Luggage Allowance for QF / AA in the USA

[Foreigner]

Just a quick question. I am returning to Syd from NY. Flew QF syd-jfk and returning lax-syd. LGA-LAX is on AA in first (P class). What are luggage allowances for me? On QF i understand it is 32kg per bag. My TA in Sydney said on AA, I am allowed 2 x 23kg and an extra 1 x 18kg. If I tell AA I am travelling QF and ask them to interline all luggage, would all luggage be okay? On the other hand, I wonder if I can keep some hand luggage. What is position with hand luggage travelling within USA?
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[Kiwi Flyer]

Just a quick question. I am returning to Syd from NY. Flew QF syd-jfk and returning lax-syd. LGA-LAX is on AA in first (P class). What are luggage allowances for me? On QF i understand it is 32kg per bag. My TA in Sydney said on AA, I am allowed 2 x 23kg and an extra 1 x 18kg. If I tell AA I am travelling QF and ask them to interline all luggage, would all luggage be okay? On the other hand, I wonder if I can keep some hand luggage. What is position with hand luggage travelling within USA?
f

AA has a maximum free weight allowance per piece of 23kg. You can have up to 32kg per piece but will pay excess luggage charges if over 23kg.

The main issue for carry on luggage for US-Australia is the restriction on liquids. (For travel through EU there are further issues due to size and quantity crack-downs.)

 

[Dave Noble]

Just a quick question. I am returning to Syd from NY. Flew QF syd-jfk and returning lax-syd. LGA-LAX is on AA in first (P class). What are luggage allowances for me? On QF i understand it is 32kg per bag. My TA in Sydney said on AA, I am allowed 2 x 23kg and an extra 1 x 18kg. If I tell AA I am travelling QF and ask them to interline all luggage, would all luggage be okay? On the other hand, I wonder if I can keep some hand luggage. What is position with hand luggage travelling within USA?
f

Your agent is incorrect

You are allowed 2*32 Kg on the QF flight ( plus 1 extra piece if you have appropriate QF status ) and 2 * 23kg on the AA flight

If you check in 3 pieces , you will be liable for excess fees for the additional piece and if you check in pieces weighing >50Lb , you will be liable for the excess fees for overweight allowance.

If luggage allowance is important, then you should consider rebooking on JFK-LAX on QF if it operates that day

Dave

 

[Soundguy]

I travelled AA within the US twice last month. The first time was economy and they were very fussy about the weight, anything beyond about 52 pounds they were going to charge us extra for.

The 2nd flight was at the end of my trip & had bought quite a bit of stuff (lots actually). Had several bags by then and went to a LOT of trouble carefully weighing each case to ensure we kept to only 50 pounds, even bought an elcheapo scale to do this as the hotel didn't have one. This trip was in first class and guess what? They didn't even bother to weigh the bags. I checked the weight just out of interest but the AA checkin staff didn't so much as glance at the scale.

Maybe it depends upon the class, maybe upon the staff.... dunno!

 

[robertz]

I was in a similar situation a couple of months ago. I rang AA and asked the limits (Knowing fully well what they were ie:2x50lb) . The AAagent told me cause its a Domestic flight (AA) with a international connection(QF), the luggage rules of the Intl flight take precence. I wrote her name down with the time of the call, then proceeded to print out the rules from QF including the extra piece for status. When asked at the airport, I produced everything and ended up getting 3 x 32Kg through at no charge.

Actually, 5 times coming back from the US to AUS (in Y), with AA to QF, I have always gotten away with 32Kg / bag.

Might not be right, but always worked for me...

 

[Soundguy]

The AAagent told me cause its a Domestic flight (AA) with a international connection(QF), the luggage rules of the Intl flight take precence.

Aaah! So that's it...... my above mentioned 2nd flight also was connected to QF International flight with the bags checked through. Mad with myself now, all that messing around weighing bags for nothing!

Thanks Robert.

 

[CO BNE]

I would stick with the 2 x 50lb rule if travelling on AA. I have had this stoush with them when they charged me for being 3lbs over. I queried whether my onward flight on the same day is QF with 2 x 70lb whether I am entitled to any allowance.

The answer was in the negative.

I queried AAdvantage customer service as well if there were any allowances if travelling QF transpacific.

The answer was in the negative.

Bottom line is that if you get charged for being outside the printed guidelines of that particular airline then cop the charge. Don't count on a nice agent letting it slide if you fall outside the accepted weight.

