In general, most of us know that each airline has their own rules for the size of your carry on bag. Most international airlines now require the bag to be smaller than 22″ x 14″ x 9″ including the wheels and handles. Also, generally the bag weights is between 10-12 kilograms or 22 to 26 pounds.

If you are headed down under, you may want to know that they are really not supportive of people who travel with carry on bags rather than with checked bags.

This year was our first time flying Fiji Airways, and it will be the last time flying Fiji Airways. Although they appeared to be a bit less expensive than Air New Zealand, I found that they have a new way to charge extra for people who travel light and only use a carry on bag and a personal bag.

In general, even if we travel for 2 weeks or a month, we do it with a carry on bag and a personal bag. My carry on bag for a month long stay may weigh 12 kg (26 pounds) and the personal bag may weigh in at 5 kg (10 pounds).

Now, although they still have the same size limits for your carry on bag, they have added new weight restrictions. ONLY 7 kg for your carry on bag and 4 kg for a personal item that will fit under your seat. So, it is a total of 11 kg, but it has to be in separate bags.

It is ok to have a cabin full of 100 kg passengers, but you cannot have a 12 kg carry on bag. They make you check it if it weighs more than 7 kg. I would be over the limit with my backpack carry on bag, with a tablet computer, my dop kit, 2 changes of clothes and a light jacket. Forget about three or four changes clothes you might want to carry for a month long trip. I guess that they want to force you to check your bags, and for that they can charge an extra fee.

I understand that if you are flying using the cheapest fare that they may charge you for carry on bags, checked bags, water, food, etc… But at least let me fill my bag with clothes and a dop kit. By the way, their checked bag is limited to 30 kg which is about 66 pounds and way more than I want to carry, but since they charge for each bag, it may be better to only check one bag for the two of us along with half empty carry on bags and personal bags. We would still have to fight with the heavier bag if flying those airlines.

We found the same issue with Jetstar Airways to fly from Melbourne to Queenstown.

When compared to Air New Zealand, for flying economy, they have the same limits but for regular economy or business or various alliance partnership levels, the weight limit is 14 kg which is about 30 pounds plus you can have a personal bag or laptop or purse.

Quantas allows you to bring 14 kg of stuff onto the plane with the carry on bag being 10 kg and the 4 additional kg being in a personal bag or computer bag.

When I checked American Airlines and United Airlines, they both provided size limits for carry on bags as well as a personal bag to place under the seat, but no weight limits.

When we flew down under 5 years ago and again 2 years ago on Air New Zealand, our carry on bags weren’t an issue. The next time I fly down under, I know which airlines I won’t book with.