Checking carry-on luggage at gate

[Kangol]

Flew ADL-MEL this morning and noticed something I've never seen before on a QF flight.

One FA scanning BPs, one other staff member (looked like ground staff member due to uniform and she wasn't on the flight) standing at the start of the boarding line looking at peoples' bags and selecting passengers to weigh their bags and place them in the "guide" thing to ensure they meet the size requirements.

I wasn't checked, but as I boarded I heard a couple in front of me being told:
"I can't let you take it on at that weight, it's the right size but you'll have to put some items in your wife's bag"
"If it's over 7kg you are liable if it falls"

Is this a sign of things to come?

FWIW the FA scanning BPs and watching the debacle had a WTF look on her face the whole time. Just like everyone else in the line. I mean something ridiculous like a huge surfboard wouldn't fit in any of the overhead compartments but most of the bags being inspected were obviously within the size requirements. I hope this is not some QF powertrooping gone bad.

 

[nlagalle]

Flew ADL-MEL this morning and noticed something I've never seen before on a QF flight.

One FA scanning BPs, one other staff member (looked like ground staff member due to uniform and she wasn't on the flight) standing at the start of the boarding line looking at peoples' bags and selecting passengers to weigh their bags and place them in the "guide" thing to ensure they meet the size requirements.

I wasn't checked, but as I boarded I heard a couple in front of me being told:
"I can't let you take it on at that weight, it's the right size but you'll have to put some items in your wife's bag"
"If it's over 7kg you are liable if it falls"

Is this a sign of things to come?

FWIW the FA scanning BPs and watching the debacle had a WTF look on her face the whole time. Just like everyone else in the line. I mean something ridiculous like a huge surfboard wouldn't fit in any of the overhead compartments but most of the bags being inspected were obviously within the size requirements. I hope this is not some QF powertrooping gone bad.

I've not seen them weigh items, but certainly check the number of bags and size. I think it is a good thing. Far too often i see people with the kitchen sink packed and then can't get it in the overhead lockers.

 

[equus]

Saw this in MEL for a flight to BNE on a Sunday evening mid December. Were weighing and size checking - including pinging people with an international size carry on and not letting them have a second bag.

Flight was already delayed due to late incoming crew - after all the gate checking (and heaps of DYKWIA, "I am platinum" etc) it was even later.

 

[plain_traveller]

Good on QANTAS for checking it...been on way too many flights where the overhead lockers are jam packed because people have been allowed to take much more than they should.

Nothing worse than when you board early, put your bag in the overhead locker and then some latecomer rocks up and shoves their stuff in, treating your bag without much care in the world.

And further, disembarking the plane is painful enough without having to wait for some old couple further up the plane trying to lift their large bags out of the overhead locker.

There are limits...stick to them or check your luggage in. You might lose 10 minutes at the airport waiting for it when you land - BIG DEAL!

 

[reductionist]

Good on QANTAS for checking it

I agree with this.

If they checked all the time I'd be far less concerned about priority boarding.

 

[medhead]

Sounds good-ish. But would be better if they were primarily enforcing size and number of items. Those are the problem children IME.

There are limits...stick to them or check your luggage in. You might lose 10 minutes at the airport waiting for it when you land - BIG DEAL!

If only it were that simple. Last time I checked luggage on domestic I had to wait 23 minutes after I arrived at the carousel before it was even turned on. So a good half an hour between docking and me having my bag. Times by 50 flights a year to that airport, you do the maths.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[Taezar]

Huzzah!
I for one am so over people trying to carry their 15kg ish bags down and aisle and wacking ppl with them. You can see their muscles straining. And people with 2-3 bags is just crazy. At least near the front of the plane it isn't too bad usually - less it is a full flight.
I say weigh and check!!

 

[Timba-Jet]

A crack down on carry on bags is well overdue, more on size and number rather than weigh. I'm a fan of if you can safely managed and lift that's good enough for me.

I might add, business travellers and frequent flyers also tend to push the limit with their 2nd personal item in Y. Especially when they (us) place both the rollaboard and biggish 2nd item in the overhead bins.

Enough of the kitchen sink!

 

[Simo]

The weight thing is a real issue as by the time you put a laptop and the charger in the scales it will be pretty close to 7kg then add a few files and you are over 7kgs.

I saw one person actually put is camera around his neck and video camera around someone else's neck because the FA's where weighing all the carry on.

I would not want my laptop to be put under the plane.

 

[kalboy]

Isnt there a dash 8 service on that route still (qantaslink). They may be a bit fussier ?

 

[samiam]

And further, disembarking the plane is painful enough without having to wait for some old couple further up the plane trying to lift their large bags out of the overhead locker.

Provided they are within the restrictions, what's the problem with this?

 

[simcat]

Isnt there a dash 8 service on that route still (qantaslink). They may be a bit fussier ?

Not sure about that route but I have had to (unfortunately) catch a Dash-8 fairly regularly from BNE to Newcastle and they are definitely more pedantic about the size and weight of carry-ons, and they ask / check fairly often IME.

 

[medhead]

Isnt there a dash 8 service on that route still (qantaslink). They may be a bit fussier ?

There is one, only, dash 8 a day and it flys ADL-MEL in the afternoon


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[drron]

Flying in and out of DPO I certainly am used to the Dash8.I like the premium hand carry they do.So much so I proffer my acceptable size carry on to go in the back.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Flying again in a few days and will keep and eye out QF are policing this.

7kg x 2 pieces.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/carry-on-baggage/global/en

 

[138-CAN]

I've always been concerned about the limitations of overhead compartments and people's heavy carry on luggage in the event of mid air incidents. I wonder if their procedures have changed since the recent compensation pay out??

 

[risky]

Qantas managed to write-off 2 checked bags last year, so there are definitely some things you do not ever want to put underneath. Like a previous poster said, after you pack a laptop and assorted cables, gadgets and documents, 7kg doesn't seem like a lot.

I would prefer to see carry-on checking on Jetstar/Virgin before it comes to Qantas though; with many of the LCC tickets sold without a checked luggage allowance, the sort of carry-on volume on those flights is ridiculous. At least with nearly all of the Qantas flights I have been on there seems to have been adequate overhead storage; hopefully the OP example was more to do with peak travel periods and not a regular Qantas feature.

 

[samiam]

At least with nearly all of the Qantas flights I have been on there seems to have been adequate overhead storage; hopefully the OP example was more to do with peak travel periods and not a regular Qantas feature.

In my experience, the above is the exception to the rule. Flying transcon frequently, with carry-on only, the overhead bins fill pretty quickly.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

In my experience, the above is the exception to the rule. Flying transcon frequently, with carry-on only, the overhead bins fill pretty quickly.

samiam, is that in Y or J?
I am doing transcon (QF J) and wanted to max out the 2 x 7kg limit (laptop and clothes/toiletries).

 

[serfty]

Flying again in a few days and will keep and eye out QF are policing this.

7kg x 2 pieces.
Qantas Baggage | Carry on baggage

Just to clarify (and as inferred by the OP), that's 7kg x 2 pieces of up to 105cm size.

If you have a 115cm piece then no additional piece is permitted by the rules.