Is it the job of airport security to weigh passenger's cabin baggage?

[Dave Noble]

As long as the suitcase contained no prohibited items, weapons or Dangerous Goods, what basis could they have for refusing?

size of suitcase plus that the clubs can be used as weapons

I am prepared to bet that if someone tried to take a large suitcase through, it would be refused

 

[anat0l]

size of suitcase plus that the clubs can be used as weapons

Although I'm not convinced about bringing large suitcases and/or golf clubs airside, I think that's a clutching-at-straws reason.

We should ban many things that people can bring with them simply because they can easily be used to hurt or kill people. Heck, we should just put everyone in a glass box before they board, because there are already things airside that can kill people. I consistently carry 1-3 of them in my shirt pocket whilst travelling... what are they? Ordinary writing pens!

In fact, you could pick out anything at all and I will tell you how you can use it to kill or significantly hurt someone. Of course, the objective of limiting particular items from being carried on one person or being carried in an aircraft hold is really only to reduce significant risk, not eliminate all possibilities.

 

[Will]

size of suitcase plus that the clubs can be used as weapons

I am prepared to bet that if someone tried to take a large suitcase through, it would be refused

Agree with golf clubs being refused, as they are included in the list of Prohibited Items in the ATSR.

However, the size of the item does not make it a Dangerous Good nor a Prohibited Item, therefore it is not prohibited from entry to the sterile area. If the person is not travelling, then it's carriage through the checkpoint does not breach any regulations of an airline.

I fail to see what authority they would draw on to prevent carriage of a suitcase.

 

[taswegian77]

wow, amazing comments. It is quite simple, if you are breaking the rules re: carry on luggage then it either needs to be re-packed or checked in, not hard to work out IMO. The weight limit is designed for safety overall, and I have seen a laptop bag drop out of the overhead bin when a not so thoughtful passenger just opened the bin without thinking about if anything might have moved and it missed a 3yr old by inches, scraping her arn but if it hit her head who knows. Who would be responsible, the airline for allowing it on board, the passenger for putting so much into it, the person who opened the bin ..... Stick to the limit, stop trying to flaunt the rules. some people disappoint me with their comments at times.

 

[Will]

wow, amazing comments. It is quite simple, if you are breaking the rules re: carry on luggage then it either needs to be re-packed or checked in, not hard to work out IMO. The weight limit is designed for safety overall, and I have seen a laptop bag drop out of the overhead bin when a not so thoughtful passenger just opened the bin without thinking about if anything might have moved and it missed a 3yr old by inches, scraping her arn but if it hit her head who knows. Who would be responsible, the airline for allowing it on board, the passenger for putting so much into it, the person who opened the bin ..... Stick to the limit, stop trying to flaunt the rules. some people disappoint me with their comments at times.

Hmmm. Ok. Show me where anyone has advocated taking more than the allowable weight of an item of carry on luggage onto an aircraft.

The OP was about the airport security checkpoint contractors policing airline policies without adequate understanding of the same; the subsequent comments have been (in part) about the legal power they have to do this.

It is disappointing when people fail to read and understand the content of a thread in order to spout condescending platitudes.

 

[serfty]

... I fail to see what authority they would draw on to prevent carriage of a suitcase.

As long as the suitcase fits comfortably through the scanner then it would ordinarily be OK.

 

[taswegian77]

Hmmm. Ok. Show me where anyone has advocated taking more than the allowable weight of an item of carry on luggage onto an aircraft.

The OP was about the airport security checkpoint contractors policing airline policies without adequate understanding of the same; the subsequent comments have been (in part) about the legal power they have to do this.

It is disappointing when people fail to read and understand the content of a thread in order to spout condescending platitudes.

Wow, what i read in one reply to this thread was the person had 12kgs, and a suggestion is they could carry a second bag in case this occurs, use the 2nd bag to satsfy the security person, then put it all back into one bag once through screening, which in reality is what probably happens all the time. Maybe next time you need to read the entire thread before you pass comment on my reply.

 

[Dave Noble]

Hmmm. Ok. Show me where anyone has advocated taking more than the allowable weight of an item of carry on luggage onto an aircraft.

.

