Does the new policy apply to existing bookings?

Passengers who have made a booking before 25th November 2009, will retain their existing allowance.

Any passenger making a booking on or after 25th November 2009, will have the new allowances applied to their booking.

How much can each piece of baggage weigh?

Each piece of baggage a passenger is entitled to, within their free allowance, can weigh up to 23 kilos across all classes of travel.

Bags exceeding this amount will incur additional charges up to a maximum weight of 32 kilos. This applies to all items of baggage checked in, including sporting equipment.

Any bags exceeding 32 kilos will not be accepted.

When is the baggage policy changing?

Virgin Atlantic will be changing it's check-in baggage policy to a 'Piece System' across the entire network for all tickets booked from 25 November 2009.

Why not launch the original allowance change, scheduled to take place on the 23rdSeptember 2009?

In order to remain competitive, Virgin were required to make a change to the Economy allowances for the USA & Caribbean from the original policy.  Our charges for excess baggage had also become uncompetitive.

In order to minimise confusion for their passengers, they decided to delay the original policy change and complete the change in one launch.

This also enables them to offer the online facility to our passengers, to take payment for additional baggage through Online Check-In. This offers passengers a reduced rate to what would be paid at the airport and was not originally planned for the September launch.

What if I go over my free allowance?

Currently charges vary according to the route. This will be replaced with a simple rate.

For passengers wishing to check in a piece of baggage weighing more than 23 kilos, a flat charge of GBP30/USD50 will apply, up to a maximum of 32 kilos. These charges can be paid at the airport.

For passengers wishing to carry an additional piece of baggage, a flat charge ofGBP32/USD48 per bag will apply up to a maximum weight of 23 kilos, when purchased via Online Check-in. This can be completed from 24 hours and up to 2 hours before departure.

If a passenger chooses to pay at the airport, the charge to carry a second bag will be GBP40/USD60 and GBP90/ USD140 for any further bags.

Why is Virgin reducing the allowances from 32 kilos to 23 kilos per piece on some routes in Upper Class & Premium Economy?

To simplify their policy, by bringing consistency across the whole of our network. This has resulted in increased allowances for passengers travelling in Upper Class & Premium Economy on flights to Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai & Sydney.

How will the change affect passengers travelling on Virgin Atlantic?

At the moment, Virgin Atlantic's customer's free baggage allowance varies according to cabin and route, and could be either a weight allowance, or a piece allowance.

The change to the policy will simplify this allowance, so that it is based on a piece allowance for all routes.

How can I pay for excess baggage?

Charges for extra bags will be made available online by 25th November 2009 and offered to passengers through Online Check-In.

If paying online, the charge will be at a reduced rate of GBP32 / USD48 per bag. 

Alternatively, you can pay at the airport with the second bag charge being GBP40 / USD60 and any additional bags after that at GBP90 / USD140.

Overweight bag charges will apply for any bags weighing between 23 kilos and a maximum of 32 kilos. They can only be paid at the airport and are charged at GBP30 / USD50.

Any bags weighing over 32 kilos will not be accepted.

All fees will be converted into the local currency from the USD published rate, (except UK).

If travelling with children, can I bring a pushchair or car seat onboard?

Passengers travelling with children or infants, will be entitled to take one fully collapsible pushchair or a car seat in addition to their free checked baggage allowance.

Infants not entitled to a seat, are now entitled to one piece of checked luggage weighing no more than 23 kilos. They are also entitled to one piece of hand luggage weighing no more than 6 kilos.

Will Virgin Atlantic offer more than other airlines?

Simplifying the policy will enable Virgin Atlantic to remain among the most generous in the industry for checked-in baggage. In some cases, passengers travelling in Premium Economy & Upper Class will enjoy a more generous allowance than before.

Many other airlines offer less generous allowances and charge or even refuse to carry items such as surfboards, skis, golf bags or other sports equipment.   Virgin Atlantic will continue to offer these items free of charge in addition to a passenger's free baggage allowance.

Our Gold card holders will also receive an additional bag up to 23 kilos irrespective of the cabin they fly in.

What is my allowance, if I am transferring to/from another flight?

If a passenger is travelling on Virgin Atlantic for their entire journey, the most generous baggage allowance will apply.

If a passenger has purchased one ticket for their entire journey, that includes flights with other airlines, each operating airlines allowance will apply.

If a passenger has purchased separate tickets for each airline in their journey, the individual airline's baggage allowances will apply for each flight.  In this case, any additional allowances offered by another airline will not be applicable on flights with Virgin Atlantic.

Can I pay for any additional charges before arriving at the airport?

From 25th November 2009, passengers will be able to purchase additional baggage online, via Online Check In, at a reduced rate to that paid at the airport.

Why do some routes continue to have a two-bag allowance when travelling in Economy?

Like other airlines, Virgin Atlantic are responding to market needs by maintaining a two-piece allowance on their Kenya and Nigeria routes as well as for passengers connecting between India and the USA. This allowance will be continually reviewed.

Will Flying Club Gold card holders still have an additional allowance?

Flying Club Gold card holders will be able to take one extra piece of baggage, weighing up to a maximum of 23 kilos, in addition to their free allowance.

What if a passenger is travelling on a VS flight number, but the flight is operated by another airline (codeshare)?

The baggage allowance of the airline operating the flight will apply.

Am I still entitled to an additional bag for sporting equipment?

Passengers will be able to take one additional piece of sporting equipment up to 23 kilos, within their free allowance.

This remains one of the most generous within the industry. Many airlines charge to carry sporting equipment and refuse to carry such items as surfboards, skis, golf bags, which we will retain within our free allowance.