Pre-Departure Baggage Weighing

[kangarooflyer88]

Yesterday I flew JQ from OOL back to SYD and noticed that JQ was weighing carry on bags at the departure gate. I've seen this before in SYD and largely ignored it since I've got a backpack on. But at the airport there was an announcement made that the weighing service would close in 5 minutes and decided to get my bag weighed, just in case. Turns out I was around 8 kgs between my laptop, iPad, weekend clothes and other gadgets. I ended up removing my laptop and iPad, reweighing the bag, getting the tag and then proceeding to put the two items back in the bag. I don't quite understand why they have these checks for those of us on a Max fare sitting in 1A where there is no under seat storage and therefore, would require having a larger single personal item.

Anyway to get to my question: is it necessary to have your carry on bags weighed on a JQ flight? In the past 7 flights I've had with JQ this was the first time this has happened.

-RooFlyer88

 

[henrus]

I don't quite understand why they have these checks for those of us on a Max fare sitting in 1A where there is no under seat storage and therefore,

Jetstar is very clear cut with their baggage policy. Even if you book a max fare you get 7kg end of story. If you want more you need to pay more or select a different fare type.

Anyway to get to my question: is it necessary to have your carry on bags weighed on a JQ flight? In the past 7 flights I've had with JQ this was the first time this has happened.

I fly Jetstar a fair amount. At non Jetstar hubs it's unlikely to have your bags weighed (places like DRW/PER etc where QF staff operate the check in). At JQ hubs like MEL, OOL and CNS (and sometimes SYD) they operate in one of two ways either target a specific flight and aim to weight 100% of the carry on for that flight or they target people randomly at check in (the latter is less likely).

I'm probably the only crazy person but I actually love that Jetstar is strict about this type of thing, too many people get away with bringing their entire life contents as carry on especially on QF and VA.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I fly Jetstar a fair amount. At non Jetstar hubs it's unlikely to have your bags weighed (places like DRW/PER etc where QF staff operate the check in). At JQ hubs like MEL, OOL and CNS (and sometimes SYD) they operate in one of two ways either target a specific flight and aim to weight 100% of the carry on for that flight or they target people randomly at check in (the latter is less likely).

I'm probably the only crazy person but I actually love that Jetstar is strict about this type of thing, too many people get away with bringing their entire life contents as carry on especially on QF and VA.

My JQ flights thus far have been out of SYD, ADL, AVV and OOL. I've seen them do the weighing thing once in SYD but ignored it. Didn't notice it out of the other airports. In terms of enforcing the limit, I sort of get it. They don't want people free loading off a starter fare packing everything they would normally pack into a carry on to avoid checked bag fees. However, there are some people who have no problem paying the Max fare but don't end up using the checked bag feature as they don't want to waste time checking and collecting a bag never mind the risk of the bag getting lost in transit, never mind having a big roller to haul around with you. This is especially true on a long weekend trip where it's really hard to justify packing more than a backpack worth of stuff.

I'm not sure what the right approach is, I suspect common sense should prevail here - if you've got a backpack you are by definition constrained to small amount of volume and volume should be taken into account more than weight. I suppose the only counter argument would be in the event of an evacuation, it takes longer to retrieve a slightly larger bag from the overhead bin than if it was something that could easily fit under the seat

-RooFlyer88

 

[Lynda2475]

I generally avoid Jetstar, but did fly them SYD-BNK and back in early 2021.

Staff weighed aboslutely everyone's carry-on at the gate before boarding . I knew my backpack and handbag combined were just under 7kg as I weighed them before checking in my suitcase (free because on a QF classic reward), the limit meant I could only carry-on devices (laptop, camera, tablet, phone, chargers), wallet, glasses, masks and sanitiser.

It was a full flight in peak holiday period and I witnessed at least 25 passengers harged extra before seeing their bags tagged and then put in the cargo hold because people had exceeded their limits.

 

[Matt_01]

It has happened a few times over the years and not just JQ. A few back there were threads on this site that VA and QF were doing the same thing. After some public back lash both stated it was research and from memory VA increased the single bag limit to 14 kg in J or possibly based on status however single bag weight was still 7kg? QF still left carry on at a max weight of 14kg however single bag weight was increased to 10kg. QF left the international limit at x2 at 7kg each, never understood why. In theory I could and did travel with 10kg carry on to connecting to an international flight which could only be 7kg.

 

[Austman]

There's no guarantee but you can play the JQ game.

At the major JQ domestic ports, never, never, never line up at the gate when they tell you to if it's way too early. That's when the machines come out and they have time to check and charge.

Go to the gate area and wait nearby. When actual boarding commences, join the line when it is actually well into boarding. As late as possible.

As long as your carry-on looks small enough it's unlikely to be then challenged or weighed.

No guarantee.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

There's no guarantee but you can play the JQ game.

At the major JQ domestic ports, never, never, never line up at the gate when they tell you to if it's way too early. That's when the machines come out and they have time to check and charge.

Go to the gate area and wait nearby. When actual boarding commences, join the line when it is actually well into boarding. As late as possible.

As long as your carry-on looks small enough it's unlikely to be then challenged or weighed.

No guarantee.

That's what I did before this flight. I'd usually be at the QF lounge and only bother leaving either when it shows final call OR in the case of SYD where they no longer have a bus shuttling passengers between T2 and T3 airside, about 20 minutes prior to boarding I'd be at the gate only joining the queue when I see final call. All this year I'm on Max fares and seated in first row and it's my understanding (and experience) that the FA blocks that locker off for us meaning overhead bin space is guaranteed for a backpack.