 

[Shano]

I was not aware of this rule until recently when flying IAD to DEN with UA (same 50lb allowance as AA).

The weight of my checked suitcase was 54lb. Check-in agent commented on it being overweight, but then smiled and that was it.

I guess that it can be a bit hit and miss, but on next US DOM flights will make sure that I keep weight below 50lb limit

 

[Dave Noble]

If connecting from AA to QF, then the only safe way to avoid fees is to keep within the allowances. You may get away with more than AAs standard when connecting onwards if you get a nice agent but should definately not be relied upon

The allowance on AA is 2 pieces as in accord with standard allowances to the USA, however their max weight is 50Lb per piece.

Dave

 

[Foreigner]

If connecting from AA to QF, then the only safe way to avoid fees is to keep within the allowances. You may get away with more than AAs standard when connecting onwards if you get a nice agent but should definately not be relied upon

The allowance on AA is 2 pieces as in accord with standard allowances to the USA, however their max weight is 50Lb per piece.

Dave

Just checked in LGA for my flts. 2 pcs strictly enforced. Tried all explanations but agent said she could only go by what was in their system. So I am carrying extra piece as hand luggage. I believe my bags weighed over 50lb each but nothing was mentioned.

She issued all boarding passes (lga-atl-dfw-den-lax-syd) but said luggage could only be checked to lax. Just as well as I think I may be able to check in 3 bags with qf in lax.

In Admirals Club I asked for and was given 2 drink vouchers with comment it would buy me just water. Too early for alcoholic beverages at 0530 local time. Let's see what AA first class is like.

f

 

[simongr]

Interesting that the luggae isnt checked through. I know you have to collect it but my recent trips through LAX the luggae has been checked through to JFK or PIT and I just had to dump the bags at the xray machine just after immigration/customs.

Bad form re the alcomohol - I have had a beer in the AC at LAX at 8AM before now... followed by a second beer at 8:30

 

[Shano]

She issued all boarding passes (lga-atl-dfw-den-lax-syd) but said luggage could only be checked to lax. Just as well as I think I may be able to check in 3 bags with qf in lax.

That does seem strange - is there a sector limit for checking luggage through to final destination?

My last trip I flew LNK - DEN on UA, DEN - LAX on AA, LAX - MEL on QF and luggage was checked right through to MEL on check-in in Lincoln. They even intercepted the luggage at LAX and added the priority tags

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

That does seem strange - is there a sector limit for checking luggage through to final destination?

There is, but a lot more than that. I've checked bags through 5 & 6 flights before.

 

[Shano]

There is, but a lot more than that. I've checked bags through 5 & 6 flights before.

But did they end up at the same destination as you

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

yes they did.

 

[Shano]

yes they did.

I am always a bit concerned if I have more than 2 connections whether my luggage will arrive at the same time and place as me, although so far I have not had any lost luggage. For you to do 5 to 6 flights and still have your luggage is a pretty good effort

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

It was a while ago. These days I try not to check bags (but then with sometimes 8-10 flights in sequence I'd be mad to). Becoming harder and harder thanks to liquids rules and carryon size and quantity restrictions.

 

[simongr]

I guess if you have any fligths through US/UK you cant avoid checking baggage. US no liquids and UK only one bag - simply not feasible to travel like that. I now try and minimise hand luggage and check bags. Still trying to find the ideal luggage arrangement at the moment though.

 

[NM]

In Admirals Club I asked for and was given 2 drink vouchers with comment it would buy me just water. Too early for alcoholic beverages at 0530 local time. Let's see what AA first class is like.

f

When you get to DFW, you can exchange a drinks voucher for a decent coffee from the bar (rather than the filtered mud in the self-serve area). Not sure which other ACs have coffee available at the bar.

 

[Foreigner]

When you get to DFW, you can exchange a drinks voucher for a decent coffee from the bar (rather than the filtered mud in the self-serve area). Not sure which other ACs have coffee available at the bar.

NM, there's havoc in Atlanta and DFW areas. I had a pleasant flight to Atlanta and made a crawl to the Admirals Club. Shock and horror when they advised my flight to Dallas was delayed for a few hours. So to keep up with the dfw-den and den-lax flights, I took an another AA flight to dfw but had to sit in Y. I am glad i did otherwise I would have had a nightmare to re-arrange all the remaining sectors.

Anyway, I have just arrived in Denver now. I have no idea if my luggage will be in lax for the flight to Sydney. I was to clear the luggage and re-check with QF. Will keep my fingers crossed.

f