New Qantas Baggage Allowances

[possie]

Am I dreaming or do the new Qantas domestic baggage allowances provide nothing extra to FF and Qantas Club members?

I can't see anything past 23kg for Economy and 30kg for Business. Lucky I moved in December from Sydney to Melbourne and brought 1 largish case and 2 cats for nothing (courtesy of Platinum status).

 

[simongr]

I think perhaps the Pinot at lunch may have been rather strong:

Fly - Baggage - Checked Baggage - Checked Baggage Allowance

Additional checked baggage allowances are available for Platinum, Gold, and Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members on Qantas operated services (not available on QantasLink services operated by Dash 8 or Beechcraft aircraft, partner airlines or codeshare services not operated by Qantas).

There have never been formal additional baggage allowances for non-QF OW status members as that is not a OW benefit. Experience probably shows that some people have received more generous allowances but that is something that can not be relied upon.

 

[MelUser]

Plat adds 15 kg domestically. Silv/Gold/QClub adds 10kg.

I am annoyed with what QF have done - they have called it simplification. They could also have aligned the domestic checked baggage system with USA travel but they chose to align it with Europe/Asia.

 

[possie]

Simongr - pleae read the new Baggage link within the current allowance doc - I think you are referring to the current allowance

Meluser - the additional allowance you refer to is only for US flights

 

[nlagalle]

Simongr - pleae read the new Baggage link within the current allowance doc - I think you are referring to the current allowance

Meluser - the additional allowance you refer to is only for US flights

Possie, Both are correct - the link for the allowance is here:

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges - Status Privileges

gold/silver 10kg extra, Plat 15kg. That is domestic and int.

Nick

 

[possie]

Apologies you are right. I had done my cross-checking by looking at info under the FF program - and didn't get to this table. Oh well better than nothing I guess!

 

[trooper]

Given our geographical location.. and the number of flights to/from Asia to here vs the number of flights to the US..

Why would we align with US allowances?

Don't get me wrong.. I'd prefer it too... but it doesn't seem logical to me...

Another good reason for retaining status.. especially on *A where it DOES carry across....

 

[Dave Noble]

Plat adds 15 kg domestically. Silv/Gold/QClub adds 10kg.

I am annoyed with what QF have done - they have called it simplification. They could also have aligned the domestic checked baggage system with USA travel but they chose to align it with Europe/Asia.

It is simplifying it; it may be less generous but is simpler

The standard allowance other than USA is weight based so hardly surpising imo that they would go for weight. Also , given that it would seem not to be required to use the piece system to USA now, they may ( I suppose ) bring those flights in line at some point

Dave

 

[anat0l]

In some sense it is a simplification since the rules would have been to comply with the most restrictive set in a journey anyway. (So lugging 32kg on your domestic connection in Y to your international in Y may not cut the mustard unless you can through-check where it just may go unnoticed.)

For domestic it is a big loss for some - understandable.

 

[canabear]

In some sense it is a simplification since the rules would have been to comply with the most restrictive set in a journey anyway. (So lugging 32kg on your domestic connection in Y to your international in Y may not cut the mustard unless you can through-check where it just may go unnoticed.)

For domestic it is a big loss for some - understandable.

As far as i am aware (and this is based on a trip in november) if your QANTAS itinerary includes a stop in the US then you get the 32kg allowance for all legs including domestic.

 

[Dave Noble]

As far as i am aware (and this is based on a trip in november) if your QANTAS itinerary includes a stop in the US then you get the 32kg allowance for all legs including domestic.

No

Under the new rules, where the piece allowance applies the allowance is

Economy and Premium Economy
2 * 23 Kg Allowance
Business and 1st
2* 32 Kg allowance

The allowance will apply to any connecting flights in the itinerary

Dave

 

[Lendav Orav]

I agree with MelUser. Qantas' use of language here is annoying and even slightly misleading. By using a word with a positive connotation they are hiding the fact that they are actually taking away 18kgs of allowance on journeys to the US and RTW. It's called doublespeak and the world is full of it, but that doesn't make it any less annoying. They could have given an honest explanation and it would have made it an easier pill to swallow.

 

[NM]

I agree with MelUser. Qantas' use of language here is annoying and even slightly misleading. By using a word with a positive connotation they are hiding the fact that they are actually taking away 18kgs of allowance on journeys to the US and RTW. It's called doublespeak and the world is full of it, but that doesn't make it any less annoying. They could have given an honest explanation and it would have made it an easier pill to swallow.

On a ATW itinerary, most OneWorld passengers have been limited to below 2 x 32KG for some time. Both AA and BA both have 50lb/23kg limits on individual pieces. So just because you purchase a ticket from QF and start the ATW journey with QF, the passenger was still restricted to the weight limits of the individual airlines flown.

