QF cough about cabin bags

[justinbrett]

All Australian airlines police this. Check the other forums.

Simple fact there's not enough room for everybody to be HLO. Putting a weight limit will force some to check luggage in (which is free on QF, unusual by global standards) and in theory leave more room for others.

If you've ever travelled in the US (which generally don't have a weight limit) you'll probably support the strict rules here.

 

[jakeseven7]

One only ever had my carry on weighed by Virgin and Jetstar domestically.

I welcome any airline policing this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

All Australian airlines police this. Check the other forums.

Simple fact there's not enough room for everybody to be HLO. Putting a weight limit will force some to check luggage in (which is free on QF, unusual by global standards) and in theory leave more room for others.

If you've ever travelled in the US (which generally don't have a weight limit) you'll probably support the strict rules here.

I travel extensively in the US. I don’t support strict rules in Australia.

US airlines are adapting to consumer demand with larger bins. For small aircraft in the US they have gate valet, which is preferable to waiting 20 minutes at a carousel.

It’s a fair point that enforcing weight limits might encourage people to check in rather than take bags into the cabin. But they seem to manage on legacy carriers in the US and europe. Asia is a bit of an exception to the example as many regional flights are widebodies already.

 

[justinbrett]

I travel extensively in the US. I don’t support strict rules in Australia.

US airlines are adapting to consumer demand with larger bins. For small aircraft in the US they have gate valet, which is preferable to waiting 20 minutes at a carousel.

It’s a fair point that enforcing weight limits might encourage people to check in rather than take bags into the cabin. But they seem to manage on legacy carriers in the US and europe. Asia is a bit of an exception to the example as many regional flights are widebodies already.

And it takes twice as long to board a flight in the US, and if you have lounge entry, you must leave before boarding commences, otherwise even in first class, you might have to check your bag.

QF does premium hand luggage (valet in the US) on QLK as well, so no difference there.

 

[lovestotravel]

Happened to me just prior to COVID-19

Out of Perth flying paid J, 2 Adults and 2 young children, one carry on bag for me and it was about 1.5kg over. Was made to pull items out to simply hold prior to being allowed passed the ticket dragon, and I was made to do this at the front of the queue.

Wrapped a jumper or two around my waist and was then let through, promptly put the items back in my bag and walked down the aerobridge.

Another staff member pushed her way down after me and told me I had to remove the items again as she saw me put them back in the carry-on. I kindly informed her that I look forward to the day J* takes over more flights, and was threatened with not being allowed to board.

I wrapped the two jackets around my waist, and proud to say it was the last QF flight I have boarded and will likely every board again

 

[Sprucegoose]

Today out of SYD domestic both ground staff and cabin crew were particularly cough about the weight of cabin bags even though they were within regulation (2 pieces - one in the overhead compartment, the other fitting perfectly under the seat). Status appears to make no difference, not that it should but discretion would have been preferred. Makes for a very unpleasant experience. No issues on the outbound and no issues on the international segments. In the end, at the close of boarding there were still overhead bin space available! What’s going on?

Yeah I got snapped at by some dragon….came and apologised later,,,damage was already done given i was a belligerent wreck. I’ll need weeks of something to get over this……

 

[MARTINE]

Happened to me just prior to COVID-19

Out of Perth flying paid J, 2 Adults and 2 young children, one carry on bag for me and it was about 1.5kg over. Was made to pull items out to simply hold prior to being allowed passed the ticket dragon, and I was made to do this at the front of the queue.

Wrapped a jumper or two around my waist and was then let through, promptly but the items back in my bag and walked down the aerobridge.

Another staff member pushed her way down after me and told me I had to remove the items again as she saw me put them back in the carry-on. I kindly informed her that I look forward to the day J* takes over more flights, and was threatened with not being allowed to board.

I wrapped the two jackets around my waist, and proud to say it was the last QF flight I have boarded and will likely every board again

WTF?!
That is incredible
….and just an excuse for someone with some serious inadequacy issues to use their power

 

[Rich]

WTF?!
That is incredible
….and just an excuse for someone with some serious inadequacy issues to use their power

Which one?
If your carry on is too heavy and you are asked to remove something by an employee doing their job, I consider it pretty rude to then re-pack the bag in her sight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Which one?
If your carry on is too heavy and you are asked to remove something by an employee doing their job, I consider it pretty rude to then re-pack the bag in her sight.

fair point.

But in part this comes down to the perceived legitimacy of such checks. If the aim is to reduce the volume of cabin baggage, taking items out which are then going to be stuffed loosely into the overheads doesn’t seem to be fit for purpose. If the aim is to reduce weight, that also fails, because the total weight is the same.

