Jetstar weight limits - where's my credit!

[browski]

Not sure if this is the correct forum but.......

My last 2 flights involved Jetstar. I paid the extra charges for being 3kg over (23kg in total) even though on Qantas as Gold status I can be allocated a much higher amount. It is frustrating that Jetstar do not recognise Oneworld luggage status because on many routes there is not even a Qantas alternative.
Is it just me that finds 23kg not that much (I need to take alot of electronic equipment with me and I travel away for 2 weeks at a time.)

I now budget the costs into the Jetstar ticket but feel that in principle I am being ripped off even though I know it is part of their conditions.

I mean, it is not as though on the hundred flights I do a year that I bill the airline for a credit for the many times I am underweight!

Are Virgin Blue less strict on a couple of kilos overweight?

OK, I've vented.....

 

[ksthommo]

Are Virgin Blue less strict on a couple of kilos overweight?

Couple of times we have been over the 20kg's on Virgin Blue,
have never been charged. Big difference with Jetstar, 2 out of 2.

 

[wallacej]

Not sure if this is the correct forum but.......
Are Virgin Blue less strict on a couple of kilos overweight?

OK, I've vented.....

Been over only a couple of times.. Virgin didn't even give it a second look...

 

[MelUser]

Out of curiosity what were you charged for being 3kg over?

 

[Platy]

An interesting point arises - as QF routes are replaced by Deathstar (Hamilton Island, Sunshine Coast, etc) - since QF status (Gold, Platinum, etc) is irrelevant on Deathstar services, the net effect is that the value of achieving status is effectively being undermined.

Yet another example of degrading service levels from QF...

 

[serfty]

Out of curiosity what were you charged for being 3kg over?

Looking here: Jetstar - Baggage Information - it depends on the route. Domestic Oz rates are $7 per kilo.

 

[NM]

It is frustrating that Jetstar do not recognise Oneworld luggage status because on many routes there is not even a Qantas alternative.

JQ is not a OneWorld airline, so why should they provide any OneWorld benefits? And note that there is no OneWorld luggage benefit included in any OneWorld status benefits. Qantas chooses to provide additional checked luggage allowance on Qantas coded and operated flights. You are not entitled to any additional checked luggage allowance on non-QF OneWorld flights. So if you are on a BA or CX (or any other OneWorld flight) you would be in the same situation and limited to the checked baggage allowance of the operating airline. I see the JQ situation as exactly the same as with OneWorld partner airlines.

There are lots of routes (even in Australia) where QF does not fly. In all such cases you are expected to comply with the checked baggage allowance policy of the operating airline. How is this different for a JQ flight?

 

[Danger]

. . . You are not entitled to any additional checked luggage allowance on non-QF OneWorld flights. So if you are on a BA or CX (or any other OneWorld flight) you would be in the same situation and limited to the checked baggage allowance of the operating airline . . .

Is this actually correct? On a LONE4 earlier this year I had a checked baggage allowance of 2 x 32kgs* (as this is the Qantas maximum, the airline with whom my ticket was booked with and the airline of my first international sector). This allowance continued with me on CX, BA and AA (including American Eagle). Doesn't this therefore mean that the checked baggage allowance for Qantas applies, not the operating airline, and thus is a Qantas benefit on non-QF oneworld flights?

(*plus "an extra piece" on flights to and from North America as a Qantas Club member.)

 

[Travel Guru]

I have to say I agree with NM on this one.

I can only think of one route where JQ is the only choice, so those booking are choosing JQ, and at the prices they're charging shouldn't expect 5* service for a 3* price.

I'm a QF Gold, but if its a choice between JQ and DJ, i'll fly DJ anyday.

It's only when people show their power by not using services like JQ that QF are likely to do anything about flying some of these routes they abandoned.

TG

 

[serfty]

Is this actually correct? On a LONE4 earlier this year I had a checked baggage allowance of 2 x 32kgs* ...

If your itinerary includes ANY Travel to/from North or South American travel, US Territories or Tahiti) you will be permitted two checked bags. By definition a xONEx MUST include American travel - so the two bag limit will apply.

Note that weight limits for each bag differ between airlines.

See the link I posted above:

Honolulu (HNL) Passengers

Each passenger travelling on a JetSaver, JetFlex or International StarClass fare to or from the United States may check in up to 2 pieces of baggage for carriage in the aircraft hold. No one item may exceed 32kg in weight. The maximum total combined dimension of the two pieces is 270cm (106 inches), with no single item exceeding 158cm (62 inches).

