Carry-on Baggage; What is reasonable?

[Cocitus23]

In a blog in the Melbourne Age today, discussing what practices Australia could profitably adopt from overseas, I was amazed to see the following suggestion from an Aussie living in USA: Decent carry on luggage allowance for domestic flights. Qantas's limit of 7kg is pathetic compared to most US carriers of about 18kg. I've never checked bags for a domestic flight in the US, even on trips of weeks away from home. Who can be bothered waiting for the "throwers" to get your bags to you?
I am always aghast at the amount of stuff that gets dragged aboard in USA, with the clutter it causes and with the resulting unruly and lengthy boarding and unboarding processes. I find myself wishing that they would adopt the Qantas standard, and enforce it. What do others feel?

 

[SnowYeti]

I have never been once questioned with the amount of carry on. Even as NB or PS, I remember boarding in Tokyo with about 8 bags (mind you they were plastic bags), a laptop bag and a backpack. I did alot of duty free shopping before boarding. I have heard about QF Dragons standing in the air gate checking on how much luggage you've got.

When I was SG I had 2 solid bags and a laptop bag in Y, staff did not say anything at all, I don't even think they knew I was SG anyway as I didn't have any tags while walking down the aisles.

As alot of my recently travel has been to North America, the 2 bag policy (2x23) has been rather awesome to use. But in saying that, every-time I fly within Asia or NZ, I always have 2 or 3 bags and never get charged anything. (Ski gear). And I always have ski boots as carry on, my laptop bag and a backpack and as QCPS I still don't get told off ....

It took Qantas a long time to move to the 23kg standard that everywhere else has, maybe they will adopt other policies soon too? I find 7kg pathetic, but as I've never been questioned or stopped, it's only a matter of time?

 

[notzac]

Perfectly happy with the carry-on restrictions in Australia. I really really like not having to board first to secure overhead bin space!

 

[tuapekastar]

You only have to look at the threads over at FT on the AA (and presumably other US carriers) board regarding overhead locker space and the obsession with boarding first in order to actually park your carry-on in some of it, to realise how ludicrous it is, and how sensible QF's is (IMHO).

Actually a lot of those threads/posts bemoan AA et al not actually enforcing their limits...I confess I don't know what they actually are (18 kgs as per the quote i the OP seems rather a lot), but overhead space seems to be often in short supply.

 

[SnowYeti]

Perfectly happy with the carry-on restrictions in Australia. I really really like not having to board first to secure overhead bin space!

Hmm SYD-MEL and SYD-CBR in peak hours is a nightmare for space if you're last to board !! Has been for me on those flights ...

 

[serfty]

... I was amazed to see the following suggestion from an Aussie living in USA: Decent carry on luggage allowance for domestic flights. Qantas's limit of 7kg is pathetic compared to most US carriers of about 18kg. I've never checked bags for a domestic flight in the US, even on trips of weeks away from home. Who can be bothered waiting for the "throwers" to get your bags to you? ...

Shows how much that guy knows - Qantas domestic mainline permits TWO 7kg bags for carry-on.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

My last trip to the states I was on smaller equipment (ERJs and a canada air regional jet) and about 50% of the "carry on" ended up going on the valet trolley to be stowed...

when I was on the MD-80s (AA loves those don't they?) every last scrap of bin space was taken and some people tried (and oft succeeded) in fitting stupidly big things in...

I think the right to take on carry on that is too big ranks up there with owning a gas guzzler on the bill of rights over there

(suffice to say I like domestic flying much better here...)

 

[serfty]

The problem in the USA is the lack of enforcement of their rules, although AA are making an effort with sizers at almost every gate.

With the AeAgle flights it's SOP for valet checking of rollaboards, even those valid for use on Qantas.

 

[drron]

When I was young reasonable was what ever I could get away with.
Now i am older I really dislike the sort of person I was.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

When I was young reasonable was what ever I could get away with.
Now i am older I really dislike the sort of person I was.

Growing up is a pain..

 

[simongr]

On a domestic Oz flight I either carry a laptop bag that goes under the seat in front of me if travelling for a day or a lap top bag and 20in rollaboard that goes above me (with laptop going under the seat in front). the rollaboard would genreally be 10-12Kgs though.

For int'l as I am usually in J (or maybe F) I generally have the same rollaboard (with laptop inside with lightweight laptop bag) and a tri-fold suit bag. In that instance the rollaboard is generally 12-14KGs and the tri-fold is around 6kgs.

 

[MDC]

What is the load rating of the overhead lockers? I remember seeing a sticker on a DJ plane once but can't remember what it said.

I have no problem with the current size and weight limits.

I'm going to step on a few toes by stereotyping. Am I the only one that has noticed that someone with large or many carry on bags are also likely to be the ones that start making phone calls asap, rush out the gate for a taxi and generally have a stressed appearance? Yes I travel for work, yes I check my luggage and no I am never late for my meetings.

 

[NM]

What is the load rating of the overhead lockers? I remember seeing a sticker on a DJ plane once but can't remember what it said.

It varies between types. The range seems to be between about 25kg and 55kg.

I have no problem with the current size and weight limits.

Same for me.

I'm going to step on a few toes by stereotyping. Am I the only one that has noticed that someone with large or many carry on bags are also likely to be the ones that start making phone calls asap, rush out the gate for a taxi and generally have a stressed appearance? Yes I travel for work, yes I check my luggage and no I am never late for my meetings.

You are obviously not (self)important enough

For domestic flights, I rarely check luggage, but only travel with a single piece of carry-on which is a Samsonite roller brief case that fits the Qantas domestic size limits. It carry my laptop and cables as well as enough clothes for a few days. I don't think I have ever not checked luggage for an international flight.

