New baggage System for QF eff Dec 1, 2010

[markis10]

Hidden in the FF changes email:

[FONT=&quot]Domestic checked baggage changes[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For bookings made from 1 December 2010, for travel from 1 June 2011, Qantas is introducing a piece and weight allowance to domestic checked baggage[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. This means all Qantas customers will have a piece limit, as well as a weight limit, applied to their complimentary checked baggage allowances. When these changes take effect, Platinum Frequent Flyers will benefit from a generous allowance of two pieces, each up to 32kg, regardless of class of travel. You'll also enjoy extra allowances on selected Qantas international flights. Current privileges apply for travel until 31 May 2011. [/FONT]


Before 1 December 2010 for travel any time, or from 1 December for travel before 1 June 2011
Allowance

Economy 23kg (50lb)
Business 30kg (66lb)
Qantas Club members, Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 33kg (72lb) Economy 40kg (88lb) Business
Platinum Frequent Flyers 38kg (83lb) Economy 45kg (99lb) Business

For tickets issued: From 1 December 2010 for travel from 1 June 2011

Allowance

Economy 1 piece (maximum 23kg)
Business 1 piece (maximum 32kg)
Qantas Club members1 piece (maximum 32kg) regardless of travel class
Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 1 piece (maximum 32kg) Economy 2 pieces (maximum 32kg each) Business
Platinum Frequent Flyers 2 pieces (maximum 32kg each) regardless of travel class
​

 

[gilby08]

I'm thinking this is going to cause a bit of hassle for the staff at the airports, don't really like this change. Hopefully there will be more policing of carry-on baggage then!

 

[gilby08]

Also what would the new excess baggage charges end up being then?

 

[markis10]

International have changed as well:

Before 1 December 2010 for travel any time, or from 1 December for travel before 1 June 2011
Allowance
Economy/Premium Economy 23kg (50lb)
Business 30kg (66lb)
First 40kg (88lb)
Qantas Club members, Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 33kg (72lb) Economy/Premium Economy
40kg (88lb) Business 50kg (110lb) First
Platinum Frequent Flyers 38kg (83lb) Economy/Premium Economy
45kg (99lb) Business
55kg (121lb) First

For tickets issued: From 1 December 2010 for travel from 1 June 2011
Allowance
Economy/Premium Economy 23kg (50lb)
Business 32kg (70lb)
First 40kg (88lb)
Qantas Club members 32kg (70lb) in Economy/Premium Economy, 42kg (92lb) in Business
50kg (110lb) in First
Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 32kg (70lb) in Economy/Premium Economy,
64kg (140lb) in Business, 64kg (140lb) in First
Platinum Frequent Flyers 64kg (140lb) regardless of travel class

 

[MelUser]

I remember when the current set of changes was introduced this was called simplification even though domestically QF elites lost in a big way.

This new system looks ultra ultra complicated and my pity is on the poor airport checkin staff who have to know all this.

Also, currently on an upgraded flight, the QF baggage computer gets it wrong so heaven help us with the new system!!

If I introduced something this complicated at the company where I work I would lose my job.

Consumers (and employees) these days need simplicity.

 

[simongr]

Not sure I like these new limits. Although I am getting a net increase in allowance - this would have actually caused some major issues on my last trip.

I dont like having very large heavy bags - difficult to move on/off carousels and difficult to accommodate in the hire car.

Travelling with babygr last year we have about 7 pieces of checked luggage including the stroller. We clicked over 89KGs in total (they did count the stroller which I would push next time).

 

[Austman]

1 piece (maximum 32kg)

Can a 32kg bag be checked in today? That's one very heavy bag! It's not over bagage handler limits?

 

[gilby08]

No, 32kg is the absolute maximum for checked-baggage.. OH&S regulation.

 

[straitman]

Can a 32kg bag be checked in today? That's one very heavy bag! It's not over bagage handler limits?

No, 32kg is the absolute maximum for checked-baggage.. OH&S regulation.

gilby08,

I assume you are answering the question from Austman and if so aren't you saying the same thing here?

 

[markis10]

gilby08,

I assume you are answering the question from Austman and if so aren't you saying the same thing here?

Perhaps, "no, its not over baggage handler limits" might have made more sense

 

[anat0l]

64 kg for WP regardless of travel class - LOL indeed. :shock:

 

[Flashback]

It looks like QP NB members lose out the most here as when flying J they get a much lower limit than QP PS and above.

 

[jamesgou]

It looks like QP NB members lose out the most here as when flying J they get a much lower limit than QP PS and above.

I'm Gold.. So how does this work with sporting equipment?
I regularly travel with either a bike (full carbon so quite light but needs it's own bike bag) or in Winter with a snowboard (again light but needs it's own bag).

It's not a weight issue, but a number of items issue.

 

[anat0l]

The thing about this new system is that it's harder to easily remember what the allowances are. You'd remember it for your own status, but there otherwise really isn't a pattern as such.

Just for kicks and giggles, here are the matrices summarising the new allowances effective for flights flown after 1 Jun 2011 on tickets booked after 1 Dec 2010:

 

[iqis60]

I'm Gold.. So how does this work with sporting equipment?
I regularly travel with either a bike (full carbon so quite light but needs it's own bike bag) or in Winter with a snowboard (again light but needs it's own bag).

It's not a weight issue, but a number of items issue.

I'm in the same boat, Qantas have just stuffed up my domestic travel with a bike, I'm not a happy camper .

