How to make enemies...! [by weighing carry-on]

[Falcs]

Had my own run in with the newfound QF enthusiasm for strictly enforcing baggage limits today with a compact stroller (5.7KGs, 59x48x26 cm). It's roughly the size of a carry on bag but a bit wider.

HBA-MEL-SYD in J, no problems at Hobart, at Melbourne they looked at it at the gate and said it needed to be checked in, I pushed back and said it fits lengthways into the overhead locker and had no issue on the flight I just stepped out of, and even Virgin has been ok with it. One lady apologised for the "inconsistent application of the rules I experienced" and another lady mentioned 737s have smaller overhead bins (not sure if she thinks I flew a A380 HBA-MEL)

They refused to budge in the end, bit frustrating as it does fit into the overhead lockers without issue and was ok with VA in the past and a QF flight 90 minutes earlier!

 

[ausfox]

On Monday morning at MEL the QF gate attendant had a calibrated elbow as she was lifting the carry on luggage to ascertain the weight.
J* at OOL was weighing bags on Monday and yesterday. Lots of less than happy campers.

 

[Daver6]

Would they need to abide by the trade measurement laws in terms of the scales they use being properly calibrated?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Had my own run in with the newfound QF enthusiasm for strictly enforcing baggage limits today with a compact stroller (5.7KGs, 59x48x26 cm). It's roughly the size of a carry on bag but a bit wider!

Isn't the maximum height+width+depth of a carry on bag 115cm?

 

[Falcs]

Isn't the maximum height+width+depth of a carry on bag 115cm?

Technically yes, I'm not arguing it wasn't strictly within regulations. Just adding my experience with the very strict application of carry on regulations Qantas seems to have started applying.

As I said it does fit into the overhead compartment lengthways, VA has been ok with it, and I literally got off a connecting flight where they didn't question it.

 

[nutwood]

Technically yes, I'm not arguing it wasn't strictly within regulations. Just adding my experience with the very strict application of carry on regulations Qantas seems to have started applying.

As I said it does fit into the overhead compartment lengthways, VA has been ok with it, and I literally got off a connecting flight where they didn't question it.

I suppose the question is not so much whether it fits, but how it fits in with everyone else's carry-on? I reckon I could fit an average size sheep in an overhead locker, with a bit of a push.

 

[downgraded]

I suppose the question is not so much whether it fits, but how it fits in with everyone else's carry-on? I reckon I could fit an average size sheep in an overhead locker, with a bit of a push.

But as it would probably weigh over 7kg you wouldn't get it through the front door.

 

[Carrots]

But as it would probably weigh over 7kg you wouldn't get it through the front door.

Just call it an "assistance" animal that you require to keep your anxiety down due to lack of carry on luggage.

 

[Falcs]

I suppose the question is not so much whether it fits, but how it fits in with everyone else's carry-on? I reckon I could fit an average size sheep in an overhead locker, with a bit of a push.

Realistically, about 10cm wider than a standard carry on. Between Mrs Falcs and I we had the stroller and a backpack to put in the overheads, flying J. And Qantas allow 2 carry ons each normally anyway...

 

[albatross710]

Would they need to abide by the trade measurement laws in terms of the scales they use being properly calibrated?

The point will be that the weight of your bag is not something that they are selling you. Found this following text on a Qld Govt site.

Businesses that sell goods by measurement, and those that manufacture, pack, import or sell pre-packaged goods, must comply with the following legislation:

• National Measurement Act 1960 (Cwlth)
• National Trade Measurement Regulations 2009 (Cwlth).

 

[Matt_01]

I just think this 7kg limit is a load of nonsense. I travel for business I do pack light but once you add laptop, a light weight one with no charger, iPad, couple of pens and some cables I am already over 7kg. Then I need some toiletries and may be change of clothes.

I even purchased a lighter weight bag this week to get under 7kg and that did really not help. So for today's flight I now have x2 domestic size (105cm) wheelie bags, both weigh under 7kg and I will use twice as much bin space as normal.

