Is there much difference in what luggage weights and sizes are allowed for domestic flights in AU between Virgin Blue and Qantas?

You can check the baggage info on each airline's web site. Here's the URL for VB, which I have at my fingertips because we're using that airline for our internal flights in October.

http://tinyurl.com/93tb6

By the way, are you familiar with VB Happy Hour fares? They discount fares on different routes every day between noon and 1 pm on their website. That's 7:00 to 8:00 pm here on the West Coast. Well worth familiarizing yourself with these fares, IMHO.

Actually Betsy I have been comparing the Virgin Happy Hour flights each day and really they are OK but the restriction on when you can take them is a bit harsh. I find that overall Jetstar prices are better and since Mr Richard Branson who owns Virgin Airlines and who is a British National but seems to want to have his say about the Australian Government and the Australian people's stance on International Politics I don't think that I will be flying his airline again unless in an emergency. Why do these people think that because they have money they have inside knowledge and expertise in issues that do not concern them?

you obviously haven't had the bad experience of many including myself on Jetstar - whom I will never fly with again !!

Yep I have but also had a bad experience on Virgin so it has evened things out.

Liz, during the time I was looking for internal flights, the VB dates and times were perfect. Melbourne to Hobart, Launceston to Sydney, and RT Sydney to Townsville, all non-stop. I booked in July. I've checked back a couple of times and agree with you--the destinations and prices are not as favorable as a few months ago.

By the way, I just booked two nights at Matilda's! Excited to stay there due to all the good reviews on this board.

You won't regret that Betsy but I hope that you told her that you heard about it on Fodors. We need to know where the information comes from to make sure that standards are kept up and continued.

PS: you are right about some of the times for Virgin are better than Jetstar's timings.
Did you book the Matilda Suite or the Blue Room?

I toggled back and forth between travelmate.com, which compares fares, and the VB Happy Hour website. The VB HH fares were always the least expensive of the fares displayed.

LOL re the suite at Matilda's. Here in CA , DH and I are used to a roomy king size bed. We'll stay at Matilda's on our sixth and seventh nights in Australia, so I was thrilled to be able to book Pinot's retreat with twin beds!

Oops, I forgot to add that nights one through five will be in a queen size bed.

Besty I would check if Pinot retreat has two large beds because twin beds here in Australia mean two seperate beds and they are usually not large seperate beds either. The Matilda suite,the Blue room and the Oriental room have lovely queen beds but the Matilda suite has the most area in the room and the Blue room has a lovely sitting area with access to the verander and the garden - both queen beds are lovely comfortable beds in an antique bases.