New baggage System for QF eff Dec 1, 2010

[monoccular]

You would be the only person I've heard complain since the implementation of the new system in not wanting to have 2 bags & preferring to cram everything into one heavy piece.

I guess the reward is previously you could only take up to 33 kgs total no matter how many pieces & now you have a more generous allowance of 46kgs (2 pcs not to exceed 23 kgs).

IMHO it's far easier to handle 2 pieces @ 14 kgs than 1 @ 28 kgs but I guess as the saying goes "you can please some of the people some of the some but you can't please all of the people all of the time" or "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

I guess it depends on where you are traveling, where you go and how once off the plane, and if doing so alone or with company.

I never envisage taking 40 or 46 kgm.

For me the few extra kg like 26 or 27. - not talking about 30+ kg - in one conveyance seems a lot easier to handle that say one 20kgm and one 7 kgm

But I don't get that choice, the choice I did have as an "ordinary" QCLUB Member before being "elevated" to Gold

 

[dfcatch]

Something tells me that more than one WP would see that as another 'QF enhancement' ie erosion of their benefits.

Well in this case it just simplifies an unnecessarily over complicated system. And WPs would get exactly what they are getting now.

But I take your point.

However I would happily defend QF on this one.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Go back to the old system before the weight system a cpl of years ago.

Everyone - 1 x 32 kg.

QC/PS (and I assume SG/WP) - 2 x 32 kg.

Everyone will be happy with that.

Except the baggage handlers, who will complain about the 32kg bags!

A couple of years ago, BA actually imposed a maximum weight of 23kg on any one bag (no matter what class or status), because that was what the baggage handlers' union in the UK demanded. It was scrapped after a couple of months because of the uproar from pax .....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I guess it depends on where you are traveling, where you go and how once off the plane, and if doing so alone or with company.

I never envisage taking 40 or 46 kgm.

For me the few extra kg like 26 or 27. - not talking about 30+ kg - in one conveyance seems a lot easier to handle that say one 20kgm and one 7 kgm

But I don't get that choice, the choice I did have as an "ordinary" QCLUB Member before being "elevated" to Gold

How far off Platinum are you? If you do 1400SC before your anniversary date your 'problem' will be solved.

 

[mannej]

Isn't there luggage out there that comes in a set, with the smaller piece clipping onto the carry handle of the larger piece? Wouldn't that effectively be the same as carrying one bag anyone?

 

[v8Statesman]

Something tells me that more than one WP would see that as another 'QF enhancement' ie erosion of their benefits.

A few years ago I was doing work in BNE. Several times I flew PER-BNE in J as a WP with 9 pieces of checked luggage, sometimes weighing 200kg. Even I knew then I was on a good thing. Never expected it to last. Poor Avis car at the other end. Boot, back seats. Front passenger seat. All full

 

[dfcatch]

Except the baggage handlers, who will complain about the 32kg bags!

A couple of years ago, BA actually imposed a maximum weight of 23kg on any one bag (no matter what class or status), because that was what the baggage handlers' union in the UK demanded. It was scrapped after a couple of months because of the uproar from pax .....

Well they have to handle 32kg bags for everyone other than NB and SG.

What did JQ say.... "Harden up Princesses"

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Except the baggage handlers, who will complain about the 32kg bags!

A couple of years ago, BA actually imposed a maximum weight of 23kg on any one bag (no matter what class or status), because that was what the baggage handlers' union in the UK demanded. It was scrapped after a couple of months because of the uproar from pax .....

It's not just the baggage handlers that have to lift the bags, people working in baggage services do also. A friend of mine tore a shoulder muscle & had a frozen shoulder from lifting a 28 kg bag which was one of many rush bags they had to handle that day & there was a lot of 'man' handling of the bags getting them off through customs etc.

Had she had an operation it would only have a 70% success rate however it will heal by itself but could take up to 18 months. Obviously she can't do that job again & is now doing other duties.

 

[anat0l]

It's not just the baggage handlers that have to lift the bags, people working in baggage services do also. A friend of mine tore a shoulder muscle & had a frozen shoulder from lifting a 28 kg bag which was one of many rush bags they had to handle that day & there was a lot of 'man' handling of the bags getting them off through customs etc.

Had she had an operation it would only have a 70% success rate however it will heal by itself but could take up to 18 months. Obviously she can't do that job again & is now doing other duties.

I know that sucking up to management probably does squat, but that is a system-related OHS issue, i.e. that 28 kg bag should have been tagged as heavy (apart from rush) and thus should demand assistance in lifting. If the person could not reasonably seek assistance to lift that bag with someone else, then that is a failure of the management system (i.e. there should be enough people on hand to allow these kinds of scenarios, which are clearly possible), but if she simply lifted the bag without considering the safety issues, then it is her who is at fault for violating her own safety (albeit in an investigation vicarious liability will necessarily implicate QF management etc.).

It would not make a difference if "time" was of the issue - again, if there wasn't enough time to summon someone to help with lifting heavy bags, then it comes back to either management fault (not enough resources) or personnel fault (trying to save time in frivolous exchange for safety) or both.


In reality, given that the job does require people to lift masses typically between 20 - 32 kg, do people think it is actually reasonable that 1 - 2 humans per bag is reasonable in terms of (a) safety of the job, and/or (b) use of human resources? Too bad baggage systems (particularly the movement of luggage about terminals and aircraft) can't be automated to a greater degree (though the unions representing baggage handlers might be rather agitated if you propose something that will reduce handler jobs in the name of efficiency...)

 

[v8Statesman]

(though the unions representing baggage handlers might be rather agitated if you propose something that will reduce handler jobs in the name of efficiency...)

You can't do it in the name of efficiency. That is an evil word to unions. You need to do it in the name of "safety"




Sent from my Telstra iPhone using the Australian Frequent Flyer application.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I know that sucking up to management probably does squat, but that is a system-related OHS issue, i.e. that 28 kg bag should have been tagged as heavy (apart from rush) and thus should demand assistance in lifting. If the person could not reasonably seek assistance to lift that bag with someone else, then that is a failure of the management system (i.e. there should be enough people on hand to allow these kinds of scenarios, which are clearly possible), but if she simply lifted the bag without considering the safety issues, then it is her who is at fault for violating her own safety (albeit in an investigation vicarious liability will necessarily implicate QF management etc.).

It would not make a difference if "time" was of the issue - again, if there wasn't enough time to summon someone to help with lifting heavy bags, then it comes back to either management fault (not enough resources) or personnel fault (trying to save time in frivolous exchange for safety) or both.

In reality, given that the job does require people to lift masses typically between 20 - 32 kg, do people think it is actually reasonable that 1 - 2 humans per bag is reasonable in terms of (a) safety of the job, and/or (b) use of human resources? Too bad baggage systems (particularly the movement of luggage about terminals and aircraft) can't be automated to a greater degree (though the unions representing baggage handlers might be rather agitated if you propose something that will reduce handler jobs in the name of efficiency...)

The bag did have a heavy tag on it. This was a day when there were hundreds of bags to process. Also sometimes it's not so much a case of lifting a 28 kg heavy bag but the sheer repetition of lifting multiple 20kg bags . If you've been lifting heaps of bags it maybe lifting only a 15kg bag does the damage as it's the straw that broke the camels back so even observing OH&S rules doesn't rule out injury.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Gold's complained either way, that's why they changed it to 2x23kg bags, from 1 bag at 32kg. QF just can't win can they?

Thanks. If they check in at say 30kg is that still ok?

If I'm in the states shopping my bags can get to that...........

I wasn't aware they changed it actually.......golds are wieners ......

 

[drron]

Do I remember weght limits.Working the Christmas holidays in the Post Office.The regulation was 2 persons to lift a mail bag.Even if there was only 1 postcard in the bag I had to wait for help.

 

[TheInsider]

Thanks. If they check in at say 30kg is that still ok?

If I'm in the states shopping my bags can get to that...........

I wasn't aware they changed it actually.......golds are wieners ......

International pretty much remains the same, but domestic is now 2 bags at 23kgs each. Anything over the 23kgs is a $20 heavy charge.

 

[simongr]

I was aggrieved about this initially but having rechecked I seem to have massively gained during this most recent change. Given that I only travel int'l with luggage (I might have a family trip to MEL for a few days coming up but wont hit 2x32KG on that trip) I used to have 45 KG in J - any number of bags. Now I have 64KG in any cabin with any number of bags.

 

[monoccular]

Isn't there luggage out there that comes in a set, with the smaller piece clipping onto the carry handle of the larger piece? Wouldn't that effectively be the same as carrying one bag anyone?

Your reply made me have a look around, but I haven't been able to find such an arrangement.

A say 20 kg capacity case with a "clip on" 10 kg capacity add on, would be ideal for my purposes. I could check in the two separately, then when I collect can join them up so I only have one item to handle on the ground.

Anyone know of anything like that and where in Melbourne I might look??

 

[straitman]

OK, maybe I should know this.

How do I apply these rules for a Qantas booking (i.e. all flights are a QF flight number) MEL-SIN-DEL and return?

MEL-SIN is Qantas metal but SIN-DEL is with Jet Airways.

 

[serfty]

You can expect to receive:

• the 64 Kg QF WP allowance Oz->India.

• the 32 Kg QF Economy allowance India->Oz

See related threads on "Most Significant Carrier".

Your e-ticket will state the QF Economy non status/trans-pacific 23kg - the WP allowance will be applied on check-in at MEL, but is unlikely to be applied when checking-in at DEL.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/checked-baggage/global/en#jump3