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

[Pushka]

Certainly helps when your camera is a phone. I know I miss out on "that" one or two stunning photo every trip, but for 99% of the rest of the time - a new generation phone is more than adequate for my needs. You see people hauling around so much equipment - must be a giant PITA.

QF with a 14kg allowance is more than enough for your average punter..... VA at 7kg is a different story.

I like having an extra camera but even that is now mini zoom and no extra lens needed. My best photos, the ones that have sold, were all taken with a Sony cybershot or similar.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Certainly helps when your camera is a phone. I know I miss out on "that" one or two stunning photo every trip, but for 99% of the rest of the time - a new generation phone is more than adequate for my needs. You see people hauling around so much equipment - must be a giant PITA.

QF with a 14kg allowance is more than enough for your average punter..... VA at 7kg is a different story.

its Mr FM’s main hobby. The sort of photos he takes of cosplayers at conventions isn’t going to happen with a phone. Try taking a photo of a lion kill without a big lense - even in the private game reserves we go to that’s not going to happen, all you will get is a fuzzy blob. He uses a phone for a lot of things - food etc, as he says it’s easier and better than with a good camera, but unfortunately it’s not a one size fits all.

Fourteen kgs is more than enough - he would never travel with that much weight. Having to have two carry on bags for cameras plus a chècked In bag is a pita. Anyway I think this new idea of taking a dry bag in the carry on bag is a winner. He can even put it under the seat and only repack prior to disembarking, so that the overhead lockers and FAs aren’t damaged

 

[doublecatered]

Actually, they are saying no more than 7kg's ... it seems leniency over 8kg's is gone (unless you can elaborate from insider knowledge?).

Boeing have made large bins ... so the airlines penalise the pax rather than deal with the problem logically, like for instance, roster guys and girls onto flights (which most do anyway) which also helps with crowd control issues they may very occasionally really need. With some basic procedural modification, petite ladies need not close the bins, that could be the guys. I wonder how many airlines have voiced their disapproval of bin sizes with Boeing? I actually think those drop down bins are great. Pretty hard to have carry on fall out of them. I believe the bins are on struts and could be adjusted so even the petitest lady could close them fully loaded. Moreso, if these petite ladies can't close an overhead bin, how on earth can they carry out many of the other tasks that they train for, like lifting emergency escape doors up and throwing them out the hole? Surely there are minimum crew physical requirements? Not everything is a "discrimination" issue, some are really just plain common sense. I really hope we don't have any blind pilots, as I'm not sure the white canes are long enough!

There really are alot of misconceptions out there. And I'm not having a go at you cause it's not easy when looking at this from the outside
Regarding crewing appropriate number of males and females, that just does not happen... for so many reasons

Just imagine this if you will... A flight attendant doing a 4 sector day. Every fight is full and she (or he) has up push up those drop lockers every sector (or if they aren't drop down, then actively make room to make space for even more wheely bags at the end of boarding)
Now imagine this scenario occurring on most days this flight attendant is at work then multiply that by years of employment
It doesn't take much to expect that something has to give... Hundreds of FA's are reporting shoulder injuries or worse
Not to mention other injuries that occur when bags inadvertently fall out and hits someone on the head
If U need to bring 2 small bags instead of 1 big heavy wheelie, great.. just ensure you stow one of them under the seat in front and other one in the overhead locker

 

[drron]

And an uneven shaped bag or parcel weighing less than 7kg falling out of an overhead bin can just as easily cause a nasty injury as a heavier one.
But if you are now saying that most injuries are shoulder injuries from closing bins then that surely is something for the airlines and aircraft manufacturers to sort out not the passengers.
Plus I don't hear from AA or BA who allow heavier carryons having such a problem with shoulder injuries.

 

[pauly7]

Just imagine this if you will... A flight attendant doing a 4 sector day. Every fight is full and she (or he) has up push up those drop lockers every sector (or if they aren't drop down, then actively make room to make space for even more wheely bags at the end of boarding)

On my MEL-SYD flight on VA last week the FA’s quite forcefully said that they were not allowed to lift or move passengers carry on.

I’ve heard the ‘I’m not allowed to lift’ line before on many airlines, but the FA’s on this flight were pointing at bags in the overhead, then asking whoever was standing in the aisle, to move the bag in the locker around to accomodate theirs...

 

[Austman]

Every fight is full and she (or he) has up push up those drop lockers every sector

But what has that to do with a 7kg bag limit?

The bins can hold 50kg, so they have to be designed to safely operate at 50kg. They also only hold 4 maximum size standard carry on bags. At 10kg each, that’s only 40kg. But more than 4 smaller items could see the 50kg limit approached.

 

[JohnK]

I like having an extra camera but even that is now mini zoom and no extra lens needed. My best photos, the ones that have sold, were all taken with a Sony cybershot or similar.

You sell photos?

 

[Pushka]

You sell photos?

Yep. Online.

 

[Ekka]

So you had 8kg instead of 7kg hand luggage, did not "checkin", (i.e. check in) and beat the system, and used here some scatological words in your post.

Is thinking laterally code for doing the wrong thing?

 

[Flying mermaid]

So you had 8kg instead of 7kg hand luggage, did not "checkin", (i.e. check in) and beat the system, and used here some scatological words in your post.

Is thinking laterally code for doing the wrong thing?

why are they doing the wrong thing or beating the system? Qantas allows two bags each weighing 7kg. I.e. 14kg. He had 8kg in two bags - entirely allowed and just using lateral thinking to use the allowed two bags.