Personally, I have been working to a <23kg per piece limit for quite some time now for ATW journeys (due to AA's weight limit) and find it works for me. 2 x 23kg is way more than I need for a business or leisure trip. The only time I may want more is if I was needing to carry additional tools or products for a business trip, but I have not yet personally experienced such a need. I fact, the only time I need to check two bags is after a conference when I may have a lot of "collateral" to bring home.

 

[Lendav Orav]

I did a RTW in July with 2 x 32kg travelling on QF, BA, and AA. I'm a researcher so I usually travel with a bunch of books, which tends make the bags heavy - I've often, by the time I'm on the home stretch, needed every last one of those 64kgs. I didn't have any problems with the 32kg bags except for AA but they were OK once I explained I was on a RTW.

Last time I checked AA will actually let you have 32kg still if you're a top tier oneworld member. But I think the game is up now as BA doesn't have any extra allowance. I'm pretty sure I got away with it in July as it was still in period of grace. Either that or just nice check-in staff.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that for some us the 18kg will make a difference.

 

[NM]

I did a RTW in July with 2 x 32kg travelling on QF, BA, and AA. I'm a researcher so I usually travel with a bunch of books, which tends make the bags heavy - I've often, by the time I'm on the home stretch, needed every last one of those 64kgs. I didn't have any problems with the 32kg bags except for AA but they were OK once I explained I was on a RTW.

Last time I checked AA will actually let you have 32kg still if you're a top tier oneworld member. But I think the game is up now as BA doesn't have any extra allowance. I'm pretty sure I got away with it in July as it was still in period of grace. Either that or just nice check-in staff.

AA will sometimes waive the fee for >50lb bags for their own frequent flyers. But remember that additional baggage allowance is not a OneWorld benefit so they are not required to do so for other airline's FFs. In my experience, AA are normally generous in your situatio, but it can depend on the particular check-in agent you get.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that for some us the 18kg will make a difference.

Indeed I am sure there will be people in your situation, which is why I was careful to used words like "personally" in my response .

I was in no way surprised by the QF setting a 23kg limit per bag. They have been under pressure from the baggage handler's union to do this for a long time now. The reduction obviously has benefits from a fuel burn perspective, but also from an workplace occupational health and safety perspective.

In my opinion, I don't want my airfare subsidising those that need/want to carry additional checked baggage weight. If someone needs to carry more baggage then they can pay the additional fee rather than have the additional cost applied across all tickets. With high fuel costs, the airline has to recover the cost somehow and customers are demanding lower and lower fares. So I see this move as a response to customer demands for cheaper fares and competition. If these commercial demands were not so strong (as may have been the case in years past), then higher weight allowances could be included in all ticket prices. On one hand passengers demand lower fares (and vote with their credit card) but don't want the airlines to undertake any operational cost reductions.

 

[Lendav Orav]

I agree but then again it's always going to be an arbitrary decision where you draw the line. It could also be argued that you should then pay to check any luggage.

AA does offer oneworld benefits in terms of additional baggage allowance. Now that they charge to check bags on wholly dom itins, oneworld tier members are exempted Baggage Exceptions. I was also sure that last time I checked they were allowing their own + oneworld tier members up to 32kgs/bag but either I'm mistaken or it's no longer the case. I just checked and it's 23kg for everyone except flts to Brazil where it's still 2 x 32kg!

 

[Dave Noble]

AA does offer oneworld benefits in terms of additional baggage allowance. Now that they charge to check bags on wholly dom itins, oneworld tier members are exempted

No they don't. The AA allowance is 2x50Lb for international itineraries with NO additional allowance for those with status. (there is a Brazil exception)

Domestically is different. AA removed all free baggage allowance and implemented a $15 for 1st piece and $25 for 2nd piece for non-status passengers travelling on a purely domestic itinerary ; they waive that fee for those with OW status

If you have baggage that exceeds 2PC or exceeds the 50Lb per bag limit then that is not exempted for their

Dave

 

[beardoc]

It's a big change for me. One of the major reasons for buying QP Life Membership was that I used to get 2 x 32kg bags (I have to carry fairly large and bulky electronics that don't fit into one bag). Now I will struggle to make things fit 33kg total (23kg plus the QP benefit of an extra 10kg).

 

[Lendav Orav]

That's exactly what I just said they do have an extra baggage allowance for ow tier members but its on domestic only.

 

[vet]

A poster on snowatch.com.au and ski.com.au is claiming Qantas looked inside a ski bag to make sure only skis were in it - ie you can't use the weight allowance for skiing equipment for ski boots or ski clothes or use one ski bag for 2 or 3 pairs of skiis. :?::?::?: