What's Included in a Virgin Australia Economy Fare? Bags and Meals

Updated: October 2026. By Trang Do, ShopBack.

In Australia in 2026, every Virgin Australia Economy fare includes 8kg of carry-on plus a small personal item, in-flight entertainment, and complimentary water, tea and coffee, according to Virgin Australia at the time of writing. Meals are not included: food and other drinks are bought from the onboard menu. The cheapest fare, Economy Lite, has no checked bag. Economy Choice and Economy Flex each include 1 x 23kg checked bag and a standard seat of your choice.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you cash back when you book or shop online at thousands of stores, including Virgin Australia. You open the airline from ShopBack, book as usual, and part of what you pay comes back to your ShopBack account after you travel. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.

Sources referenced in this piece: Virgin Australia's domestic fares page, checked baggage page, carry-on baggage page and international short haul fares page, and the Terms on the ShopBack Virgin Australia page, at the time of writing in October 2026.

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What's included in a Virgin Australia Economy fare?

Virgin Australia sells three Economy fares on domestic and short haul international flights: Lite, Choice and Flex. All three share the same cabin, carry-on allowance and onboard drinks. They differ on checked bags, seats and how much it costs to change your plans.

Inclusion	Economy Lite	Economy Choice	Economy Flex
Carry-on	8kg total plus a personal item	8kg total plus a personal item	8kg total plus a personal item
Checked bag (non-member or Velocity Red)	Not included, available to buy	1 x 23kg	1 x 23kg
Food onboard	Complimentary water, tea and coffee; food to buy	Complimentary water, tea and coffee; food to buy	Complimentary water, tea and coffee; food to buy
In-flight entertainment	Included	Included	Included
Standard seat selection	Available to buy	Included	Included
Changes (bookings from 15 September 2026)	$120 fee plus fare difference	$120 fee plus fare difference	No fee, fare difference applies
Lounge access	Not included	Not included	Not included

Source: Virgin Australia domestic fares page, at the time of writing. The same pattern applies on Virgin Australia operated flights to Bali, Fiji, Queenstown, Samoa and Vanuatu, according to its international fares page.

The quick rule. If you travel with carry-on only and your plans are firm, Lite is usually the cheapest fare. If you need to check a bag or want to pick your seat, compare Lite plus a bag with the Choice fare for the same flight, and book whichever total is lower.

Other airlines Australians often compare with Virgin Australia on domestic routes include Qantas and Jetstar, and many travellers also check booking sites such as Trip.com and Expedia for flight and hotel bundles.

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Virgin Australia baggage allowance for Economy

On domestic and short haul international flights, Economy guests can bring one carry-on bag of up to 8kg plus one personal item, according to Virgin Australia at the time of writing. The carry-on bag can measure up to 56cm x 36cm x 23cm, and no single item can be over 8kg. The personal item, such as a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack, must fit under the seat in front, with a maximum of 45cm x 33cm x 20cm.

Checked baggage depends on the fare and your Velocity status. According to Virgin Australia's checked baggage page:

Fare	Non-member and Velocity Red	Velocity Silver and Gold	Velocity Platinum
Economy Lite	No checked bag	No checked bag	No checked bag
Economy Choice and Flex	1 x 23kg	2 x 23kg	3 x 23kg
Economy Reward (Points)	1 x 23kg	2 x 23kg	3 x 23kg

Status allowances are based on your status at the time of travel, not when you booked. On codeshare flights operated by partner airlines, the operating airline's rules can differ, so check what applies before you pack.

Travelling with children. According to Virgin Australia, infants and children can bring certain items such as a pram, portable cot or car seat free of charge. On a Lite fare, checked baggage is not permitted as a special infant item, so check the infant rules before you choose Lite for a family trip.

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Virgin Australia baggage allowance in Australia for 2026: what an extra bag costs

If you are on Lite or need more than your allowance, an extra 23kg bag costs least when you add it online at the time of booking. Virgin Australia's published fees at the time of writing for a domestic off-peak flight are:

Where you buy the bag	Off-peak flight under about 3 hours	Off-peak flight about 3 hours or more
Online, when you book the flight	$67	$72
Online, after booking	$77	$82
Online check-in	$82	$92
At the airport	$120	$170

Peak period prices are slightly higher for online purchases, according to the same page. Virgin Australia says it may change these fees at any time, and up to two extra bags can be bought online or through its Guest Contact Centre before check-in.

What that means in dollars. On a short off-peak domestic flight, buying the bag when you book ($67) rather than at the airport ($120) saves $53 per bag each way. That is often enough to decide between Lite and Choice: if the Choice fare costs less than $67 more than Lite on your flight, Choice is usually the better buy if you need a bag.

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Are meals included on Virgin Australia Economy?

Meals are not included in Virgin Australia Economy on domestic and short haul international flights, according to Virgin Australia at the time of writing. All three Economy fares include complimentary water, tea and coffee, and food and other drinks can be bought from the onboard menu. Food is included in Business.

