How to make enemies...! [by weighing carry-on]

[pauly7]

Virgin gate police were in force in Brisbane again last week. The airlines need a weigh [] to fast track this process. This time they were weighing at gate one by one as BP’s were scanned, took forever when they found a baggage criminal, it didn’t appear they had extra staff on to deal with it and a few passengers put up a spirited argument to the staff, slowing things down further. Aircraft departed late.

I can’t belive I’m typing this but maybe they should look to Jetstar which has a roaming mobile baggage weighing unit that screens people along the line and sends you to the gate agent only if you have commited a crime. They do it prior to boarding so when boarding is announced a huge swathe of people are pre-cleared and board quickly and it’s then just the stragglers that get weighed on the spot if that makes sense. They seem to have floating staff to handle this who are well used to dealing with passenger arguments too!

 

[Mistress]

I have found a bag solution that will work for our family...so we can get 14KG on board per person - if we need too.


Kathmandu have a bag called litehaul plus and litehaul (LH) carryon. The carryon can be worn as backpack or over the shoulder. (with back straps tucked away). better half uses this as his daily fly to work bag all the time. But the litehaul plus (worn on on your chest) hooks into the straps on the LH carryon if you wear your LH carryon bag as a backpack. Kathmandu has another backpack if you don't like the LH carryon that this works with too - Transfer 28L Travel Pack 3.

The LH plus bag fits a 15inch laptop, and fits under the seat in front of you. It has a glasses case section at top of bag, and i found it quite roomy. Fitted 2 iPads with thick cases on them. I couldn't get my third iPad with a thin case in, but i did also have headphones case in there plus my wallet, 2 phones, passport folder and a magazine.

I found the Transfer 28L Travel Pack fitted heaps of clothes. 1 Large Kathmandu compartment bag, and 2 medium bags plus a small bag.

For people who do have that extra weight in their primary they could transfer into the LH plus, and back to the other bag once on board, especially good as it takes a 15" laptop! For us, having the LH plus to put under seat in front of you is great to easily access iPad, phone, passports without needing to get up and open the over head locker!.

The bags are expensive... However.. another hack is that NZ website has some of these bags on run out stock, so half the price of the Aussie store, and even better the AUD to NZD means it was cheaper still.

$80 aussie..
Litehaul Plus 1
$40 NZ for the green...
Litehaul Plus 1

The above sounds like a kathmandu add, but I don't work there! This is just a solution for our family, 2 adults 2 kids (5 and 8 yo). We will be doing carryon bags only to NZ with virgin in Jan and then travel to South America next year so will be interesting to see how this goes on the VA flight in Jan(7KG TOTAL!)!

I agree with FM's better half, don't put the camera gear underneath. I'll be putting my heaviest glass in one bag and the rest in my camera bag, and then putting it back in the camera bag once on board.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Kathmandu have a bag called litehaul plus and litehaul (LH) carryon. The carryon can be worn as backpack or over the shoulder. (with back straps tucked away). better half uses this as his daily fly to work bag all the time. But the litehaul plus (worn on on your chest) hooks into the straps on the LH carryon if you wear your LH carryon bag as a backpack. Kathmandu has another backpack if you don't like the LH carryon that this works with too - Transfer 28L Travel Pack 3.

I've been using the Caribee Lotus 22L backpack. I picked it up in Wollies at CNS for about $20 and find it to be reasonable (not sure of the weight by itself, but it's light). In a pinch it can fit two laptops, chargers, glasses, hard drive, travel wallet, normal wallet, keys, ID's small medical kit, some hygiene products and various leads. In that config, I carry the headphones in their case separately and the phone in my pocket. If I leave out a laptop (I often don't travel with a work laptop as I don't particularly want my work emails when I'm on break ), then I can fit the headphones in as well. I've had it for about a year and it's still OK and has survived.

I'm thinking of the Caribee Rhine 35L pack, more for the organised storage inside and easier access rather than need more space or weight. I'll have to compare the weights of the two though before deciding.

 

[amaroo]

Between status and class we don’t usually have any weight problems for checked luggage. Just checked and Qantas is 7kg per piece for carry on, so the strategy works for Qantas. One issue for us is that on dash8s you are only allowed 1 piece, but Mr FM hates flying the dash8s anyway. Can sometimes be hard to avoid them flying out of Canberra though.

Virgin is total weight of 7kg, so Qantas is much more generous.

