Virgin Australia luggage allowance. Be well prepared before you fly

When planning a flight one of the first things to consider is which airline you want to fly with. There’s a few factors that might influence your decision including the airline's reputation and what’s included in the ticket.

Having been rated 5 stars by customers in multiple areas including service, value for money and overall satisfaction,⁵ it’s little wonder that Virgin Australia is the airline of choice for many Australians.

In this article we’re going to take a look at their baggage policy including the allowances for each fare type, overall limits and how they handle special luggage. We’ll also introduce you to Wise, an international money specialist that can help when you’re travelling overseas.

💸 Hold over 40 currencies in your account and spend at the mid-market exchange rate with the Wise card while abroad.

Learn more about the
Wise Account

Virgin checked/hold luggage vs carry on?

With Virgin it’s possible to take carry-on baggage and checked luggage.

• Carry on luggage is smaller items that are taken onto the plane by the passenger. They’re usually stowed in the overhead compartment or under the seat.
• Checked baggage is bigger items like large suitcases or sports equipment. It’s stored in the cargo hold and isn’t accessible during the flight.

What is the baggage allowance with Virgin?

Let’s start with Virgin’s cabin baggage policy. When you fly with Virgin Australia your carry on luggage allowance depends on your fare class, Velocity Frequent Flyer tier and the type of flight.¹

Type of Fare	Allowance (Choose 1 Option)
Economy Economy X	1 standard piece up to 7 kg 2 small pieces up to 7 kg total 1 standard piece + 1 suit pack up to 7 kg total
Business Class Velocity Gold Velocity Platinum	1 standard piece up to 7 kg 2 small pieces up to 7 kg each 1 standard piece + 1 suit pack up to 7 kg each
All guests on F100 aircraft and Alliance Airlines operated flights	1 standard piece up to 7 kg 2 small pieces up to 7 kg total 1 standard piece + 1 suit pack up to 7 kg total

Along with your carry on allowance Virgin also lets you take one of these personal items.¹

• Reasonable sized laptop, handbag, pocketbook or purse
• Wrap, blanket or overcoat
• Umbrella
• Walking stick
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Reasonable amount of reading material
• Crutches or prosthetic devices that the guest depends on for mobility

Now let’s move to Virgin Australia’s checked baggage policy for bookings made after 19 August, 2021.

Virgin Australia measures checked baggage allowances by piece with accompanying weight limits. Like carry on, your checked baggage allowance varies based on fare class, Velocity Frequent Flyer tier and the type of flight.²

Type of Fare	Allowance²
Lite	Purchased separately
Choice, Flex or Economy Reward	1x 23 kg - Velocity Red or no frequent flyer 2x 23 kg - Velocity Silver & Gold 3x 23 kg - Velocity Platinum
Business or Business Reward	2x 32 kg - Velocity Red or no frequent flyer 2x 32 kg - Velocity Silver & Gold 3x 32 kg - Velocity Platinum

Keep in mind that if your flight is on a partner airline or codeshare the allowance may be different so it’s best to check it on your booking confirmation or confirm it with Virgin Australia.

Virgin baggage limits

Like most airlines, Virgin Australia has maximum dimensions and weights they allow for carry on and check luggage. These limits apply to all passengers.

Baggage Type	Maximum Weight	Maximum Dimensions
Carry on luggage¹	Single piece can not exceed 7kg	Standard piece: 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm Small piece: 48 cm x 34 cm x 23 cm Suit pack: 114 cm x 60 cm x 23 cm
Checked baggage²	Single piece can not exceed 32 kg	Sum of the length, width and height of each piece shouldn’t exceed 110 cm.

Buying extra checked in luggage with Virgin

If you want to take more luggage than your ticket allows you can buy additional baggage from Virgin.

There’s a few ways to do this with the most cost effective being buying it before you get to the airport.²

• Online through the Manage your Booking option on the Virgin Australia website.
• By calling the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89 from within Australia or using the local contact number overseas.
• At the airport using a self-service Kiosk or by speaking to an agent at the Check in counter.

