Check in baggage, additional and overweight baggage

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Economy Light tickets don't come with a free checked in bag, but you can buy additional baggage when you check in if you need it, more details on this can be found further down this page.

Premium

Two checked in bags

Maximum weight 23kg each

Maximum dimensions 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16ins)

Upper Class

Two checked in bags

Maximum weight 32kg each

Maximum dimensions 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16ins)

Children's baggage allowance

Baggage allowance exceptions

Extra baggage allowance for Flying Club Gold & Silver members

If you've reached the heady heights of our Flying Club Gold or Silver tier, you can check in an extra piece of baggage on all Virgin Atlantic operated flights for no extra charge (weighing up to 23kg). It doesn’t matter which cabin you’re flying in. Find out more about Flying Club benefits.

Extra baggage allowance on selected routes

To/from India

Two bags (maximum 32kg each) as standard in Upper Class Two bags (maximum 23kg each) as standard in Premium, Economy Classic or Economy Delight Extra bag fees apply from the third bag, as detailed in the table below Note: Two bags in Economy Classic or Delight only applies when flying UK/USA to India or India to UK/USA

To/from Nigeria

Two bags (maximum 32kg each) as standard in Upper Class Two bags (maximum 23kg each) as standard in Premium, Economy Classic or Economy Delight Extra bag fees apply from the third bag, as detailed in the table below Note: One bag in Economy light for US - Nigeria

To/from South Africa

Two bags (maximum 32kg each) as standard in Upper Class, with extra bag fees applying from the third bag Two bags (maximum 23kg each) in Premium, with extra bag fees applying from the third bag One bag (maximum 23kg each) in Economy Classic or Economy Delight, with extra bag fees applying from the second bag Extra bag fees are detailed in the table below Note: One bag in Economy light and two Bags Economy Delight and Economy Classic from US-South Africa

Extra, overweight, or oversized baggage

  1. Extra bags
  2. Overweight baggage
  3. Oversized bags

Taking extra bags

If you'd like to bring more than your free bag allowance, or if you've bought an Economy Light ticket and decided you need a bag after all, you can add up to seven extra bags per person when you check in online.

Online check in opens 24 hours before your flight is due to depart and closes 70 minutes before.

You can also pay for extra bags at the airport. it costs exactly the same, but the limit is ten bags per person.

Extra baggage fees

Additional baggage charges are per flight. Please note that any excess baggage that you buy is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Prices are based on whether your trip originates in the UK or US. If you're not flying from the UK or US we'll convert the GBP rate to your local currency.

Routes with baggage allowance of two checked in bags as standard (except for Economy Light):

Changed bag rules

Please note: for tickets purchased on or after 6th September 2023, the cost to purchase an additional bag when travelling on an Economy Light ticket, increased from 50 GBP / 75 USD to 65 GBP / 100 USD.

Number of bags being checked in

Economy Light

Economy Classic & Delight

Upper Class*

Bookings made on or after 3rd October 2023

65 GBP / 75 USD / 60 EUR

Bookings made between 6th September 2023 and 2nd October 2023

65 GBP / 100 USD

Bookings made between 28th July 2021 and 5th September 2023

Bookings made before 28th July 2021

65 GBP / 100 USD / 85 EUR

200 GBP / 300 USD / 250 EUR

65 GBP / 100 USD / 85 EUR

65 GBP / 100 USD / 85 EUR

65 GBP / 100 USD / 85 EUR

200 GBP / 300 USD / 250 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

65 GBP / 100 USD / 240 EUR

200 GBP / 300 USD / 240 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

140 GBP / 200 USD / 240 EUR

65 GBP / 100 USD / 240 EUR

200 GBP / 300 USD / 240 EUR

*For UK to South America the baggage allowance includes three checked in bags as standard in Upper Class

Flying with infants?

Additional baggage terms and conditions

1. You may purchase Excess Baggage either:

2. In order to be eligible to purchase Excess Baggage you must hold a valid ticket on a Qualifying Flight. A "Qualifying Flight" is a flight on services operated by Virgin Atlantic only (not on flights operated by codeshare partners).

3. You’ll be charged at the rates applicable at the time of purchase.

4. In case of a flight cancellation or diversion:

(i) If you are re-booked on to another Virgin Atlantic flight, we’ll attempt to carry Excess Baggage purchased.

(ii) If for operational or safety reasons we’re unable to carry your Excess Baggage on the re-booked flight, we’ll arrange for your Excess Baggage to be transported on another flight at no extra cost.

(iii) If you are re-booked on another carrier, the charges already paid will be refunded in accordance with Virgin Atlantic’s refund process and you’ll be booked in the equivalent class of cabin as purchased on their original ticket and in accordance with the other carrier’s policies and procedures.

5. Virgin Atlantic shall not be liable for any higher excess baggage charges and/or lower weight allowances imposed by another carrier.

6. Subject to paragraph 4 (iii) above, payments made for Excess Baggage are non-refundable. No cash or credit alternatives will be offered.

7. Excess Baggage allowances are non-transferable to other passengers.

8. If you decide to upgrade to a different cabin, any Excess Baggage allowance which may have already been purchased is non-refundable.

9. The purchase of Excess Baggage in advance or at the airport does not alter the terms or fare rules the ticket purchased nor does it alter check-in times or any other aspect of the Virgin Atlantic service.

10. The purchase of Excess Baggage does not entitle you to earn additional Flying Club miles or tier points.

11. All refunds will be processed by in the UK and credited back to the original form of payment.

12. All carriage of baggage is subject to the rules contained in Virgin Atlantic’s Conditions of Carriage and to its baggage policies (available here).

13. Should any piece of Excess Baggage exceed the weight or dimension limits or does not comply with the rules governing the carriage of baggage, Virgin Atlantic shall have the right to refuse to carry such Excess Baggage.

14. In case of conflict between these terms and Virgin Atlantic’s Conditions of Carriage, the Conditions of Carriage shall prevail.

15. Infants not occupying a seat (“Lap Infants”) are entitled to one piece of excess baggage when travelling in Economy Light only.

16. It is not possible to purchase additional hand baggage allowance.

17. Virgin Atlantic reserves the right to amend any or all of these terms and conditions, without notice and at any time.

18. These terms and conditions are governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Date of publication: 17 March 2018