The Christmas season is always a peak travel time, crowded airports, busy flights, and heightened excitement. If you’re flying with Qantas during Christmas 2025, it’s especially important to understand their baggage rules, so you avoid surprise fees, delays, or having to leave something behind. To help you plan ahead, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to what’s changing and how it could impact your next trip.

Table of Contents

1. Domestic Travellers
2. International Travellers
3. Additional & Excess Baggage
4. Infants & Children
   
5. What to Watch for This Christmas 2025
6. Sample Baggage Scenario
7. Best Advice

8. Travel Light with Sumoii

Domestic Travellers

Checked Baggage

Baggage allowance is included on every domestic flight within Australia on Qantas and QantasLink

Carry-on Baggage

Choose one of the following options: 

International Travellers

Checked Baggage

(excluding North and South America)

(North and South America)

Carry-on Baggage

1. Economy

2. First, Business and Premium Economy

 

Additional & Excess Baggage, Fees, and Heavy Charges

If you need more than what’s included in your ticket, Qantas allows you to pre-purchase additional baggage. Doing this in advance is cheaper than paying excess or overweight fees at the airport.

Some key points:

• No single checked baggage piece can exceed 32 kg. Qantas

• Heavy charges kick in for any piece over 23 kg. Qantas

• Excess baggage fees depend on the route. For example, flights to/from the Americas have higher excess piece fees.

 

Infants allowance (Under 2 years)

Child allowance (2 - 11 years)

When travelling on a Qantas operated flight with a QF flight number, for each child travelling with an adult, up to two child items each weighing up to 32kg, can be checked in free of charge.~ This can include two items from the following list:

• car seat,
• collapsible stroller or pushchair, and
• portable cot.

 

What to Watch for This Christmas 2025

While there are no confirmed baggage policy changes announced for the Christmas season 2025 (as of now), history tells us airlines often enforce rules more strictly during busy seasons. Here’s what travellers should keep an eye on:

1. Pre-purchasing additional baggage
   If you think you’ll exceed the included allowance (due to gifts, winter clothes, etc.), buy extra weight or pieces ahead of time. You’ll save money and avoid airport hassles.

2. Packing smartly
   Make sure your carry-on is within the prescribed size and weight limits. If your bag is over, you may have to check it at the gate.

3. Frequent Flyer benefits
   If you hold status with Qantas, double-check what extra allowances you have. Sometimes these perks make a big difference in how much you can bring without extra charges.

4. Special items (sports gear, instruments, infant gear, etc.)
   These often have special rules. For example: musical instruments, sporting equipment, or strollers may need special packing or may count differently. 

5. Arrival earlier at the airport
   Given the Christmas rush, all parts of the process (check-in, security, baggage drop) will take longer. Be prepared.

Sample Baggage Scenario: Preparing for Christmas

Let’s say you’re flying from Sydney to London over Christmas with a connecting flight, bringing holiday gifts and winter clothes. What should you plan for?

• Look up your fare class → check how many checked bags are included and what their weight is.

• If you’re a Frequent Flyer with status, see if you have extra weight allowance.

• Pre-purchase any extra bags you expect to need.

• Limit your carry-on to the standard size/weight so you don't have to check at the gate.

• Pack gifts strategically (e.g. within your checked bag) to avoid overweight fees.

Best advice: 

know your fare, know your inclusion, and plan ahead. The holiday season is more enjoyable when you start without baggage surprises.

Always check for Qantas baggage rule updates: https://www.qantas.com/en-gb/baggage

 

Travel Smart. Travel Light. With Sumoii