Why Qantas and Virgin need a ‘plus one’ garment bag allowance
Suit carriers should be a complementary item on top of the current cabin bag limit for premium passengers.
By David Flynn, March 5 2026
Every day, thousands of business class passengers dart along Australia’s busiest airline routes – the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
It’s the backbone of the Qantas and Virgin Australia networks, and that number would easily soar into the tens of thousands if you count business travellers booked into their popular Economy Plus and Economy X rows.
Both airlines compete solidly for the business class and broader business traveller markets.
But there’s one area where Qantas and Virgin are working against their best interests: counting the garment bag as part of a two-bag allowance for carry-on.
And yes, Qantas officially permits three bags, but let’s be realistic.
This tally typically comprises an ‘overhead’ bag such as a wheeled cabin bag, an ‘underseat’ bag which is unrealistically considered to be the likes of a “small duffle-style bag, backpack or large handbag”, and a personal item such as a “cross body bag, small handbag or laptop in a slim bag.”
Why two bags aren’t enough for business
Now consider a typical overnight business trip, where carry-on is the name of the game.
This involves three distinct pieces of luggage.
There’s a laptop bag or briefcase, which will go with you to meetings and presentations.
And the wheeled cabin bag pretty much goes without saying – but this is not the place for a suit or similar sharp-looking meeting-ready garment.
That belongs in a dedicated garment bag, unless you want to fold your suit into the wheeled bag and, at your hotel, reach for an often-risky iron or hope that steam from the shower can remove all the creases.
The case for garment bags as a third bag
So why should this soft, slim functional piece of luggage be considered as replacing either of the above in the business class cabin baggage allowance?
Yes, you can buy a cabin bag with a zippered front-loading laptop pocket, but this isn’t easily accessible during a flight and it’s certainly not ideal to cart around all day and tow behind you into meetings.
That’s the issue with garment bags being treated as a “this or that” choice rather than a more sensible “plus one”.
Qantas explicitly treats a “non-rigid garment bag” as one of your two main pieces (up to 14kg in total) in Business and Economy Plus.
And while Virgin Australia Business and Economy X travellers enjoy a two-bag 14kg allowance, the “suit pack” is still counted as a primary piece of luggage.
You can bring one standard bag and one suit pack, and that’s your lot.
Making domestic travel more business-friendly
This forced choice ignores the reality of how business travellers, well, actually travel.
They have a wheeled cabin bag for their overnight essentials, a laptop bag or briefcase as their “office on the go”.
Add a garment bag to the mix and you’re suddenly a three-bag traveller in the eyes of the gate agent.
Yet a thin, non-rigid garment bag can easily slide on top of your wheeled bag in the overhead locker, or be stowed in dedicated hanging lockers at the front of the business class cabin.
By allowing a garment bag as a third complimentary piece of carry-on in business class and those economy extra-legroom rows, Qantas and Virgin would acknowledge a simple truth: most business travellers consider their suit as a tool of the trade, not an indulgence.
It’s time for the airlines to stop treatng a garment bag like a second suitcase.
When you’re paying a premium for these premium seats, you shouldn’t have to choose between your laptop and a well-pressed jacket.
03 Aug 2020
Total posts 30
After many examples of seeing people struggle to find space for their baggage, sometimes many rows away from where they are seated, I would think this is the last thing that airlines need to be dealing with. Qantas I've noticed have staff trying to manage the "extra" bags before people get to the gate which I guess is a good thing but gee, at the end of the day if there's no room then there's no room
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1080
DON’T GET ME STARTED!!!!
I flew Virgin Australia on Monday, return Sydney–Brisbane, with one under-seat bag — no issue at all.
On Tuesday morning I flew Sydney to Melbourne and had to do an overnighter. I had the same under-seat bag plus a second bag that could also fit under the seat — it was that small.
When entering the security line at Sydney for Qantas, there was a very unpleasant staff member who could clearly see the size of both bags, yet she insisted I weigh them together. They came in under 14 kg anyway.
Can I just say to the Australian airlines: they really need to look at how EasyJet does it. EasyJet focuses on size limits rather than weight limits. For example, my main under-seat bag actually weighs about 4 kg on its own (it’s lockable and has a hard case), so the weight rule makes little sense when the bag easily fits under the seat.
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 71
I'm hearing you!!!! I'm hearing you!!!!