Post 1 with the comment "Anyone who travels regularly ex BNE would appreciate that news like that would go down like a lead balloon." seems to imply to me that it was being viewed as normal to take over the allowance and that those on this forum would be doing the same and would not be happy with it

 

[Will]

Wow, what i read in one reply to this thread was the person had 12kgs, and a suggestion is they could carry a second bag in case this occurs, use the 2nd bag to satsfy the security person, then put it all back into one bag once through screening, which in reality is what probably happens all the time. Maybe next time you need to read the entire thread before you pass comment on my reply.

I assume you are referencing post 3 here, which does not advocate carrying onto an aircraft bags in excess of airline specifications. It discusses entering the sterile area with bags outside of whatever restrictions the security contractors have specified, which may or may not concord with airline specifications. Very different scenario.

Post 1 with the comment "Anyone who travels regularly ex BNE would appreciate that news like that would go down like a lead balloon." seems to imply to me that it was being viewed as normal to take over the allowance and that those on this forum would be doing the same and would not be happy with it

A post that "seems to imply" it is common for people to exceed limits is most certainly not the same as one advocating for the same to occur.

 

[drron]

Wow, what i read in one reply to this thread was the person had 12kgs, and a suggestion is they could carry a second bag in case this occurs, use the 2nd bag to satsfy the security person, then put it all back into one bag once through screening, which in reality is what probably happens all the time. Maybe next time you need to read the entire thread before you pass comment on my reply.

Again take in all the information-The OP'sOH was asked to reduce the weight to 7kg.If travelling JQ you are allowed a bag of 10kg which the security fellow was not allowing for.
As to 2 bags if flying QF you are allowed 2 bags each to be no more than 7kg.I could certainly fit 12 kg into 2 bags and keep each under 7kg.I am with anat01's dad-12 kg if it is in 1 or 2 bags isnt going to make a bit of difference to the aircraft but!
Of course if you were off on to a Dash8 the security fellow is letting you get away with a carryon that is too heavy.
So good reasons why a little more thought has to go into this if weighing is to be done at the security point.

 

[Flashback]

I am with anat01's dad-12 kg if it is in 1 or 2 bags isnt going to make a bit of difference to the aircraft but!

But in the case of 12kg being in one bag, if it lands on someone's head it will hurt much more than if it had been split over 2 bags... :shock:

 

[UP4014]

I have never seen carry on checked by the screening point at DOM airports for airline policies, only the INTL terminals where the screening point can be considered the same as an aerobridge, but I expect that will change moving forward, to quote last years review into screening policies by our government:

Now that there is an increase in off-airport and automated check-in for passengers, the screening officer is often the first persona passenger will interact with at the airport.
Both these trends result in a range of issues including:
 screeners potentially managing bag sizes and weights (and the related OH&S issues);
 increased volumes of baggage to be screened; and
 increased bag complexity and superimposition which impacts detection performance.

So you think we might head to towards the airport owner/operator (via its contractor) screening bag sizes and weight. Teriffic, especailly if your home airport is a Mac-rip-off one. I'm sure there'll be another charge on its way.

Airlines cut back on staff, security staff increase. Much better service if it was the other way around.

Matt

 

[UP4014]

Although I'm not convinced about bringing large suitcases and/or golf clubs airside, I think that's a clutching-at-straws reason.

We should ban many things that people can bring with them simply because they can easily be used to hurt or kill people. Heck, we should just put everyone in a glass box before they board, because there are already things airside that can kill people. I consistently carry 1-3 of them in my shirt pocket whilst travelling... what are they? Ordinary writing pens!

In fact, you could pick out anything at all and I will tell you how you can use it to kill or significantly hurt someone. Of course, the objective of limiting particular items from being carried on one person or being carried in an aircraft hold is really only to reduce significant risk, not eliminate all possibilities.

Although not airside, don't forget Sydney airport had the murder with one of those portable bollards they use to form up the queues.

