Carry-on baggage

Use our baggage calculator below to work out how much you can pack on your next trip. 

Your carry-on baggage must:

• fit under the seat in front of you or in an overhead locker (including musical instruments)
  
• not exceed the carry-on baggage allowances
• not include any dangerous goods unless permitted for carriage.

If your baggage meets the above requirements, but we reasonably believe it's not safe to be included as carry-on baggage, we may require you to check it in. If you’re travelling with powerbanks and spare or loose batteries, please ensure they are packed into your carry-on baggage.

It’s up to you to ensure your baggage doesn’t exceed the allowance and you’re able to lift your bag into the overhead locker. If your bag is too heavy or too large to fit safely onboard, you’ll need to check it in. 

When travelling on an itinerary with a domestic and international flight, please pack for the international sector (except Dash 8 services).

Before you fly, be sure to revisit this page in case of any changes, and read our Conditions of carriage for further information. 

For Jetstar baggage information visit Jetstar.com. 

For oneworld® member and partner airlines if you are flying on a partner airline throughout your journey, please refer to their individual websites for up to date information regarding carry-on baggage allowances.

Carry-on baggage allowances for adults and children (except infants) on Qantas and QantasLink operated flights are as follows:

Economy

One piece up to 7kgs.

In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry onboard one small personal  item such as a handbag, laptop computer*, overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material or a small amount of duty free goods (where permitted).

When packing your carry-on baggage:

• Ensure you take essential medication and prescriptions onboard with you in your carry-on.
• Keep it as light as possible as there can be considerable distances to walk at some airports and space inside the cabin is limited.
• If you're carrying fragile or valuable items, ensure they are appropriately packed.

USA flights only: there is no limit on the number of pieces of mobility equipment allowed to be carried for customers with a disability and it doesn’t count toward the carry-on baggage allowance.

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

However, for infants, 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.

A musical instrument in its hard-shell case that weighs no more than 7kgs and doesn’t exceed the maximum dimensions for musical instruments, can be taken as carry-on baggage and must be placed in the overhead locker. The maximum dimension for a musical instrument is 142cm = 85cm +34cm +23cm.

If its total linear dimensions are 105cm or less, then it will be equivalent to a 105cm bag, using the carry-on baggage calculation. If its total linear dimensions are between 105cm and 142cm then it will be considered as equivalent to a 115cm bag using the carry-on baggage calculation.

Please measure your musical instrument before arriving at the airport. A small musical instrument, for example, most violins, usually fit within the musical instrument allowance. Larger musical instruments, for example, most guitars, don't fit within the musical instrument allowance, and must be checked-in. Alternatively, you can purchase an extra seat and carry it as a bulky item as outlined below.

We recommend arriving promptly to board your flight to ensure you can place your musical instrument safely in an overhead locker. 

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 in the table below
• you purchase an extra seat
• the item has a restraining point (handle) to allow it to be secured safely
• 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.

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

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 (Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) 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.

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.

All carry-on baggage is subject to security screening at airports, and dependant on the region your 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 plane, taking duty free items on the plane and travelling with powders, liquids, aerosols and gels.