10 Dec 2024
Total posts 34
I agree and VA does do it more kinder at the gate with there process of asking people if they want to put the bags in the belly.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1080
Let me add just to make sure the Qantas Staff ticking red understand:
"Qantas Business Class passengers are allowed a generous carry-on allowance: either 1 bag (up to 10kg) or 2 bags (combined 14kg, with one up to 10kg), plus a small personal item (handbag, laptop). Maximum dimensions are generally 56cm + 36cm + 23cm, or a non-rigid garment bag."
SO WHEN does a laptop bag count as 1 of the 2 bags, another extract from Qantas, "Personal Item: A small item like a handbag, slim laptop bag, or camera is allowed in addition to the above, provided they fit under the seat or in the overhead bin."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 429
Agree with you. Had a very similar experience with a QF staff member who was so unpleasant at that entrance in Sydney. And I was slammed by people in a forum.
18 Nov 2023
Total posts 32
Why is “a staff member” who could “see” the size of both of your bags “very unpleasant” for making you weigh them?
People can’t “weigh” with their eyes and aircraft are ABSOLUTELY legally bound by their MTOW (maximum take off weight).
“It was only a little bit over” here, and “It was only as little bit over” there, multiplied by all the entitled cheats in the cabin and suddenly, as one of the power-plants unsuccessfully attempts to dine on a low flying flock of geese, at a critical stage of take off, you become part of the nitrogen sustaining grass growth beyond the end of the runway.
Your “maybe” overweight bags vs my R’s? I don’t think so.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1080
"Love it" there is always one person out there, maybe an armchair pilot. Forget about MTOW and Point of No Return. Anyone in customer service should be able to be nice and polite being the first point of contact, the first word spoken by a company representative should be polite "Can you please weigh your bags" not pointing fingers, sounding aggressive "put those bags on the scales". It's all in the delivery of the good or bad news. From all the travel I do around the world for over the last 30 plus years taking about 40-52 flights a year I nominate Qantas as the airline that has been the rudest to me.
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 269
Hmmmm. Look, don't get me wrong, I like the idea. This article is 100% correct that the ideal combo for these 'business travellers' is a wheelie bag, a laptop bag and a garment bag. This three-bag combo should definitely be allowed in business class. But in Economy Plus and Economy X, not so sure?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 601
There should be room in Economy+ and Economy X because those overhead bins are supposed to be reserved for those passengers. I think more broadly this comes back to airlines needing to actively police the carry on baggage rules at the gate. Maybe make announcements reminding passengers of the allowances and offering to check excess bags for free if they come forward. But I agree that these soft garment bags should be included in a more generous three-bag allowance, on the proviso that one of those bags is a garment bag, nobody should try to be sneaky and bring two wheelie bags on.
11 Jul 2024
Total posts 6
Was in Economy X 2 weeks ago PER - BNE. Seats 3A and 3B. We boarded early. The overhead bins were already full with crew bags (marked with crew tags). So we put our bags in the bins above Business row 2. Perhaps VA does not realise Economy X should have dedicated bin space.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 488
This has long been an issue on the VA 737 fleet. Unlike Qantas, Virgin does not have a separate locker for crew bags. It tells crew to place them above row 3.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 601
Yes, definitely in favor of this. I have a Victorinox 'suiter' cabin bag which is especially designed to contain a fold neatly folded in its own area but I would much prefer to carry the suit separately. My partner also needs to do this for her business kit when doing presentations and actually packs a second nice dress or outfit for a client dinner which is usually part of her overnight trips. She has a maximum size cabin bag, brings a garment bag on board and stows it overhead, and crams her 'laptop' bag into the cabin bag, but it's still a bit of a tight fit.
25 Nov 2025
Total posts 35
You can put a laptop bag inside a rollaboard case if you have to...it's not hard. Then take it out when you need to 'work' on the plane. FWP again.
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
Yes and I have a July bag just like that, the 'problem' is that unless I am in the aisle seat it's not practical to just "take it out" from the overhead bin when I want to work. What I do these days is put the laptop in a nice looking 'sleeve' with a zippered closure and just carry that on its own. But really for my work trips it's just like the article says, I want a cabin bag and a nice briefcase (not a backpack!) to take out in the day and a suit carrier. And I really don't want to cram my nice briefcase under the seat in front.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 50
Who has time to get a laptop out on a 1 hour flight? From my observations most do not. Usually have their head in a tiny phone screen watching, well whatever they watch...
