Women walking through terminal with small sized wheelie case carry-on baggage

Carry-on baggage

Find out about the size, weight and number of pieces allowed for your carry-on baggage, whether you’re travelling domestically within Australia or internationally. 

Your guide to carry-on baggage

Step one

Ensure your carry-on baggage fits within the allowance listed below. These limits are to ensure the safety of our customers and crew.

Third step

Check your bags adhere to the Dangerous Goods and Airport Security Screening regulations e.g. liquids, aerosols, gels.

Fourth step

Check you can lift your own bag. If it is too heavy for you to lift into the overhead lockers, it will need to be checked in. This includes musical instruments and strollers 

1 Up, 1 Down

Illustration of cabin displaying one up one down for stowing your carryon baggage

When travelling during peak times, storage for carry-on baggage may be limited. With checked baggage included in every fare, it’s best to check in your bags where possible. Once onboard, place your larger bag up in the overhead locker, and your smaller bag or personal item down under the seat in front. 

This is a guide only where limits and space allow. When travelling on our Dash 8 aircraft your small wheelie bag will be collected upon boarding and returned to you upon arrival.

Carry-on allowances

Find out the specific size, weight and number of pieces allowed for your carry-on baggage when travelling on Qantas and QantasLink operated flights. The following allowances apply to all flyers (except infants), including Qantas Frequent Flyers. 

Carry-on baggage will be monitored at the airport and bags that exceed the limits won't be permitted in the aircraft cabin. If your carry-on baggage exceeds the allowances, we recommend checking it in.

Australian domestic flights (except Dash 8 services)

The following allowances apply to travel in all cabins. Choose from these options:

Sketch of small wheelie suitcase

One standard piece

A small wheelie bag.

  • 10kg total
  • Bag size: 56cm long x 36cm wide x 23cm deep
Sketch of two small bags

OR, two small pieces

Two smaller duffle-style bags or backpacks.

  • 14kg total (each piece must not exceed 10kg)
  • Bag size: 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep
Sketch of duffle bag and garment bag

OR, one small piece and garment bag

A small duffle-style bag or backpack; and a garment bag

  • 14kg total (each piece must not exceed 10kg)
  • Bag size: 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep
  • Non-rigid garment bag size: 114cm long x 60cm wide x 11cm deep 

Note:

  • In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also bring onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop, camera, reading material or a small amount of duty-free goods (where permitted). Personal items must be stowed underneath the seat in front of you.
  • When travelling on an itinerary with a domestic and international flight, pack for the international flight (except Dash 8 services).

Domestic flights on Dash 8

The following allowance applies:

Sketch of a duffle bag

One small piece

 A small wheelie bag, duffle-style bag or backpack.

  • 7kg total
  • Bag size: 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep
  • Small wheelie bags will be tagged as Premium Hand Luggage at the gate, collected upon boarding and returned to you on arrival.

International flights (except from India)

The following allowances apply when flying in Economy. Choose from these options:

Sketch of a small suitcase

One standard piece

A small wheelie bag.

  • 7kg total
  • Bag size: 56cm long x 36cm wide x 23cm deep
Sketch of a garment bag

OR, one garment bag

  • 7kg total
  • Non-rigid garment bag: 114cm long x 60cm wide x 11cm deep

The following allowances apply when travelling in First, Business and Premium Economy. Choose from these options:

Sketch of a small suitcase

One standard piece

A small wheelie bag.

  • 10kg total
  • Bag size: 56 cm long x 36 cm wide x 23 cm deep
Sketch of duffle bag and backpack

OR, two small pieces

Two smaller duffle-style bags or backpacks.

  • 14kg total (one piece must not exceed 10kg)
  • Bag size: 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep
Sketch of duffle bag and garment bag

OR, one small piece and garment bag

A small duffle-style bag or backpack, and a garment bag.

  • 14kg total (one piece must not exceed 10kg)
  • Bag size: 48cm long x 34cm wide x 23cm deep
  • Non-rigid garment bag size: 114cm long x 60cm wide x 11cm deep

Note:

  • In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also bring onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop, camera, reading material or a small amount of duty-free goods (where permitted).
  • USA flights only: There is no limit on the number of pieces of mobility equipment allowed for customers with disabilities and it doesn't count toward the carry-on baggage allowance.

International flights from India

The following allowances apply:

Sketch of a small suitcase

One standard piece

A small wheelie bag.

  • Economy: 7kg (15lb) total
  • Business: 10kg (22lb) total
  • Bag size: 56cm long x 36cm wide x 23cm deep
Sketch of a garment bag

OR, one garment bag

  • Economy: 7kg (15lb) total
  • Business: 10kg (22lb) total 
  • Non-rigid garment bag: 114cm long x 60cm wide x 11cm deep

Note: Additional personal items aren't permitted on these flights.

