Garuda Indonesia will move to a piece-based checked baggage policy for tickets issued from 1 September 2026, lifting allowances to up to 64kgs across most routes – including popular Australia-Bali services.
The Garuda Indonesia baggage policy shift replaces the current total-weight system with a piece concept that counts the number of bags and the maximum weight per bag.
The new rules apply to tickets issued on or after 1 September 2026 for travel on or after that date.
Tickets issued before September keep the baggage allowance shown on the ticket, even for journeys that fall after the change.
For Australians flying to Bali, Jakarta and beyond, the practical takeaway is more luggage.
International economy passengers move to two pieces of up to 23kg each (46kg total), up from a 30kg weight allowance. Business and first Class travellers get two pieces of up to 32kg each, or 64kg in total, up from 40kg and 50kg respectively.
On domestic routes within Indonesia, economy passengers get one piece of up to 23kg (previously 20kg), with business and first class allowed two pieces of up to 32kg each (previously 30kg and 40kg respectively).
Economy class passengers who need extra flexibility can add a heavy bag option, allowing a single checked piece of between 23kg and 32kg for an additional fee, rather than buying a full extra piece.
On domestic services, Economy climbs from 20kg to 23kg, Business from 30kg to 64kg and First Class from 40kg to 64kg.
Depending on the applicable number of pieces and maximum weight per piece, passengers may gain up to 34kg of additional checked baggage compared with the previous policy.
Why Garuda is making the change
Garuda Indonesia director of transformation Neil Raymond Mills said the change reflected a commitment to a more modern and transparent travel experience.
“The implementation of the piece concept forms part of Garuda Indonesia’s broader transformation to modernise our services and provide passengers with greater certainty,” Mills remarked.
“Clearer limits on the number and maximum weight of baggage pieces will allow passengers to plan and prepare their baggage more easily, from the initial stages of their journey through to departure.”
The piece concept is also widely used by global airlines, bringing Garuda into line with international standards and creating consistency across its networks.
“Its implementation at Garuda Indonesia is expected to strengthen service standardisation, support more efficient baggage handling and provide passengers with greater certainty, including when connecting to international flight networks,” said Mills.
Garuda currently flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Bali and Jakarta.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) report on outbound travel for April, Indonesia was our most-visited destination for the month, with 161,700 journeys recorded. This equates to a massive 16% increase compared to the same month in 2025.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Baggage is a constant client query on Indonesia bookings, and Bali sits at the top of the ABS outbound charts. A jump to 46kg in Economy and up to 64kg up front gives travel advisors a clean selling point, and the pre-1 September issue date rule is worth flagging so clients ticketing early know exactly what they’re getting.