Had no idea VA was so restrictive .... just another reason to avoid the airline This "kg gap" is going to cause VA some issues IMO

 

[QF WP]

I fully expected to be weighed before at least 1 of my recent 7 sectors (especially my EMD flights on Dash 8’s this week). Still waiting...how disappointing

 

[prozac]

Daughter checked in to Jetstar on Friday with one legal size cabin bag...but overweight. Was charged $60 SYD-OOL. She wasn't happy but was at least smart enough to then buy luggage allowance for $20 for the return trip.

 

[Blinky]

Virgin gate police were in force in Brisbane again last week. The airlines need a weigh [] to fast track this process. This time they were weighing at gate one by one as BP’s were scanned, took forever when they found a baggage criminal, it didn’t appear they had extra staff on to deal with it and a few passengers put up a spirited argument to the staff, slowing things down further. Aircraft departed late.

I can’t belive I’m typing this but maybe they should look to Jetstar which has a roaming mobile baggage weighing unit that screens people along the line and sends you to the gate agent only if you have commited a crime. They do it prior to boarding so when boarding is announced a huge swathe of people are pre-cleared and board quickly and it’s then just the stragglers that get weighed on the spot if that makes sense. They seem to have floating staff to handle this who are well used to dealing with passenger arguments too!

As I said in another thread, unlike Jetstar, Virgin allows “personal items” to be carried on without weighing. This includes a laptop in a satchel. I manage to fit my laptop, iPad and paperwork into the satchel which would weigh about 2kg I reckon (I’ll weigh it next trip). Jetstar weighs everything, including purses, which I think is ridiculous.

 

[pauly7]

As I said in another thread, unlike Jetstar, Virgin allows “personal items” to be carried on without weighing. This includes a laptop in a satchel. I manage to fit my laptop, iPad and paperwork into the satchel which would weigh about 2kg I reckon (I’ll weigh it next trip). Jetstar weighs everything, including purses, which I think is ridiculous.

Yes, Jetstar weigh everything that’s correct.

BUT Virgin did weigh my laptop bag last week in Brisbane... though they haven’t previously.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Yes, Jetstar weigh everything that’s correct.

BUT Virgin did weigh my laptop bag last week in Brisbane... though they haven’t previously.

Interesting development. VA does say 7kg in total (I believe). It's just that they haven't previously weighed carry on with gusto, but the media release suggest that is now changing. Curious how VA and QF announced the same thing simultaneously. Who says collusion between competitors doesn't happen.

I can’t belive I’m typing this but maybe they should look to Jetstar which has a roaming mobile baggage weighing unit that screens people along the line and sends you to the gate agent only if you have commited a crime.

Although in saying that, many people circumvent the JQ weight police by simply off loading stuff until the bag is weighed and tagged and then sneak around behind a column and load back up again before boarding with 365kg in their hand luggage!

 

[Zamba]

I spent a few decades travelling around the world, especially Asia, as a professional photographer. Usually I travelled relatively light, but without an assistant, so my standard excess baggage was around 56 kg ( I travelled business class). Obviously, all the lighting equipment and a lot of camera equipment was checked (in the standard high vis orange and yellow Pelican cases), but I always carried (as I still do today) enough basic gear to get some shots even if everything was lost. It made for quite a big camera (shoulder) bag (which fitted in the overhead locker), and occasionally I had to escalate above the check-in person to get a pass-through, but as a rule the fact that it was obviously my profession helped.

This system was not unusual amongst pro photogs then and isn't now; in all that time I never had anything stolen (my insurance cost a bomb, too), never had any disastrous delays. Interestingly, I have had numerous delays and temporarily lost baggage when on holiday!

These days I don't travel with as much gear, but my carry-on has still been coming out at around 14 kg, with chargers etc. I haven't had a lot of trouble with this lately, as it all fits into a "legal" Pacsafe backpack. Security is amazingly variable, though, I'm always surprised when they don't ask to have a look - although more inspections in Europe recently. However, I'm very conscious of those airlines with the 7 kg weight restriction and even with 10 kg I find it irritating that I have to be concerned, especially when I see the stuff others bring onto the plane.

Although your laptop will usually be in your carry-on, I find the fact that many airlines allow this as a separate item is a useful back-stop. I have also always travelled with a shooting jacket (don't use it apart from on planes!) which is useful (27 pockets) for stashing stuff away should you run into trouble or feel you're sailing a bit close to the wind. You can put the stuff back in your bag when you're on board.

