Changes to Qantas Checked Baggage Allowance from 1 December

[MelUser]

I wonder if eventually on line bookin with Qantas will allow you to pre pay extra luggage such as the Tiger and Jetstar websites allow - it is a lot cheaper to pre pay with those airlines than at the airport - in fact if there's any doubt it is worth prepaying with them. We'll see what QF does.

 

[Evan]

I wonder if eventually on line bookin with Qantas will allow you to pre pay extra luggage such as the Tiger and Jetstar websites allow - it is a lot cheaper to pre pay with those airlines than at the airport - in fact if there's any doubt it is worth prepaying with them. We'll see what QF does.

And i dont fly LCC's often and usually only with carry-on only but if i remember my last Jet* booking you could pre-pay even after the booking had been made, so you would pack a couple of days before, weigh your bags and then purchase if needed ? Am i remembering correctly ?

E

 

[Dave Noble]

It is a shame that it is changing, but doesn't seem too surprising really; the current domestic allowances are rather generous for those with status or travelling business class

Dave

 

[MelUser]

For me personally, I always flew QF domestically because of the generous luggage allowance. I will now consider others when travelling with lots of cases.

In my view it is a silly move on QF's part as many pax carry little or no luggage domestically so it doesn't hurt then if another pax brings more.

Mind you, I remember flying LH from FRA to HAM a few years ago - literally a 40 minute flight where the number of people with checked luggage on a full plane was no more than 6 - I saw this at the luggage carosel at HAM. Anyway, LH still extracted 20 Euros out of me for being above the 20kg limit.

 

[Platy]

...the current domestic allowances are rather generous for those with status or travelling business class

Dave

I dunno, Dave, IMHO it is a good opportunity for QF to define product demarcation and offer some benefit to very loyal customers. The current trend is product convergence.

Now I am flying next week CNS-SYD and planning on checking in two large suitcases, I am not too sure whether I should be worrying about their weight (I am a WP)??? :shock:

 

[serfty]

... Now I am flying next week CNS-SYD and planning on checking in two large suitcases, I am not too sure whether I should be worrying about their weight (I am a WP)??? :shock:

Going back to the OP:

The Qantas website shows
"Important Changes to your Checked Baggage Allowance

From 1 December 2008, Qantas is introducing a new checked baggage allowance that will make it easier when you travel with Qantas. The new allowances will apply to any tickets purchased from 1 December 2008 for travel from 1 March 2009."
...

http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/news/200811/1215

http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/baggageCheckedNew

 

[Dave Noble]

I dunno, Dave, IMHO it is a good opportunity for QF to define product demarcation and offer some benefit to very loyal customers. The current trend is product convergence.

Now I am flying next week CNS-SYD and planning on checking in two large suitcases, I am not too sure whether I should be worrying about their weight (I am a WP)??? :shock:

Since it isn't effective till march, I wouldn't be worrying other than 32Kg max per piece

From my conversations with check in agents, it does seem that they are setting the systems up to enforce the charging of excess baggage and having a uniform weight policy seems a good move ( for them )

Personally, Im a bit disappointed since from time to time I have taken advantage of the generous allowances and also the fact that they would often waive excesses. This seems to be going

Dave

 

[Lord Mud]

Well there goes the shopping trips to Thailand...
I fly back to Aust on Qf about twice a year and I typiaclay carry about 27kgs. I noticed they were going to charge $50/kg excess baggage! for me thats like $200! thats nuts! I now have to pack very sparingly, but for a three week trip 23kgs ain't gonna cut it. I honestly cannot see the issue with 32Kgs considering that whats they have been carrying for the last god knows how many years.
I think its nothing more than money grubbing

 

[Dave Noble]

Well there goes the shopping trips to Thailand...
I fly back to Aust on Qf about twice a year and I typiaclay carry about 27kgs. I noticed they were going to charge $50/kg excess baggage! for me thats like $200! thats nuts! I now have to pack very sparingly, but for a three week trip 23kgs ain't gonna cut it. I honestly cannot see the issue with 32Kgs considering that whats they have been carrying for the last god knows how many years.
I think its nothing more than money grubbing

