✓ Policy web-verified 2026-05-31
Qantas runs two different checked-baggage systems depending on where you fly, which is the single biggest thing to get right. On flights to and from the Americas (North and South America) it uses a piece system — you get a set number of bags, each up to 32 kg. On almost everywhere else (domestic Australia, trans-Tasman, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific) it uses a weight system — a total kilogram allowance you can split across as many bags as you like, with no single bag over 32 kg.
Carry-on is consistent: most jet flights allow one cabin bag up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm plus a small personal item. The weight cap depends on cabin — 7 kg in Economy, 10 kg in premium cabins on international — and premium/domestic passengers can often take two cabin bags up to a combined 14 kg. Smaller turboprop (Dash 8) aircraft cut the weight to 7 kg with tighter dimensions.
Figures below reflect Qantas’s published 2026 policy. Note that Qantas has raised additional-baggage fees twice in 2026 — on 14 January (Australian domestic) and again from 9 June 2026 (domestic and international) — so always pre-purchase extra bags online, which is far cheaper than paying at the airport.
Quick facts
| Personal item | One small item (handbag, slim laptop case, camera) — not on India routes |
| Carry-on size | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (jet); smaller on Dash 8 turboprops |
| Carry-on weight | 7 kg Economy / 10 kg premium (international); domestic & premium often 2 bags, 14 kg total |
| Checked — weight system (most routes) | Economy 30 kg total across any number of bags; no single bag over 32 kg |
| Checked — Americas (piece system) | Economy 1 x 32 kg; Premium Eco/Business 2 x 32 kg; First 3 x 32 kg |
| Max single bag weight | 32 kg (hard limit, handler safety) |
| Max linear dimensions | 158 cm (62 in) international; 140 cm (55 in) domestic |
| Extra bag — domestic | ~A$45 pre-purchased online; ~A$150 at airport (per piece) |
| Extra bag — Americas | ~US$150 pre-purchased; ~US$200 at airport (per piece) |
| Heavy bag fee | ~A$60 per piece for 23–32 kg on weight-system routes/fares (no heavy fee on Americas piece system) |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | Small item (handbag, slim laptop case, camera, reading material). One personal item allowed in addition to carry-on, except on flights to/from India where it is not permitted. |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (jet aircraft) · 7 kg Economy / 10 kg premium (international) Free |
Checked baggage & fees
| Checked allowance | Weight system: 30 kg Economy total (most routes). Americas piece system: 1 bag Economy / 2 Premium Eco & Business / 3 First |
| Weight limit | No single bag over 32 kg; pieces to Americas up to 32 kg each |
| Typical fee | Extra bags ~A$45 (domestic, pre-paid) up to ~US$150 (Americas, pre-paid); higher at airport |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy (weight-system routes) | Yes (except India) | 7 kg (1 bag, 56x36x23 cm) + personal item | 30 kg total, any number of bags, none over 32 kg |
| Economy (Americas) | Yes | 7 kg (1 bag) + personal item | 1 piece up to 32 kg |
| Premium Economy | Yes | 10 kg (often 2 bags, 14 kg total) + personal item | Higher weight allowance; Americas = 2 x 32 kg |
| Business | Yes | 10 kg (often 2 bags, 14 kg total) + personal item | Generous weight allowance; Americas = 2 x 32 kg |
| First | Yes | 10 kg (2 bags, 14 kg total) + personal item | Largest allowance; Americas = 3 x 32 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What Qantas’s cheapest fare gives you at deal prices: Unlike a budget carrier, Qantas’s lowest economy fares still include a checked bag — that is a real value point when comparing deals.
- Long-haul (international): ✅ Cabin bag included (7 kg) and ✅ 1 x 30 kg checked included in the base economy fare (Americas routes give 1 piece up to 32 kg instead).
- Short-haul / domestic: ✅ Cabin bag included (7 kg) and ✅ 1 x 23 kg checked included.
So a cheap Qantas economy fare is genuinely “bag-included” — you rarely need to add a checked bag, which makes the headline price closer to the all-in cost than a no-frills airline’s would be. Watch the 32 kg per-bag hard cap and the heavy-bag fee band (23–32 kg) on weight-system routes.
Oversize, sports & special items
Oversize and heavy bags: No single checked bag may exceed 32 kg on any Qantas service — this is a non-negotiable handler-safety limit, not something a fee can override. On weight-system routes a bag in the 23–32 kg range may attract a heavy-bag fee (around A$60 per piece on domestic). Maximum linear dimensions are 158 cm (62 in) international and 140 cm (55 in) domestic, including wheels and handles.
Sports and bulky equipment: Items such as bicycles, golf clubs, surfboards and skis count toward your allowance (or as an extra piece if over). Many are accepted as standard checked baggage within size/weight limits; oversized items may need to be pre-booked. Always declare and pre-purchase online to avoid airport surcharges.
Musical instruments: Small instruments may travel as carry-on if within cabin limits; larger ones can be checked, or a seat can be purchased for fragile/high-value instruments such as cellos. Confirm with Qantas before travel.
Pre-purchase to save: Buying extra baggage online ahead of travel is dramatically cheaper than at the airport on every route. With Qantas’s 14 January 2026 and 9 June 2026 fee increases, the airport gap has widened further.
Frequently asked questions
How much carry-on can I take on Qantas?
One cabin bag up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm plus a small personal item on jet aircraft. The weight limit is 7 kg in Economy and 10 kg in premium cabins on international flights; domestic and premium passengers can often take two cabin bags up to 14 kg combined. Dash 8 turboprops have a 7 kg limit with tighter dimensions.
Does Qantas's cheapest economy fare include a checked bag?
Yes. Unlike budget airlines, Qantas's base economy fare includes checked baggage — about 1 x 23 kg on short-haul/domestic and 1 x 30 kg on long-haul international (or 1 piece up to 32 kg on routes to and from the Americas). A cabin bag is also included.
What is Qantas's checked baggage weight limit?
On most routes Economy gets a 30 kg total allowance you can split across any number of bags, but no single bag may ever exceed 32 kg. On Americas routes a piece system applies (1 to 3 bags by cabin), each up to 32 kg.
Why is Qantas baggage different for flights to America?
Flights to and from North and South America use a piece system (a fixed number of bags up to 32 kg each) rather than the weight system used elsewhere. Economy gets 1 piece, Premium Economy and Business 2, and First 3 — so plan around bag count, not total kilograms.
How much does an extra checked bag cost on Qantas?
Roughly A$45 per piece pre-purchased online for Australian domestic (around A$150 at the airport), and about US$150 per piece pre-purchased for the Americas (around US$200 at the airport). Fees rose on 14 January 2026 and again from 9 June 2026, and vary by route — always pre-pay online.
What is the heavy bag fee on Qantas?
On weight-system routes, a checked bag weighing between 23 kg and 32 kg may attract a heavy-bag fee — around A$60 per piece on domestic flights. No single bag may exceed 32 kg. The Americas piece system has no heavy-bag fee since each piece is already allowed up to 32 kg.
What are the maximum checked bag dimensions on Qantas?
A single checked bag must not exceed 158 cm (62 in) total linear dimensions on international flights, or 140 cm (55 in) on domestic flights, including wheels and handles. Oversized items may incur extra charges and should be pre-booked.
Can I bring a personal item as well as carry-on on Qantas?
Yes, you may bring one small personal item — such as a handbag, a laptop in a slim case, a camera or reading material — in addition to your cabin bag. The exception is flights to and from India, where the extra personal item is not permitted.
Verified against: source · source · source · source · source