Here’s an idea of what it’ll cost to purchase an additional bag weighing up to 23 kg. Keep in mind that some prices are subject to changes in the exchange rate.²

Flight Type	Online	Guest Contact Center	Airport
Australian Domestic Flight ~ 0 to 3 hours duration	$55	$60	$110
Australian Domestic Flight 3+ hours duration	$55	$80	$160
Departing from Australia	$75	$100	$160
Australia to Japan	$120	$140	$200
Departing from New Zealand	75 NZD	100 NZD	160 NZD
Departing from Indonesia	730,870 IDR	1,018,000 IDR	1,629,000 IDR
Departing from Fiji	110 FJD	150 FJD	12,650 FJD
Departing from Vanuatu	5,930 VUV	7,905 VUV	12,650 VUV
Departing from Samoa	135 WST	180 WST	290 WST

Virgin fees for excess or oversized luggage

If you’re an economy traveller and arrive at the airport with bags weighing over 23 kg that haven’t been pre purchased you’ll be charged an additional overweight baggage fee.³ This fee is changed per piece weighing 23 kg to 32 kg.

Flight Type	Fee²
Australian Domestic	$50 per piece
International From Australia (Excluding Japan)	$140 per piece
Australia to Japan	$100 per piece
International From New Zealand	100 NZD per piece

Taking sports musical instruments on Virgin Australia flights

You can take musical instruments aboard a Virgin Australia flight but where it’s stowed depends on the size.³

• Instruments 85 cm x 34 cm x 23 cm or less in dimension count as one small piece of carry on luggage.
• Larger instruments can be taken as one piece of checked baggage, with overweight baggage charges applying as normal.
• Instruments weighing over 32 kg must be transported as freight.
• Cellos or guitars can be transported in the cabin if you purchase an additional seat.

Taking sports equipment on Virgin Australia flights

Various types of sports equipment are also allowed on Virgin flights including the following.³

• Surf boards
• Cricket and tennis bags
• Skateboards
• Bikes
• Golf clubs
• Fishing rods
• Snow skis and snowboards

There are some rules about how different pieces of equipment need to be handled so make sure you have a look at what you need to do and plan accordingly.

Baby and Infant baggage allowance on Virgin

If you’re flying with children or an infant there’s a few differences in the baggage allowance.

For carry on luggage, Virgin gives child tickets the same baggage allowance as adults in that fare class.⁴

Infants don’t have a carry on allowance, but the adult accompanying them can have an additional 7 kg of carry on luggage for essential baby products free of charge.⁴

Here’s an idea of what Virgin Australia considers that to be.

• Baby milk which includes breast milk
• Sterilised water
• Juice
• Baby food (liquid, gel or paste)
• Nappy wipes

The checked baggage allowance for children and infants is completely different to what Virgin Australia allows adults to take.

Passenger	Lite Fare⁴	Choice, Flex & Business Fare⁴
Infant	3 special infant items	3 special infant items
Infant with own seat	3 special infant items	3 special infant items + 1 bag up to 23 kg
Child	2 special equipment items	2 special equipment items

The special items and equipment for a infant or infant can include these pieces.⁴

• Portable cot
• Car seat
• Pram
• Baby capsule

Infants travelling with parents on a Choice, Flex or Business fare can have 1 checked bag up to 23 kg as one of their special items.⁴

Keep in mind

If you're flying with luggage, make sure you're aware of the size and weight restrictions that apply to your ticket so you can pack accordingly. This will help you to avoid the last minute stress of realising you've exceeded the limits at the airport.

It's also a good idea to buy a hand-held luggage scale so you can see how much your bags weigh anytime you wish.

Alternatively, you could use the scales at a non-occupied baggage dropoff desk at the airport if they’re available.

Contacting Virgin

For more information or to clarify your allowance it’s best to reach out to Virgin directly.

• Call 13 67 89 from within Australia
• Phone the regional contact line if you’re overseas

Travel the Wise way

No one wants to deal with unexpected fees when travelling abroad. If you want an easier way to convert or spend your money with no hidden foreign transaction costs then a Wise Account might be right for you.

The Wise Account allows you to hold and convert over 40 different currencies through a single account, and spend money in 160+ countries. Currency conversions are performed at the mid-market rate with a minor conversion fee.

You can also order a Wise debit card which can be used in Australia and overseas, and makes daily spending in foreign currencies simple.

If this sounds like it could be a good fit for you, check out the Wise Account for yourself and see how it compares.

Join over 13 million customers currently enjoying Wise. It’ll only take a few minutes to register and see what’s inside.

Safe travels.

Register your Wise account
in minutes 🚀

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

---

Sources:

1. Virgin Australia - Carry-on baggage
2. Virgin Australia - Checked baggage allowance
3. Virgin Australia - Oversized and fragile items
4. Virgin Australia - Flying with kids
5. Virgin Australia Newsroom - Virgin Australia tops Canstar Blue's 2022 Domestic Airlines ratings

Sources checked on: 22 Jan 2023