Virgin Australia's updated carry-on baggage allowance delivers more value for business travel

What are Virgin Australia's new baggage rules?

• Economy Class: Carry-on allowance increases from 7kg to 8kg for a single carry-on bag, plus one personal item.
• Economy X: Now matches Business class privileges with two bags up to 14kg combined weight, plus one personal item.
• Business Class and Elite Velocity Members: Retain existing two-bag allowance (14kg combined) plus one personal item. 

All bags must meet new maximum dimension requirements:

• Carry-on bags max L56cm x W36cm x H23cm
• Personal items max L45cm × W33cm × H20cm 

When do the new Virgin Australia baggage allowance rules take effect?

The changes kick in for all bookings from February 2, 2026 onwards. If you're travelling before then, current baggage allowances still apply. 

The new baggage allowance shows Virgin Australia is listening to what travellers actually need – more flexibility without the premium price tag. 

How do these changes benefit business travellers?

Extra capacity for essentials 

The additional kilogram in Economy accommodates business necessities like extra chargers, presentation materials, or backup clothing without exceeding limits. 

Economy X strategic value 

Business travellers requiring additional equipment, samples, or extended trip materials can access Business-class baggage privileges at Economy X pricing – particularly valuable for conferences, trade shows, or client meetings. 

Smoother travel experience

Standardised bag dimensions and clearer allowances reduce boarding delays and overhead locker conflicts, keeping business schedules on track. 

What Velocity Status benefits apply to the new rules? 

Velocity members will retain their existing advantages alongside the new allowances:

• Silver and Gold: Complimentary checked baggage (2 x 23kg) plus priority handling for Gold members
• Platinum: Three checked bags (23kg each) plus priority services
• Platinum Plus: Five checked bags (32kg each) plus comprehensive priority treatment

Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus members will also get extra carry-on allowances when flying Economy. 

How can your travel program keep up to date with these changes?

Review current booking patterns: Assess whether frequent flyers would benefit from Economy X upgrades based on typical baggage requirements. This could include sales teams with product samples, conference attendees, or anyone who consistently maxes out current baggage limits.

Update travel policies: Incorporate new allowances into corporate travel guidelines, particularly for project-based travel or trade show attendance. Consider setting clear criteria for when Economy X upgrades are justified to help control costs while maximising the new baggage benefits.

Plan transition period: Brief travellers about the February 2026 implementation date to avoid confusion during the changeover period. Communicate these changes through your usual channels – team meetings, travel portals, and booking confirmations – to ensure everyone's prepared well before the switch.

What other Virgin Australia improvements are coming?

Virgin's benefits are not stopping at baggage updates. They're rolling out digital boarding pass updates, better baggage tracking through their app, and major airport experience improvements from late 2025. It's all part of making business travel breezy.

If you're planning to book Virgin Australia flights in the new year, learn more about these upcoming changes here.