For every piece of baggage above the allowance specified above, you will be charged AUD 96 per piece (departing from Australian airports) or USD 72 per piece (departing from Honolulu).

For AA & BA it's 2 x 23Kg; AA - Baggage Allowance - British Airways - Checked baggage

 

[browski]

There are lots of routes (even in Australia) where QF does not fly. In all such cases you are expected to comply with the checked baggage allowance policy of the operating airline. How is this different for a JQ flight?

I know that Jetstar is not a OneWorld airline - I should have written Qantas instead of Oneworld.

The reason it should be different for a JQ flight are the same as previously stated - The service used to be Qantas and now there is no Qantas alternative.

I know this entire thread is ultimately futile; I was just trying to relay my feeling that it "felt" NQR - I mean I expense the extra weight charges so this is not really a financial issue for me. I don't even think it is to do with a prick to my huge FF status inflated ego. I just feel that Jetstar's behaviour was devoid of elegance and class. If other people feel that Jetstar are behaving in an acceptable manner and they love it then that is fine too. It was just one irrelevant man's perspective.

 

[Danger]

. . . Note that weight limits for each bag differ between airlines. See the link I posted above:For AA & BA it's 2 x 23Kg; . . .

I must have just been lucky then. I got 2 x 32kgs regardless of the carrier (CX, BA, AA). I did have to push the point, though, but only on one or two occasions. I actually posted on this back in about March or April. I got five different answers from four different Qantas phone reps as to what my weight allowance would be.

 

[NM]

Is this actually correct?

Yes, it is coreect.

On a LONE4 earlier this year I had a checked baggage allowance of 2 x 32kgs* (as this is the Qantas maximum, the airline with whom my ticket was booked with and the airline of my first international sector). This allowance continued with me on CX, BA and AA (including American Eagle). Doesn't this therefore mean that the checked baggage allowance for Qantas applies, not the operating airline, and thus is a Qantas benefit on non-QF oneworld flights?

The OneWorld Explorer products (as with any airline ticket), when carriage include North America or some Central/South American countries, operate on the piece system for baggage allowance definition. This is nothing to do with the OneWorld Alliance or FF status. It is all about the fact that some countries insist upon the use of the piece system rather than a weight system, and if the ticket includes travel through those countries then the entire itinerary operates on the piece system rather than the weight system.

When using the piece system, you entitled to a defined number of pieces of checked luggage, such as 2 pieces. Each airline can (and does) impose their own maximum weight per piece. This maximum weight is not defined by the piece system, nor in the fare rules. It is imposed by each airline at their own discretion. Some airlines, like QF, permit each piece to be a maximum of 32kg. As far as I know, this is the most generous weight limit per piece of any of the airlines, and is generally considered to be the max that a person should lift under occupational health and safety conditions.

Some airlines, such as AA, set a lower limit per piece. In AA's case it is 50lbs (or 23kg). They will allow luggage up to 70lb (32kg) but you will be required to pay an excess baggage fee. They will not accept bags over 70lb.

BA has also published a different policy for bag weights under the piece system. They have moved to a piece system across all their operating flights where the number of pieces is defined by the cabin ticketed. They will also apply these limits to OneWorld Explorer type fares as they are the same for economy travel and more generous for premium cabin travel.

Now these piece weight limits are generally applied at check-in. So if you check in with an airline that imposes a 32kg/piece limit (such as QF) and have a transfer to say an AA flight, you get the 32kg/piece limit for that entire checked-in journey. But if you were checking in with AA and have a connection to QF, you are limited to 2 x 50lb (2 x 23kg) for the entire checked-on journey.

(*plus "an extra piece" on flights to and from North America as a Qantas Club member.)

only if the flight is coded and operated by Qantas. If you take the AA codesahre on the QF flight, or took CX via HKG to North America, then you don't get any Qantas Club or Qantas FF additional baggage benefits.

 

[chrisb]

It's only when people show their power by not using services like JQ that QF are likely to do anything about flying some of these routes they abandoned.

I'd be curious to see what would happen if Gold and Plat members emailed Qantas FF with details everytime they flew on DJ due to a lack of (real) Qantas flights.

I'm sure they'd get sick of you real quick, but it would make a point. Otherwise the unwashed masses will continue to fill the JQ flights and everyone will consider it a success.

