Virgin America Baggage Allowance, Carry on Weight, Size & Fees

If you are worried about what type of airline to choose for your next trip within North America, Virgin America could be the best choice for you. As a domestic airline, Virgin America has great security is also has a baggage weight allocation which might benefit you more than other airlines will.

Carry-on baggage allowance

Virgin America has its restrictions about carry-on baggage that has been compiled based on the rules produced by the airline higher-ups and the airport authorities. The size and weight restriction are differentiated by the different seat class types which include Main Cabin, Main Cabin Select, and First class

The complimentary carry-on baggage restrictions have been noted in the table below:

Class	Number of bags	Size restriction	Weight allocation
Main Cabin and Main cabin select	1 standard bag and 1 personal or laptop bag.	24 x 16 x 10inches or 23 x 36 x 56 cm for standard bag.	22 pounds or 10 kg total
Upper	2 standard bags and 1 personal or laptop bag.	24 x 16 x 10inches or 23 x 36 x 56 cm for standard bag.	Each bag cannot exceed 26 pounds. The combined weight cannot exceed 35 pounds.

In addition, to the restrictions that have been mentioned above, there are certain other regulations that all classes must maintain so that they can enjoy a safe and quick without any external issues.

• The personal bag can also be a laptop must and can only contain certain important things like your laptop, important documents, and baby food or medicine that might be needed at certain times.
• The carry-on must fit the overhead bin or the front of your seat. This must be maintained at all times without giving anyone any privilege.
• If you have a crutch, wheelchair, or buggies and strollers, they will not be counted as carry-on baggage since they have different regulations that have been imposed on them with their separate weight and size allocations.

Checked-in baggage allowance

Just like the rules for carry-on, Virgin America has regulations for checked baggage. The amount of bags, weight and size restriction depend on the seating class that you have selected beforehand. If your luggage exceeds that restriction, you will be required to pay extra for it. The bags are complimentary and come with the ticket that you buy.  

The restrictions have been drawn on the table below:

Class	Number of Bags	Weight allowed	Size allowed
Main cabin	1 bag	50 pounds maximum	157 centimetres or 62 inches in linear dimension
Main Cabin Select	1 bag	50 pounds maximum	157 centimetres or 62 inches in linear dimension
First	2 bag	50 pounds each	157 centimetres or 62 inches in linear dimension

In addition, all seat classes are allowed to take in 10 more bags as long as they pay an extra payment of 25 USD. The new bags must follow the same regulation that has been imposed on the complimentary bags. Of course, if the size or weight of any of the old or new bags exceed, you are supposed to pay an extra fee for them depending on which regulation you are breaching exactly.

 Excess baggage fee

If the bag that you are carrying with you exceeds the specifications that have been imposed, you will be charged an extra fee for these bags based on whether they are oversized or overweight.

If your checked baggage weighs above 50 pounds you will need to pay an extra 25 USD per bag. If it exceeds 70 pounds, you will be charged 100 USD per bag in addition to the earlier fee. This only applies to all bags below 100 pounds.

If the total weight exceeds 100 pounds, your bag will not be allowed to transport by the normal channel but will need to be shipped externally.

For bags that exceed the size requirement you are required to make payments of 75 USD per bag depending on the size they are above 62 inches in linear dimensions. However, this is only applicable for bags up to 80 inches. Anything above that will not be allowed on board.

The only time that these penalties are excluded is if you happen to be part of the military or you have some disabilities. If you are carrying any wheelchairs or crutches, they will not be charged the extra penalty fee and will be allowed unconditionally as long as you can authorize them. If you are a military officer, bags with excess weight or size will be allowed only when they are covered with a duffel bag.

Special equipment

Musical Instruments

If you are going to check-in musical instruments, they will be given the same count as other checked baggage. There will not be any extra fee for them unless you have already used the baggage allowance space with your other baggage.

Do make sure not to use a baggage belt around your instrument since it could break. Also, you can put a tag on top of the package to notify that the item is a musical instrument so that the authorities will know to handle it properly without breaking anything if it is too fragile.  

Sporting goods

If you are going to check in your sporting equipment do note that not all equipment will be allowed without proper authorization. While regular equipment like bats, balls, cues, etc will be allowed inside; bows, arrows, fencing rapier, and similar sharp items will not be allowed on board unless they have been authorized.