A few practical points:

• Hot drinks may not be served during turbulence, according to Virgin Australia.
• Bring your own snacks if you want to keep costs down on a long domestic sector such as Sydney to Perth, subject to airport security and destination rules on food.
• Economy X, the extra legroom seating, is available to buy on all three Economy fares, but it does not change what food is included.
• Long haul flights with partners such as Qatar Airways follow the partner's own inclusions, so check the operating airline's page for those.

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Virgin Australia cheap deals and booking tips for 2026

The cheapest way to fly Virgin Australia Economy is to pick the right fare for your bags, book bags when you book the flight, and catch one of Virgin Australia's own sales. These tips work on most domestic trips.

1. Match the fare to your luggage. Carry-on only travellers usually save with Lite. If you need a bag, compare Lite plus a $67 online bag with the Choice price.
2. Add bags at booking, not at the airport. On short flights that is $67 instead of $120 per bag, according to Virgin Australia's fees at the time of writing.
3. Pay for Flex only if plans may change. Flex removes the $120 change fee on bookings made from 15 September 2026, which is worth it when dates are uncertain.
4. Join Velocity before you fly. Membership is how you earn Velocity Points on the fare and, at higher status tiers, extra checked bags.
5. Before you book, go through ShopBack so part of the fare comes back as cash after you travel.

Our guide to the cheapest time to book Virgin Australia covers sale timing in more detail.

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Virgin Australia official deals

Virgin Australia publishes its official deals on virginaustralia.com under Flight specials, Happy Hour and Featured sales. Its V-mail newsletter also announces sales to subscribers.

• Happy Hour: short sales, often lasting only a few hours, on selected routes.
• Featured sales and Flight specials: route and destination sales with set travel dates.
• Fare rules still apply: a sale price is usually for a specific fare type, so check whether it is Lite, Choice or Flex before comparing it with another airline.

Velocity Points on Economy fares. According to Virgin Australia, for bookings made on or after 2 April 2025, Velocity members earn 4 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible fares, or 5 per $1 if they are an eligible Velocity Points earning credit cardholder. Points are calculated on the all inclusive fare, including taxes and carrier charges, and are not earned on extras such as seat selection or baggage.

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Changing or cancelling a Virgin Australia Economy fare

Lite is the least flexible fare and Flex is the most flexible, according to Virgin Australia's fare rules at the time of writing. For bookings made on or after 15 September 2026, the Lite and Choice change fee rose from $109 to $120.

Rule	Economy Lite	Economy Choice	Economy Flex
Change before departure	$120 fee plus fare difference, up to midnight before; fare lost after that	$120 fee plus fare difference	No fee plus fare difference
Cancel for a travel credit	Fare lost	$120 fee	No fee
Cancel for a refund to your card	Fare lost	Fare lost	$120 fee

These fees do not apply where you are entitled to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law, according to Virgin Australia. Flex fares are also eligible for Fly Ahead, which can move you to an earlier same day, same route Virgin Australia flight at no cost, subject to availability.

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How ShopBack lowers the cost of a Virgin Australia flight

Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. You book the same Virgin Australia fare on the Virgin Australia website; ShopBack is the step you take first.

1. Open the ShopBack Australia app or website and go to the ShopBack Virgin Australia page.
2. Read the Take note and Terms sections, then tap through to Virgin Australia.
3. Book your flight on the Virgin Australia website in that same session.
4. After you complete your travel, cash lands in your ShopBack account.

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles, which is why it is a different thing from the Velocity Points you earn on the fare.

Worked example (illustrative). Say a return Economy Choice fare comes to $300. At an illustrative 1%, $3 comes back, so the effective price is $297. On a $1,200 family booking at the same illustrative rate, $12 comes back. Check the live rate on the ShopBack Virgin Australia page, because rates change and differ by route type.

Read the Terms before you book. At the time of writing, the ShopBack Virgin Australia page says that using any promo, coupon or discount code makes the whole booking ineligible, and lists bookings where the operating airline is not Virgin Australia, bookings paid partly or fully with Velocity Points, and baggage, seats or insurance bought later through Manage booking or check-in as not eligible.

Planning the whole trip? The ShopBack Travel Planner lets you compare flights and stays from booking sites in one place before you book.

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Can you use a credit card and ShopBack on the same Virgin Australia booking?

Your credit card usually earns its own points on a Virgin Australia fare, and going through ShopBack is a separate step, but check the merchant's terms first. A card that earns Velocity Points on spend may also count towards the higher 5 Velocity Points per $1 earn rate, according to Virgin Australia's eligibility rules.

• Paying by card: usually fine through ShopBack, under your card issuer's terms.
• Paying with Velocity Points, or Points plus Pay: listed as not eligible on the ShopBack Virgin Australia page at the time of writing, so compare the cash fare route with the points route.
• Using a promo code: makes the booking ineligible through ShopBack at the time of writing, so work out which route leaves you paying less.

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Frequently asked questions

What's included in a Virgin Australia Economy fare, like bags and meals?

