Didn't realise no tolerance for WPs being slightly over weight restrictions

[dajop]

Funny, I know people (non status) who check in on QF and usually get away with extra kilo or 2 (as I did on SQ a few weeks travelling MEL-SIN as a PPS, I was 1kg over).

Never really had to test it on QF as I usually only have 15-20kg, but my partner checked in today to fly MEL-SYD-SIN with 39.5kg, instead of the limit of 38kg (scales at home showed about 38ish). Was advised had to pay excess luggage, or get it down to 38kg, and also advised that the extra 15kg as WP includes the tolerance that QF usually allow for.

Rules are rules I guess, but one of the big complaints against Tiger is their strict enforcement of luggage limits. That's fine, but got to remember QF can be just as strict, so think twice when complaining about TT enforcement of rules!

 

[Will]

That's disappointing to hear.

My experience to date has been very positive - not once have I been charged, but have frequently been a few kg over. Perhaps the new strictness has been extended to include premium pax; I wonder if you'd be charged in First if you had 41kg?

 

[JohnK]

Yes that is disappointing to hear but I guess in a way rules are rules.

I have never come close to anywhere near 38kgs so cannot comment from personal experience.

 

[pauly7]

Yes that is disappointing to hear but I guess in a way rules are rules.

Well yes they are and they are there
for a reason.

If you get excess baggage waived that's a great bonus but should be viewed as a bonus not as a right (not saying anyone who has posted is like this... But I know a few!)

 

[oz_mark]

IIRC they tightened the screws on excess baggage when they moved from 20kg(int)/32kg(dom) -> 23 kg as the standard weight.

 

[Danger]

I have never come close to anywhere near 38kgs so cannot comment from personal experience.

Prior to the weight rule changes (when it used to be 2 x 32kgs with one extra bag on a North American itinerary, or something similar), I returned from a RTW trip with 92kgs, just 4kgs shy of the limit.

 

[drewbles]

Checking in at PER last December I was advised that since the move to Altea, the system cannot allow people to get away with excess luggage. If it's over the limit for the pax, the system advises and will not allow checkin to be completed or bag tags to be printed. Payment is the only way to get around this, so it looks like it's an Altea thing.

 

[markis10]

Checking in at PER last December I was advised that since the move to Altea, the system cannot allow people to get away with excess luggage. If it's over the limit for the pax, the system advises and will not allow checkin to be completed or bag tags to be printed. Payment is the only way to get around this, so it looks like it's an Altea thing.

Makes sense, my recent overweight experience was a QLink flight where it was overlooked, however I try to travel well underweight since luggage is a pain, and I hate paying for trollies.

 

[JohnK]

Checking in at PER last December I was advised that since the move to Altea, the system cannot allow people to get away with excess luggage.

Do any bags gate checked count towards your luggage allowance? I guess one could take some luggage as carry-on and then get it gate checked.

Don't know what happened at BNE yesterday but as I was leaving QF domestic terminal a lot of people going past me and through security with large suitcases. QF check-in counters were closed and the last couple of flights were already boarding. Perhaps these people were on DJ flights or multiple carrier connections and many arriving flights were delayed.

 

[TheInsider]

Do any bags gate checked count towards your luggage allowance? I guess one could take some luggage as carry-on and then get it gate checked.

If you get caught though you'll have to check it in at the gate, risk it being not delivered on that flight AND also pay for the excess baggage. This can all be done at the gate.
Cabin Crew have recently been more stringent on people carry on baggage and this has flowed through to the check-in crew. If the bag looks too heavy and if people complain about paying $10 excess baggage, the check-in staff usually think something is going on and then they weigh their carry-on baggage.. When this is the case the passengers are usually carrying over 15kgs of carry on..

Of course the excess is a revenue raiser for the company, but it also is an OHS issue with those bags on an a/c. If they come out and fall on someone it would most likely kill them and then QF would be responsible (i assume) due to them not checking the weights before hand.

 

[anat0l]

I never rely on discretion to pull me through on baggage weight. I can pray that it may happen, but the wallet and wits are always put on alert in case I get the dreaded message.

