Qantas vs Virgin Australia carry-on size
Standard economy fare · checked 8 October 2026
On the standard economy fare, Virgin Australia is the more generous of the two for cabin baggage. Qantas includes a 56×36×23 cm cabin bag and a personal item, while Virgin Australia includes a 56×36×23 cm, 8 kg cabin bag and a 45×33×20 cm personal item. Qantas and Virgin Australia were last checked against their official pages on 8 October 2026.
Side by side
| Rule | Qantas | Virgin Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fare | International Economy | Economy |
| Cabin bag | Included: 56×36×23 cm | Included: 56×36×23 cm, 8 kg |
| Personal item | Included: size not published | Included: 45×33×20 cm |
| Weight limits | 7 kg for both bags | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Last checked | 28 September 2026 | 8 October 2026 |
What is different
- Virgin Australia allows heavier cabin baggage: 8 kg, against 7 kg for both bags together at Qantas.
- Against the cabin bag limit, a 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) bag fits, but with only 0.1 cm (0 in) to spare on the length at Qantas, and fits, but with only 0.1 cm (0 in) to spare on the length at Virgin Australia.
- Against the cabin bag limit, a 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) bag is 4 cm (1.6 in) too big on the width at Qantas, and is 4 cm (1.6 in) too big on the width at Virgin Australia.
- Qantas and Virgin Australia both list Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Indonesia among their main markets, so on routes to these countries the two sets of rules can be compared directly.
- Qantas includes the cabin bag on all 6 of its published fares; Virgin Australia publishes one fare for cabin baggage, with the cabin bag included.
One bag for both
Cabin bag
- A cabin bag of up to 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14.1 × 9 in) is within the size limits of both Qantas and Virgin Australia.
- Keep it to 8 kg (17.6 lb), the only weight limit published for this bag, set by Virgin Australia.
- Qantas also limits both cabin bags together to 7 kg.
Personal item
- A personal item of up to 45 × 33 × 20 cm (17.7 × 12.9 × 7.8 in) is within the size limits of both Qantas and Virgin Australia.
- Qantas also limits both cabin bags together to 7 kg.
- Qantas publishes no size for this bag.
Every fare
Both airlines publish other fares with different bags. See every Qantas fare and every Virgin Australia fare.
Qantas vs Virgin Australia: questions
- Is the Qantas cabin bag allowance bigger than Virgin Australia's?
- No: on the standard economy fare, Virgin Australia is more generous. Virgin Australia allows heavier cabin baggage: 8 kg, against 7 kg for both bags together at Qantas.
- Which bag fits both Qantas and Virgin Australia?
- A cabin bag of up to 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14.1 × 9 in) is within the size limits of both Qantas and Virgin Australia. Our checker turns your own bag in every direction and tests it on Qantas and Virgin Australia at once in trip mode.
Official sources
Qantas
- https://www.qantas.com/en-us/baggage/carry-on — checked on 28 September 2026
Virgin Australia
- https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/carry-on-baggage/ — checked on 8 October 2026