. Mobility equipment (canes, crutches, collapsible walking frames) may be carried on board free of charge and does not count toward the baggage allowance of the person with a disability.

Children traveling on Qantas and QantasLink flights have the same carry-on allowance as adults. There is no carry-on allowance for infants, but an adult traveling with an infant may carry on board, in addition to his/her carry-on allowance, infant items required during the flight (e.g. food, diapers).

Checked Baggage

You must check your baggage before the minimum check-in time for your flight. To check and tag your bags, you can go to an airport kiosk, check-in desk, dedicated Bag Drop or Online Check-in Counter. You may drop off your tagged bags (Q Bag Tag or paper tag printed at a kiosk) at a Bag Drop. At the Bag Drop, you need to scan your paper or mobile boarding pass, and the technology will synchronize your flight details with your boarding pass and printed bag tags or Q Bag Tags. Then, simply place your bags on the conveyor belt and follow a few simple on-screen prompts.

There is no limit on the number of bags that can be checked where checked baggage allowances are expressed in kilograms only. Qantas’ policy states that no piece of checked baggage may exceed 32 kg (70 lbs).

The maximum size allowed (length plus height plus depth) for each checked bag is 140 cm (54 in) on domestic flights, and 158 cm (62 in) on all international flights. In addition, for the free baggage allowances on flights to/from North and South America, the following size restrictions apply:

• Allowances of 3 bags – a maximum of 405 cm (159 in) for all the 3 bags.
• Allowances of 2 bags – a maximum of 270 cm (106 in) for both bags.

Free Baggage Allowance

When traveling on Qantas and QantasLink flights, checked baggage allowance varies depending on itinerary, cabin class, Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) status or Qantas Club membership. Baggage allowances for domestic travel apply as follows:

• Domestic flights¹:
  • Economy – 1 bag of maximum 23 kg (50 lbs).
  • Business – 2 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
  • Exception: all Dash 8 flights – 1 piece up to 23 kg (50 lbs) (except to/from Lord Howe Island – 2 pieces up to 23 kg in total, with the 1st piece up to 14 kg (30 lbs) and the 2nd piece up to 9 kg (20 lbs); it may be possible that the 2nd piece may need to travel separately).
  • Qantas Club members and Silver QFF in Economy – 1 piece of maximum of 32 kg (70 lbs).
  • Gold, Platinum and Platinum One QFF in Economy – 2 pieces of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
  • Qantas Club members and Silver and Gold QFF in Business – 2 pieces of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
  • Platinum and Platinum One QFF in Business – 3 pieces of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
• Flights to/from North and South America – tickets issued on/after March 26, 2021:
  • Economy:
    • No frequent flyer status – 1 bag of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs).
    • Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One QFF and Qantas Club members – 3 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
  • Premium Economy:
    • No frequent flyer status – 2 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
    • Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One QFF and Qantas Club members – 3 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
  • Business:
    • No frequent flyer status – 2 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
    • Silver and Gold QFF and Qantas Club members – 3 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
    • Platinum and Platinum One QFF – 4 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
  • First:
    • No frequent flyer status – 3 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
    • Silver and Gold QFF and Qantas Club members – 3 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
    • Platinum and Platinum One QFF – 4 bags of maximum 32 kg (70 lbs) each.
• International flights:
  • Economy:
    • No frequent flyer status – 30 kg (66 lbs).
    • Silver QFF and Qantas Club members – 42 kg (92 lbs).
    • Gold QFF – 46 kg (101 lbs).
    • Platinum and Platinum One QFF – 50 kg (110 lbs).
  • Premium Economy and Business:
    • No frequent flyer status – 40 kg (88 lbs).
    • Silver QFF and Qantas Club members – 52 kg (114 lbs).
    • Gold QFF – 56 kg (123 lbs).
    • Platinum and Platinum One QFF – 60 kg (132 lbs).
  • First:
    • No frequent flyer status – 50 kg (110 lbs).
    • Silver QFF and Qantas Club members – 62 kg (136 lbs).
    • Gold QFF – 66 kg (145 lbs).
    • Platinum and Platinum One QFF – 70 kg (154 lbs).

Sporting equipment can be included as part of your free baggage allowance, subject to the sporting equipment requirements. Each sporting item checked in is one piece. Charges will apply for any baggage carried in addition to the free baggage allowance.

In addition to the free baggage allowance, two pieces of mobility equipment and medical/life-dependent equipment may be checked without additional cost. There is no limit on the number of mobility devices only for flights to the USA.

¹International baggage allowance applies on both flights if you transfer from a Qantas domestic flight to a Qantas international flight or vice versa, and the flights are on the same ticket or on separate tickets but within the same calendar day, and you present both tickets when checking baggage.

Additional Baggage

Baggage that exceeds the free baggage allowance as number or weight is considered additional baggage and will be subject to additional charges. Acceptance of baggage in excess of the free baggage allowance is subject to space availability. At the airport, excess baggage charges will apply for any piece of baggage in excess of your checked baggage allowance and pre-purchased additional allowance. If your baggage allowance includes bags up to 23 kg, a heavy charge will be assessed at the airport for each bag weighing between 23 kg and 32 kg.

Heavy charges apply only at the airport. To pay your excess baggage charges at the airport, after check-in, go to Bag Drop and you’ll receive an excess baggage coupon. You can use this coupon to pay charges at the Kiosk or Sales Desk.

If you think your baggage will exceed your free baggage allowance, you have the option to pre-purchase an Additional Baggage Allowance online, at lower rates than excess baggage charges applied at the airport. You can also use your QFF points to pay for Additional Baggage Allowance. Additional Baggage Allowance is available for online purchase in the following conditions:

• Only for flights operated by Qantas Airways, provided you are not connecting within 24 hours of your Qantas-operated flight to/from a flight operated by another airline.
• Upon booking and up to 3 hours before departure if you have not already checked in for your flight.
• On a piece basis, for domestic flights and flights to/from North and South America. A maximum of 5 additional pieces can be purchased, and the maximum weight that applies for your free baggage allowance will also apply for the additional pieces.
• By 5 kg increments (additional allowances of 5 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg, 25 kg, or 35 kg up to a total of 100 kg) for international flights.

Unaccompanied Baggage

On most routes, Qantas offers unaccompanied baggage service, an alternative to paying excess baggage rates. If you have an international ticket, for any airline, between the origin and destination airports, you must consign your baggage at the freight terminal, and your baggage will be transported to your destination not necessarily on the same flight as you. Your baggage may only consist of personal clothing and articles (book, music instruments, sporting equipment). You may be required to pay some charges at the destination.

Baggage Service

Damaged or delayed baggage should be reported in person before you leave the airport to Baggage Services or to a local Qantas representative, or in writing within the following time limits:

• In case of damaged baggage, within 3 days of your domestic flight (no international flights in your itinerary) and 7 days of your international flight.
• In case of delayed baggage, within 21 days from the date of intended receipt for both domestic and international flights.

In case your baggage is not found within 21 days, you must download, complete and email a claim form, and Qantas Airways will begin a claim process.

More information here >>