Airline baggage requirements for babies: Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin & more

Travelling with babies and toddlers can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to navigating different baggage requirements on planes! Whether domestic or international, each airline has different regulations for infants, considering their age, fare type, and the cabin class.

Join us as we unpack and compare the various baggage policies enforced by domestic airlines, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin, Rex, Bonza, as well as more internationally, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Qatar and Singapore, to see how compatible they are with a range of popular travel prams. With this handy guide, you’ll be able to travel confidently with your little one in no time!

Before we compare the airlines and travel strollers, here are some things you should keep in mind:

What is considered an infant?
Most airlines consider ‘infants’ as children below the age of two. However, a few carriers may categorize them as children under the age of one. Infants traveling on a parent's lap typically do not receive a separate baggage allowance. It’s important to note that some airlines will charge an additional fee for infants, check with your airline whether
Bringing baby essentials on board
Most airlines allow passengers traveling with infants to bring a nappy bag with essentials like nappies, baby food, blankets, formula and a change of clothes. Restrictions on carry-on weight and size are usually similar to those for adults, but, if you’re lucky, some carriers may be more lenient when it comes to little ones! It’s important to note there may be cabin class differences, with Premium Economy, Business and First Class more likely to offer additional baggage for infants than Economy.
International travelling considerations
When traveling internationally, it's crucial to consider the baggage policies of both the departure and arrival countries prior to packing your bags. Some destinations may have stricter rules, requiring infants to have their own ticket with corresponding baggage allowance, regardless of age (or how sweetly they smile at the attendants!).

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what are the specifications stipulated by the airlines you are most likely to come across? And which travel strollers are compatible with each? We did the research, so you don’t have to - keep reading to learn all about your infant travel options.

Airline infant luggage allowances and their compatibility with popular travel strollers:
Accurate at time of publishing, October 2023

Table key

	All dimensions are within the airline's guidelines.
	One or two dimensions may be off by a fraction. The difference is small enough that there are unlikely to be any issues with storing the stroller overhead - most airlines will simply find somewhere else to store it on the plane if space is tight. You are also able to contact the airline before your flight if you have any concerns.

Airline	Overhead/ cabin luggage max size	GB Pockit+ 20 x 32 x 48 cm folded	GB Pockit Air 18 x 30 x 35 cm folded	Cybex Coya 18 x 44 x 52 cm folded	Cybex Orfeo 15.5 x 47.5 x 52.5 cm folded	Cybex Libelle 20 x 32 x 48 cm folded	Luggage allowance for children
Air New Zealand	L + W + H = 118 cm Length/Depth cannot exceed 22 cm More info →						Stroller must be completely collapsible and fit in the overhead locker. Allowed a stroller and car seat for no extra charge, in addition to baggage allowance; even if the fare doesn’t included checked baggage. More info →
Bonza	23 x 36 x 55 cm, 8 kg Children's cabin luggage allowance: 20 x 30 x 40 cm, 8kg More info →						If you are travelling with an infant or a small child; you can bring one item from each of the following categories free of charge: Category A: a car seat or baby capsule or booster seat Category B: a stroller or pram Category C: a portable cot (portacot) Category D: a portable high chair More info →
Emirates	Economy: 22 x 38 x 55 cm 7-14 kg depending on fare type More info →						Permitted to bring one carry-cot or one fully collapsible stroller into the cabin if there is room. If there is no space for these items in the cabin, they will have to be checked in. More info →
Jetstar	Starter, Plus bundle, Max bundle: 23 x 36 x 56 cm 7-14 kg depending on fare type More info →						On all flights you can bring an approved car seat for your child to sit in, in addition to your other carry on items, free of charge. If your stroller collapses to our carry-on baggage dimensions (56cm x 23cm x 36cm) and it’s securely packed within a protective cover/bag, then it can be carried on board most Jetstar flights. It will count towards your carry-on baggage allowance. More info →
Qantas Domestic	(Excl. Dash 8 regional flights): 23 x 36 x 56 cm 14 kg across 2 items More info →						Food and nappies required during a flight may be carried in addition to the accompanying adult's carry-on baggage allowance. Collapsible strollers that meet the carry-on allowance baggage dimensions and weigh less than 7 kgs can be stowed onboard in the overhead compartment. The stroller will be counted as a piece of the accompanying adult’s carry-on baggage allowance. More info →
Qantas Dash 8 Regional	23 x 34 x 48 cm 7 kg More info →						Refer to Qantas Domestic (above) More info →
Qantas International Economy	23 x 36 x 56 cm 7 kg More info →						Refer to Qantas Domestic (above) More info →
Qantas International First, Business, & Premium Economy	23 x 34 x 48 cm 14 kg across 2 items More info →						Refer to Qantas Domestic (above) More info →
Qatar	25 x 37 x 50 cm 7-15 kg depending on fare type More info →						Qatar provides its own branded baby strollers to be used in transit and arrival terminal (first come first served). An infant travelling at 15% fare is entitled to 10kg of baggage allowance. More info →
Rex	23 x 36 x 56 cm, (under seat: 23 x 34 x 48 cm) 7-15 kg based on route & fare type More info →						Nil - Baggage only allowed for passengers occupying a paid seat. For infants over the age of six months, you may bring on board your infant car seat (must be forward-facing) for your infant’s comfort. Children over two years of age may also use an infant car seat providing the child weighs less than 18kg. More info →
Singapore	L + W + H = 115 cm 7 kg More info →						Additional items allowed: Infant’s amenities and food for consumption on board. The total weight of these items should not exceed 6 kg and 40 x 30 x 10 cm each. More info →
Virgin xxxxxxxx	23 x 36 x 56 cm 7-14 kg based on fare type More info → xxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	Adults travelling with infants are entitled to take an additional 7kg carry-on baggage free of charge for essential baby products. 3x special infant items including pram/ stroller, portacot, car seat, capsule also allowed. More info → xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pictured: Cybex Coya

