Qantas Carry-on Garment Bags

[atomik]

Hello!
So I'm flying to BNE in December for a performing arts festival and taking x2 costumes along for my performances.
On previous such trips, costumes were sent as freight, but I'm wondering what other's experiences have been regarding garment bags.

A Qantas support agent just told me there's no weight restriction on garment bags, just the dimensions and rigidity. Going by that and their online guidelines, am I correctly understanding that I could theoretically pack around 10kg of costumes in a compliant garment bag, plus the typical carry on allowances?

Carry-on baggage | Qantas AU

In reality the total costume thickness may prohibit me from fitting it all in the garment bag, but it's a deciding factor as to whether I need to pre-purchase additional baggage or not. Seems too good to be true that no weight restriction exists.

Also, how are garment bags typically treated in security screening, do the contents need to be individually removed/scanned? Should the hangar be all plastic, instead of a typical metal+timber/plastic? Some costume items like vests have ornate motifs/decorations and we try to pack everything carefully for transit, I can foresee a nightmare scanning experience!

TIA!

 

[Pushka]

Great question. I’m going to be carrying on a garment bag with wedding dress overseas. I never considered security issues. Will make sure hangars are plastic too and that dress is enclosed in clear plastic so they don’t touch fabric if they need to inspect it.

 

[Vic]

You linked the carry on rules, for non-dash 8 flights that clearly says 7 kg per piece.
There is no "plus the typical carry on allowance" You can have a 185cm garment bag and a 105 cm bag. That is also stated on the link you provided.

 

[MickC32]

Just be careful with garment bags (as with any carry on really) as cabin crew can get picky. I was once travelling with a colleague who carried his garment bag MEL-SYD no issue but was it was refused on the way back the next day.

 

[Pushka]

Just be careful with garment bags (as with any carry on really) as cabin crew can get picky. I was once travelling with a colleague who carried his garment bag MEL-SYD no issue but was it was refused on the way back the next day.

Thanks for that info. We are doing a very convoluted trip. Adelaide, Mel, DPS, Doha, CDG with Qantas and Qatar and in J, then Air France in economy to Manchester. I’m hoping the French Romantics will help with the Y flight. I’m not concerned about any flights in J. But I am also bringing an empty hard sided carry on that I will use to put the dress in by rolling, should anyone arc up.

 

[atomik]

.. 7 kg per piece.

Cheers, that weight restriction wasn't clear at first.
So it looks like a bag and garment bag looks is the go, handy!

 

[blackcat20]

Had no issue carrying a wedding dress MEL-SYD-HNL return, neither on board nor at security.

 

[Pushka]

Had no issue carrying a wedding dress MEL-SYD-HNL return, neither on board nor at security.

I’m hoping I get (several) romantics in the crew. The only flight I’m a bit concerned about will be Air France from CDG to Manchester. Short flight so I can empty the carry on and roll it into there and not tell the bride that’s what I had to do. I’m also going to put something on my hand to make sure I don’t leave it behind some where!

I don’t have to worry coming back. I snagged Award F seats from Manchester through Dubai, stopover, then through to Sydney in Emirates for them.

 

[blackcat20]

I’m hoping I get (several) romantics in the crew. The only flight I’m a bit concerned about will be Air France from CDG to Manchester. Short flight so I can empty the carry on and roll it into there and not tell the bride that’s what I had to do. I’m also going to put something on my hand to make sure I don’t leave it behind some where!

I don’t have to worry coming back. I snagged Award F seats from Manchester through Dubai, stopover, then through to Sydney in Emirates for them.

I rolled mine into an overhead on our HA flights no drama. Bag was already folded in half for carrying and I just folded it again then popped it in an overhead and made sure no one else put anything in there. Not even a wrinkly on the dress. On our QF flight home from SYD I had to do similar, but I did have to chase away a suit who thought he was going to cram his carry on in with it

A tip for security; unfold the garment bag and hook the coat hanger to the handle of your roll-aboard. The bag will pull the garment bag through the scanner without any issues. Just be warned the inside of many scanners are very dusty so they garment bag may get dirty; I panicked when mine came out with a thick layer of dust but the dress was just fine. I popped into the bathroom in the lounge to unzip and check it at the suggestion of the desk agent.

 

[Pushka]

I rolled mine into an overhead on our HA flights no drama. Bag was already folded in half for carrying and I just folded it again then popped it in an overhead and made sure no one else put anything in there. Not even a wrinkly on the dress. On our QF flight home from SYD I had to do similar, but I did have to chase away a suit who thought he was going to cram his carry on in with it

A tip for security; unfold the garment bag and hook the coat hanger to the handle of your roll-aboard. The bag will pull the garment bag through the scanner without any issues. Just be warned the inside of many scanners are very dusty so they garment bag may get dirty; I panicked when mine came out with a thick layer of dust but the dress was just fine. I popped into the bathroom in the lounge to unzip and check it at the suggestion of the desk agent.

Thankyou. Great tips there. I was thinking of putting in some clean white gloves in case some security person in manky gloves decides they need to see, touch and feel it!

I bought a hard case carry on from KMart last week, so cheap and also nice and new for this purpose. Might pop it in there each time it goes through security anyway then take it out later.

I can’t believe how close it is now.