 

[JohnK]

Yep. Online.

I may have missed details if you've posted them elsewhere. Good money?

 

[Nank]

I've never had any carry on issues on any airline across the globe. Basically always fly with my dedicated carry on bag and sometimes another small backpack etc. which goes in the overhead locker. My main carry on bag always fits between my feet and stays there for the duration of the flight. Main place I have seen people getting in hot water was budget airlines like JQ, TT etc. where families try to skimp on checked baggage charges and take multiple large bags onboard and stuff them in the overhead lockers. Apparently they didn't like getting caught out too much and thought they were being pretty hard done by. Got a lot of media coverage and now it seems other airlines are also pushing the same measures, particularly in the holiday season. I don't think there's anything wrong with the current limits, I usually come in right under 7kg for my main bag and the other one only ever really takes a spare jumper or something like that. I manage to fit a small camera, some snacks, electronics gear, headphones and more in the one bag so I don't quite know why some people need so many different bags, let along checked size ones. The main problem you have with increasing carry on limits is them people will take even more and suddenly they'll be crying that the new limit isn't enough either and it needs to be more. The more you allow, the more people will take and consequently the more they will also want to take extra to that new amount. make the limit 10kg, people will whine about it not being 15. Then if you go up to 15 people will complain that it should be 20kg so you never get out of it.

 

[Pushka]

I may have missed details if you've posted them elsewhere. Good money?

Nup. . Just a hobby. I think photography is more about being there at the right time and/or being able to frame a picture that becomes more than the picture, if that makes sense. Of course there is a minimum standard of camera but for example the iPhone can capture some brilliant photos plus you always have it at hand. Carpe diem and all that.

 

[Austman]

make the limit 10kg, people will whine about it not being 15.

It’s rather hard to get a single, maximum size carry-on bag to 15kg, with typical contents. I’ve never managed it yet over a few decades.

10kg seems a more logical limit for the size of the bag.

 

[amaroo]

its Mr FM’s main hobby. The sort of photos he takes of cosplayers at conventions isn’t going to happen with a phone. Try taking a photo of a lion kill without a big lense - even in the private game reserves we go to that’s not going to happen, all you will get is a fuzzy blob. He uses a phone for a lot of things - food etc, as he says it’s easier and better than with a good camera, but unfortunately it’s not a one size fits all.

Fourteen kgs is more than enough - he would never travel with that much weight. Having to have two carry on bags for cameras plus a chècked In bag is a pita. Anyway I think this new idea of taking a dry bag in the carry on bag is a winner. He can even put it under the seat and only repack prior to disembarking, so that the overhead lockers and FAs aren’t damaged

Agreed there are locations / occasions where a phone won’t cut it. When we went to Norway to view the Northen Lights we hired a guide that also provided professional photography services. Hopefully we can do the same when we go to Africa.

 

[coco50]

The only reason I like BA is their hand luggage allowance...23 kg per item! I don't understand why QF thinks 7 kg is reasonable when even some low cost airlines have 8 and 10kg allowance.

My wife and I have travelled to the US for four weeks with carry on luggage not exceeding 7 kg. All it takes is some careful planning.

 

[pauly7]

My wife and I have travelled to the US for four weeks with carry on luggage not exceeding 7 kg. All it takes is some careful planning.

For work or leisure?

 

[p--and--t]

In the vein of the original problem ... there are also weight restrictions for checked (though status helps a lot with that). a pelican style case is usually heavy, just in itself. I used to carry instruments in one and the weight of the case is noticeable (although mine was not Pelican brand).

On the subject of two pieces of carry on, I don't think that helps as IIRC when I looked into that, it was 2 pieces with a combined total of 7kg, meaning you're actually worse off as you're adding the weight of the additional case!

Domestically
QF 2 x <=7kg bags (i.e. up to 14kg pp)
VA 2 bags total of 2 <=7kg.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

My wife and I have travelled to the US for four weeks with carry on luggage not exceeding 7 kg. All it takes is some careful planning.

Why? I think the thing is that everyone is different. I'm guessing someone travelling for a month with 7kg of luggage is a rarity and somewhat unusual. I could travel the US for a month with no hand luggage (single set of clothes that would smell awfully, a few credit cards, a phone/camera, some cash and a passport all in pockets), but why would I want to?

 

[p--and--t]

The last several years my partner and I have usually taken 6 weeks holidays per annum to various parts of the planet, often RTW trips.

Becoming over time seasoned travellers we worked out that a large percentage of what we took with us on earlier never got used or was unnecessary and we are taking less and less each year.

We bought lightweight thermals for cold climates and use layering for the different weather in different parts & seasons of the planet. We plan our trips so we make it to a self-serve launderette or other facility at least weekly or pack items suitable for rinsing in the shower that dry overnight.

For cruises we take light weight formal tuxes for black tie nights and for snow and icy areas lightweight "puffer" jackets & thermals.

Due to the nature of my work I need to take a laptop with me on holidays and my partner takes the beloved camera gear.

Our most recent trip was a 2 week safari in Kenya and a couple weeks in Europe and a couple weeks in the USA.

We were in J all the way but our luggage was:

1 x 6.5kg carry-on
1 x 6kg carry-on
1 x 16.5kg luggage
1 x 20kg luggage

Sorry, I fail to comprehend why people really need to take so much "stuff" with them (parents of infants and carriers of medical equipment excepted)

EDIT: BTW There is stuff I won't be taking next year because I still took items that weren't used and unnecessary - just in case.