Qantas Airways Baggage Policy - A Complete Guide

With four hubs, Qantas is Australia's national air carrier, offering flights to/from more than a hundred destinations worldwide with its 120+ fleet. Travellers find flights to their destinations without worrying about their safety and quality of travel with Qantas, and one of the key factors is their baggage allowance, which gives them flexibility to carry extra luggage. Let's understand what they offer with their baggage allowance.

Qantas Airways cabin baggage allowance

Your cabin luggage with Qantas can only be carried inside the aircraft when it meets the allowed baggage limit. Below are some of the major key highlights of Qantas' carry-on baggage allowance, explained to you in easy-to-understand language

• Travellers with the Dash 8 service are included with one small piece plus a personal item with the same features as given. Here, the weight is reduced to 7 kg at most.
• Travellers who are traveling on domestic flights but don't have Dash 8 services must choose one of these options as their carry-on.
  • On most domestic Qantas flights, one piece of standard baggage and two small handbags with personal items are permitted. The standard piece of luggage inside the cabin must weigh less than 10 kg, and the bag size is 56cm long x 36cm wide x 23cm deep.
  • Two small bags must not weigh over 14 kg in total, with a size restriction of up to 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep. 
  • One small bag item with one garment bag can also included in the carry-on baggage allowance, where the weight limit should not exceed 14 kg and the size limit should not exceed 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep, and 114cm long x 60cm wide x 11cm deep for garment bag size. 
  • With all this, you should also bring one small personal item, which could be your purse, laptop with case, camera, reading item, or more.

Qantas Airways checked baggage limits

For your reference, below are the checked baggage limits for domestic flights in Australia.

• Dash 8 Service travelers have an exception to carry one piece up to 23kg (50lb) only to all destinations.
• When the destination is Lord Howe Island, the weight allowance is two pieces up to 23kg (50lb), with specific restrictions on each piece. 
• The total bag size does not exceed 140 cm (55in). 
• Non frequently flyers and Bronze members- 
  • Economy: 1 piece up to 23kg (50lb)
  • Premium Economy: 2 pieces up to 23kg (50lb) each
  • Business: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
• Qantas Club members and Silver Qantas Frequent Flyers- 
  • Economy: 1 piece up to 32kg (70lb)
  • Premium Economy: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
  • Business: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
• Gold Qantas Frequent Flyers-
  • Economy: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
  • Premium Economy: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
  • Business: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
• Platinum and Platinum One Qantas Frequent Flyers- 
  • Economy: 2 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
  • Premium Economy: 3 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each
  • Business: 3 pieces up to 32kg (70lb) each

Qantas Airways policy for excess baggage

There are circumstances where travelers pay attention to the baggage limitations and exceed the allowed limit, which leads them to pay extra and heavy charges. You must understand the excess baggage policy to keep yourself safe from paying Qantas extra heavy charges.

• Excess baggage must be pre-purchased three hours before the scheduled Qantas departure.
• If the carry-on or checked baggage allowance is breached or exceeded, as per the rules, you must pay the excess baggage fee to accept the baggage.
• The excess charges may vary for domestic and international flights. They could be from $20 to $300, depending on the Qantas fare type and membership status.
• For domestic flights, there is a $130 excess baggage charge for each extra piece and a $50 charge for items weighing over 23kg. 
• On Qantas international flights to/from North and South America, up to $300 for extra baggage with no overweight charges up to 32 kg.
• On Qantas international flights, excluding North and South America,
  • Flights between Australia and Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga: A $20/kg excess baggage fee applies
  • Flights between Australia and Asia: A $35/kg excess baggage fee applies.
  • Flights between Asia and the United Kingdom: A $60/kg excess baggage fee applies
  • Flights between Australia and Europe, South Africa, and the United Kingdom: A $80/kg excess baggage fee applies

How to add extra baggage with Qantas Airways

To add extra baggage with Qantas Airways, there are multiple ways available that you can learn from below.