If airlines just came out and said they’ve calculated their fares based on 7kg per person, and any more than that costs extra to fly around, that’s more understandable. Rather than ‘on time performance’.

 

[Rich]

. If the aim is to reduce weight, that also fails, because the total weight is the same.

If the aim is to reduce weight on an individual bag for safety reasons, then it is perfectly valid.

 

[jb747]

I wrapped the two jackets around my waist, and proud to say it was the last QF flight I have boarded and will likely every board again

To which the normal response is “enjoy your last flight sir”.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If the aim is to reduce weight on an individual bag for safety reasons, then it is perfectly valid.

Sure, but BA is 23kg per piece. AA and DL have no specified weight limit. UA says no maximum weight limit applies per piece, except for departures from SIN, PEK and PVG. CASA provides guidance on cabin baggage, but doesn’t appear to set a weight limit?

Even within Australia, an ion a single airline some passengers are allowed 7kg max, but others are allowed 10kg. If it is safety related, why a variance in weight be cabin, fare or status?

 

[Rich]

If it is safety related, why a variance in weight be cabin, fare or status?

I don't know, but QF is 10kg (seems max anywhere) and if you are caught with 11.5 kg it would be appropriate to be sheepish and comply with a request rather than be arrogant and rude (and double down when caught again), which at least is how that post came across to me.

 

[justinbrett]

Sure, but BA is 23kg per piece. AA and DL have no specified weight limit. UA says no maximum weight limit applies per piece, except for departures from SIN, PEK and PVG. CASA provides guidance on cabin baggage, but doesn’t appear to set a weight limit?

Even within Australia, an ion a single airline some passengers are allowed 7kg max, but others are allowed 10kg. If it is safety related, why a variance in weight be cabin, fare or status?

It's not safety related. I don't think the airlines say that (if they do it's WHS safety, in terms of lifting it in the locker).

It's behaviour shaping. It's pretty rare on Australian airlines for carry on to be gate checked, but it seems to happen on almost every flight I go on in the US. If the small limit makes 10% of pax check bags, then that might make all the difference.

I personally think the airlines have it backwards, check in should be free, but you should have to pay to bring hand luggage, or bundle in the higher fare options.

 

[lovestotravel]

WTF?!
That is incredible
….and just an excuse for someone with some serious inadequacy issues to use their power

Yes I was over, I get it, I was over, but deciding to check a family of 4, in J and then pulling out 2 jumpers at the front of the queue holding people up is a pathetic move, and then to chase me down the aerobridge.....

I'm happy across at VA and I just watch and smile as the the race to the bottom at QF continues My last flight with QF indeed !

 

[MARTINE]

fair point.

But in part this comes down to the perceived legitimacy of such checks. If the aim is to reduce the volume of cabin baggage, taking items out which are then going to be stuffed loosely into the overheads doesn’t seem to be fit for purpose. If the aim is to reduce weight, that also fails, because the total weight is the same.

If airlines just came out and said they’ve calculated their fares based on 7kg per person, and any more than that costs extra to fly around, that’s more understandable. Rather than ‘on time performance’.

And certainly not safety or we would be weighing the passengers too

 

[love_the_life]

And certainly not safety or we would be weighing the passengers too

In a previous 'life' I used to arrange charter flights for remote clients to attend workshops and many a time I had to try to find out how big each person was - can make for an interesting conversation as the clients had no idea of their actual weight and we would have to go on the 'big fella' or 'skinny one' description.

 

[jb747]

It's not safety related.

How can you say that with such certainty? There's most certainly weight limits within the design of the overhead compartments. The idea of a hundred kilos arriving on your head at a couple of g is less than attractive.

 

[lovestotravel]

How can you say that with such certainty? There's most certainly weight limits within the design of the overhead compartments. The idea of a hundred kilos arriving on your head at a couple of g is less than attractive.

Guess those first and business class overhead compartments are rated for a higher loading than economy then.....

 

[MARTINE]

How can you say that with such certainty? There's most certainly weight limits within the design of the overhead compartments. The idea of a hundred kilos arriving on your head at a couple of g is less than attractive.

I will clarify my post - although passengers dont sit in the overheads - if weight (down to the g and taking all onboard human/nonhuman components) dictated fuel and airline performance we would be weighing passesngers as they do on those smaller planes.
So two jumpers on a body or in hand luggage to that argument is irrelevant
Regarding slowing down boarding - - The argument has some merit but if critical to performance they would ban mobility challenged/elderly which of course should and would not ever happen
I fully agree overweight lockers are a safety hazard as items dislodge …but that also applies to any item not being secured. I am thinking of the idiot years ago in J who suddenly opened a (practically empty) locker and a bottle of aged scotch missile almost hit the side of my head.