Could I have checked 1, of course I could, however if QF will let me take 2 bags on that are under 7kg I will and it only will compound the over head bin space problem. Maybe a bit of sense is in order, 1 bag up to international size 115cm and a 10kg limit could solve many issues.

 

[suze2000]

No, I'm a fan of the size limit. The weight limit is the problem.

(PS if you have a hugemongous bag, and there's no overhead space, you are really going to struggle to get it under the seat in front of you)

 

[pauly7]

FTFY.

If QF wants to consistently weigh 7kg bags domestically, and won't give preference to J or P1 flyers ... then I'm over to VA

VA will welcome you with open.... scales! Of their own! PS you get less carry on allowance with them too.

 

[Matt_01]

This may turn into a long post and a bit of a rant but this crack down on 7kg is one of those small things that is starting to get under my skin. From the outset I have found it hard to fit within the QF 7 kg limit for many years. I travel on a weekly basis as I work in at least 2 locations every week and find myself having to travel with a mobile office and my carry on can easily weigh 8-9kg.

After reading some of the posts on this thread and what Ausbt has been reporting I decided to weigh my bag (my new lighter one) at MEL yesterday and it was over weight at 7.2kg . Yesterday, as I had 2 carryon’s I removed my iPad (it has a keyboard) so it weighs around 1kg and shoved it in the other bag (older and slightly heavier one) which was basically empty. Now I am within the allowable limit and I though I would share what my <7kg looks like and according to the QF scales in MEL this is what my 6.2kg looks like (everything that was in the bag is in the picture less one apple lighting cable)



To get to this weight I have also ditched my conventional laptop and replaced with a MSFT Surface Go, a small windows tablet and had it imaged with the organisations SOE. This is only possible as our organisation uses O365 and every workspace around the country is set up basically the same using a desktop hub and I can easily connect this via USB to 2 full size monitors and keyboard. The tablet is marginally slower than the laptop but is fine for travel and I also do not need to remove it at security

The next pic includes the offending iPad that put the weight at 7.2kg.



If I did include my laptop (in place of the Surface Go) the weight will go up by about another kg. As regular travellers may notice there are no toiletries, no change of smalls, shirts or suits and there was enough room in the bag for these.

As a final note when we did board I noticed the bag sizing device and scales were right near the boarding pass area. Maybe they have been there for a while and I have not noticed it before. My actual bag weight is around 2.6kg and I am aware that there are some lighter ones out there however I have to trade off weight vs durability. Am I being a travel princess, maybe, but seriously I do not want to lug around additional bags or backpacks if there is no good reason to do so. Not much gets riles me up when I travel but this nonsense is. I have even dug out my old but in as new condition white coasters and attached it to the bag in the vain hope that QF staff at boarding may just let me pass . What I do know is that provided I can keep my bag weight to around 8.5kg I can take out the headphones and iPad prior to boarding and I should be under 7kg .

Time for a glass of wine and consider @juddles zen travel happy thoughts .

 

[juddles]

......

Time for a glass of wine and consider @juddles zen travel happy thoughts .

Matt, have never actually weighed my usual international travel carry-on bag, but I know my computer alone weighs 3.8 kg (just over 5 with the power cords, charger, etc)

But I will never change it.It is one of those "rugged extreme" bullet-proof things. I have actually used it for a seat, as a chopping board, and most frequently, as an extremely stable platform upon which I can trust to balance my valuable glass of rum and coke and ice...

The day they weigh my bag though, I think that will be the moment my zen fails, and I will put the laptop to another use, as I fell the foe in front of me with it....

 

[juddles]

P.S., if I remember, next wed when I head overseas again I will lay out the contents and post photo and then sneakily weigh it somewhere - I find your photos informative.