I do feel the key parameter should be volume rather than weight when it comes to carry-ons. My wife (who is around 50 kg) is always incensed by weight restrictions, especially when she's standing behind someone who is more than twice her weight and size! She maintains that to be fair you should be weighed along with your luggage and charged accordingly (pregnancy being a special case), and you may well think she has a point, practical or not!

 

[Blinky]

Yes, Jetstar weigh everything that’s correct.

BUT Virgin did weigh my laptop bag last week in Brisbane... though they haven’t previously.

Interesting. Their website makes a distinction between a “satchel” and a laptop case. What I carry my laptop in is definitely a satchel, and some laptop cases can be bulky, so I get the idea.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I spent a few decades travelling around the world, especially Asia, as a professional photographer. Usually I travelled relatively light, but without an assistant, so my standard excess baggage was around 56 kg ( I travelled business class). Obviously, all the lighting equipment and a lot of camera equipment was checked (in the standard high vis orange and yellow Pelican cases), but I always carried (as I still do today) enough basic gear to get some shots even if everything was lost. It made for quite a big camera (shoulder) bag (which fitted in the overhead locker), and occasionally I had to escalate above the check-in person to get a pass-through, but as a rule the fact that it was obviously my profession helped.

This system was not unusual amongst pro photogs then and isn't now; in all that time I never had anything stolen (my insurance cost a bomb, too), never had any disastrous delays. Interestingly, I have had numerous delays and temporarily lost baggage when on holiday!

These days I don't travel with as much gear, but my carry-on has still been coming out at around 14 kg, with chargers etc. I haven't had a lot of trouble with this lately, as it all fits into a "legal" Pacsafe backpack. Security is amazingly variable, though, I'm always surprised when they don't ask to have a look - although more inspections in Europe recently. However, I'm very conscious of those airlines with the 7 kg weight restriction and even with 10 kg I find it irritating that I have to be concerned, especially when I see the stuff others bring onto the plane.

Although your laptop will usually be in your carry-on, I find the fact that many airlines allow this as a separate item is a useful back-stop. I have also always travelled with a shooting jacket (don't use it apart from on planes!) which is useful (27 pockets) for stashing stuff away should you run into trouble or feel you're sailing a bit close to the wind. You can put the stuff back in your bag when you're on board.

I do feel the key parameter should be volume rather than weight when it comes to carry-ons. My wife (who is around 50 kg) is always incensed by weight restrictions, especially when she's standing behind someone who is more than twice her weight and size! She maintains that to be fair you should be weighed along with your luggage and charged accordingly (pregnancy being a special case), and you may well think she has a point, practical or not!

We have felt this for years, particularly when travelling on light planes in Africa where you are severely restricted. We have often felt that our luggage plus ourselves would weigh less than some of our rather well endowed fellow travellers!

Mr FMs latest plan is to remove any unneccesary items from camera bag (e,g chargers when flying domestically which are easily replaced) and put them in checked luggage, put a dry bag in his camera bag and if weighing is happening, pull out dry bag, transfer some lenses, walk on with two carryons, both under 7kg and then repack on plane. His camera bag is under the small bag dimensions, fits into overhead lockers even on the dash8s, so it has never caused any problems. Weight is an issue though. When he travels domestically it is probably only 9kg as he doesn’t take the big lenses. More like 12kg when we go overseas though, but then we can spread the load between us.

Flying Qatar out of Canberra is looking better and better for international travel.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Had no idea VA was so restrictive .... just another reason to avoid the airline This "kg gap" is going to cause VA some issues IMO

This occurred to me too. I have only flown Virgin once, when Qantas cancelled my flight home from Sydney and could only offer me a 3:30 flight home (Really - so I was booked to fly back at 7pm and somehow a 3:30 is going to work!). It was OK and I thought I would be happy to fly it again if I needed to and for me it is still fine as I don’t travel with more than about 2kg of hand luggage (just a handbag). It is now totally useless for Mr FM though.

I have never really looked at anyone’s hand luggage restrictions, as we have never had an issue before, so this has all been quite informative.