Why not just take a break. Do nothing. Read a book. Listen to music. Don't let the sound of your own wheely carry on drive you craaaazy.
06 Mar 2026
Total posts 1
The idea is great in principle but like stroller bags, ski & golf bags will be open to abuse with people overfilling the garment bag with excess shoes & clothing from their carry-on bags; not just the one or 2 suits or similar they were intended for.
25 Mar 2021
Total posts 20
Its 2026 who is wearing a suit to work? Wear stuff that packs well e.g. jeans and tshirts. Most work places are jeans and tshirts now it is 2026 afterall.
Adding more bags is just going to slow things down. Then you get the people who say nothing can be on top of their bag in the overhead and can push it or shove it. Just going to make boarding a mess.
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
I don't 'wear a suit to work' and certainly not when I am flying, it's a 'smart casual' uniform of chinos and a nice Oxford shirt or polo top, but there are a lot of client meetings where you DO need a suit. which is why I bring a garment bag.
qantas
06 Mar 2026
Total posts 1
Space for carry-on baggage on flights is already short, and it seems everyone wants to skip waiting for checked bags upon arrival these days. I've never seen anyone pulled up for excess carry-on when flying business-class on Qantas in all my years, and in fact, I've often been asked if I wanted my jacket (I'm wearing) hung up when flying in business-class.
But I agree with others that permitting this would only worsen the current non-business carry-on situation. If it's that important that people cannot make do within the carry-on allowances, then maybe they should check a bag, buy a ticket in business-class, or maybe buy an extra seat ticket. :O
22 Oct 2019
Total posts 3
If you need all that stuff, here's an idea - check it in!! As you fumble and juggle, with one hand, your roller bag, your suit-bag, your laptop bag, and perhaps your handbag, while with the other your checking your phone for messages, trying to order an uber, or chat with your mate about when you'll be home...just remember there's a whole aircraft full of people that just want to get off.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 219
I'll no doubt be shot down for this but I totally agree - 1 Cabin bag per passenger and the rest in the hold. Simple solution to the increasing problem.
What I have been seeing lately with passengers coming on with multiple cabin bags is ridiculous, especially when your own bag is placed 15 rows away from your seat just to find some space.
18 Nov 2023
Total posts 32
Reading between the lines, I get a strong impression that many of these ‘business’ travellers, with their ‘business’ cabin bags, their ‘business’ laptop bags, their ’business’ small personal bags and their ‘business’ suit bags … are travelling Economy and, whilst complaining that ‘their’ overhead locker was already full, hoping to stuff their rolly bag and suit bag in someone else’s overhead locker.
Don’t play ‘50% businessman’, buy a Business Class ticket and do the job properly. (Generally) extra cabin item allowed and (generally) vast ‘acres’ of free overhead locker space for your ‘day costume’.
There, all fixed. Easy.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Mar 2014
Total posts 23
I have never had a problem travelling Qantas business class within Australia or overseas with a carry-on bag, small backpack/laptop bag and suit. Check-in staff have confirmed that (for the size bags I have) that is within policy. If you need three larger bags then you should be checking them in!
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1080
I actually think Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar should adopt one standard carry-on policy across all airlines and use the same approach to all hand luggage.
Keep it simple — VH and DE how about one bag with as much lead as you can fit into it (as long as it complies with size limits not like the guy I saw on SQ with a massive suitcase as hand luggage), plus one laptop bag. Everything else goes in the belly of the aircraft. I also like the approach of asking passengers at the gate if anyone wants to put their hand luggage in the belly.
08 Feb 2018
Total posts 176
Oh jeez just put the jacket on and then take it off once onboard! Simple!!
09 Dec 2023
Total posts 10
So much entitlement.
Just check your luggage in and stop hogging the already very limited overhead locker space.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2021
Total posts 30
Wheely bags should be banned from the Cabin. Is time so precious that you can's wait 10 minutes at the baggage carousel?
Pure selfishness "my time is more important that yours"
25 Mar 2021
Total posts 20
It is called carry on not wheel on. So carry it on.
Also the people who pull their wheeled suitcases behind them and get it caught on every row as they wheel it down the aisle. Get the hint wheel in front of you or carry it.
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