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

[Happy Dude]

Still, having new limits or rules may not discourage this until enforcement happens, e.g. at the gate, not on board.

It's that simple. And at check in too (for those trying to game Lite fares and luggage allowances).

 

[twinaisle]

How does it take 40 mins to gate check bags? US airlines do it in a couple of minutes. Qantas gate checks in advance of boarding, and if you don’t, the bag doesn’t fly on that flight.

QF have chutes that they can send it down.

These captured bags would have been around when the flight is closed so it takes time to collect bag and boarding pass of pax, bring bag up to the front.

Each bag will have to be manually bag tagged and correctly tagged with the boarding pass, re deliver boarding pass back to pax.

Then pit crew will have to come up(depending on what they are doing as they can't just drop what they're doing to go) collect the bags, reopen the cargo if it is closed, load the bags, weight recalculated, pilots will need new paperwork, close the cargo, wait for the manual loading sheet if the aircraft didn't have a printer.

Get clearance to push back as well.

And that's how it takes 40 minutes.

I need a drink after writing all that

 

[ben95]

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.

Wait really?

So an increase of 6 seat on a flight - a 3.5% increase in pax number is “considerable”?

I also don’t think it’s a big deal with the economy X reduction. Even when I do fly ahead at the airport last minute, I usually have no issue getting myself an economy X seat on the exit row.

 

[twinaisle]

That's pretty crazy.

Still, having new limits or rules may not discourage this until enforcement happens, e.g. at the gate, not on board.

I guess that once people are forced to check in bags once on board the aircraft, they are not charged for those, even if it goes over their limit (viz. had they been caught at check-in or at boarding, they would pay the relevant fees there). So they may continue to do this as it seems they can easily "check in" bags for free (seems a sweet deal for those on Lite fares).

They have been weighing bags and checking them in before boarding. It will get stricter soon.

 

[PERLHR]

Wait really?

So an increase of 6 seat on a flight - a 3.5% increase in pax number is “considerable”?

I also don’t think it’s a big deal with the economy X reduction. Even when I do fly ahead at the airport last minute, I usually have no issue getting myself an economy X seat on the exit row.

Try flying from Perth! Yes it's considerable.

 

[PERLHR]

QF have chutes that they can send it down.

These captured bags would have been around when the flight is closed so it takes time to collect bag and boarding pass of pax, bring bag up to the front.

Each bag will have to be manually bag tagged and correctly tagged with the boarding pass, re deliver boarding pass back to pax.

Then pit crew will have to come up(depending on what they are doing as they can't just drop what they're doing to go) collect the bags, reopen the cargo if it is closed, load the bags, weight recalculated, pilots will need new paperwork, close the cargo, wait for the manual loading sheet if the aircraft didn't have a printer.

Get clearance to push back as well.

And that's how it takes 40 minutes.

I need a drink after writing all that

Well that's a good start to reduce the "delays"....irony not lost...ha.

 

[ozstamps]

Funnily enough, the email from VA today emphasised the checked baggage allowances too, and listed Platinum Plus as 5 x 23kg, whereas the website (and earlier marketing) for Platinum Plus lists 5 x 32kg.

I know today's update is really just to the cabin baggage allowances, but when an airline is updating its baggage allowance policies and can't get its own policy right, travellers are going to get confused.

It is Virgin … as usual nobody road tested this, or adjusted relevant web pages.

Not sure how many others did NOT get any emails on this, but was all news to me until I saw this thread.

No-one seems to have addressed how one rollerboard bag above 7 or 8 kilos, shared between TWO pax will be treated.

My wife and I often travel with 1 bag as it is far simpler. And of course takes up HALF the overhead space, others will then be able to use.

Once the shiny new TEMU gate scales are in operation, will staff be empowered with a common sense and allow a 10 kilo bag for 2 pax to be okayed?

Does not seem to be addressed above.

 

[antycbr]

It is Virgin … as usual nobody road tested this, or adjusted relevant web pages.

Not sure how many others did NOT get any emails on this, but was all news to me until I saw this thread.

No-one seems to have addressed how one rollerboard bag above 7 or 8 kilos, shared between TWO pax will be treated.

My wife and I often travel with 1 bag as it is far simpler. And of course takes up HALF the overhead space, others will then be able to use.

Once the shiny new TEMU gate scales are in operation, will staff be empowered with a common sense and allow a 10 kilo bag for 2 pax to be okayed?

Does not seem to be addressed above.

My understanding is that weight is a safety issue, not a size issue.

 

[RooFlyer]

Once the shiny new TEMU gate scales are in operation, will staff be empowered with a common sense and allow a 10 kilo bag for 2 pax to be okayed?

How about a 15 kg case shared between three people?

Single roll-aboard, 8 kg. Deal with it.

If you can’t deal with it, maybe take all your grievances and fly with Qantas. In another thread, weren’t you going to do that?

 

[justinbrett]

My understanding is that weight is a safety issue, not a size issue.

I really don’t think so. It’s an efficiency issue (being able to depart on time) by ensuring all bags can fit in the lockers.

If QF can do 10Kg, BA can do 23Kg, AA can do unlimited… I don’t think any of those airlines are unsafe.

VA is slowly transitioning to MAX aircraft which can hold 50% more bags. Will the allowance go back up?

 

[Human]

If QF can do 10Kg, BA can do 23Kg, AA can do unlimited… I don’t think any of those airlines are unsafe.

I was flying an airline in Europe recently (can't remember which ... either Finnair or Air France) and at the gate my carry-on was weighed to ensure that it weighed less than the permitted 12kg.

 

[RooFlyer]

My understanding is that weight is a safety issue, not a size issue.

I really don’t think so. <snip>

At least in part it’s a safety issue for the FA’s. They don’t want to have to haul heavy carry ons up and down out of lockers when rearranging etc. There are comments above from twinaisle about FA injuries and losing money on sick pay and unions “ going to town on bags”.

I dare say the differing privileges for different categories or passengers was some sort of compromise.

Unions of other airlines either have a different view or don’t have the negotiating leverage.

 

[justinbrett]

At least in part it’s a safety issue for the FA’s. They don’t want to have to haul heavy carry ons up and down out of lockers when rearranging etc. There are comments above from twinaisle about FA injuries and losing money on sick pay and unions “ going to town on bags”.

I dare say the differing privileges for different categories or passengers was some sort of compromise.

Unions of other airlines either have a different view or don’t have the negotiating leverage.

I think all of the airlines I mentioned have a policy of not handling carry on bags. If you’re unable to lift it, it will be checked.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think all of the airlines I mentioned have a policy of not handling carry on bags. If you’re unable to lift it, it will be checked.

Perhaps policy*, but the point about with Virgin and the limit being in part a safety issue, remains. Not just 'efficiency'.

* I have certainly seen BA FAs lifting bags out and back up to re-shuffle (note also I was talking about reshuffle, above)

 

[justinbrett]

Perhaps policy*, but the point about with Virgin and the limit being in part a safety issue, remains. Not just 'efficiency'.

* I have certainly seen BA FAs lifting bags out and back up to re-shuffle (note also I was talking about reshuffle, above)

Seems like it would be easier to just enforce employee procedures.

I’ve also seen many BA FAs with tools to close the overhead lockers to prevent them reaching up. Merely the act of reaching (especially for a short person) can cause injury, regardless of weight.

 

[PERLHR]

Perhaps policy*, but the point about with Virgin and the limit being in part a safety issue, remains. Not just 'efficiency'.

* I have certainly seen BA FAs lifting bags out and back up to re-shuffle (note also I was talking about reshuffle, above)

As do easyJet. It's amazing actually watching them and how they do it with such precision.