 

[doublecatered]

Those that feel it should be all about the volume rather than the weight neglect to acknowledge an important point.. the amount of injuries to cabin crew in particular that have to routinely close those drop down lockers on the newer 737's and that have to make space for more bags is a big issue. Not every fight attendant is a burly bloke.. alot of them are very petite and expecting them to deal with this ever increasing problem is not fair

It should not be that hard.. U pack a standard sized carry on with no more than 7-8 kg..simples
Plane gets away on time, no one gets hurt, win win

 

[Pushka]

Those that feel it should be all about the volume rather than the weight neglect to acknowledge an important point.. the amount of injuries to cabin crew in particular that have to routinely close those drop down lockers on the newer 737's and that have to make space for more bags is a big issue. Not every fight attendant is a burly bloke.. alot of them are very petite and expecting them to deal with this ever increasing problem is not fair

It should not be that hard.. U pack a standard sized carry on with no more than 7-8 kg..simples
Plane gets away on time, no one gets hurt, win win

Qantas were weighing on the non drop down lockers.

 

[amaroo]

This occurred to me too. I have only flown Virgin once, when Qantas cancelled my flight home from Sydney and could only offer me a 3:30 flight home (Really - so I was booked to fly back at 7pm and somehow a 3:30 is going to work!). It was OK and I thought I would be happy to fly it again if I needed to and for me it is still fine as I don’t travel with more than about 2kg of hand luggage (just a handbag). It is now totally useless for Mr FM though.

I have never really looked at anyone’s hand luggage restrictions, as we have never had an issue before, so this has all been quite informative.

Certainly helps when your camera is a phone. I know I miss out on "that" one or two stunning photo every trip, but for 99% of the rest of the time - a new generation phone is more than adequate for my needs. You see people hauling around so much equipment - must be a giant PITA.

QF with a 14kg allowance is more than enough for your average punter..... VA at 7kg is a different story.

 

[Lynnelanne]

The thing I have a problem with is that I’m a keen photographer with many thousands of dollars wroth of gear. IF airlines could be trusted to look after checked things then OK, but that’s a total joke. I don’t want my bag of expensive camera gear thrown anywhere, so what am I to do? Camera gear is heavy. I would not mind in the slightest paying extra to carry it on, but that’s often not an option. Anyone else out there got the same line of thinking?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Those that feel it should be all about the volume rather than the weight neglect to acknowledge an important point.. the amount of injuries to cabin crew in particular that have to routinely close those drop down lockers on the newer 737's and that have to make space for more bags is a big issue. Not every fight attendant is a burly bloke.. alot of them are very petite and expecting them to deal with this ever increasing problem is not fair

It should not be that hard.. U pack a standard sized carry on with no more than 7-8 kg..simples
Plane gets away on time, no one gets hurt, win win

Actually, they are saying no more than 7kg's ... it seems leniency over 8kg's is gone (unless you can elaborate from insider knowledge?).

Boeing have made large bins ... so the airlines penalise the pax rather than deal with the problem logically, like for instance, roster guys and girls onto flights (which most do anyway) which also helps with crowd control issues they may very occasionally really need. With some basic procedural modification, petite ladies need not close the bins, that could be the guys. I wonder how many airlines have voiced their disapproval of bin sizes with Boeing? I actually think those drop down bins are great. Pretty hard to have carry on fall out of them. I believe the bins are on struts and could be adjusted so even the petitest lady could close them fully loaded. Moreso, if these petite ladies can't close an overhead bin, how on earth can they carry out many of the other tasks that they train for, like lifting emergency escape doors up and throwing them out the hole? Surely there are minimum crew physical requirements? Not everything is a "discrimination" issue, some are really just plain common sense. I really hope we don't have any blind pilots, as I'm not sure the white canes are long enough!

 

[JohnPhelan]

Those that feel it should be all about the volume rather than the weight neglect to acknowledge an important point.. the amount of injuries to cabin crew in particular that have to routinely close those drop down lockers on the newer 737's and that have to make space for more bags is a big issue. Not every fight attendant is a burly bloke.. alot of them are very petite and expecting them to deal with this ever increasing problem is not fair

It should not be that hard.. U pack a standard sized carry on with no more than 7-8 kg..simples
Plane gets away on time, no one gets hurt, win win

All true, except the airlines have been making a song and dance about it being to make sure there's enough room for everyone's carry-on! In my case, it means I've gone from one carrying one max size bag (a bit overweight) to 2 medium size bags - i.e. I'm now taking up almost twice as much overhead space as I did before!!

 

[Carrots]

Surely you jest. You will not get the slightest leniency. Unless you happen to be the Captain.

Oops, I meant to say a carry on sized standard suitcase for his weighty camera gear. Correct details help he he