Tips and tricks (from parents who’ve been there)

When it comes to travelling with your little one, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can implement to make your trip smoother.

The first step is to always inform the airline in advance that you will be travelling with a baby or toddler to ensure a smooth check-in and avoid any surprises. This also means they can guide you through their specific process and inform you of any additional baggage or support that you are entitled to but may not have been aware of!

Make the most of priority boarding. In addition to people with mobility issues and unaccompanied minors, it’s designed to help families with small children, so be sure to take it up! It will give you the time you need to get settled and put everything away properly before the whole plane boards. A small step like that can go a long way in keeping both you and your little one calm for the trip ahead - now that’s a win-win for everyone on board!
Keep essentials on-hand whenever possible. Packing essentials in your carry-on bag will make life a lot easier in the event that your checked luggage is either delayed or lost. Try to ensure that you have spare clothes, nappies, wipes, breast pumps, formula and bottles (if you use it), baby food, as well as any comfort items like dummies or a special blanket on hand, to be able to see you through a few days in the event that you need to repurchase items or wait for your luggage. It’s much easier and less stressful to get things for yourself last minute in a new place than it is for baby essentials, and it can make all the difference for your family if you get caught in a tricky situation - especially while overseas.

Give yourself more time for each task. Whether it’s check in, getting to your gate, bathroom breaks, changing nappies or even waiting at baggage claim, anticipate that things will take longer than you would think when you’ve got little ones in tow. Because let’s be honest - it’s much more pleasant for the whole family to spend extra time waiting at the gate than it is to be running with bags flying! So be kind to yourself!

Read 8 tips for travelling with a baby →

Knowing the ins and outs of different airlines’ baggage requirements for infants can go a long way in alleviating travel stress and help you plan better for your journey. In summary, remember to check the specific policies of each airline you're flying with, whether it's domestic or international, as well as the cabin class, as they may differ.

Next, remember to check whether you’ll be able to store your compact travel stroller in the overheads, or if you’ll need to check it in with your bags. By preparing in advance, you can ensure a hassle-free and enjoyable trip (for everyone), so that you can focus on making precious new memories with your little one.

Safe travels - you’ve got this!

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