How many bags?

[djmagra]

Hi Folks - my family and I are relocating to Singapore and will be flying up with QF, needing to bring more bags than my usual carry on!

We will be flying Economy, with myself being Platinum, my wife silver and our two kids (aged 5 & 4).

I understand what our baggage allowance is from a weight perspective (50, 42, 30, 30kg respectively) and that the kids are allowed to bring car seats in addition to their luggage, but what is not clear is if there is a limit on the number of bags that we are allowed to take - just that no individual bag can be more than 32kg. Can anyone shed any light for me please.

 

[JohnK]

I've taken 3 bags as Platinum without issue.

You can obviously take 2 bags each for the other travellers but I cannot see why you cannot take 3 bags each for the other travellers if you're under the weight limit.

And note in my experience the weight is pooled together when travelling as family.

 

[encryptededdy]

The weight concept doesn't define a bag count limit. I've seen at least one airline (don't remember which) that had a minimum weight of 5kg or so per bag, but QF does not have such a rule.

 

[Quickstatus]

weight perspective

Yes
Routes to non US destinations are calculated by weight. Therefore you can have as many bags as you wish but the total weight is counted.
There is a max weight limit per bag of 32kg worldwide (which is actually a translation from the 70lbs limit that the US uses) - this is for the safety of luggage handlers.

US destinations are calculated by piece, with each piece having a weight limit dependant on the class of travel 32kg/70lbs or 23kg/50lbs

Note: QF does not police the carry on limit to the same extent as its LCC underling JQ.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

One thing that isn't answered thus far is how the weight limit applies to groups travelling together with a QFF elite. Are weight limits computed per passenger based on that passenger's status, or does the traveller with the highest status level (i.e. Platinum) determine the allowance for all other travellers on the same itinerary? If it was determined based on the status of the traveller with the highest frequent flyer status, then OP could be able to check in 50* 4 (passengers) = 200 kg. However, if it is determined on a passenger by passenger basis that number would fall to 50 kg (Platinum) + 42 kg (Silver wife) + 2* 30 (no status kids) = 152 kg.

One other thing for OP to consider is upgrading to Premium Economy, particularly if the upgrade offer is cheap (i.e. or even with points) since every passenger that goes from Economy to Premium Economy will get an extra 10 kg allowance.

What I will say is I do find this weight concept really stupid. Having moved a number of times internationally to/from the Americas, I would never be able to fit my personal effects into a 50 kg allowance. Every time I've moved it's been 3 suitcases topped out at 32 kg each. And for those wondering what I pack it's a lot of clothes, books, monitors, IT gear, etc.

All of that said, what is crucial is figuring out how much luggage you're working with. If it's not much (i.e. 150 kg) then I wouldn't fret too much about it. However, if my suspicion is correct weight could be an issue and it would be wise to research what your options are. If you haven't booked the tickets yet you may want to look at other airlines since I know Singapore tends to have quite generous allowances. In addition, it seems like BA (which operates SYD > SIN) uses the piece concept which for means OWEs get 2x32 kg out of the box, so to speak.

-RooFlyer88

 

[encryptededdy]

One thing that isn't answered thus far is how the weight limit applies to groups travelling together with a QFF elite. Are weight limits computed per passenger based on that passenger's status

Per passenger then summed together. I think the other way is only used by North American carriers.

What I will say is I do find this weight concept really stupid. Having moved a number of times internationally to/from the Americas, I would never be able to fit my personal effects into a 50 kg allowance.

That's not inherently a problem of the weight concept, although I do agree in general the piece concept allows for higher total weight (provided you don't exceed the volume restriction posed by the piece concept)

However, I had the complete opposite experience from you when moving. Last time I moved internationally I flew AirNZ from NZ to AU, and I found that I ended up with 4 bags, weighing <15kg each. I found lots of my stuff took up a lot of volume but was not dense (e.g. computer hardware and other electronics). Unfortunately NZ uses the piece concept everywhere so I had to pay for an extra bag on top of the J allowance, whereas if they used the weight concept I suspect it would've been easier for me.

 

[JohnK]

One thing that isn't answered thus far is how the weight limit applies to groups travelling together with a QFF elite. Are weight limits computed per passenger based on that passenger's status, or does the traveller with the highest status level (i.e. Platinum) determine the allowance for all other travellers on the same itinerary? If it was determined based on the status of the traveller with the highest frequent flyer status, then OP could be able to check in 50* 4 (passengers) = 200 kg. However, if it is determined on a passenger by passenger basis that number would fall to 50 kg (Platinum) + 42 kg (Silver wife) + 2* 30 (no status kids) = 152 kg.

I think any family/group travelling together have the baggage allowance pooled together regardless of status of any traveller.

When my wife and daughter travelled Qantas in March they had 60kgs in 3 bags pooled together.

When we've travelled together previously with me as Platinum we've had 110kgs pooled together.

 

[Quickstatus]

One thing that isn't answered thus far is how the weight limit applies to groups travelling together with a QFF elite

Most checkin staff will try to apportion/accomodate the pooled total available passenger limits - whether number of bags or weight to the travelling group to try to make the limits fit

When 5 of us flew J to the US we each had 3x32kg plus one of us was WP so that was a +1x32. All up 16x32kg. The WP had 4 bags tagged with his name, then the rest. Yes we had 0.5 ton luggage not including carry on