In addition, pack them up properly and like the musical instruments mentioned above, you can put up tags to indicate what they are. Do note that kayaking boats are not allowed inside the flights.

In addition, all sporting goods must be checked-in and not carried in as carry-on baggage. No other extra fee than the one for checked-in baggage that is already imposed beforehand.

Firearms

No firearms or their replicas and ammunition will be allowed on board. The same falls to gun pellets, BB guns, air guns, and starter pistols. However, you can carry them inside your checked baggage but must be authorized by the higher-ups before you can pack them inside your bag.

Electric items

You can take anything electric on your checked-in baggage. However, they cannot be inside your carry-on. In addition, if you are going to transport your electric bicycle, you must disassemble it as much as possible and remove the battery before packaging it separately.

It will be given the same status as any other checked baggage. If the size or weight crosses the limit, the standard penalty fees will be imposed. The same case will be applied to other electric items like electric wheelchairs and medical equipment that run on electricity.

Of course, if you want you can also put up a tag on the bags to explain what is inside of them. This will help the handler to know how to handle them when they are loading or unloading the bags.

Powders

If you are going to carry any powdered items like makeup, medicine or baby food make sure that you do not pack anything that exceeds 350 ml in your baggage. In addition, you are not allowed to take any marijuana in powder or other forms.

This is because it has been banned federally and the airport authorities will not allow you to board the airline with any amount of this powder in your procession.

 Explosive and flammable items

No amount of items that can be considered fire hazards are allowed inside the aircraft. Hand grenades, dynamite, blasting caps, or anything that goes off if lit will not be allowed inside under any circumstances. The same goes for cooking oil, gasoline, aerosol, and chlorine products that could catch in flames.

If you must take a hand warmer with you it must be battery powered and meet the TSA 3-1-1 guideline. Otherwise, it will not be allowed to be transported under any circumstances. The same goes for small gas cartridges and similar heat generators.

Edible items

If you are in the first class you will not need to take any food or drink. This seating class comes together with complimentary meals and beverages. If you are in the main cabins, you are allowed to take in food but only in controlled amounts.

You are eligible to take in 3 ounces of food and about 100 ml of water. Of course, this is in the case that you need to take some medications that require you to feed beforehand. Do make sure to declare that you are taking them along in your carry-on before boarding the aircraft.

Restricted items 

Aside from having various policies and protocols, Virgin America also has various other restrictions on carrying certain items that have been dubbed as contrabands. The airline authorities will not allow these items onboard for any reason for the safety of the passengers. These contrabands are listed below:

• Anything sharp or pointy that could cause puncture or damage to anyone or thing. No knives are allowed inside. Knives that exceed 5 cm will not be allowed inside under any circumstances.
• Chemicals or Poisonous fluids including pesticides, as well as shampoos, detergents, and other similar substances, should not be in any of your bags.
• Matchboxes and lighters or any sort of fire hazardous objects of any type cannot be in any of your bags.
• Stunning devices like tasers and batons can stun and harm the human body.
• Any sort of drugs or medicine, unless you have a doctor’s prescription to prove your need for them.
• You are not allowed to take any fruits on you or any of your bags unless if it is in liquid form. Even then it must not exceed 100 ml.
• Gel-type candles and shoe cleaning oils or black inks are not allowed.  

Pet policy

If you have any pet to take along with you, you must buy tickets for the main cabin. The first-class seats do not have any arrangements for your pets. In addition to getting into the main cabin, you must also pay a pet transportation fee of 100 USD per pet. There are no limits for the number of pets that you will be taking with you.

Do note that the pet you are taking must be accompanied by a kennel or cage which must not cross the maximum dimension of 18 x 15 x 8 inches or 45 x 38 x 20 centimetres. In addition, you must ensure that the kennel does not allow any water to leak, will not let your pet escape, and most of all properly ventilated so that your pet can breathe through.

On the last note, you will be required to show the airline authorities the certificate for all the vaccinations that you’re pet and taken and the fact that the pet must be at least 8 weeks old in the minimum. This certificate must be issued within 30 days of buying the ticket.

FAQ