Virgin Australia's new baggage limits: more for most flyers

By John Walton, January 21 2013
Virgin Australia's new baggage limits: more for most flyers

Virgin Australia's new checked luggage rules, recently introduced alongside the airline's move to the Sabre booking system, could catch a few travellers unawares.

But on the whole, passengers on most fares and Velocity Frequent Flyers will find themselves no worse off, and in some cases they'll be able to bring an extra bag at no extra cost.

We've broken those down into before-and-after snapshots, laid out by your Velocity Frequent Flyer status and including the new Saver/Saver Lite split, so you don't get a nasty surprise at check-in.

Velocity Platinum

The big change here is the economy allowance: a reduction when flying on the cheapest tickets, and needing to spread weight over more bags when on Saver or Flexi fares.

Velocity Gold

Gold members should also focus on economy fares: again, you have less weight when buying the cheapest fares, but two smaller bags instead of one large bag on Saver or Flexi tickets.

Velocity Silver

Good news for Silvers: you get an extra bag when on a Saver or Flexi fare.

Velocity Red and non-Velocity members

There's no real change for Red members: the only difference is that Saver Lite is the new fare without bags, while Saver is the new cheaper fare with a bag.

Passengers without Velocity Frequent Flyer status have the same allowances as Velocity Red members.

What's your take on Virgin's new checked luggage allowances? Sound off with a comment below.

For more of the latest news, follow us on Twitter: we're @AusBT.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.

KG
KG

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 May 2011

Total posts 732

Good to see new and more generous allowances. What strikes me as that in many areas Virgin trumps Qantas, however, with regard to baggage, Qantas still has the edge. Not a big deal as both VA as QF are very generous for especially higher status FF.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

23 May 2012

Total posts 268

Looks like good news! It is a bit similar to Jetstar's old baggage allowance:

Saver Lite = Jetsaver Light

Saver = Jetsaver

Flexi = Jetflex

Business Saver, Business = Starclass

I guess it is a real bonus for Virgin's Platinum card holders, that's a greater baggage allowance than Qantas! 

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

06 Dec 2012

Total posts 170

Great baggage allowances overall! I find it funny that at the premium class fares (even though 64kg is a ridiculous baggage allowance anyway) that Platinum FF's are th only ones with any extra benefits, a Gold being the second highest tier gets no extra baggage allowance to someone who has just joined the program.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

20 Aug 2012

Total posts 11

As a GOLD FF I am relieved the previous silly rule of one only luggage for saver checked up to 32kg has been changed back to 2 x 23kg.

Whilst I rarely check luggage, when I do it was because I am flying with RED status wife (yes, it is a cliche but she brings too much!) . So we have two items one 15kg checked and one 7kg we had to carry on, thereby filling limited carry on space with an item we could have checked any way under the weight factor alone. Often a smile and staff would check both. Good to see logic came through.


Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Virgin Australia's new baggage limits: more for most flyers