Jetstar

If you're travelling on a Jetstar flight booked via qantas.com, you'll have a 7kg carry-on baggage allowance.

Find out more about baggage on Jetstar flights

oneworld

If you're flying on a oneworld® or partner airline throughout your journey, refer to the individual partner airline websites for up-to-date information regarding carry-on baggage allowances.

Children and infants

The carry-on baggage allowance for children is the same as for adults.

However, for infants (under 2 years), there is no carry-on baggage allowance. Food and nappies required during a flight may be carried in addition to the accompanying adult's carry-on baggage allowance.

Collapsible strollers that meet the carry-on allowance baggage dimensions in their collapsed state and weigh less than 7kgs can be stowed onboard in the overhead compartment. The stroller must be collapsed before boarding the aircraft and will be counted as a piece of the accompanying adult’s carry-on baggage allowance. Find more information on parents travelling with children

Bulky items

A bulky item can be carried in the cabin (except on Dash 8 services) provided that:

  • it weighs no more than 7kgs,
  • its dimensions don’t exceed the maximum specified below,
  • you purchase an extra seat,
  • the item has a restraining point (handle) to allow it to be secured safely, and
  • you notify us at the time of booking that the seat is for a bulky item.

For more information and to make your request, contact your local Qantas office

Examples of bulky items: diplomatic or courier bags, larger musical instrument (e.g. cello), artworks or a piece of technical equipment.

Maximum dimensions of a bulky item

When you purchase an extra seat, the total dimensions of a bulky item you can carry onboard is calculated by adding the height, width and depth.

Sketch of a small suitcase

First

178cm bag

= 74cm x 51cm x 53cm

Sketch of a small suitcase

Business

169cm bag

= 71cm x 50cm x 48cm

Sketch of a small suitcase

Premium Economy and Economy

158cm bag

= 71cm x 43cm x 44cm

Larger dimensions may be considered but will require engineering approval. For more information, contact your local Qantas office

Additional baggage

If your carry-on baggage exceeds the allowances, we recommend checking it in, or pre-purchasing additional checked baggage online.

Prohibited accessories

To ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers, it is prohibited to use inflight travel accessories and devices which: 

  • attach to aircraft seats, 
  • are inserted between seats, or
  • otherwise block access to seat rows or aisles.

When in use, these devices have the potential to impede access to seats and aisles, damage aircraft seats and fixtures, and block access to emergency equipment. 

Examples of prohibited inflight accessories include, but are not limited to, inflatable cubes, ‘bed boxes’, and ‘leg hammocks’. This list is not exhaustive, and the decision to permit use of any other device rests with the cabin crew.

If your flight is operated by another airline, contact them directly to confirm their policy in relation to inflight travel accessories.

Airport security screening

All carry-on baggage is subject to security screening at airports, and dependant on the region you're travelling from. Visit the region's government website to find out what you can and cannot take.

If travelling from Australia you can visit TravelSECURE Find more information on items you can’t take on a planetaking duty free items on the plane and travelling with powders, liquids, aerosols and gels

When departing from any Australian international airport (on international or domestic flights), all liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) must be screened. LAGs such as toiletries are required to be 100mls or less and must be displayed within a clear resealable plastic bag and screened at the checkpoint.

When transiting at Australian international airports you're permitted to take duty free LAGs purchases onboard your next international flight after they have been cleared at the screening checkpoint within the airport.

You'll also need to present any forms of powders you may be travelling with in your carry-on baggage. There are no restrictions on the carriage of organic powder materials such as baby formula, protein powder and most cosmetics. However inorganic powders, which include salt, sand, some talcum products, must not exceed 350ml in volume or 350g in weight. Other powders exempt from the restriction include medical or therapeutic products and cremated remains (ashes).

Duty free LAGs and powders need to have been purchased at an airport retail outlet or onboard an inbound international flight and must be contained within secure, tamper-evident bags (STEBs) and accompanied by a proof of purchase receipt.

Note that despite passing through Australian transit screening points, LAGs and powders may be confiscated at other overseas airport transit screening points. For more information visit TravelSECURE

When travelling to the United States with a connecting flight, you'll be permitted to carry liquids in excess of 100ml in your carry-on baggage, provided they were purchased in duty-free shops and placed in STEBs.

Liquids that can't be screened and cleared will not be allowed to remain in your carry-on baggage. This may include liquids in opaque, ceramic, or metallic bottles, or other containers that cannot be effectively scanned.

If you need to travel with a hypodermic needle you'll be required to declare it at the airport screening point. See medical assistance for more information.

Useful links

Important information

Disclaimer: * For a laptop to be considered a personal item it must be carried in a slim bag. Laptops carried in large laptop bags will be counted as part of your carry-on baggage allowance. Laptops must conform to any applicable regulatory requirements, be submitted for security screening, and must not be used during take-off or landing or interfere with the aircraft's power supply.