 

[taswegian77]

Again take in all the information-The OP'sOH was asked to reduce the weight to 7kg.If travelling JQ you are allowed a bag of 10kg which the security fellow was not allowing for.
As to 2 bags if flying QF you are allowed 2 bags each to be no more than 7kg.I could certainly fit 12 kg into 2 bags and keep each under 7kg.I am with anat01's dad-12 kg if it is in 1 or 2 bags isnt going to make a bit of difference to the aircraft but!
Of course if you were off on to a Dash8 the security fellow is letting you get away with a carryon that is too heavy.
So good reasons why a little more thought has to go into this if weighing is to be done at the security point.

ok, my concern was the safety aspects of taking too much carry on than is allowed for whichever airline you are flying with. I am sure if a bag fell onto someone and it injured them sufficiently that they pursued a claim for the injury from the airline, then if it was found to be over weight they surely would have a good case for their claim. As one post suggested maybe i tneeds to be checked at the boardign gate prior to entry to aircraft, i guess that wodul slow the boarding and take off process...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Post 1 with the comment "Anyone who travels regularly ex BNE would appreciate that news like that would go down like a lead balloon." seems to imply to me that it was being viewed as normal to take over the allowance and that those on this forum would be doing the same and would not be happy with it

As the OP of the comment above let me clarify what I meant by this statement:

a) It's a bunfight queueing up to drop off checked in luggage at BNE Domestic
b) It's a bunfight getting through security at the best of times at BNE Domestic
c) It's a PITA having queued up and got through security the first time to have to go and do a) & b) all over again

Despite what the above statement "seems to imply" to you, I did not at any time advocate that anybody should be allowed to take 12 kgs of carry on in the one piece of luggage nor did I mean being pinged at the screening point for attempting same was a travesty of injustice.

Similarly WRT others on this forum would not be happy with it, I meant they would not want to be stuffed around going backwards and forwards to checkin then through security again. I did not mean that they wouldn't be happy about not being able to take 12 kgs of hand luggage in the one piece through security as you infer.

SO genuinely didn't know how much his bag weighed but now he does he will be legally dividing the weight equally between two permitted carry on pieces of luggage. The only downside I see to that is it will take up more space in the overhead locker.

 

[markis10]

So you think we might head to towards the airport owner/operator (via its contractor) screening bag sizes and weight. Teriffic, especailly if your home airport is a Mac-rip-off one. I'll sure there'll be another charge on its way.

Airlines cut back on staff, security staff increase. Much better service if it was the other way around.

Matt

Matt, I think that is where we are heading, especially with the advances in check in coming through, it will certainly give airports the right or excuse to increase the security charge! As for the Mac-rip-off, I am not sure BNE is better, in fact when it comes to charges its worse (parking aside).

 

[drron]

But in the case of 12kg being in one bag, if it lands on someone's head it will hurt much more than if it had been split over 2 bags... :shock:

Depends-a months worth of used socks and jocks in a soft bag weighing 12 kg hitting you on the head almost certainly wouldnt hurt as much as a hard case filled with lead to 12kg.Might die of the smell though!:shock:

 

[medhead]

Well I'm not even going to get started on the issue of limiting to 2 carry on bags. But it would take less space and be much easier to stow my carry on if Qantas would accept 3 items.

In fact, you could pick out anything at all and I will tell you how you can use it to kill or significantly hurt someone. Of course, the objective of limiting particular items from being carried on one person or being carried in an aircraft hold is really only to reduce significant risk, not eliminate all possibilities.

In terms of significant risk, we are still allowed glass bottles in carry on domestically. Anyone would has seen a glassing victim must be aware for the possibilities. I've even been allowed to take on 6 empty beer bottles.

But in the case of 12kg being in one bag, if it lands on someone's head it will hurt much more than if it had been split over 2 bags... :shock:

I still think that 7 kg is enough to do significant damage, no matter how much it hurts. If a 2 kg rock falling 5 m in an underground mine can kill, I'm sure that a 7 kg bag falling 1 to 2 m can do the same when combined with aircraft movements.

Depends-a months worth of used socks and jocks in a soft bag weighing 12 kg hitting you on the head almost certainly wouldnt hurt as much as a hard case filled with lead to 12kg.Might die of the smell though!:shock:

But then it would be class 6 DG (1000 apologies for not using correct capitalisation previously) and wouldn't be carried.

 

[mannej]

Depends-a months worth of used socks and jocks in a soft bag weighing 12 kg hitting you on the head almost certainly wouldnt hurt as much as a hard case filled with lead to 12kg.Might die of the smell though!:shock:

If all thinks are equal, what difference does it make? They both weigh the same...

 

[straitman]

Just a small point that many here seem to be overlooking is that every item of freight is covered by the Dangerous Goods Regulations. They must be 'inspected' to ensure that they are OR are not Dangerous Goods in accordance with the regulations.