Baggage Allowance naz_s in Cairns

[sammy]

Last month, my husband (gold FF) was castigated for checking in with 27 kg of baggage when flying economy (international). He indicated that he thought he was allowed 30 kg, and the lady replied that no, he only got 25, but could have an extra 5 kg for being in Qantas Club (he's not, other than through being a gold ff).
After checking, he called me and confirmed that, yes, silver and gold ffs get 30 kg.
Now here is the killer...
Next day, I turned up with my daughter (both silver FFs) for the same flight, only to be told by a different person that we were only allowed 25 kg each. However, as I was forewarned, I (politeley) held my ground. When the lady triumphantly (and rather rudely) pulled out the rule book (intending to rub my nose in it) she was horrified to find that I was correct (shouldn't the check in staff already know this?).
She then announced that, since our bags weighed a total of 61.5 kg, we would have to pay excess baggage for 2kgs.
So, I paid up.
Has anyone ever experienced such ignorance or bloody-mindedness from qantas check-in staff before, or is it just a Cairns thing?
As a nine year expat who flies in and out a bit, it was a first for me.

 

[bigjobs]

you had it good ... be grateful you were not flying with qantaslink.

over weight bags ...? no flight for you, come back one year!

there is a seinfeld episode in all of this somewhere :wink:

 

[N860CR]

I guess the memo's gone out to crack down on overweight baggage. When I came home from Thailand about 18 months ago with Qantas I checked 40kg on my 20kg ticket (no bonus bags for me) and the checkin lady just winked and said "let's not tell anybody".

I know it ends up costing them money, shame they can't turn a blind eye for the sake of 2kg's though (how much was it, $10?). Surely the money's not worth the poor PR (which Qantas has a lot of lately)

 

[straitman]

I guess the memo's gone out to crack down on overweight baggage. When I came home from Thailand about 18 months ago with Qantas I checked 40kg on my 20kg ticket (no bonus bags for me) and the checkin lady just winked and said "let's not tell anybody".

I know it ends up costing them money, shame they can't turn a blind eye for the sake of 2kg's though (how much was it, $10?). Surely the money's not worth the poor PR (which Qantas has a lot of lately)

As has been discussed here a few times in the past, I find that the response you get (mostly) depends on how you treat them. Play the game and don't practise your "oneupsmanship". Laugh and joke with them and let them know they are in control and then politely correct them if necessary.

:wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[sammy]

I fly a LOT (often not one world).
I am always polite, charming even (I know what side my bread is buttered on).
This did not happen because I was rude, used one upmanship or got the lady offside.
She was just a naz_!
The excess baggage cost something like $40.
That was for 750 grams per person...
Since a similar thing happened to my husband just days before, I can only assume its a nasty Cairns thing.

 

[Platy]

I fly through CNS very often, although hardly ever with check in luggage. In my experience the staff at check in and QF Club (both domestic and international) are suitably professional and courteous and I have come to know one or two on first name terms.

Recently I did manage to get two carry on bags onto the Dash 8 service Mackay-Townsville-Cairns but only I suspect because I had started the day in Brisbane on the Brisbane-Mackay jet service and received all three boarding passes at the BNE Club.

Recently one lady at the QF Club desk welcomed me with an absolute scowl as I walked up to the counter, and the scowl worsened considerably when I showed her my Platinum card and guest and explained I was seeing my guest off and not flying myself. She was clearly about to show me the door and I was ready to have the "please check the rules I can come in here whenever I want as Platinum" discussion, but fortunately she thought better of it.

This contrasted so remarkably with my recent trip to Townsville in which the Club manager couldn't have been more helpful.

The other problem at Cairns is staff receiving preferentially treatment for seating, upgrades, etc, as I personally witness staff being "looked after" well in advance of the flight time.

 

[straitman]

I fly a LOT (often not one world).
I am always polite, charming even (I know what side my bread is buttered on).
This did not happen because I was rude, used one upmanship or got the lady offside.
She was just a naz_!
The excess baggage cost something like $40.
That was for 750 grams per person...
Since a similar thing happened to my husband just days before, I can only assume its a nasty Cairns thing.

sammy

I wasn't suggesting that you were rude on this occasion, just that in the vast majority of situations there is no need for it ever to get to the situation you mention.

Having said that you / we don't know what has happened for the naz_ as you put it to want to enforce this rule.

Was she having a bad day for what ever reason :?:

Had her supervisor just jumped down her throat for some reason :?:

Was she simply the messenger and enforcing the rules (even though she got them wrong) that management had decided to enforce that day :?:

Not trying to build up the QF staff here or to put your story down. Just trying to offer another possible explaination.

 

[serfty]

Maybe they are under pressure there.

There's been reports lately of the QP being extremely crowded and they are frequently having to deny entry to eligible PAX.

Maybe it's the same with general passenger loads and the pressure is starting to tell.

BTW, If you are travelling on an itinery that involves NA travel, you are entitled to 2 pieces of checked luggage. MAX weight for each 32 Kg.

If your itinerary includes a flight to/from or via the USA, US Territories, Tahiti, South America or Canada, you are entitled to two pieces of checked baggage on all Qantas, QantasLink and Australian Airlines operated flights within your itinerary#, regardless of whether these flights appear on the same or a separate ticket. You will be required to provide proof of your international ticket at check-in indicating travel to/from or via the USA, US Territories, Tahiti, South America or Canada.

More here!. Silvers, Gold, Platinum and CL are ALSO entitled to a third peice.