Qantas overhauls int’l baggage allowance

Qantas will shift its baggage alllowance on international flights from a weight-based to a per piece system..

Qantas has overhauled its checked baggage policy on international flights in a move that will benefit premium and frequent flyer passengers.

Under the change, which applies to tickets issued after May 2, Qantas will shift from a weight-based to a piece-based system. That will result in less flexibility for some passengers, with the economy class allowance for flights to Europe and Asia shifting from a total weight of 23kg to a single bag weighing up to 23kg.

Qantas said 70 per cent of international economy passenger travelled with a single checked bag last year.

The change brings Qantas into line with alliance partners British Airways and American Airlines and also mirrors a similar shift by Virgin Australia last month.

Details on the policy are available on Qantas’ website. Among the key changes:

For flights to/from the Americas:

The baggage allowance for business and first class passengers increases from two to three pieces weighing up to 32kg each,
For economy and premium economy, the allowance remains two pieces of up to 23kg each.

For flights to/from all other destinations: