Domestic heavy luggage or on-the-spot air freight options?

[swylie]

Hey guys,

I work in the events industry and I often have video equipment, banners, laptops, etc with me when I fly.

My previous employer flew with Virgin, who don't have a fixed limit per piece of luggage (i.e. you can check on a 40KG case/bag as long as you're prepared to pay)...

I've now switched primarily to QF as my international travel is increasing and I'm building up SC's... but the 32KG limit per piece is a bit frustrating (although I'm getting used to splitting things between cases, etc).

Has anyone had any luck getting QF to waive their 32KG limit under any circumstances? (a colleague of mine argued for 2.5 hours in BNE last week just to get a 33KG case on - even though it weighed in at 31KG when measured in MEL on the way up)

Otherwise, has anyone ever come across a way to get heavy cases on the same or a similar flight via a "public-friendly" freight service at any of the domestic airport terminals?

I've come across the regular freight providers in Sydney, usually frequented by trucks and white vans, and involving loading docks and driving around Mascot... not really equipped to handle cases and bags that could otherwise go through the conveyor belts....

Just a long shot really, but I thought it was worth the ask!

cheers

 

[thewinchester]

Hey guys,

I work in the events industry and I often have video equipment, banners, laptops, etc with me when I fly.

My previous employer flew with Virgin, who don't have a fixed limit per piece of luggage (i.e. you can check on a 40KG case/bag as long as you're prepared to pay)...

I've now switched primarily to QF as my international travel is increasing and I'm building up SC's... but the 32KG limit per piece is a bit frustrating (although I'm getting used to splitting things between cases, etc).

Has anyone had any luck getting QF to waive their 32KG limit under any circumstances? (a colleague of mine argued for 2.5 hours in BNE last week just to get a 33KG case on - even though it weighed in at 31KG when measured in MEL on the way up)

Otherwise, has anyone ever come across a way to get heavy cases on the same or a similar flight via a "public-friendly" freight service at any of the domestic airport terminals?

I've come across the regular freight providers in Sydney, usually frequented by trucks and white vans, and involving loading docks and driving around Mascot... not really equipped to handle cases and bags that could otherwise go through the conveyor belts....

I would guess the 32kg max piece weight comes down to Occ. Safety & Health issues as well as conditions forming part of agreements with ground staff (I might be wrong, someone might have a better answer).

As for getting the gear on the same flight, I don't know of anyway that is possible from the research I've done. I don't know if its at all possible, but are you able to pre-plan movement of any of the goods?

If it is possible, then companies like Jetta Express (who I know from my days helping Uni students) might be worth investigating. They may even be able to arrange the items getting onto the same flight and get the items direct to your hotel/venue/office at the other end.

Failing that, your next option is setting up a good relationship with a courier company which doesn't charge the earth - specially when it comes to insurance if your corporate policies don't cover damage in transit.

 

[drewbles]

I would guess the 32kg max piece weight comes down to Occ. Safety & Health issues as well as conditions forming part of agreements with ground staff (I might be wrong, someone might have a better answer).

Spot on. I rang QF today regarding an item I need to check-in tomorrow and was told 'As long as it's under 32kg as our baggage handlers are not permitted to lift anything over 32kg' and the conversation proceeded with what I needed to know.

32kg is an OH&S matter that QF implement. That said, I hope my item gets on (due to size, not weight, I was assured it will by the phone agent but check-in could be a different matter)

 

[swylie]

Thanks for the replies.

The OH&S reasoning has been my experience too... It's just frustrating that Virgin don't impose the same limit upon themselves. Perhaps this is one area where there's actually an advantage to travelling DJ.

I think for now my best bet will be a luggage scale and a couple more cases to spread things out.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for the replies.

The OH&S reasoning has been my experience too... It's just frustrating that Virgin don't impose the same limit upon themselves. Perhaps this is one area where there's actually an advantage to travelling DJ.

I think for now my best bet will be a luggage scale and a couple more cases to spread things out.

If that's the case, I certainly would never want to work for DJ as a baggage handler.

 

[straitman]

If that's the case, I certainly would never want to work for DJ as a baggage handler.

From that can we assume you want to work at QF as a baggage handler :?:

 

[Flashback]

From that can we assume you want to work at QF as a baggage handler :?:

Never assume anything:!: :shock:

 

[drewbles]

If that's the case, I certainly would never want to work for DJ as a baggage handler.

I'm guessing QF may have a 'any one person must be able to lift any bag' type arrangement, where DJ may have a 'any two people must be able to lift any bag' type thing.

I may be totally wrong, but that would seem to make a modicum of sense. That said, I checked in something this morning that was 23kg, but is very large and bulky (70cm squared). They had zero problem with it (and even said "you should really be paying excess on this, but hey it's not asking for it so I don't mind". Never even had it mentioned in the past when checking in multiple pieces exceeding 23kg when I was only PS. Maybe they're trying to pretty rigidly enforce it these days.

 

[notzac]

Maybe they're trying to pretty rigidly enforce it these days.

The wonders of Amadeus Altea, I'm led to believe

 

[drewbles]

The wonders of Amadeus Altea, I'm led to believe

well it did good things this morning for me in PER. Didn't force me to cough up (and I didn't feel like coughing up. Would have been 11kg of extra baggage, after my 15kg extra allowance). phew My Christmas presents will make it home this year

 

[Nigelinoz]

The OH&S reasoning has been my experience too... It's just frustrating that Virgin don't impose the same limit upon themselves

According to their website they do-

You can check-in oversized baggage provided each item does not exceed 32 kg in weight. If it is heavier than 32kg, it must be shipped as Freight

Virgin Blue > Oversized baggage

As far as I know the 32kg limit is set by the IATA and is almost a universal standard due to OH&S issues,but I'm happy to be proven wrong about this.

 

[drron]

Ah,this discussion brings back memories.Working at the Redfern Mail Exchange in the late 60's.Rule-each mail bag must be lifted by 2 people.And yes folks that applied even if said mail bag contained just one letter.

 

[wasimmehr]

I have a large carton of a quad bike, weighing 30 Kg and 80 inch combined length ( 100 cm x 50 cm x 45 cm. Am a qantas club member so will be allowed 33 Kg but wondering if size will be a problem.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm guessing QF may have a 'any one person must be able to lift any bag' type arrangement, where DJ may have a 'any two people must be able to lift any bag' type thing.

QF baggage handlers are still meant to do a two person lift for heavy items but I don't know exactly what they deem this weight to be. I'm quite sure that at busy times when they are under the pump only one person would be lifting a 32 kg bag.

Any single item over 32 kgs must be consigned as freight & be taken down to AAE for lodgement but guess who then loads these heavy items of freight (32kg +) onto to the aircraft?

I may be totally wrong, but that would seem to make a modicum of sense. That said, I checked in something this morning that was 23kg, but is very large and bulky (70cm squared). They had zero problem with it (and even said "you should really be paying excess on this, but hey it's not asking for it so I don't mind". Never even had it mentioned in the past when checking in multiple pieces exceeding 23kg when I was only PS. Maybe they're trying to pretty rigidly enforce it these days.

Sounds like they didn't realise you were WP. Currently ie until 31 May WP's can have multiple bags up to a weight of 38 kgs total. Effective 01 Jun it will be two pieces @ 32 kgs for WP with a third piece being AUD30.00 & fourth & subsequent pieces being AUD60.00 per piece.

SG/QP/PS currently get multiple bags up to a weight of 33 kgs total then eff. 01 June it will only be one piece @ 32 kgs with the 2nd bag being AUD30.00 then third bag onwards AUD60.00 per piece.

I understand also that any item in excess of 23 kg & up to 32kg wil be subject to a heavy fee of AUD20.00 as currently happens in the US. So if you are PS/QP/SG your 'free' baggage allowance of 1 piece @ 32 kgs is not really free if it's heavier than 23 kgs.

Just when you think things can't get any more ridiculous QF never fails to disappoint. You can't be sensible & have two bags @ 15 kgs as they tell you to jam it all into one bag but then also charge a penalty for doing it that way. Unbelieveable. I really just don't get it.

well it did good things this morning for me in PER. Didn't force me to cough up (and I didn't feel like coughing up. Would have been 11kg of extra baggage, after my 15kg extra allowance). phew My Christmas presents will make it home this year

So you had 49 kilos all up? Interesting.

I have a large carton of a quad bike, weighing 30 Kg and 80 inch combined length ( 100 cm x 50 cm x 45 cm. Am a qantas club member so will be allowed 33 Kg but wondering if size will be a problem.

Currently until 31 May you have a baggage allowance of 33 kg which can be more than one piece however the weight of any one piece can only weigh up to 32kg. From 01 Jun onwards your 'free' allowance is one piece @ 32 kgs plus you'll be charged a heavy fee of AUD20.00 if the item is above 23 kg.

I don't know who it is at QF that makes up all these new rules, oops 'enhancements' but I would bet that they have never worked at an airport, never mind ever had to load an aircraft.

 

[wasimmehr]

Thanks

I'm not worried bat the weight onl worried bat the dimensions since it is 80 inches in linear length. That is the max allowed on Hawaiian which I'm flying until Sydney... Don't want qantas to refuse carriage which would leave me in a pickle!

 

[equus]

I understand also that any item in excess of 23 kg & up to 32kg wil be subject to a heavy fee of AUD20.00 as currently happens in the US

Is this heavy fee referenced anywhere? It doesn't seem to appear in the baggage section of the web site, or in the conditions of carriage.

 

[FlyboyAl]

I haven't seen this anywhere either, and I've been doing some searching.
We fly to the US at the end June and back early July in PE on VA and I'm trying to juggle baggage allowances as we need to fly home from Syd to Adelaide on QF!
I've figured we can have 2 bags each up to 32 kg on VA, but when we come home on QF it is one bag up to 32kg at no cost, then another bag up to 23kg for $20.
I'm figuring we will just leave the US with 1 bag each at 32kg and 1 bag each at 23kg and pay the $20.
But I've not seen anything about the "heavy" allowance.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I haven't seen this anywhere either, and I've been doing some searching.
We fly to the US at the end June and back early July in PE on VA and I'm trying to juggle baggage allowances as we need to fly home from Syd to Adelaide on QF!
I've figured we can have 2 bags each up to 32 kg on VA, but when we come home on QF it is one bag up to 32kg at no cost, then another bag up to 23kg for $20.
I'm figuring we will just leave the US with 1 bag each at 32kg and 1 bag each at 23kg and pay the $20.
But I've not seen anything about the "heavy" allowance.

Is this heavy fee referenced anywhere? It doesn't seem to appear in the baggage section of the web site, or in the conditions of carriage.

There is zilch on the website about this but I've heard from QF that it's happening as that's what they've been telling staff in training for the new baggage allowances.

So looks like the staff will be the ones to incur the wrath of angry passengers when they drop that pineapple.

 

[equus]

There is zilch on the website about this but I've heard from QF that it's happening as that's what they've been telling staff in training for the new baggage allowances.

So looks like the staff will be the ones to incur the wrath of angry passengers when they drop that pineapple.

I expect the staff are going to cop a lot then - as it is not in the terms and conditions, then it really can't be charged - and as a material reduction in what is now published as a benefit, would need the applicable notice period for a change to the FF program.

It is going to be very difficult for the staff to actually try and collect the charge if there is nothing published they can show a passenger to justify the charge.

 

[equus]

Is this heavy fee referenced anywhere?

OK, after much searhing through everything on the web site, I think I have found it. Panic over.

In the Fly - Baggage - Additional Baggage (for excess baggage at the airport), the "Heavy charge" appears, along with a note

# Not applicable for Silver, Gold, and Platinum Frequent Flyers, Qantas Club members and customers travelling in Business.

Presumably, as this table only applies to excess baggage, this means that not only are the additional allowances not chargeable, but that in the event of excess baggage, then only the extra piece charge would apply to a status member for up to 32kg, but only 23kg for non status.

For international, the heavy exemption isn't as tolerant, being waived only for Business and First customers (presumably again only for excess).

Hopefully the training OBB has mentioned is related only to EXCESS baggage charges, and the free allowances remain as published. Worth noting the gotcha if you end up with excess International baggage though.