What You Can & Cannot Carry in Your Hand Luggage On a Plane?

Last updated on Dec 6th, 2023 by Heena Ganotra

Whether you want to travel light or want to make the most out of your luggage allowance, understanding Australian flight baggage restrictions is necessary. Most airline carriers in Australia allow passengers to carry small luggage pieces weighing anywhere between 7 kgs and 14 kgs depending on their class of travel and rewards program.

If you’re visiting the country for a short time or travelling from one corner to another for a short trip, you may not need checked baggage at all. You can fit all you need in a carry-on bag. However, there are some restrictions to keep in mind and we explain them below:

Size of Carry-On Luggage in Australia

Before you determine what you need to pack in your carry-on luggage, you must know the sizes permitted. Most popular airlines in Australia like Qantas, Virgin Australia, JetStar, and Air New Zealand recommend the basic requirements mentioned below:

One piece of small luggage and one personal bag.
The dimensions of the small luggage should be around 115cm in total and 56cm x 36cm x 23cm in particular.
The bag shouldn’t weigh more than 7kgs.
The hand luggage should comfortably fit on the overhead cabin.
The personal item should comfortably fit under the seat before you.
Passengers travelling in premium fares are often permitted to carry two small pieces with a total weight of 14kgs with one bag not weighing more than 10kgs.

Exceeding the carry-on baggage size and weight limitations will cause problems down the line. You may have to pay additional charges or leave the extra bag behind. Many luggage stores provide cabin luggage products that fit the airline’s requirements perfectly. If you don’t already have a bag, you can purchase one of these products.

Carry-On Luggage Liquid Limit in Australia

If you’re travelling internationally or boarding domestic flights from an international portal, you need to adhere to the carry-on liquid limit in Australia. Here’s a look at some of the rules you need to adhere to:

All liquids should be packed in transparent containers of 100ml or 100gms.
All containers should be screwed tightly shut to avoid spillage.
These containers must be placed inside a clear, transparent resealable bag.
You can’t take containers of more than 100ml or 100grm capacity. This means you can’t carry a 200gms of lotion bottle with only 100gms of content. The size of the containers should be within limits.
The size of the plastic bag shouldn’t exceed 80cms with the bag measuring 20 x 20cm or 15 x25cm.

You’ll need to present your carry-on luggage at the screening point for checking. The security agents will examine the contents of the bag and if the liquids meet the requirements, you’ll be able to carry them on the plane. If the liquids don’t fit the requirements, you may need to either discard them or give them to a family member.

Liquids on Domestic Flights in Australia

There are no restrictions on the size of liquid containers or content weight in domestic flights departing from domestic terminals. As long as you adhere to the weight limit of your carry-on luggage, you should be able to take the bag on your flight.

However, you need to make sure all of the liquids are in good containers and are tightly sealed to avoid spillage. If the caps aren’t fitted, you may need to add some sort of locking device.

List of Liquids

Bottled water
Shampoo and conditioner
Face wash
Juice
Creams
Soups and stews
Oils
Sauces
Juice and beverages
Liquor
Mouthwash
Perfume
Canned food with high amounts of liquid

These are some examples of the liquid you can carry in your cabin baggage. If you’re not certain about it, consider adding the item to your checked luggage. Just make sure the item is properly sealed.

Aerosols on Planes

Aerosols are items kept under pressure like sprays and foam products. You need to adhere to the same requirements as liquids on international flights. If you are taking them with you in your hand luggage, make sure the containers aren’t more than 100gms or 100mls in capacity.

It is perfectly safe to carry aerosol on a plane because these containers are carefully regulated and designed to handle different environmental conditions.

There are no restrictions on container sizes and product weight on domestic flights departing from domestic airports. If the containers are bigger, consider adding them to your checked baggage.

Yes, you are permitted to carry aerosols in checked baggage on Qantas, JetStar, Virgin Australia, and other such flights. The luggage storage cabin is both pressure and temperature-regulated, which means the aerosol cans are in a stable atmosphere.

List of Aerosol Items

Deodorant
Foaming shaving cream
Foaming face wash
Hairspray
Sunscreen spray

Gels in Carry-On Luggage in Australia

Gels carry the same restrictions as liquids and aerosols. If you’re on an international flight or departing from an international terminal, you need to make sure all gel products are in clear 100ml or 100gm containers.