Chrisb.

 

[MelUser]

Yes, it is coreect.



Now these piece weight limits are generally applied at check-in. So if you check in with an airline that imposes a 32kg/piece limit (such as QF) and have a transfer to say an AA flight, you get the 32kg/piece limit for that entire checked-in journey. But if you were checking in with AA and have a connection to QF, you are limited to 2 x 50lb (2 x 23kg) for the entire checked-on journey.

only if the flight is coded and operated by Qantas. If you take the AA codesahre on the QF flight, or took CX via HKG to North America, then you don't get any Qantas Club or Qantas FF additional baggage benefits.

I am a QC member flying in Y from MEL to DFW. [LAX to DFW is QF codeshare on AA metal] When I check in in Mel I am entitled to 3 x 32kg [the 3rd piece is because I am a QC member].

Does this mean when I return and check in for a QF codeshare on AA to LAX but checked through to MEL I am only entitled to 2 x 50 pounds [2x 22.7kg]? In other words the QC extra piece benefit won't apply on checkin at DFW but if I flew out of LAX I could checkin 3 x 32kg - is this correct?

 

[NM]

I am a QC member flying in Y from MEL to DFW. [LAX to DFW is QF codeshare on AA metal] When I check in in Mel I am entitled to 3 x 32kg [the 3rd piece is because I am a QC member].

Yes, you can check 3 x 32kg bags. As with all USA arrivals, you collect the bags at LAX and clear customs, then leave them with the TSA for re-screening. So long as the bags are already tagged to the final destination, you don't need to recheck them with AA so they are no counted and weighed by AA at LAX.

Does this mean when I return and check in for a QF codeshare on AA to LAX but checked through to MEL I am only entitled to 2 x 50 pounds [2x 22.7kg]? In other words the QC extra piece benefit won't apply on checkin at DFW but if I flew out of LAX I could checkin 3 x 32kg - is this correct?

Yes, technically that is correct. The additional QF allowance only applies to QF coded and operated flights. So you are limited to 2 pieces on the AA segment, even if using the QF flight number. And technically you are limited to 50lb per piece and they can charge you if the bags weight between 50lb and 70lb. However, you may get away without paying if the AAgent is generous and notes your QF connection and entitlements. But that would be through their generosity and not due to any requirement or entitlement. Some people have been lucky and some have been charged.

If they do charge you, make sure they are only charging for the trip as far as LAX and not back to Australia where your QF entitlements would apply. If necessary only have them check the bags to LAX and then recheck there with QF to get the QF entitlements.

 

[Happy Dude]

I can only think of one route where JQ is the only choice, so those booking are choosing JQ, and at the prices they're charging shouldn't expect 5* service for a 3* price.

I disagree here TG. There's no way that JQ is 3*.

But with you the rest of the way. I'd always choose DJ over JQ. I'm often over 20kgs on DJ, usually because of golf clubs, but have yet to be charged. 2 from 3 on JQ, and the time not pinged was because I didn't have the clubs. Being charged for 3kgs is petty, even if it is in the T&C's. As Jack Palance once said "Billy Crystal....I cough bigger than that".

 

[Dave Noble]

Does this mean when I return and check in for a QF codeshare on AA to LAX but checked through to MEL I am only entitled to 2 x 50 pounds [2x 22.7kg]? In other words the QC extra piece benefit won't apply on checkin at DFW but if I flew out of LAX I could checkin 3 x 32kg - is this correct?
.

If you check only to LAX, collect and recheck, then you can take 2*23 to LAX and 3*32 onwards on QF. The AA excess weight fee for 23-32Kg overweight is USD50 and the extra piece is USD80, so 3*32 Kgs and you are looking at an excess fee of USD230

If you check through to Sydney, then you are entitled to 2*23Kg and you would be liable for AAs international excess fees for over 23Kg and extra piece

If you do not want to risk having to either pay extra, then keep to 2*23 Kg pieces

Dave

 

[tuapekastar]

By definition a xONEx MUST include N/A travel

Is this correct Serfty? - I have an xONE4 in planning that currently does not include Nth America (though this could change).

 

[Dave Noble]

. Being charged for 3kgs is petty, even if it is in the T&C's.

Why is it Petty? If the allowance is 20Kg, then 20Kg it is, not 23Kg

If they are being consistent in the application of the charges, I dont see anything really wrong

Dave