Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Packing a Laptop?

Can you take a laptop in addition to a carry on onboard Qantas/Virgin Blue/Jetstar?

I noticed Virgin Blue specifically allows it on their web site... Qantas restricts the carry on luggage to one 45 inch bag. Yet I hear people are carrying on laptops in addition to their bags.


anybody know for sure?

I think the rule is that it's acceptable as long as your not using your laptop bag as another carry on bag. Stick to only carrying your laptop in it and you'll be fine if you turn up and you have stuffed some clothes in as well then you may have a problem.

JerseyVics, I've had no trouble taking on a laptop in a slim bag, to BNE or MEL, from SYD (and back).

In most of these flights, for leisure trips, many others had laptops plus a rollaboard bag.

PS I used the RBP button (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/report.php?p=11183534)to request your Senior Mods update the thread title. :)

thank you!

I am somewhat surprised that my Qantas boarding pass doesn't mention this

I would have thought that maybe on the A380 there would be more room, but I guess you can't put your laptop under the seat in front of you because of the foot rest?

I am also thinking I will have an issue with intra-Australia flights

based on all I've read, the carry on size is strictly enforced

all the carry on bags I own are perfect for US airline requirements and a few inches too long, tall and deep for Australian ones

I don't know what to do... buy a new bag now or buy one in Australia

I am also thinking I will have an issue with intra-Australia flights

based on all I've read, the carry on size is strictly enforced

all the carry on bags I own are perfect for US airline requirements and a few inches too long, tall and deep for Australian ones

I don't know what to do... buy a new bag now or buy one in Australia

Check your bags in. Australian domestic baggage handling is very fast. It's not unusual that my bags will beat me to the baggage carousel. The most I have ever waited was about 10 mins.

I am also thinking I will have an issue with intra-Australia flights

based on all I've read, the carry on size is strictly enforced

all the carry on bags I own are perfect for US airline requirements and a few inches too long, tall and deep for Australian ones

I don't know what to do... buy a new bag now or buy one in Australia

I don't know whether I'd say it's "strictly" enforced on Qantas (it is more strictly enforced on Virgin and Jetstar), I think the main difference is one of etiquette. It's simply not as socially acceptable to do the US style steamer trunk carry on so the most you will typically see is a 18-20" rollaboard and a small laptop bag, more common would be simply a backpack or a decent size laptop bag. If you're on a 737 and flying qantas I don't think anyone would blink at a 22" rollaboard as it will still go wheels in and because most people don't try to carry on much overhead space is nowhere near as tight as on an intra US flight. (though we'd prefer you didn't ;))

I am also thinking I will have an issue with intra-Australia flights

based on all I've read, the carry on size is strictly enforced

In my experience Qantas are pretty good with carry on sizes on their jet services - I have a reasonably sized carry on (big enough to take a laptop and clothes for a 10 day international trip) and I've never had a problem taking it on flights operated by a jet.

I've noticed in the last 6 months however that their turbo-prop services (Q-400 and Dash-8) they have started getting picky about carry on sizes and have taken objection to my bag a couple of times. Thankfully both times I was able to argue my way to carrying the bag onto the flight but if you are taking some regional flights (or even Canberra-Sydney) you might want to check your carry on size more carefully.

Keep in mind with those turbo-prop services you simply hand your bag to the baggage handler as you step onto the aircraft, and it's taken out ready to collect when you get off again, so it's not as much of an inconvenience as gate-checked baggage which you need to wait at the carousel for.

Check your bags in. Australian domestic baggage handling is very fast. It's not unusual that my bags will beat me to the baggage carousel. The most I have ever waited was about 10 mins.

Do they also accept responsibility for the checked bags, or do Aus. domestic carriers say "no electronics in checked bags [or carry on by implication of the 7kg (?) weight limits]".

sorry I should have specified, I'm not concerned with Qantas carry on policy.

I'm trying to make sure I comply with the big three, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue.

Based on what I read Virgin Blue has the smallest dimention bag allowance. And since I intend to do the bulk of my flying with them, it is important for me to pick the right size carry on, in addition to the checked bag I will have with me.... something on wheels. The 22 inch carry on would have been perfect so that if there's any issue I could stuff my laptop bag inside of it... however the smaller bag Virgin requires will in no way allow me to do that, although they do allow you to bring a laptop in addition to the carry on as stated on the web site.

I think the back pack idea posted above is something I should have looked into more! After all I'm going backpacking and don't even own one yet, lol

Check your bags in. Australian domestic baggage handling is very fast. It's not unusual that my bags will beat me to the baggage carousel. The most I have ever waited was about 10 mins.True... but they did manage to whack a wheel off my suitcase with such force that part of the bag went with it! Maybe that was due to the speed of handling. ;)

Jetstar are the only ones who have a 1 bag policy (i.e. 1 laptop bag or 1 other bag but not both). Never tested it to see how strictly it is enforced.

Virgin and Qantas will allow both.

This is one of the main reasons I fly Virgin almost exclusively within Australia (since QF deserted OOL and took its QP with it).


Evan :->

I went shopping and got a nice backpack... its slightly smaller than what Virgin Blue requires so I don't anticipate any problems with them anymore.

I think I'd like to stick to DJ as well when in Australia. Although JetStar seems to be significantly cheaper on the routes I'm looking to fly. I guess I'll be hunting for those happy hour deals!


thanks for your help guys.

I have a Dell backpack. It's quite large and holds a 17 inch widescreen laptop and has multi-layers.

It fits comfortably under the seat (when there isn't an IFE box in the road).

Never had a problem with it being allowed to be carried-on.


Evan :->

Happy to report that I had ZERO problems carrying on my backpack and lapotp bag. Nobody said anything whatsoever... and I also had my suit jacket on a hanger, nobody said a word.