If you’re travelling on a domestic flight and departing from a domestic terminal, there are no such restrictions applicable. Just make sure all the products are sealed properly and won’t spill in the bag.

List of Gels

Jam
Honey
Vegemite
Cheese spread
Yogurt
Lipgloss or balm
Shaving gel
Toothpaste
Peanut butter
Gel tablets

You’re permitted to carry gels in limited quantities in your carry-on bag. If you’re not certain about the nature or quantity of your gel items, place them in your checked luggage to avoid trouble.

Limits on Powders

Passengers are allowed to carry powders in their carry-on bag. Powders are broadly categorized into two. Organic powder includes powders derived from organic matter. This category includes food items as well as cosmetic products. Examples of this include coffee, tea, baby formula, eyeshadow, pressed powder, etc.

There is no limit to the amount of organic powder you can carry in your carry-on luggage. You may carry as much baby formula or coffee in your carry-on bag.

Inorganic powders are powders derived from inorganic compounds. They can include deodorant powders, foot powders, talcum powders, etc. Passengers are only allowed to carry around 350ml or 350grms of these items in their carry-on. The rest they need to add to the checked luggage. This limit applies per person, which means if two people are travelling, they can carry inorganic powders of 350ml or 350 grams each.

Airport Prohibited Items in Australia

There are some items that you can check in but can’t carry on board in the carry-on baggage. These items include:

Items with sharp edges like knives, metal forks, scissors, axes, darts, etc.
Items containing mercury like thermometers.
Firearms and weapons of any kind.
Ammunition.
Blunt items that may cause blunt-force trauma on impact.
Insect repellent spray.
Fuel or petrol-based products.
Power tools.
Restraints.
Vehicle batteries

You will find a comprehensive list of airline prohibited items on the Home Affairs Department website. Consult the entire list carefully before packing your bag.

Prohibited Items in Checked Baggage in Australia

Many items are considered outright prohibited and you can’t carry them in your carry-on or checked luggage. These include:

Explosives
Strong acids
Radioactive materials
Lithium batteries
Flammable liquids
Some aerosols
Volatile chemicals
Poisons

These are just some of the flight prohibited items. If you think that an item will be dangerous to carry on a plane, we recommend leaving it behind. Anything that poses a risk to other passengers may not be permitted on-board or in the checked baggage.

We recommend double-checking your airline’s policies before you pack your hand-carry luggage to avoid any last-minute problems. The regulations may change between the date of this post’s publication and your flight departure so be sure to seek out the most current information.

FAQs

Q. Can I carry hand sanitizer on a plane?

Ans. Yes, you can carry a hand sanitizer on a plane. If you’re travelling internationally or departing from an international terminal, make sure the container is less than 100ml or 100grms. Make sure the sanitizer is in a sealed container to prevent it from spilling.

Q. Can you take alcohol on domestic flights?

Ans. Yes, you are allowed to take alcohol on domestic flights. There are no weight or container size restrictions applicable for domestic flights departing from domestic terminals.

Q. Can you take medication on domestic flights?

Ans. Yes, you can take medication, general and prescribed, on your domestic and international flights. All required medicines are permitted though the airline carrier may require a medical slip or prescription.

Q. Can I put my phone in my checked luggage?

Ans. No, all devices containing batteries must be carried on hand. You can’t check your phone, tablet, laptop, and other such devices. You will need to place them in your carry-on luggage.

Q. Where to pack aerosols when flying?

Ans. You can carry aerosols in your cabin luggage as long as they remain within the limits of the airline’s requirements. We recommend buying smaller bottles of aerosols that are under 100gms in weight. If your bottle is larger, you may need to pack it in your checked baggage.

Now that you know what to pack, you can easily plan the rest of your trip!
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About Heena View All Posts

A writer by both passion and profession, Heena Ganotra is "half agony, half hope" but all heart. And oh, she has been a book lover from the start! Her love for books is what convinced her to make a career in the wonderful world of words. She loves what she does and is out-and-out a satisfied soul with a wish to spread happiness and kindness in abundance. Insight- Some say she is living the best life anyone could because she reads, writes, travels, and makes merry. They’re right because what else does one really need! :)