• Via Online: You can go to the Manage My Booking section and purchase additional baggage as needed. You may use the Qantas Points to pay for the additional baggage. 
• During flight booking: When you book your Qantas flight, you can simply define the number of bags that will be needed, and the cost will be added to your fare amount. 
• At the time of check-in: When you check in for your Qantas flight, you can add your additional baggage by paying the applicable excess baggage or heavy charges. 

Prohibited items in Qantas Airways cabin and checked bags

You must not carry certain items inside the cabin or in a checked bag. Here is the list of prohibited items on Qantas Airways that you should avoid. 

• Lithium batteries over 160Wh/Non-spillable batteries exceeding 12V and 100Wh
• Bleach/oven cleaner
• Butane cartridges, refills/gas bottles/Insect sprays
• Strike anywhere matches/cigar lighters/electric lighters
• Party poppers/fireworks/Sparklers/firelighters
• Fuel and petrol/oil-based paint/Gas canister exceeding 28g/50ml
• Paint stripper/hydrogen peroxide
• Read the full list of such prohibited items here: https://www.qantas.com/content/dam/qantas/pdfs/fly/dangerous-goods/hidden-dangerous-goods.pdf.

Qantas Airways rules for Special Items (Sports and musical equipment)

Qantas has special requirements for the carriage of special items such as musical instruments or sports equipment. 

• The musical device's maximum dimensions and weight are 56in and 7kg, and it can be placed in an overhead space or, if smaller than 41in, inside the carry-on bag. 
• Musicians can request up to three checked bags if eligible and must provide a booking reference, musical association name, membership number (for Musicians only), and type of musical instrument/equipment.
• Carry-on baggage rules for musical instruments and checked baggage rules for sports equipment will apply. 
• The maximum weight for sports equipment must not exceed 32kg or 70lb. 
• Different equipment may have different size allowances (check https://www.qantas.com/us/en/travel-info/baggage/sporting-equipment.html)

Qantas Airways baggage for international vs domestic routes

Your baggage allowance may vary depending on whether you fly internationally or domestically with Qantas Airways. Below are some international baggage allowances for different fares, which you can compare with domestic baggage allowances.

Baggage Allowances for international flights excluding North and South America

• Single pieces must not exceed a 32 kg weight limit, and total size must not exceed 158cm (62in)
• No restriction on the number of bags for carriage.
• Non frequently flyers and Bronze members- 
  • Economy: 30kg (66lb)
  • Premium Economy: 40kg (88lb)
  • Business: 40kg (88lb)
  • First: 50kg (110lb)
• Qantas Club members and Silver Qantas Frequent Flyers- 
  • Economy: 42kg (92lb)
  • Premium Economy: 52kg (114lb)
  • Business: 52kg (114lb)
  • First: 62kg (136lb)
• Gold Qantas Frequent Flyers-
  • Economy: 46kg (101lb)
  • Premium Economy: 56kg (123lb)
  • Business: 56kg (123lb)
  • First: 66kg (145lb)
• Platinum and Platinum One Qantas Frequent Flyers- 
  • Economy: 50kg (110lb)
  • Premium Economy: 60kg (132lb)
  • Business: 60kg (132lb)
  • First: 70kg (154lb)

Baggage Allowances for International Flights within North and South America

• A 32 kg weight limit and a 158cm (62in) total size limit on checked baggage. 
• No restriction on adding several bags.
• Non frequently flyers and Bronze members- 
  • Economy: 1 piece (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • Premium Economy: 2 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • Business: 2 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • First: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
• Qantas Club members, Silver, and Gold Qantas Frequent Flyers- 
  • Economy: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • Premium Economy: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • Business: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • First: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
• Platinum and Platinum One Qantas Frequent Flyers- 
  • Economy: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • Premium Economy: 3 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • Business: 4 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)
  • First: 4 pieces (maximum 32kg (70lb) per piece)