 

[Matt_01]

@juddles I would like to clarify this is my domestic set up. My international is another story, my bag is almost half the QF allowable weight. That surface pro is no good overseas as other parts of the business are not set up like AU so back to proper laptop and I need to take the charger and a the plug adapter (skross world adapter) the backpack also has to make an appearance. I have never been checked by QF for 7kg limit when travelling international but I am sure that my carryon would not pass weight muster.

At bit OT but along the same lines and better customer service, early this year travelling QF codeshare with EK, at checkin a youngish looking person asked to weight my carry on, it was 10.5kg and was told it had to checked. I know the limit is 10kg but I still asked why - conversation went something like this:

EK - it is due to overhead bin weight restrictions.
Me - there are no overhead bins in F
EK - then where do you put you bags
Me - by my feet, there is an area for carry on
EK - never been in F, did not know that. Ok, here is you boarding pass etc.
Me - Thank you

She was such a nice young person.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Just call it an "assistance" animal that you require to keep your anxiety down due to lack of carry on luggage.

Oh I see youve dont US domestic regularly then. An assistant lizard???

 

[SeatBackForward]

This may turn into a long post and a bit of a rant but this crack down on 7kg is one of those small things that is starting to get under my skin. From the outset I have found it hard to fit within the QF 7 kg limit for many years. I travel on a weekly basis as I work in at least 2 locations every week and find myself having to travel with a mobile office and my carry on can easily weigh 8-9kg.

After reading some of the posts on this thread and what Ausbt has been reporting I decided to weigh my bag (my new lighter one) at MEL yesterday and it was over weight at 7.2kg . Yesterday, as I had 2 carryon’s I removed my iPad (it has a keyboard) so it weighs around 1kg and shoved it in the other bag (older and slightly heavier one) which was basically empty. Now I am within the allowable limit and I though I would share what my <7kg looks like and according to the QF scales in MEL this is what my 6.2kg looks like (everything that was in the bag is in the picture less one apple lighting cable)

View attachment 145643

To get to this weight I have also ditched my conventional laptop and replaced with a MSFT Surface Go, a small windows tablet and had it imaged with the organisations SOE. This is only possible as our organisation uses O365 and every workspace around the country is set up basically the same using a desktop hub and I can easily connect this via USB to 2 full size monitors and keyboard. The tablet is marginally slower than the laptop but is fine for travel and I also do not need to remove it at security

The next pic includes the offending iPad that put the weight at 7.2kg.

View attachment 145645

If I did include my laptop (in place of the Surface Go) the weight will go up by about another kg. As regular travellers may notice there are no toiletries, no change of smalls, shirts or suits and there was enough room in the bag for these.

As a final note when we did board I noticed the bag sizing device and scales were right near the boarding pass area. Maybe they have been there for a while and I have not noticed it before. My actual bag weight is around 2.6kg and I am aware that there are some that are lighter however I have to trade off weight vs durability. Am I being a travel princess, maybe, but seriously I do not want to lug around additional bags or backpacks if there is no good reason to do so. Not much gets riles me up when I travel but this nonsense is. I have even dug out my old but in as new condition white coasters and attached it to the bag in the vain hope that QF staff at boarding may just let me pass . What I do know is that provided I can keep my bag weight to around 8.5kg I can take out the headphones and iPad prior to boarding and I should be under 7kg .

Time for a glass of wine and consider @juddles zen travel happy thoughts .

Why don't you get a backpack as the second bag, not only lighter, so you can put more into it, but would remove the circus of handling two wheeled bags. And potentially just sits under your feet.

That's my standard for both domestic and international. Sometimes just the backpack for very short trips of <4days.

 

[suze2000]

I once travelled for three weeks with someone who was on a six week trip with only what was essentially an extra large day pack. I mean, this was through around the Mediterranean in Spring, so she had no heavy clothing requirements, but it was still very impressive. Less impressive was that this meant when she bought a kilim in Turkey, she asked me to haul it back to England for her. (along with mine, and our other companion's as well). My travel backpack weighed 40kg with all of them in there, but it was easier than hauling a second bag. Most of my actual stuff ended up in my carry-on.