 

[Cocitus23]

Thanks for your comments, folks. I started this thread, and I have since discovered that it had been covered quite extensively in earlier similar threads. I'm sorry about inflicting repetition onto some of you, but I was impulsively triggered off by the lunatic writing in the Age blog.

I am really pleased that all of you, except SnowYeti, agree with me, more or less. I especially liked the words of Cyclogenesis;

when I was on the MD-80s (AA loves those don't they?) every last scrap of bin space was taken and some people tried (and oft succeeded) in fitting stupidly big things in...

I think the right to take on carry on that is too big ranks up there with owning a gas guzzler on the bill of rights over there

(suffice to say I like domestic flying much better here...)

Yes, owning a gas guzzler and carrying a gun. Concerning "stupidly big things", on an AA flight from YVR to ORD I once was seated beside a guy who was returning from a hunting trip in Alaska. He filled his space and mine in the overhead locker with a set of elk antlers!! I kid you not. Now SnowYeti probably thinks that is OK. Any 'sportsman' is entitled to inflict his impedimenta onto his neighbours, isn't he? Just a pity those lockers are too short for skis and poles, eh?

I also really appreciated ddron's observation:
When I was young reasonable was what ever I could get away with.
Now i am older I really dislike the sort of person I was.

Isn't that what it's all about? Selfishness, on the one hand; maturity and respect for fellow travellers, on the other.

 

[SnowYeti]

Richard, I guess 7kilos is not too bad, but when you have ski boots and that is 6 kilos, it really leaves no room for anything else I try not to check my boots in as these are more valuable than my laptop (not dollar wise, but time wise - spent many hours/days getting them adjusted to suit me)

When I travel without ski gear, it is an OK allowance

 

[simongr]

I also really appreciated ddron's observation:
When I was young reasonable was what ever I could get away with.
Now i am older I really dislike the sort of person I was.

Isn't that what it's all about? Selfishness, on the one hand; maturity and respect for fellow travellers, on the other.

If people are sticking to the allowed amounts (whether that is the documented allowance or tolerated allowance is irrelevant) then why is it selfish? The airlines are either implicitly or explicitly saying it's ok to bring X+++.

Why is it that your convenience is more important than other people's?

 

[jamesatfish]

I'm all for the limits that Qantas imposes on the number of carry on items, but their weight limits are certainly frustratingly low.

I'm in the middle of a 2 week around-the-world business trip right now, and I've got one carry on with me containing work clothes, gym clothes, laptop & accessories and the other bits & pieces you tend to travel with. Unfortunately that carry-on bag weighs about 10Kg, so in theory that's more than Qantas will allow me to travel with as one piece, even in international First. This is with a carry-on bag that fits under the seat in a Dash-8 for my CBR-SYD flights.

Of course I could always take out half my things and place them in a second carry-on bag, which would mean I comply with the Qantas carry-on requirements (2x items of a max 7Kg), but in practice I'm then taking up twice the room on the aircraft and making life more difficult for everyone.

So, in theory, by sticking to Qantas' carry-on rules I'd actually be inconveniencing others...

 

[Dave Noble]

I'm all for the limits that Qantas imposes on the number of carry on items, but their weight limits are certainly frustratingly low.

I'm in the middle of a 2 week around-the-world business trip right now, and I've got one carry on with me containing work clothes, gym clothes, laptop & accessories and the other bits & pieces you tend to travel with. Unfortunately that carry-on bag weighs about 10Kg, so in theory that's more than Qantas will allow me to travel with as one piece, even in international First. This is with a carry-on bag that fits under the seat in a Dash-8 for my CBR-SYD flights.

Of course I could always take out half my things and place them in a second carry-on bag, which would mean I comply with the Qantas carry-on requirements (2x items of a max 7Kg), but in practice I'm then taking up twice the room on the aircraft and making life more difficult for everyone.

So, in theory, by sticking to Qantas' carry-on rules I'd actually be inconveniencing others...

Or, you could avoid inconveniancing others simply by doing what most people do an checking luggage in. 2 pieces of 23Kg can be checked in quite easily

Dave

 

[jamesatfish]

Or, you could avoid inconveniancing others simply by doing what most people do an checking luggage in. 2 pieces of 23Kg can be checked in quite easily

Dave

True, but I'm also selfish and only taking carry-on is in my own best interests where checking luggage adds extra hassle to the travel process.

Already on my current trip so far, not having checked luggage has meant when faced with an AA flight that ended up being delayed 20 hours I could walk over to US Airways to catch a different flight and still end up where I needed to be in time without waiting for items in checked baggage to arrive.

I don't believe that I inconvenience anyone by taking only one slightly overweight carry-on on Qantas flights, but if anyone is indeed inconvenienced somehow I'd appreciate knowing so I can travel more considerately in the future - and I write that as a serious comment not a dig at Dave.

 

[Warks]

DJ a few years ago was weighing hand luggage if they could catch you checking in larger bags and I think they were imposing a 5kg limit? Laptops plus their bags used to weigh in around this (once you have the cords and other paraphernalia thrown in so they were pressuring people to check laptops. This IS a while ago in the days of the Sydney shed I think.

Still people do push the limits - you can carry your bag PLUS a laptop PLUS a suit carrier on board. I've seen suit carriers that were so thick the passenger must have had clothes for a week in Moscow at Xmas!

Agree the US situation is ridiculous with the mad rush to secure locker space. Of course on the rare occasions here when I check luggage domestically I seem to regret it on returning home where my bag is usually among the last to arrive so I kind of wish I had carried my bag on board and been a mongrel.:evil: