New Baggage System from June 1 (REMINDER)

[medhead]

like musical instruments (why would you want to check these in...)

Many musical instruments cannot be carried on, so not much choice but to check them.

But should also expect this, after all the baggage system is a bit Ryanair-esque which is OK, except when you make statements like, "We are Australia's leading premium airline..."

That's the main joke of this, Australia's leading premium airline that is the same or worse than LCC airlines, not much premium left. I'm not noticing the fares being decreased either.

 

[mannej]

I said Ryanair-esque. How do you say it's "Nothing like"? On Ryanair - you pay for 1 bag for 20kg - you want to bring 1 12 kg + 1 8kg bag you need to pay for an extra bag. On Qantas you pay for 1 bag weighing 23kg (which is included in ticket price), but want to bring 1 12 kg + 8kg bag you need to pay for an extra bag. Not the same, but there are similarities. In reality the effect of this policy doesn't hit ordinary pax that much, but whilst SG's can take 32kg ever tried lifting a bag that heavy, it is much easier to split into 20kg + 12kg ...

The good thing is choice though. Golds on VA can take 32kg split across several bags for no extra charge (indeed they say "when you bring between 23kg to 69kg of checked baggage please split the weight over several bags to prevent injury to our Ground Staff"). In fact if you have no status and want to take two smaller bags it is cheaper to do so on VA by paying $12, instead of the $30 mentioned in the original news report.

Have you actually looked at Ryan Air's baggage policy? They seem to use both systems to their advantage- piece system to start off with, but any excess they will slug you per kilo (perhaps I should be quiet before I give the wee Irishman any ideas...) From what I can see, QF will only charge per piece (unless it is over 23kg then the heavy fee applies)

 

[dajop]

Have you actually looked at Ryan Air's baggage policy? They seem to use both systems to their advantage- piece system to start off with, but any excess they will slug you per kilo (perhaps I should be quiet before I give the wee Irishman any ideas...) From what I can see, QF will only charge per piece (unless it is over 23kg then the heavy fee applies)

Yes I have looked at Ryan Air's baggage policy. But I didn't realise that the heavy fee on QF was a flat fee, not per kg. Still, I never said it was the same as Ryanair, just "Ryanairesque" which I believe it is, especially for the "Premium Carrier" It does differentiate QF from other domestic carriers, who allow multiple bags but slug you by weight pretty heavily once above prepaid limits, but it is getting complicated!

 

[Robert K]

The less pieces people carry, the faster it can be loaded/unloaded to/from the plane.

 

[medhead]

The less pieces people carry, the faster it can be loaded/unloaded to/from the plane.

I don't agree. I find it easier to handle 2x10 kg rather than 1x20 kg, even when having to move 2 items. Then take the gold allowance of 32kg, now were comparing 2x15kg against 1x30kg. I reckon it would take just as long to handle 30kg bag as handling the 2 lighter bags. Just because the extra weight requires a completely different approach to how it is lifted.

Also note the heavy charge doesn't apply to PS and above.

Fly - Baggage - Additional Baggage

# Not applicable for Silver, Gold, and Platinum Frequent Flyers, Qantas Club members and customers travelling in Business.

 

[markis10]

The less pieces people carry, the faster it can be loaded/unloaded to/from the plane.

No, the more space for money making freight, the amount of baggage on the plane versus time taken to deliver to passengers depends on a variety of factors, especially when its containerised!

 

[dajop]

. I reckon it would take just as long to handle 30kg bag as handling the 2 lighter bags.

Not sure how they do it, but 30kg would almost certainly require the assistance of machinery or 2 people due to OHS concerns.

 

[WWTFC]

Am i missing something as this says i can have more than one piece on international - from Qantas website

Note: No single item of checked baggage may exceed 32kg (70lb). Other than to and from the Americas, there is no restriction on the number of pieces within the weight allowance for international travel.

 

[TheInsider]

Am i missing something as this says i can have more than one piece on international - from Qantas website

Note: No single item of checked baggage may exceed 32kg (70lb). Other than to and from the Americas, there is no restriction on the number of pieces within the weight allowance for international travel.

For an example i'll base it on a Y pax with no status;
-USA 2pce at max 23kgs each
-International, 23kgs max (23 x 1kg bags if wanted)
-Domestic, 1pce at 23kgs max.

 

[medhead]

Not sure how they do it, but 30kg would almost certainly require the assistance of machinery or 2 people due to OHS concerns.

Exactly, all the more reason that I am extremely confused by this change. Give Gold and Plat a massive weight allowance and force them to put it in one or 2 bags. That isn't designed to save on baggage handling staff. In fact, if those with status use their full allowance it is going to take more staff to handle the luggage. So I can only think they are relying on people not actually using there full weight allowance or taking 2 bags and paying the fee. No doubt, as suggested already, getting more cargo on board.

cynical move, IMO.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Exactly, all the more reason that I am extremely confused by this change. Give Gold and Plat a massive weight allowance and force them to put it in one or 2 bags. That isn't designed to save on baggage handling staff. In fact, if those with status use their full allowance it is going to take more staff to handle the luggage. So I can only think they are relying on people not actually using there full weight allowance or taking 2 bags and paying the fee. No doubt, as suggested already, getting more cargo on board.

cynical move, IMO.

Some beancounter is probably thinking that with less bags they can do without one baggage handler per flight maybe & save squillions in wages. Now remember logic & beancounters are a bit like oil & water ie they don't mix.

 

[Archphoto]

I'm flying BA & QF on Monday (QF302 then QF81). As a SG I'm allowed an extra 10kg for the QF segment, but only permitted 23kg on the BA segment. (Note the BA flight was sold as QF302, but the BA baggage rules apply, not the QF ones.)

And I was given conflicting information - 1st up I could have the 32kg at no extra charge (as long as the bag was split into 2 bags eg: 20/12), then I could only have 23kg.

BA contact via email/website was useless - the told me to contact the local office, which are the very people who gave me two different answers to the same question!

I also called QF to check and the lady put it fairly simply (I guess they get that question 100x a day) - "No red tail with the kangaroo, no extra baggage allowance regardless of your QF Status."

So QF flight numbers mean zilch with regard to the extra status allowance when flying BA.

 

[serfty]

When was this trip ticketed? I assume it's all the one PNR.

If since May then the "Most Significant Segment" applies and it's the BA allowance for the whole trip ("TC2-TC3 on BA" > "TC3-TC3 on QF")

If before May then on BA you will get the most generous allowance (QF's) for the journey.

i.e. For tickets booked before May 19th 2011, BA have permitted the larger allowance for connecting flights. (http://www.britishairways.com/travel/travservcom/public/en_gb#9)

Free baggage allowance that can be checked into the hold

Find out about checked baggage allowances.

Notes:
i) Passengers will be allowed the most generous allowance on connecting services. ...

 

[Archphoto]

When was this trip ticketed? I assumes it's all the one PNR.

If since May then the "Most Significant Segment" applies and it's the BA allawance for the whole trip (TC2-TC3 on BA > TC3-TC3 on QF)

If before May then on BA you will get the most generous allowance (QF's) for the journey.

i.e. For tickets booked before May 19th 2011, BA have permitted the larger allowance for connecting flights. (British Airways - Commitment to Passenger Service)

Now that *is* good news, as the flight was booked and paid for March 17!!

I couldn't find the info alluding to those T&Cs in the links you provided though; lots of info on the baggage allowance, but nothing akin to QF allowance enabled due to date of booking.

Am I missing something?

Serfty - you are a mine of information thank you!

 

[serfty]

Ticketed March the 17th?

Assuming economy then the (Non American) QF International SG 32Kg allowance should apply.

International to/from all other destinations

The content "Customer Commitment" web link I indicated should suffice - it is unequivocal . With the advent of the "Most Significant Segment" rule, over time this will become redundant. However it is still valid for PNR's ticketed before May 19th on BA.

 

[jono88888]

The less pieces people carry, the faster it can be loaded/unloaded to/from the plane.

I disagree. Typically I travel with a suitcase and small backpack. Whereas previously I would check in both pieces now I, and others, will now be encouraged to take more carry on baggage and this will result in longer times for passengers to embark.

My other criticism of this system is that there are some folks who find it hard to travel with heavy luggage. My other half is 50Kg and being small likes to travel with 2 pieces of luggage usually around 10Kg a piece, whereas the hypothetical 100Kg passenger next to her can easily lift his 32Kg single piece – and who gets slogged for excess? It’s the 70Kg and not the 132Kg. I know cases all have wheels nowadays but people like my wife and older travellers still don’t want to have to lift heavy bags. Just to be clear, I'm not going down the slippery road of proposing that smaller passengers pay less, just that smaller passengers should not be penalised when they are clearly cheaper to transport.

On a similar note when we travel as a family, my young kids always pull their own bags which probably weigh in at around 4kg. From a packing perspective we don't need these extra bags, but it's fun for the kids. Depending on where and why we're travelling and what we need to take with us, we might not be able to allow them this little pleasure on some future trips.

We've all seen the occasional person check in with a huge numbers of small pieces and whilst this is not desirable, I don't see the big deal about allowing each passenger the choice of splitting their baggage into 2 or even 3 pieces if they choose to do so.