Baggage & Gear
Cabin, checked and oversized limits by region, plus how each airline treats instruments
Allowances shown are standard economy figures and change without notice. Fare type, frequent flyer status, aircraft and codeshare partner can all change them — always confirm on the airline's own page (linked on each card) before you fly.
Airline allowances
Domestic legs are weight-based and strict on cabin bags: 7kg is the number to plan around.
Qantas
Domestic & international- Cabin
- 7kg per bag, 56 x 36 x 23cm. Most domestic fares allow 2 bags up to 14kg total on jets, 1 bag on QantasLink turboprops.
- Checked
- Domestic Economy 23kg. International Economy 30kg (2 x 23kg bags to and from the Americas).
- Excess
- Pre-purchase extra bags online — buying at the airport costs significantly more per bag or per kg.
- Oversized
- Checked items over 32kg are refused; split heavy gear across cases. Items over 158cm linear go as oversized.
- Instruments
- Small instruments travel as carry-on if under 7kg and within 142cm total (85 + 34 + 23) on Boeing/Airbus jets — smaller again on turboprops. Larger instruments go in the hold in a hard case or on a purchased extra seat.
Virgin Australia
Domestic & short-haul international- Cabin
- 7kg per bag, up to 2 bags (14kg total) on most jet services, 56 x 36 x 23cm.
- Checked
- Lite fares include no checked bag. Choice and above start at 23kg.
- Excess
- Extra and overweight bags are cheaper added before you get to the airport.
- Oversized
- Bags over 140cm in any one dimension are handled as oversized and attract a fee; 32kg per-item maximum.
- Instruments
- Guitars and similar in soft cases are best checked in a hard case. Oversized instruments can be carried on a purchased seat, arranged in advance with the airline.
Jetstar
Domestic & international (low cost)- Cabin
- 7kg included on Starter fares; some bundles allow 2 items to 14kg total.
- Checked
- Nothing included on the cheapest fares — buy from 15kg up to 40kg before departure.
- Excess
- Airport excess is charged per kilo and is the most expensive option on this list.
- Oversized
- Oversized or odd-shaped items are booked as a separate sporting/special item.
- Instruments
- Instruments over cabin size must be checked or booked as an extra seat. Budget for the checked allowance — nothing is included by default.
Rex
Regional Australia- Cabin
- 7kg on all fares (SAAB 340 turboprop).
- Checked
- 15kg on Community, Promo and Saver fares; 23kg on Flex.
- Excess
- Charged per kilo at check-in — regional turboprops have very limited hold space.
- Oversized
- Turboprop hold doors are small; call ahead for anything larger than a guitar case.
- Instruments
- Assume nothing bigger than a violin or small guitar will fit the cabin. Confirm large cases with Rex before booking regional legs.
Flying with instruments
What actually happens at the gate, by instrument size.
Guitars, bass and small instruments
Usually the easiest instruments to fly with — if you board early.
- A guitar in a gig bag often fits an overhead locker on a full-size jet, but never on a regional turboprop.
- On US carriers, small instruments must be allowed in the cabin if there is space when you board, so pay for early boarding.
- Loosen string tension a little for the hold, and pack socks or foam around the headstock.
- Soft cases are for the cabin only. Anything going under the plane needs a hard or flight case.
Cello, double bass and large items
Either buy the instrument its own seat or build a proper flight case.
- Cellos usually travel on a purchased extra seat, booked by phone, not online.
- Double basses almost always go in the hold as outsize baggage and need an ATA-rated case.
- Confirm the airline's per-seat weight limit — cabin seat baggage is typically capped well below a heavy case.
- Check the maximum accepted size: many carriers refuse anything over 292cm (115in) total.
Drums, amps and backline
Flying backline is usually more expensive than hiring it at the other end.
- Price a backline hire quote before you pay excess and oversize fees on four flights.
- Break drum kits down and nest toms; ship hardware in a separate case to spread weight under 32kg per item.
- Valve amps: remove valves where you can, or pad them thoroughly against vibration.
- Lithium batteries for pedals, in-ears and wireless packs must be in the cabin, not the hold.
Before every flight
Five minutes of admin saves an argument at the gate.
- Re-check the airline's instrument page — policies change without notice, and codeshares follow the operating carrier's rules.
- Print or screenshot the policy page and carry it with you.
- Photograph each instrument and case before check-in for insurance.
- Put your name, phone and next venue address inside and outside every case.
Your band's notes
Your own airline accounts, case sizes that have worked, or a route to avoid.
No notes yet.