At least 1.5 kg is easy to transfer to your carry-on (unless those look like you're carrying a dead body in there, too).

On that note, what the heck did your partner have in that 39.5 kg odd that was being checked in? Or is it safer not to ask?

QF - indeed any airline - can be expected to pick you up on an excess amount of 1.5 kg. TT can be expected to pick you up on an excess amount of 150g!

 

[serfty]

... On that note, what the heck did your partner have in that 39.5 kg odd that was being checked in? Or is it safer not to ask? ...

My thinking is how come the OP's partner ONLY had 39½Kg - my partner generally uses her SG allowance, my WP allowance and then some.

Fortunately, we normally travel on xONEx's where allowances begin at 2 x 23Kg checked luggage each.

 

[anat0l]

My thinking is how come the OP's partner ONLY had 39½Kg - my partner generally uses her SG allowance, my WP allowance and then some.

Fortunately, we normally travel on xONEx's where allowances begin at 2 x 23Kg checked luggage each.

In which case, I would be asking you the same questions!

Again, perhaps it's much safer not to ask for the reasons.... Us men "just mightn't understand"......

 

[NYCguy]

My thinking is how come the OP's partner ONLY had 39½Kg - my partner generally uses her SG allowance, my WP allowance and then some.

I hear that! My partner travels with approximately the same number of bags as JLo, Mariah Carey and Joan Collins combined...

 

[straitman]

I hear that! My partner travels with approximately the same number of bags as JLo, Mariah Carey and Joan Collins combined...

It seems to be common theme.

serfty and I have worked hard at training our wives and they still carry plenty.

 

[markis10]

It seems to be common theme.

serfty and I have worked hard at training or wives and they still carry plenty.

Hmm, I would take the training any day, unless you meant training our wives, in which case I suggest thats not possible, its the mere males that are being trained :shock::shock:

 

[Mal]

Yeah, been there... seen that. Paid the price. (well maybe not the price, just re-shuffling and other weight saving measures).

The only time in recent times I've had any leniency shown was coming back from JFK, where the limit is 23Kg / bag in Econ, but they allowed me a bag a few kg over that limit.

 

[notmensa]

Us men "just mightn't understand"......

Some of us gals mightn't understand either!!

 

[tuapekastar]

Makes sense, my recent overweight experience was a QLink flight where it was overlooked, however I try to travel well underweight since luggage is a pain, and I hate paying for trollies.

Amen to that! Totally agree - I started a 2 month RTW with 12.1kg checked bag, ended with maybe 16 or 17 kg (not a big bag, now stuffed to the gunwales) solely due to buying a few windcheaters and the like as gifts for family.

 

[dajop]

On that note, what the heck did your partner have in that 39.5 kg odd that was being checked in? Or is it safer not to ask?

QF - indeed any airline - can be expected to pick you up on an excess amount of 1.5 kg. TT can be expected to pick you up on an excess amount of 150g!

No fine to ask, my partner is in the process of moving to Singapore to join me so it was basically just two cases packed full of clothes in advance of a bigger shipment, basically just packed to the luggage limit (I on the other hand had just over 40kg on SQ a few weeks earlier, with all sorts of things, wine, Solo soft drink, Uncle Toby's breakfast cereals, meats .... things you can't get in SIN or pay a hefty premium for) .

I know rules are rules, but a little bit of discretion, particularly towards high tier passengers is something that makes QF a premium carrier, and get away with a some premiums in the market. Play the Tiger game, then people can easily just fly Tiger. I have a gut feel if the checkin was for QF9 at the F checkin the outcome may have been different, but at intl transfer checkin desk u r just part of the riff raff (which is the other part of the complaint, while my partner was queued at the J checkin the agent just closed and not replaced, so noone was serving J checkin queue).

BTW I was 0.5kg over in hand luggage on Tiger when I flew them out of HBA in August, quite ready to wear that extra jumper and carry that book if I needed to , but they looked the other way... was quite surprised.