Actually 23Kg is an increase on the current 20Kg on Asia - Australia routes. The main thing that seems to be coming in is that all excess will be charged for rather than some getting let off

Dave

 

[Commuter]

Well there goes the shopping trips to Thailand...
I fly back to Aust on Qf about twice a year and I typiaclay carry about 27kgs. I noticed they were going to charge $50/kg excess baggage! for me thats like $200! thats nuts! I now have to pack very sparingly, but for a three week trip 23kgs ain't gonna cut it. I honestly cannot see the issue with 32Kgs considering that whats they have been carrying for the last god knows how many years.
I think its nothing more than money grubbing

Consider using a flight operated by BA if you want potentially lower excess baggage fees. Excess baggage fees CAN be less - theoretically you can get an extra bag weighing 23kg for £90 (or whatever the applicable 'per bag fee' is for that route) on BA metal (or BA composite or whatever the case may be in the future).

But Australia to Thailand limit has been 20kg for economy as Dave Noble said, so 23kg is an increase in allowance, not a decrease.

 

[Danger]

Have I got this right?

1) WP on QF in Y JFK-SYD travelling after the changes have been introduced - is my checked baggage allowance 69kgs?

2) WP on QF in Y MEL-SIN travelling after the changes have been introduced - is my checked baggage allowance 38kgs?

3) Last year, as Qantas Club Silver, I flew LAX-SYD in Y with 92kgs of luggage (three bags). I believed my checked limit to be 96kgs (3 x 32kgs). The agent at LAX had no problem but on transfer to Perth in Sydney, the agent asked if I'd been charged excess baggage out of LAX. Was I lucky or was I write?

 

[anat0l]

Have I got this right?

1) WP on QF in Y JFK-SYD travelling after the changes have been introduced - is my checked baggage allowance 69kgs?

2) WP on QF in Y MEL-SIN travelling after the changes have been introduced - is my checked baggage allowance 38kgs?

3) Last year, as Qantas Club Silver, I flew LAX-SYD in Y with 92kgs of luggage (three bags). I believed my checked limit to be 96kgs (3 x 32kgs). The agent at LAX had no problem but on transfer to Perth in Sydney, the agent asked if I'd been charged excess baggage out of LAX. Was I lucky or was I write?

I hope I got this right:

1) JFK-SYD falls under the rules for Travel to/from North America, so that is 2 pieces at 23kg per piece. Since you are a WP you are entitled to one extra piece (USA flight - note subtle difference). This means you will get a total of 3 pieces at 23kg per piece. Total allowance equals 69kg, so correct.

2) MEL-SIN falls under the rules for All other International Travel, so that is 23kg for Y. As a WP, you are entitled to an extra 15kg, so correct again - your total allowance is 38kg.

3) The agent probably didn't know that you have status and that entitled you to an extra piece of luggage (so you were OK for LAX-SYD). Although the SYD-PER would have been more interesting, since the allowance for domestic (old rules) in Y was 1 piece at 32kg, plus your PS status gives you one extra piece (note your PS and QC entitlements do not "stack" - you get the best offer of the two). Unless you upgraded to J or purchased J for that leg, you would've needed to pay an overweight charge for the domestic sector.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I now have to pack very sparingly, but for a three week trip 23kgs ain't gonna cut it. I honestly cannot see the issue with 32Kgs considering that whats they have been carrying for the last god knows how many years.

What are you carrying, for a 3 week trip, that is 30kgs?

SO and I managed 5 weeks RTW just now on a single 30kg suitcase between the two of us (plus probably another 10kg carryon). With this new restriction we'll take two suitcases (one each) next time. Unless you have sporting gear like Dave, I don't understand what you can be carrying that requires so much weight...

 

[Evan]

Just a random checkpoint....
I just started a 4 or 5 week trip to 3 or 4 countries and my bags weighed 15kgs. Other times i have gone for 2 weeks and needed to take 27-28kgs.


