Cabin Baggage Blitz

[anat0l]

Easy, if you have more than one bag, or it is likely to be oversized, check it into the hold. I have bags that I know fit the dimensions for dom or int travel, and if I am concerned about the weight - I weigh it!

I think straitman was trying to invite a better solution in practice as to how the cabin baggage policy can be checked / enforced (and how to clearly draw that line in the sand).

Personally, the only way I see it is to make weighing and sizing bags part of the entire procedure in advance of boarding (e.g. admittance to a closed off gate area). You could do it at check-in, though there's several tricks you can employ to get around that check (especially if you have more than one person travelling with you). Then you make it very, very clear to everyone that there are very strict sizing and weight policies in place. No "random" checks - everyone must pass the size and weight check. Any pieces which do not pass the check must be gate-checked (added to any allowance expended at check-in, which may include excess charges) or disposed.

We can tell immediately that such a system is near impossible to effectively implement, and would result in a customer's view of the airline who instigates it only second to that of the original naz_sm.

As I said, it should be noted that there is never enough overhead space on an aircraft for every passenger to carry one standard rollerboard each. Of course, having people who clearly overstep the allowance is not good for the system.

 

[medhead]

Another option is to get rid if your roller bag. If it is a true carry bag people will quickly get inside the limits. Plus not having 2-3kg of wheels and frame is a bonus.


Sent from the Throne

 

[jastel]

I find Europe to be more strict, especially the budget carriers, Australia is normally she'll be right except at Xmas etc, and in the USA it is I dare you to stop me!

Travelling around USA it is amazing what they carry on, nobody enforces nothing, I saw a guitar, a keyboard,a baby seat, those army sack bag things, suitcases that were bigger than my checked one that I am using for 6 weeks.

People in row 10 walked back to row 20 and stored their giant bags, due to enforced priority zone loading the back is empty normally, then at landing they walk back to row 20 while everyone else wants to get off...it is chaos.
Then they also carry on bags of Maccas, pizzas, donuts, jugs of coffee etc.

The no wheels policy is a good start. Or anyone that doesnt have carry on gets $10 off their fare.

 

[anat0l]

I find Europe to be more strict, especially the budget carriers

Agree there, though the full cost carriers tend to not care unless they see something of extremely obvious violation. And some other times, they really don't care.

Travelling around USA it is amazing what they carry on, nobody enforces nothing, I saw a guitar, a keyboard,a baby seat, those army sack bag things, suitcases that were bigger than my checked one that I am using for 6 weeks.

I think cabin bag weights in the US are allowed to be much heavier than here. That said, USA may not enforce anything, except that everyone battles to get on first to get overhead space. And USA does strictly enforce that if it can't be put in the overhead or under your seat - it gets gate checked! And for many airlines in the USA, there is no free checked baggage allowance (yes, I know elites get at least 1 free bag...), so you cough up at the gate if necessary.

Some cases in the US (not many) have seen some "enforcement", but of course there is never a happy ending (social media, blogging, trivial news articles...)

Or anyone that doesnt have carry on gets $10 off their fare.

Don't go there!!! Spirit in USA charges at least $20 for a carry-on bag. I know that raising the fare by $20 and offering a discount versus charging a fee of $20 and not raising fares (or dropping fares) achieves the same thing, but it's not going to end well IMO!

Not to mention that people will need to become familiar as to what constitutes "no carry on". For example, ladies, I believe you are the automatic losers here, because you cannot tote a handbag or that purse by Kate Spade and expect to get jastel's $10 discount.

Even Ryanair doesn't charge for carry-on, yet....

That said, Spirit are still in the air, so I guess they haven't completely pi**ed off their customer base.

 

[jastel]

I dont for a minute believe that airlines are going to give anyone a discount...lol...but there needs to be better enforcement.
There are hand bags and there are HAND BAGS...It needs to fit under the seat..simple.
Cabin bags need to fit in the sizer...simple.

Do the USA get better planes from Boeing? I am sure the lockers are rated to hold X kilos, or pounds.
I know different airlines have different limits, different statuses have different limits but it seems to come down to what airlines or individual FA say is the limit.

Another option is for the sizer to be at the x ray machine, so if it doesnt fit through the x ray it doesnt go in the cabin.
This way people with guns and real authority will enforce it.

 

[mannej]

There are airlines who check cabin luggage weight at checkin and issue a sticker.

Perhaps a no sticker and the bag gets checked policy. I'm not sure.

I am fine with policing of the policies provided I'm not the one getting held up!✈

 

[anat0l]

Another option is for the sizer to be at the x ray machine, so if it doesnt fit through the x ray it doesnt go in the cabin.
This way people with guns and real authority will enforce it.

Well, that's nice, though our security staff in Australia don't have guns.

Moreover, there are the odd staff at international airports who measure hand baggage weights now. I don't know if they're entirely in sync with what the various airlines allow or don't allow. For example, most airlines only allow 1 piece at 7 kg, but Jetstar allows 10 kg. Then there is the issue of "free items" (e.g. laptops, 'reasonable reading material', etc.). On NZ Seats to Suit flights, Airpoints Golds and Gold Elites are allowed 2 pieces of hand baggage (rather than 1) when on Seat (only) fares.

I don't see security staff taking on additional responsibilities which are specific to the airline other than security, so I think the "honour" has to be deferred to the airline control (i.e. at check-in, or at the gate).

There are airlines who check cabin luggage weight at checkin and issue a sticker.

Perhaps a no sticker and the bag gets checked policy. I'm not sure.

I've seen that system done before. Others also attach special "cabin baggage" bag tags.

These can always be circumvented in standard "weigh at check-in" ways. An easy way is to ask (or bribe) someone to hold excess weight for you, then repack it into the bag once it has a sticker on it.


One thing that cabin baggage policies rarely take into account is people shopping in the airport (airside). Again, I know Ryanair takes a 'doesn't care' approach - that duty free item you purchased better fit in your existing bag otherwise bad luck, cough up. The same thing goes for the USA-common practice of taking on takeaway food and drink.

I am fine with policing of the policies provided I'm not the one getting held up!✈

You would be very hard pressed to find any attempt to actually police policies in earnest that will not hold anyone up. Ryanair's approach might be the best there is, but that requires at least 3-4 staff at gate for boarding, and boarding would need to start at 45 minutes before departure, with a strict check-in cut off at 30 minutes.

 

[ozmille]

Only had to gate check my hand luggage once because I had my wheelie and a laptop bag (incidentally this was in ADL as well) and was travelling in J as WP, I had done SYD-BNE-MEL-ADL earlier that week with the same combo and on board never had an issue with the stuff as my laptop bag goes under the seat in front... Didn't really care but found it interesting when I then saw other people with 2 or 3 bigger bags come on and the J cabin was almost empty.
Maybe they are trying to set an example in ADL showcasing to the other pax that J class has the same rules and that they are enforced (to a certain extend )

 

[Deleted member]

Another option is to get rid if your roller bag. If it is a true carry bag people will quickly get inside the limits. Plus not having 2-3kg of wheels and frame is a bonus.


Sent from the Throne

That makes sense.
It occurs to me that the promotion of air fares that Don't include luggage has increased this problem


It is I, Leclerc !

 

[Andyzx]

can't handle the extra 5cms....

Some would say that size does matter... as an ex frequent SYD-ADL-SYD flyer the amount of oversized, over weight cabin bags gets ridiculous. Regularly the FA’s would put over the PA for people to help by putting bags in the hold, which would never happen, move bags under seats etc. For me in row 26-30 usually the other four rollers being 5 cm’s less would have allowed my 15cm wide laptop bag to fit above me rather than stuffed under my seat, or somewhere above row 40. Whilst I appreciate that the OP is a courteous WP (now there is an moxyoron) yes 5cm is not worth the trouble but:!:

There is a solution and pretty simple, I think most of us would have no problem with, change the 767’s to 787’s with their overhead bin design, they fit the rollers on their side so fitting more in and making space for all. Any objections?????.. I though not and if they dont fit on their side in those bins they dont belong.

Anyway its Friday afternoon and I need a beer, have a good weekend everyone, happy flying.

Heck; lets just change the 737's as well just to keep everone happy..

 

[ozmille]

There is a solution and pretty simple, I think most of us would have no problem with, change the 767’s to 787’s with their overhead bin design, they fit the rollers on their side so fitting more in and making space for all. Any objections?????.. I though not and if they dont fit on their side in those bins they dont belong.

Anyway its Friday afternoon and I need a beer, have a good weekend everyone, happy flying.

I like your thinking, now where is that beer!

 

[Berlin]

I like your thinking, now where is that beer!

I'm with you guys- off to get a nice pint of cold beer!

 

[UP4014]

About time they had a blitz, tired of searching for a place for my iPad bag which is tiny.

should be more of it I say.

matt

 

[Must...Fly!]

I saw a guitar, a keyboard

I saw someone carry on a keyboard last week on QF :shock:

 

[VHOEJ]

Good on them - if you are within the limits, you have nothing to worry about. I wish they would crack down on it more - and all airlines - they should all do it for a period of a month so people learn.

 

[ckck]

Reading these posts re: cabin bags and what size/how many people are bringing... I now think maybe I am a bit OCD with my personal HLO policy.

I have two bags one 105cm, one 115cm i.e. one for when I travel domestic and one for international.

I know the weight limit is 7kg.

The bags are all soft sided and have no wheels therefore they are lighter.

I weigh the empty bag and then put my stuff in my travel cubes and weigh the cubes. I add everything up and it must equal <7kg.

I do carry a small hand bag - small enough that it can just hold my purse, passport, keys etc and if I am hit with the worst case scenario and my bag is weighed at the gate and for whatever reason if I have to put my handbag inside my cabin bag it fits with no problems.

When I arrive at the airport I weigh my bag and compare results to my results from home.

I am travelling next in about three weeks time, now I am curious as to how much I am really carrying and if I place my handbag inside my cabin bag am I still at or below 7kg?

Reading this post I don't know if I should write up a trip report on packing with Hand Luggage Only or I should have some medicine prescribed for OCD :shock: .

 

[yohy?!]

How else would you suggest they draw the line then :?:

If the limit was 150cm then someone would complain if they had 155cm.

simple - have a reasonable 'grace' amount of length, like with speed cameras

 

[MEL_Traveller]

interesting thread! I flew a couple of sectors yesterday... MEL-syd then on to PVG. I saw the cabin baggage enforcement on the syd-PVG sector, with two members of staff asking pax to fit their bags into the metal frame (weight didn't seem to be a key issue). they were stopping people with a regulation 115cm bag which had the four wheels on them (the spinners). I've looked into those before, and it seems most companies (samsonite included) sell you a bag at 115cm but FAIL to mention the extra inch or so taken up by the spinner wheels (which or course take the bag outside limits).

they were forcing pax with bags too large to gate check them.

I too wondered at the time if this was a new enforcement policy. never seen it before.

however, I think if you have made 200 flight before with the same bag (as many of us have) then I think telling you at the gate it's not allowed anymore is a bit rough. I'll fly someone else if they start clamping down like this.

 

[Barondupon]

Reading these posts re: cabin bags and what size/how many people are bringing... I now think maybe I am a bit OCD with my personal HLO policy.

I have two bags one 105cm, one 115cm i.e. one for when I travel domestic and one for international.

I know the weight limit is 7kg.

The bags are all soft sided and have no wheels therefore they are lighter.

I weigh the empty bag and then put my stuff in my travel cubes and weigh the cubes. I add everything up and it must equal <7kg.

I do carry a small hand bag - small enough that it can just hold my purse, passport, keys etc and if I am hit with the worst case scenario and my bag is weighed at the gate and for whatever reason if I have to put my handbag inside my cabin bag it fits with no problems.

When I arrive at the airport I weigh my bag and compare results to my results from home.

I am travelling next in about three weeks time, now I am curious as to how much I am really carrying and if I place my handbag inside my cabin bag am I still at or below 7kg?

Reading this post I don't know if I should write up a trip report on packing with Hand Luggage Only or I should have some medicine prescribed for OCD :shock: .

A bit OCD... like a bit pregnant. But I am most interested in your trip report. Please post.

 

[JessicaTam]

There are airlines who check cabin luggage weight at checkin and issue a sticker.

Perhaps a no sticker and the bag gets checked policy. I'm not sure.

I am fine with policing of the policies provided I'm not the one getting held up!✈

TK do this. Trouble is getting carry on luggage checked defeats the purpose of OLCI

I like your thinking, now where is that beer!

Blast - working night shift so no beer.

Reading these posts re: cabin bags and what size/how many people are bringing... I now think maybe I am a bit OCD with my personal HLO policy.

I have two bags one 105cm, one 115cm i.e. one for when I travel domestic and one for international.

I know the weight limit is 7kg.

The bags are all soft sided and have no wheels therefore they are lighter.

I weigh the empty bag and then put my stuff in my travel cubes and weigh the cubes. I add everything up and it must equal <7kg.

I do carry a small hand bag - small enough that it can just hold my purse, passport, keys etc and if I am hit with the worst case scenario and my bag is weighed at the gate and for whatever reason if I have to put my handbag inside my cabin bag it fits with no problems.

When I arrive at the airport I weigh my bag and compare results to my results from home.

I am travelling next in about three weeks time, now I am curious as to how much I am really carrying and if I place my handbag inside my cabin bag am I still at or below 7kg?

Reading this post I don't know if I should write up a trip report on packing with Hand Luggage Only or I should have some medicine prescribed for OCD :shock: .

As a long time HLO traveller I look forward to your trip report.