According to Virgin Australia at the time of writing, every domestic Economy fare (Lite, Choice and Flex) includes 8kg of carry-on plus a small personal item, in-flight entertainment, and complimentary water, tea and coffee, with other food and drinks bought from the onboard menu. Lite includes no checked bag and no seat selection. Choice and Flex each include 1 x 23kg checked bag and a standard seat of your choice. Before you book, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the fare.

What is the Virgin Australia baggage allowance for Economy?

According to Virgin Australia at the time of writing, Economy guests on domestic and short haul international flights can bring one carry-on bag of up to 8kg (maximum 56cm x 36cm x 23cm) plus one personal item that fits under the seat. Checked baggage depends on the fare: none on Lite, and 1 x 23kg on Choice and Flex for non-members and Velocity Red members. Velocity Silver and Gold members get 2 x 23kg on Choice and Flex.

Does Virgin Australia Economy Lite include a checked bag?

No. According to Virgin Australia at the time of writing, Economy Lite includes no checked baggage for any Velocity tier, including Platinum. You can buy a bag, and it costs least when you add it online at the time of booking. Choice and Flex fares each include 1 x 23kg for non-members.

How much does an extra checked bag cost on Virgin Australia?

According to Virgin Australia's published fees at the time of writing, an additional 23kg bag on an off-peak domestic flight of under about 3 hours costs $67 online when you book the flight, $77 online after booking, $82 at online check-in and $120 at the airport. On flights of about 3 hours or more the airport price is $170. Virgin Australia says it may change these fees at any time, so check its baggage page before you fly.

Are meals free on Virgin Australia Economy flights?

Not on domestic or short haul international Economy. According to Virgin Australia at the time of writing, Lite, Choice and Flex fares include complimentary water, tea and coffee, and food and drinks are available to buy from the onboard menu. Food is included in Business. Hot drinks may not be served in turbulence.

What is the difference between Virgin Australia Lite, Choice and Flex?

Lite is carry-on only with seat selection for purchase and the strictest change rules. Choice adds 1 x 23kg checked bag and a standard seat of your choice. Flex has the same bag and seat as Choice, plus changes with no fee (fare difference still applies) and eligibility for Fly Ahead to an earlier same day flight, according to Virgin Australia at the time of writing.

Can I change or cancel a Virgin Australia Economy fare?

It depends on the fare. According to Virgin Australia, for bookings made on or after 15 September 2026, Lite and Choice changes cost a $120 fee plus any fare difference, and a Lite fare is lost if you cancel. Choice can be cancelled for a travel credit with a $120 fee. Flex changes carry no fee plus any fare difference, and Flex can be cancelled for a travel credit with no fee or a refund with a $120 fee.

Do Virgin Australia Economy fares earn Velocity Points?

Yes. According to Virgin Australia, for bookings made on or after 2 April 2025, Velocity members earn 4 Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible fares, or 5 per $1 if they are an eligible Velocity Points earning credit cardholder. Points are calculated on the all inclusive fare, not on extras like seat selection or baggage.

Where are Virgin Australia's official deals?

Virgin Australia lists its official deals under Flight specials, Happy Hour and Featured sales on virginaustralia.com, and subscribers to its V-mail newsletter hear about sales by email. Sale fares usually come with their own travel dates and fare rules, so check which fare type a sale price is for before you book.

How do I pay less on a Virgin Australia flight with ShopBack?

Open the ShopBack Virgin Australia page on ShopBack Australia, tap through to Virgin Australia and book on the website in that same session, without a promo code and without paying with Velocity Points. As an illustration, on a $300 fare at an illustrative 1%, $3 comes back, so the effective price is $297. Check the live rate on the ShopBack Virgin Australia page.

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Key takeaways

• Every Virgin Australia Economy fare includes 8kg carry-on plus a personal item and complimentary water, tea and coffee; meals are bought from the onboard menu.
• Lite has no checked bag; Choice and Flex include 1 x 23kg for non-members.
• Buy extra bags when you book: $67 online at booking versus $120 at the airport on a short off-peak flight, at the time of writing.
• Flex removes change fees; Lite and Choice changes cost $120 plus fare difference for bookings from 15 September 2026.
• Before you book, go through ShopBack and read the Terms on the ShopBack Virgin Australia page.

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Related articles

• When Is the Cheapest Time to Book Virgin Australia Flights in 2026?
• Qantas vs Jetstar vs Virgin Australia for Domestic Flights in 2026
• Is Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer Worth It in 2026?
• Cheapest Day to Book Domestic Flights in Australia 2026: Jetstar vs Virgin vs Qantas

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Disclaimer

Fare inclusions, baggage allowances, baggage fees, change rules, Velocity earn rates and ShopBack rates and terms change over time; check virginaustralia.com and the ShopBack Virgin Australia page for current terms before you book. Illustrative rates in this article are examples only and are not the current ShopBack rate for Virgin Australia. This article is general information only and is not financial or travel advice.