I really like to know how to pack light ! i need to do something about all my electrical bits... but they are hand luggage, still o prefer it lighter.

E

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Just a random checkpoint....
I just started a 4 or 5 week trip to 3 or 4 countries and my bags weighed 15kgs. Other times i have gone for 2 weeks and needed to take 27-28kgs.


I really like to know how to pack light ! i need to do something about all my electrical bits... but they are hand luggage, still o prefer it lighter.

Take less stuff?

What electrical stuff do you need to take?

 

[Evan]

Take less stuff?

What electrical stuff do you need to take?

Yes i can figure that

- Notebook + charger, mouse, ethernet
- Mobile phone x 2 + charger x 2
- PDA (usb charger)
- iPod nano
- Power adapter
- Digital Camera + charger, dock, cables


I am working on deciding on new phones / PDA, maybe one of the HP phones i will try, one of the other guys has one and thinks its rather good, possibly an iphone.
New notebook early next year also, lighter and smaller (not that my current 14" model is that bad, i will get a 12.1" one)
I already have small flat thin ethernet cables etc from Japan.

I guess just have to see how it works out.

For my main luggage i have sort of got it under control but still annoys when i need to wear a suit and have to then take 3 pairs of shoes (runners, casual, work) and all that extra stuff.

E

 

[JohnK]

You would be surprised just how much all the little things add up.

On a two week trip to Thailand I will take all the clothes I need for the duration of the trip, eg 2 pair trousers, 1 pair jeans, 2 pair of golf trousers, 14 long sleeve shirts, 4 golf t-shirts, some singlets, tracksuit top, underwear, dress socks and golf socks, 1 pair of dress shoes and 1 pair of sneakers. I take the trousers, jeans and t-shirts to the laundry when necessary and wash the underwear and socks in the room as necessary.

Then we have medicines, personal travel kit, phone charger, power adapters, plastic knives, forks, spoons, salt, plastic cups, tissues, golf gloves, tees, some golf balls etc. So all up ~8kgs for golf bag and clubs, ~14kgs checked luggage and ~8kgs carry-on. If I then buy mum some presents on the way back this could easily add another 5-6 kgs to the luggage. No problem if travelling QF but throw in a WHY flight on another carrier and the potential to pay excess baggage is very real. Anyway to each their own....

 

[serfty]

Those spare batteries, chargers weigh nothing if they can fit into you pockets.

SWMBO and I went Oz-USA-EUR-SIN-MEL for 10 days with a rollaboard each, my laptop bag and her hand bag.

Did need to check one of the bags ex LHR and SIN due to stuff we'd purchased.

 

[tuapekastar]

I have a medium sized suitcase, and when I stuff it chock-a-block with 'stuff', it may reach 18kgs on a really bad day. But 12-14 kgs is more the norm.

Barring packing for radically different climates, whatever does for one week, does for six weeks. Just do a wash each week.

Obviously there can be special needs like work products, diving, golfing and the like, but for Joe Average on a holiday, the current allowances seem quite adequate.

Evan, I'm struggling a little with your list of electricals :shock:

One phone is sufficient for me...and don't PDAs incorporate a phone anyway? Along with playing music? Pardon my ignorance on this one...

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yes i can figure that

- Notebook + charger, mouse, ethernet
- Mobile phone x 2 + charger x 2
- PDA (usb charger)
- iPod nano
- Power adapter
- Digital Camera + charger, dock, cables


I am working on deciding on new phones / PDA, maybe one of the HP phones i will try, one of the other guys has one and thinks its rather good, possibly an iphone.
New notebook early next year also, lighter and smaller (not that my current 14" model is that bad, i will get a 12.1" one)
I already have small flat thin ethernet cables etc from Japan.
E

I take far more than you, and manage to fit it into a Microsoft branded Neotec bag. Don't feel you have too much stuff.

At Helsinki airport they got a bit freaked out when they put that bag though the scanner (too many cables etc). They were a bit reassured when they saw the large Microsoft logo