Your guide to Qantas' international checked bag allowances

Passengers may have already noticed changes that have recently taken effect to Qantas’ checked baggage allowances on international flights, depending on where in the world they are going.

The result of these changes is that some travellers will be able to pack more for their trip, while others have seen their complimentary allowances reduced.

Services to North and South America have seen revised baggage rules imposed, with allowances for each passenger based on both their cabin class and their frequent flyer status or Qantas Club membership.

While on flights to other parts of the world, the traditional weight-based system has been revised and aligned to the same status hierarchy.

Here’s everything you need to know regarding Qantas’ international checked baggage allowance, including a breakdown of the most recent updates and how these will affect you.

Qantas international checked baggage allowances to North & South America

For Qantas flights to and from the Americas, the ‘piece system’ applies. This means that the airline restricts passengers to a specific number of bags, rather than a specific overall weight.

Your booked cabin class will determine how many bags you can take to the Americas.

While this may allow you to pack more depending on the cabin class on your ticket, weight rules do apply when it comes to the maximum load on each individual piece.

Qantas currently offers flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Singapore, Bangkok, Honolulu, Los Angeles and Vancouver – with San Francisco and Santiago returning later this year. 

With the Roo’s Airbus A380 – the only aircraft in the Qantas fleet with a first-class cabin – taking flight again, the airline has maintained its pre-pandemic baggage allowances.

Qantas checked baggage in business class

Qantas Frequent Flyers with Silver status or higher are immune from the change in business class, as are Qantas Club members.

Take up to four bags if you're a top-tier Qantas frequent flyer.

However, those relying on the standard business class allowance lose one bag, as do frequent flyers from Qantas’ Oneworld partner airlines, as below:

Oneworld Sapphire includes cardholders like American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum and Platinum Pro, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Gold and Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold, among others.

That change reflects Oneworld’s standard global policy, in that Sapphire members only receive extra checked baggage under the ‘piece system’ as above, when their ticket doesn’t already include at least two checked bags.

As such, both the outgoing and incoming allowance for Oneworld Sapphire members is no different to the base allowance provided to status-free travellers.

Oneworld Emerald, on the other hand, covers top-tier travellers such as AA Executive Platinum and ConciergeKey, Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Diamond, and Qatar Privilege Club Platinum.

Under the ‘piece system’, Oneworld Emeralds receive one additional checked bag over and above the standard allowance – so with that standard allowance reducing from three to two checked bags, the Oneworld Emerald allowance similarly drops from four to three bags.

Qantas checked baggage in premium economy

There’s happier news for premium economy travellers, most of whom are able to pack more, without being stung for excess baggage.

Baggage allowances have been increased for many premium economy travellers.

As in business class, the change to the Oneworld Sapphire allowance mirrors the standard ticketed allowance, as this already includes two checked bags.

Also, with the standard allowance having its per-piece limit amended from 23kg to 32kg, this paves the way for the other increases across the board, with Qantas now applying the same baggage allowance for all of its own elite frequent flyer members and Qantas Club cardholders.

Qantas checked baggage in economy class

Back in economy class, the changes are a mixed bag, with the average traveller able to pack more in one bag, but while jettisoning a second.

Your frequent flyer status will influence your baggage allowance when flying in economy class.

Of those gaining an improved allowance, the biggest winners are Qantas’ mid-tier flyers and Qantas Club members, who see their total checked baggage limits boosted to 96kg total (3x 32kg), being triple the allowance given to regular economy travellers.

Oneworld Sapphire members also benefit – this time, over and above the standard allowance – as their status provides an additional checked bag of up to 23kg, when the traveller doesn’t already have two bags included.

This sees them able to pack 1x 32kg bag, the same as any economy class traveller, plus a second bag at up to 23kg courtesy of their Sapphire status.

However, the move from 2x 23kg to 1x 32kg at the base level means that Oneworld Emerald members, who are entitled to one additional bag over and above the base limit, will only be able to bring two bags – but they’ll be able to pack more in per bag than they could before.

Qantas international checked baggage allowances to all other destinations

On routes to destinations outside of the Americas - including Australian domestic flights - the weight system’ applies, meaning that the baggage allowance is determined by the total weight of the baggage, regardless of the number of bags they bring.