Here is an email I've just sent of to Qantas baggage-

Hi Qantas team,
I'm writing to give you feedback regarding your recently published changes to the baggage allowances for both domestic and international travel.
I am highly dissappointed with the changes that have been made and they will likely affect my future travel plans with Qantas, as they heavily restrict how I choose to travel.
In the past, a weight limit was applied for both domestic and international travel, without a limit on the number of items carried. This was very helpful, as I often travel with a bike and one peice of check through luggage that contains clothing and other necessary items. The bike bag I used was well within the dimensions of travel and the combined weight of both items was always below 23kg.

It is highly impractical to pack all my items within a bike bag, as it is just not designed for this kind of thing. I can understand placing a limit on the number of peices of luggage, as it is laughable how much many travellers check through, but reducing it to one peice per person for most flights is highly restrictive.

On a further note, as a gold frequent flyer (QFF xx_xx_X), I have enjoyed extra check through luggage and I was very suprised the new baggage arrangements didn't allow for two peices of luggage for a gold flyer. Whilst the tone of correspondence from QANTAS would have the reader feel that you were attempting to improve the program, in my view it has been very much degraded by these changes.

I should note that I organise a trip a year with Habitat for Humanity, taking ten or more volunteers on a trip overseas to build houses and where possible I try to book all of these fares through Qantas. I have done this is the past due to the benifits of flying with Qantas, including the ability to check more than one peice of luggage each, as we often bring tools along to donate to the overseas Habitat for Humanity program. I am aware that Qantas is helpful with extra baggage for this kind of thing, where contact is made with Qantas before the flight, but to be honest, it will be far easier for me just to book with another carrier.

I know that Qantas operates in a free market environment, where a balance needs to be struck between cost and level of service. I can see that there could be cost and time advantages obtained out of the new baggage arrrangments. Please understand that whilst these changes may reduce your cost of doing business, they will also heavily reduce how often I fly with your airline.

I would appreciate it if someone could contact me personally to discuss with me the new changes and I would be highly supportive of you reviewing the policy of baggage limits to allow two pieces of check luggage for all frequent flyers who are of status silver and above.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you and hope you are open to reviewing the current changes.

Kind Regards,
xx_xx

 

[jamesgou]

I'm in the same boat, Qantas have just stuffed up my domestic travel with a bike, I'm not a happy camper .

Here is an email I've just sent of to Qantas baggage-

Hi Qantas team,
I'm writing to give you feedback regarding your recently published changes to the baggage allowances for both domestic and international travel.
I am highly dissappointed with the changes that have been made and they will likely affect my future travel plans with Qantas, as they heavily restrict how I choose to travel.
In the past, a weight limit was applied for both domestic and international travel, without a limit on the number of items carried. This was very helpful, as I often travel with a bike and one peice of check through luggage that contains clothing and other necessary items. The bike bag I used was well within the dimensions of travel and the combined weight of both items was always below 23kg.

It is highly impractical to pack all my items within a bike bag, as it is just not designed for this kind of thing. I can understand placing a limit on the number of peices of luggage, as it is laughable how much many travellers check through, but reducing it to one peice per person for most flights is highly restrictive.

On a further note, as a gold frequent flyer (QFF xx_xx_X), I have enjoyed extra check through luggage and I was very suprised the new baggage arrangements didn't allow for two peices of luggage for a gold flyer. Whilst the tone of correspondence from QANTAS would have the reader feel that you were attempting to improve the program, in my view it has been very much degraded by these changes.

I should note that I organise a trip a year with Habitat for Humanity, taking ten or more volunteers on a trip overseas to build houses and where possible I try to book all of these fares through Qantas. I have done this is the past due to the benifits of flying with Qantas, including the ability to check more than one peice of luggage each, as we often bring tools along to donate to the overseas Habitat for Humanity program. I am aware that Qantas is helpful with extra baggage for this kind of thing, where contact is made with Qantas before the flight, but to be honest, it will be far easier for me just to book with another carrier.

I know that Qantas operates in a free market environment, where a balance needs to be struck between cost and level of service. I can see that there could be cost and time advantages obtained out of the new baggage arrrangments. Please understand that whilst these changes may reduce your cost of doing business, they will also heavily reduce how often I fly with your airline.

I would appreciate it if someone could contact me personally to discuss with me the new changes and I would be highly supportive of you reviewing the policy of baggage limits to allow two pieces of check luggage for all frequent flyers who are of status silver and above.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you and hope you are open to reviewing the current changes.

Kind Regards,
xx_xx

It's type of contrast to Virgin blue:

If you are travelling with Sports Equipment on a Virgin Blue domestic flight, you will be eligible to check-in an extra 5kg of baggage allowance free of charge
Virgin Blue Oversized baggage

 

[openseat]

I'm thinking this is going to cause a bit of hassle for the staff at the airports, don't really like this change. Hopefully there will be more policing of carry-on baggage then!

The future is that you do it yourself, the computer is strict with the cut off concerning weight and time, all under the spin of enhancement. If you want to check in with a person then there will be a three hour line!

Carry on will become more and more like the US, until they get tough with enforcement.

 

[John Reid]

I'm in the same boat, Qantas have just stuffed up my domestic travel with a bike, I'm not a happy camper .

Yep, me too. Usually a suitcase and a bike. My bike bag fully packed with bike, pump,tools and accessories weighs 14kg. So, this new policy means I need to add $105 to the ticket price.

Bad policy Qantas.

 

[iqis60]

Yep, me too. Usually a suitcase and a bike. My bike bag fully packed with bike, pump,tools and accessories weighs 14kg. So, this new policy means I need to add $105 to the ticket price.

Bad policy Qantas.

not good at all.

I'd appreciate if anyone in the same situation as me could send off an email too. It will take a lot of emails to get them to change there mind...

 

[markis10]

QF have a format for their email addresses, I would suggest targeting your email rather than using the generic one they use for a firewall if you really want to be heard.