Virgin Australia Baggage Policy (2026)
Virgin Australia allows one carry-on (56x36x23 cm, max 8 kg) plus one personal item (45x33x20 cm) for free on all fares. Checked bags are NOT included in Lite fares. On Virgin Australia’s Domestic and International Short Haul network, Choice/Flex fares include checked-baggage allowances that vary by Velocity status at time of travel. On Virgin Australia-operated international flights, guests travelling on Choice or Flex fares cannot purchase additional checked baggage. They retain the checked-baggage allowance included in their fare and any additional allowance from Velocity status. Baggage rules for partner-airline-operated flights may differ.
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Talk to an ExpertBaggage Allowance Summary
| Airline | Virgin Australia (VA) |
|---|---|
| Carry-On | Economy: 1 bag (56x36x23 cm, max 8 kg) PLUS 1 personal item (45x33x20 cm). Business/Economy X/Velocity Gold+: 1 bag + personal item (14 kg combined, no single item over 8 kg) OR 2 small bags (48x34x23 each) + personal item. Effective Feb 2, 2026. |
| Personal Item | 1 personal item (max 45x33x20 cm) included for ALL fare classes. Must fit under the seat. Examples: purse, laptop bag, small backpack. |
| Checked Bag Allowance | Lite: 0 bags (regardless of Velocity status). Choice/Flex/Economy Reward: 1 x 23 kg (non-members/Red), 2 x 23 kg (Silver/Gold), 3 x 23 kg (Platinum). Business: 2 x 32 kg (non-members through Gold), 3 x 32 kg (Platinum). |
| First Bag Fee | From AUD 67 online (at booking, off-peak <3hrs) to AUD 170 at airport (peak 3+ hrs). Fees are per piece, per sector. |
| Second Bag Fee | Same per-piece rate as first bag (Virgin Australia charges a flat per-piece fee regardless of bag number). Up to 2 extra bags can be pre-purchased online. |
| Overweight Fee | AUD 65 per piece domestic (23-32 kg). Virgin Australia-operated international short-haul: AUD 110 per piece departing Australia or NZD 110 departing New Zealand (23-32 kg). Bags over 32 kg must be shipped as cargo. |
| Oversized Fee | Items over 140 cm linear dimensions may be accepted as checked baggage if under 32 kg, but overweight fees apply if over 23 kg. Items over 32 kg must be shipped as freight. |
| Max Weight | 23 kg (Economy) / 32 kg (Business/First) |
| Max Dimensions | 140 cm linear (L+W+H) |
| Free Bag in Economy | No |
Special Items
Sports Equipment
Sports equipment (surfboards, bikes, golf clubs) counts towards standard checked baggage allowance. Items over 23 kg incur overweight fees up to 32 kg.
Musical Instruments
Small instruments (max 85x34x23 cm) allowed as carry-on. Larger instruments count as checked baggage. Large musical instruments such as a cello or guitar may be accepted onboard with advance purchase of an additional seat, if the instrument is no more than 160 cm long and 30.5 cm deep. The instrument cannot be seated in an emergency-exit row or in Business Class; book the extra seat through Virgin Australia’s Guest Contact Centre.
International Rules
On Virgin Australia-operated international flights, guests travelling on Choice or Flex fares cannot purchase additional checked baggage. They retain the checked-baggage allowance included in their fare and any additional allowance from Velocity status. Baggage rules for partner-airline-operated flights may differ. Overweight fee (23-32 kg): AUD 110 per piece departing Australia or NZD 110 departing New Zealand. Same fare-class allowances as domestic.
Tips to Avoid Fees
1. Pre-purchase extra baggage online at booking time (from AUD 67) — airport price is AUD 120-170. 2. Join Velocity Frequent Flyer (Silver/Gold) for extra free checked bags on Choice/Flex fares. 3. Avoid Lite fares if you need to check a bag — Lite includes zero checked baggage regardless of Velocity status. 4. Keep carry-on under 8 kg — oversized carry-on will be gate-checked and fees may apply.
Unique Nuances
Lite fare is a genuine fare-trap: zero checked baggage regardless of Velocity status (even Platinum gets nothing on Lite). Carry-on policy changed Feb 2, 2026 — now 1 bag + 1 personal item for Economy (previously different structure). Velocity status significantly boosts allowance on Choice/Flex fares. Peak season pricing applies to baggage fees (Dec-Jan, Easter, school holidays). Infants get 3 special items checked free (pram, cot, car seat).
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does Virgin Australia charge for checked bags?
- Virgin Australia charges From AUD 67 online (at booking, off-peak <3hrs) to AUD 170 at airport (peak 3+ hrs). Fees are per piece, per sector. for the first checked bag and Same per-piece rate as first bag (Virgin Australia charges a flat per-piece fee regardless of bag number). Up to 2 extra bags can be pre-purchased online. for the second bag.
- What is Virgin Australia's carry-on bag size limit?
- Virgin Australia carry-on allowance: Economy: 1 bag (56x36x23 cm, max 8 kg) PLUS 1 personal item (45x33x20 cm). Business/Economy X/Velocity Gold+: 1 bag + personal item (14 kg combined, no single item over 8 kg) OR 2 small bags (48x34x23 each) + personal item. Effective Feb 2, 2026. 1 personal item (max 45x33x20 cm) included for ALL fare classes. Must fit under the seat. Examples: purse, laptop bag, small backpack.
- Does Virgin Australia include free checked bags in economy?
- No, Virgin Australia does not include free checked bags in basic economy. Lite: 0 bags (regardless of Velocity status). Choice/Flex/Economy Reward: 1 x 23 kg (non-members/Red), 2 x 23 kg (Silver/Gold), 3 x 23 kg (Platinum). Business: 2 x 32 kg (non-members through Gold), 3 x 32 kg (Platinum).
- What is Virgin Australia's overweight baggage fee?
- AUD 65 per piece domestic (23-32 kg). Virgin Australia-operated international short-haul: AUD 110 per piece departing Australia or NZD 110 departing New Zealand (23-32 kg). Bags over 32 kg must be shipped as cargo.
- Can I bring sports equipment on Virgin Australia?
- Sports equipment (surfboards, bikes, golf clubs) counts towards standard checked baggage allowance. Items over 23 kg incur overweight fees up to 32 kg.
- What are Virgin Australia baggage fees?
- Virgin Australia baggage fees are From AUD 67 online (at booking, off-peak <3hrs) to AUD 170 at airport (peak 3+ hrs). Fees are per piece, per sector for the first checked bag and Same per-piece rate as first bag (Virgin Australia charges a flat per-piece fee regardless of bag number). Up to 2 extra bags can be pre-purchased online for the second. Overweight bags incur an additional fee of AUD 65 per piece domestic (23-32 kg). Virgin Australia-operated international short-haul: AUD 110 per piece departing Australia or NZD 110 departing New Zealand (23-32 kg). Bags over 32 kg must be shipped as cargo. On Virgin Australia-operated international flights, guests travelling on Choice or Flex fares cannot purchase additional checked baggage. They retain the checked-baggage allowance included in their fare and any additional allowance from Velocity status. Baggage rules for partner-airline-operated flights may differ. Overweight fee (23-32 kg): AUD 110 per piece departing Australia or NZD 110 departing New Zealand. Same fare-class allowances as domestic.