Note that no single piece can exceed a total weight of 32kg and total dimensions of 158cm.

As with the rest of travellers, Qantas baggage allowance for infants (aged up to 23 months) depends on the final destination. Those on flights to the Americas are only allowed one piece of up to 10kg and a maximum dimension of 115cm. The same weight limit applies to all other routes with no limit on the number of pieces.

Make sure you're aware of how much luggage you can take for your little ones.

Additionally, for each infant travelling with an adult, up to three infant items, each weighing up to 32kg, can be checked-in free of charge regardless of the final destination.

For children aged between 2 and 11 years inclusive, the same rules as standard travellers apply, with two additional items of up to 32kg permitted free of charge for each child travelling with an adult.

Additional infant and child items can include:

• baby formula
• car seat
• collapsible stroller
• push-chair
• collapsible cot
• bassinet

The USA places more emphasis on the number of bags you check in (in industry-jargon, ‘ticketing in piece’) than the weight. Fees payable at the airport are A$300 per bag above your limit. Alternatively, you have the option to buy additional baggage allowance through the Manage My Booking page on Qantas.com.au for lower rates than you would pay at the airport.

Be careful ensuring your bag fits within allocated bag weight limits.

There’s an additional A$50 ‘heavy charge’ for each piece weighing over 32kg if you’re in economy or premium economy (this is waived for business and first customers).

The rest of the world cares more for how your checked luggage tips the scales (called ‘ticketing in weight’), and thus charges for each kilogram over your total allowance. That tariff is $20/kg for flights to and from New Zealand; $35/kg for Asia; $60 between Asia and London and $80/kg for flights to and from Europe and Africa.

Qantas also offers an unaccompanied baggage service that may be a cost-effective alternative to paying excess baggage fees. However, this is carried on a 'space available' basis and might not necessarily be on the same flight you're travelling on.

Qantas international baggage exceptions

Exceptions to baggage allowances exist for certain destinations and tiers.

If you book international and domestic flights on the same ticket, the international checked baggage allowance applies to both. The international rules also prevail when the international and domestic flights are on different tickets but the connecting time is within the same calendar day.

You'll see many references to "dimensions" above, which refers to the sum of the length, width and height of your luggage, measured in centimetres.

With a tape measure (or even a ruler!), it's very easy to check the dimensions of your own bag, by measuring all three sides and adding the numbers together.

Take this Rimowa Classic Check-in M bag, for instance. Its dimensions are 71cm + 47,5cm + 26cm, which equals 144,5cm. 

Keep in mind that the weight of the luggage itself will restrict how much you can pack, as the weight allowances per bag apply to both the bag and its contents.

In other words, if your bag must weigh 32kg or less, that means 32kg on the scale. If bringing aboard this same 5.3kg Rimowa bag, a traveller would only have 26,7kg left for their own belongings.

What can I not pack in my checked baggage with Qantas?

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) maintains a list of dangerous goods that can't be brought onboard, including many types of weapons, explosives, dangerous chemicals and batteries. See Qantas' flyer on dangerous goods to see what is permitted, and what needs an exemption to be brought onboard. 

Bags must also meet space dimensions or face being sent as freight.

Alternatively, forbidden items can be sent as dangerous goods freight.

How can I carry sports equipment with Qantas? 

You can carry sports equipment as part of your checked baggage as long as the following requirements are met:

•  Each item is checked in as one individual piece
• The maximum weight of any piece is 32kg
• All items are properly and securely packed.

Some sporting equipment such as surfboards, skis and sailboards may be too big to be carried as checked baggage and will need to be sent as freight with its corresponding fee.

Note that you will incur charges for any baggage carried in addition to the free baggage allowance but this can be avoided by purchasing an additional baggage allowance before arriving at the airport.

Can I bring pets on Qantas international flights?

Yes. However, this service is only available on selected flights, and bookings must be made through one of Qantas Freight-approved pet travel specialists. 

Note that only service dogs are allowed in the passenger cabin. All other animals travel in a special separate area where the temperature and noise are similar to those experienced in the cabin.