Virgin Australia changes to carry on baggage allowance effective 2 Feb 2026

[LionKing]

Beginning 2 February 2026, economy passengers without Velocity Gold or higher status will be limited to:

• one “main standard carry-on bag” up to 8kg, to go into the overhead luggage bin
• one “small personal item” such as laptop bag, handbag or small backpack which can fit under the seat in front

Virgin’s current and long-standing economy cabin bag allowance permits an option of “two small pieces” or “one standard piece and one suit pack”, both topping out at 7kg.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/virgin-australia-s-new-cabin-carry-on-baggage-rules

So in all honesty, why fly Virgin when perhaps Jetstar would have better offering albeit domestic Business Class?

Nobody told me Virgin Australia is now a budget airline

“Using your own device for entertainment wasn’t a problem. What did become an issue was when they ran out of food.”

www.smh.com.au

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-australia-reveals-major-changes-to-carryon-luggage-policy/news-story/14458a75074036f3452a27afa4256a67

The above article have all but lamented on how Virgin Australia has failed to respect its passengers and only focus on profits.

 

[Human]

The above article have all but lamented on how Virgin Australia has failed to respect its passengers and only focus on profits.

That's not my interpretation of the "above article". It has several quotes, including from travel industry experts, supporting the changes and stating that they're good for passengers. Certainly we've all seen people trying to bring everything including the kitchen sink onto flights as carry-on, and the disruption and inconvenience that causes to other passengers..

There may or may not be other evidence that VA "has failed to respect its passengers" ... but I'm not convinved that this is an example.

 

[PERLHR]

Oh gosh. So let's see, they increase the economy cabin seating considerably, they remove a row of X, and then penalise the pax. Bet the feedback was really from cabin crew moaning. The race to the bottom is almost complete for this LCC.

That's not my interpretation of the "above article". It has several quotes, including from travel industry experts, supporting the changes and stating that they're good for passengers. Certainly we've all seen people trying to bring everything including the kitchen sink onto flights as carry-on, and the disruption and inconvenience that causes to other passengers..

There may or may not be other evidence that VA "has failed to respect its passengers" ... but I'm not convinved that this is an example.

Not convinced me by a long shot!

 

[Steven of Bali]

While I am not feeling valued by Virgin these days, I am sick of being hit in the head by backpack totting passengers and the buggers who put their bags in the forward bins and then move to their seat, 20 rows further back. Yet to see staff do anything about it.

 

[PERLHR]

While I am not feeling valued by Virgin these days, I am sick of being hit in the head by backpack totting passengers and the buggers who put their bags in the forward bins and then move to their seat, 20 rows further back. Yet to see staff do anything about it.

Yep it's managing the situation. It's a knack. Bosses of Virgin Aus should see how Easyjet deal with it mostly. Pro active in managing and securing the cabin. Different world.

 

[simmomelb]

I'm all for it, an increase from 7KG to 8KG for Gold, Plat, Plat+, Business & Econ X.
More room for others to store bags in the overhead bins, if they enforce it.
Only step down is for Red & Silver status (non-status) holders.

 

[SeaWolf]

I've got to admit, up until today I had no idea the "two small pieces plus personal item" option even existed!
I don't know how much difference it's going to make as I can't really think of a situation where I've seen people trying to get two rollaboards plus a personal item onboard, so this seems a bit like it's eliminating an option that wasn't getting used much anyway.
More emphasis on the "one-up-one-down" rule would definitely be good though.

 

[RooFlyer]

Excellent! Even when connecting internationally, I'll still be OK with the new limits, although I'll most likely be in J or Econ-X or Gold.

Who here hasn't bemoaned pax bringing in huge carry-on amounts? You allow '2 small pieces', you'll get two standard carry-ons + more.

I hope this gets policed strictly.

The above article have all but lamented on how Virgin Australia has failed to respect its passengers and only focus on profits.

No, it doesn't really. Most of it contains praise from industry people about the change.

So in all honesty, why fly Virgin when perhaps Jetstar would have better offering albeit domestic Business Class?

I'm sure we don't need to spell out why not to fly Jetstar, irrespective of carry-on and besides - comparing whY with business?

 

[RooFlyer]

I am sick of being hit in the head by backpack totting passengers and the buggers who put their bags in the forward bins and then move to their seat, 20 rows further back.

Me too! I'd think it would be the easiest thing to do - when they check BP, ask the pax to lower their back-pack to carry in front of them.

 

[Happy Dude]

While I am not feeling valued by Virgin these days, I am sick of being hit in the head by backpack totting passengers and the buggers who put their bags in the forward bins and then move to their seat, 20 rows further back. Yet to see staff do anything about it.

The opportunist in me says to have a rummage through those bags. At the very least, I'd be inclined to hand it to a hostie with information of the owners location and, if appropriate, ask them to remind the pax that rows 15 and beyond should be boarding from the rear.

 

[twinaisle]

Most of the delayed flights are due to baggage issues so great to see some micro change

 

[Saab34]

A few months ago I witnessed a what appeared to be 10kg plus bag drop on someone’s head. The said passenger threatened legal action to the staff, he wasn’t happy.

Possibly a legal minefield also this topic.

 

[Layslow]

I have to admint I am one of the guilty parties for brining on a small suit pack with a couple of shirts on top of a roller and a computer bag (which goes in the seat in front). It fits above all the luggage and doesn't cause any fuss....

 

[blackcat20]

Removing the infant baggage allowance is not great for families.

 

[Steven of Bali]

I've got to admit, up until today I had no idea the "two small pieces plus personal item" option even existed!
I don't know how much difference it's going to make as I can't really think of a situation where I've seen people trying to get two rollaboards plus a personal item onboard, so this seems a bit like it's eliminating an option that wasn't getting used much anyway.
More emphasis on the "one-up-one-down" rule would definitely be good though.

Two small pieces doesn't refer to "rolls boards" - more like handbags.

 

[PERLHR]

Most of the delayed flights are due to baggage issues so great to see some micro change

We shall see....not convinced on that. Especially when you look at airlines that allow more to be brought on board. But as I say we shall see the stats in due course.

 

[SeaWolf]

Two small pieces doesn't refer to "rolls boards" - more like handbags.

Sure, but the point of these rule changes is to reduce the amount of cabin baggage and if it really was just people taking two handbags plus personal item there would have been no problem either.

 

[kamchatsky]

I have no problem with this policy and should be enforced. Afterall cabin space is limited, and I hate it when people bring multiple cabin luggage and meant that I cannot put my cabin bag on top of where I am sitting.

 

[SeaWolf]

Thinking about this a bit more, I think I like these changes, assuming that as it plays out there's a lot of encouragement around the one-up-one-down rule. All the enforcement lately has focussed on weight, which is really not the problem. Even if every bag coming on to the aircraft only weighed 1kg it wouldn't solve anything, there'd still be too many bags coming onto the aircraft. Addressing the problem (there's too many bags) directly makes more sense than trying to solve it indirectly by cracking down on the weight.

Of course we'll have to wait and see how this plays out in practice.

 

[twinaisle]

Removing the infant baggage allowance is not great for families.

Prams are useless onboard and take up space tbh. They can check it in for free.