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

It's got nothing to do with volume, so sitting in row 1 or whatever has nothing to do with it.

Either they force you to pack less - and that is a fuel saving - or they force you to pay baggage fees. They couldn't care less if your bag doesn't fit in the locker because they're all full. Down it goes to be checked, they don't care.

I too don't understand why Max fares don't get the 14Kg limit like Flex fares (Max is a more expensive fare than Flex). You can get the 14Kg by paying extra online - which is what I do if I know I'm well over the limit and don't want to check bags.

At NTL, which is no longer a hub, they check almost all bags for all flights. Perhaps this is because NTL used to be a hub. It did stop during covid but it came back. Flying back from BNE I'd say it's 50/50. If the flight is late, it's less likely to be checked.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I too don't understand why Max fares don't get the 14Kg limit like Flex fares (Max is a more expensive fare than Flex). You can get the 14Kg by paying extra online - which is what I do if I know I'm well over the limit and don't want to check bags.

I didn't even notice that Flex offered a 14 kg carry on limit, which begs the question why on god's green earth are they limiting carry on for those of us who regularly splurge on Max fares? If anything I am saving them money by not checking in a bag (even though it's included in the fare) thereby saving them on baggage handling costs.

For me my rule for travelling depends on the itinerary, but if it's a weekend (or sometimes even a long weekend) trip everything goes in the backpack. If it's longer but I'm travelling on a wide body with an airline that doesn't have carry on rules, it's a Boston bag + backpack. Otherwise, it's a checked bag. For me I try and avoid suitcases due to the annoyance of having to check something in (and wait for bag to arrive in arrivals hall), being handcuffed to a flight and having to drag along a hefty bag.

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

I didn't even notice that Flex offered a 14 kg carry on limit, which begs the question why on god's green earth are they limiting carry on for those of us who regularly splurge on Max fares? If anything I am saving them money by not checking in a bag (even though it's included in the fare) thereby saving them on baggage handling costs.

For me my rule for travelling depends on the itinerary, but if it's a weekend (or sometimes even a long weekend) trip everything goes in the backpack. If it's longer but I'm travelling on a wide body with an airline that doesn't have carry on rules, it's a Boston bag + backpack. Otherwise, it's a checked bag. For me I try and avoid suitcases due to the annoyance of having to check something in (and wait for bag to arrive in arrivals hall), being handcuffed to a flight and having to drag along a hefty bag.

-RooFlyer88

I think they count on you not wanting to check your bag and possibly paying the extra to bring 14Kg in the cabin.

Some must do it. I do. I don’t want to wait for a checked bag if I don’t have to.

 

[UP4014]

I suppose the only counter argument would be in the event of an evacuation, it takes longer to retrieve a slightly larger bag from the overhead bin than if it was something that could easily fit under the seat

-RooFlyer88

A just minor pick up, in the event of an evacuation, please don't be selfish and retrieve you bag.

 

[jase05]

I’ve seen it being done in HBA my last couple of visits and wondered if it’s a common event. Been a very long time since I’ve flown JQ so don’t know if it’s a regular occurrence or not

 

[Sprucegoose]

I don't fly with airlines that weigh cabin baggage. It's almost communist.

 

[Austman]

I don't fly with airlines that weigh cabin baggage. It's almost communist.

Qantas weighed mine at MCY (Sunshine Coast) the other day. Their system wasn't allowing me to do online check-in and there are no check-in kiosks at MCY. So I had to go to a staffed check-in desk.

I was travelling HLO. Luckily it just passed.

I suppose you never know when they might do it!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Qantas weighed mine at MCY (Sunshine Coast) the other day. Their system wasn't allowing me to do online check-in and there are no check-in kiosks at MCY. So I had to go to a staffed check-in desk.

I was travelling HLO. Luckily it just passed.

I suppose you never know when they might do it!

I have travelled with over 30kg of carry-on baggage for differing reasons, not least being theft and convenience. If QF wants to weigh WP and P1, then that will create a market opportunity that I am sure Virgin Club would be prepared to exploit.

 

[Hvr]

I don't fly with airlines that weigh cabin baggage. It's almost communist.

Actually it's capitalist. Money making at every opportunity.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Actually it's capitalist. Money making at every opportunity.

Probably both...........forcing the individual to 'conform' and strengthen the Coy (State) !!

 

[justinbrett]

I don't fly with airlines that weigh cabin baggage. It's almost communist.

All the major Australian airlines weigh cabin baggage. Good luck with that.

 

[Lynda2475]

Ive only ever had my carry on luggage weighed on two commercial carriers - Jetstar (2/4 flighst Ive ever taken) and Singapore airlines (1/2 flights taken with them).

Only other times were on a joy flight (small 6 seater plane) on Fraser Island and on a flight over the Nazca lines in Peru where each pasengers was weighed inclusive of bag & camera etc and the result dictacted where you had to sit ont he 12 seater plane.

 

[willclan]

Returned from MCY to MEL last Saturday, EVERY passenger on the flights to SYD and MEL were checked for bag weight, and many were forced to pay extra fees for being above the limit. The two staff went up and down the lines several times to check everyone was tagged, and anyone arriving late was stopped at the gate and checked,

This seems to be a common practice at MCY, I travel there regularly to see family, would be interested to see how many other regional airports practice this to such a consistent extent.

What people need to be aware of is that you can have carry on luggage kg 14kg with a FLEX fare, and yet only 7kg with a PLUS fare, and checked luggage, even though the bundles cost the same. Is it fair, I don't know, there will always be different views on this issue.