Checked baggage

If you already have a booking, you can see your ticketed allowance at Manage booking or ask your travel agent. If you’re about to make a booking on our website your ticketed baggage allowance will be confirmed on the review page before payment.

Different baggage allowances may apply each time you check in baggage. If you check in baggage for a multiple sector journey, usually the baggage allowance of the most significant carrier in your itinerary will apply.

However, different rules may apply to tickets to and from the USA or Canada.

Acceptance of your baggage is subject to compliance with our:

• Conditions of carriage,
• applicable size and weight limits,
• applicable laws and security measures including those imposed by airports, and
• dangerous goods guide.

Note: even if your baggage meets the above requirements, we may refuse to carry it if it's not properly and securely packed. Finally, remember that no single item of checked baggage can exceed 32kg (70lb) and all cabin baggage must fit under the seat in front of you or in an overhead locker, including musical instruments.

No single piece can exceed 32kg (70lb).

For tickets issued on all Qantas international flights excluding flights to and from South and North America, the following weight allowances apply:

For tickets issued with an allowance in kilograms only, there is no restriction on the number of pieces within the weight allowance for international travel.

Note: if you've purchased international and domestic flights and these are on the same ticket, the international checked baggage allowances apply to the domestic flights too. Where the international and domestic flights are on separate tickets, if the connection time is within the same calendar day,* the international checked baggage allowance is accepted on both flights. Be sure to present both tickets when checking in your baggage. Exceptions apply.

Some Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club members are entitled to an additional non-ticketed checked baggage allowance. This allowance applies to travel on:

• Qantas and QantasLink operated flights with a QF flight number (excluding services to and from Lord Howe Island and Qantas codeshare services).
• Emirates (EK) operated flights between and within Europe, The Middle East, North Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia when booked with either a QF or EK flight number on your ticket.

Refer to the preceding domestic, international - excluding North and South America and international - North and South America tables to calculate your total baggage allowance.

Some Qantas Frequent Flyer redemption flights on carriers such as Alaskan Airlines, Westjet and American Airlines do not include checked baggage as part of the fare.  This is available at a charge direct with the operating carrier.  

To find out your checked baggage allowance, login into Manage Booking and view allowances. If you would like to purchase checked baggage for the flight, contact the operating carrier with your booking reference (excess charges apply at the airport).  

Tiered frequent flyers from our oneworld partner airlines may be eligible for additional checked baggage when flying on Qantas.

The following table outlines the total baggage allowance for oneworld tiered passengers:

Exceptions to baggage allowances exist for certain destinations and tiers. Find out more about oneworld checked baggage privileges. Baggage carried above these allowances may not travel on the same flight due to aircraft weight restrictions.

Passengers requiring it for their own use may also check in medical/life dependant equipment and two pieces of mobility equipment without additional cost.

For USA flights only: there is no limit on the number of pieces of mobility equipment permitted to be carried for customers with a disability. Visit our mobility assistance page for further information.

We offer unaccompanied baggage services from all our major domestic freight terminals in Australia. This service may be a convenient and cost-effective alternative to paying excess baggage rates. Customers wishing to send unaccompanied baggage internationally will need to utilise a dedicated freight forwarder or purchase excess baggage through our passenger network.

The baggage must be consigned at the freight terminal before your flight.

Unaccompanied baggage is carried on a 'space available' basis to the destination, and not necessarily on the same flight you're travelling on.

For more information, visit Qantas Freight or submit an online enquiry.

All contents of your baggage need to be packed securely and appropriately. Do not pack valuables, essential medication or important documents in your checked baggage.

You must ensure each item of checked baggage is labelled with your name, address and contact details. We recommend that you lock your baggage. However, it may be necessary for governments, airports or their contractors to open and inspect your baggage as part of the security screening process. If your baggage is locked, and you aren't present when it's necessary to open it, the lock may be broken by security screeners.

For passengers travelling to or from the United States, the USA Transportation Security Administration (TSA) advises that you can avoid the need for locks to be broken by using a TSA recognised locking mechanism, which can be opened by the TSA. Visit the TSA website for further information.

If you choose to utilise baggage-wrapping services offered at some airports, you should allow additional time to complete this process before check-in. If security wrapping needs to be removed for inspection by governments, airports or their contractors as part of the security screening process it will not be replaced.

We're unable to advise you at the time of check-in whether your baggage will need to undergo additional security checks.