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

[Hvr]

And all of us have the right to a safe workplace. Noting that QF and VA don't charge to check bags there is really no excuse for extremely heavy bags to be carried inside the cabin.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I still like my idea, make all the passengers load bags into the cargo hold. But then again my philosophy is to only take what you can carry yourself - so it might not work for everyone

 

[Nank]

I agree with many others here. My carry on bag is normally full up with various bits and pieces yet it always comes in under 7kg. Main issue I heard was families stirring a storm about having to pay to get their overweight carry on checked in when using budget carriers like JQ and TT in particular but 100% with the airlines in decisions like this, because it simply isn't fair for the rest of us and can change the weight distribution of an aircraft if overweight luggage isn't properly accounted for in the loading of the plane (because yes even the hold is packed to ensure an even COG)

 

[gaz1]

My main issue is that the gate is really not the best place to be checking size/weight.
Check them at check-in where it is easy to enforce & easy to check-in heavy/large bags.
OK, so I know self check-in is an issue but perhaps they need some sort of self-weighing/labelling process for this?

 

[coriander]

Too many times when traveling Business Class domestically on Qantas has my overhead locker been full of economy passages overflow of carryon luggage.

I've noticed economy passengers boarding often put their hand luggage in the J overhead lockers as they think it helps them get off the plane faster (and are not stopped from doing so by cabin crew) - you know, them ones that jump up and run forward as soon as the seat belt light goes off on arrival.
(Adding to the carousel delay reports, Mrs C and I waited at the carousel for 45 minutes, so about 60 minutes after deplaning off QF10 at MEL, before luggage started arriving - the Oneworld priority tags made sure that our cases were last ones appearing.)

 

[coriander]

My carryon contains only my laptop, a DSLR, one extra lens, chargers for phones, laptop and camera and CPAP machine and total weight comes to well over 7kg. At a pinch I could sling the camera over my shoulder and claim the CPAP machine as a weight-exempt medical device to slide in at under 7kg.

 

[Lynda2475]

I wish that overhead bins were redesigned to have thin dividers with seat allocations clearly marked - equal space per bin per seat per class of travel. Then it would be clear who was exceeding the size allowance.

If your carry on bag doesn't fit in the bin (with wheels facing to the rear), then it's too bloody big (and probably too heavy) to be on board, storing it side ways is just being selfish and impacting your fellow passengers.

I always comply with carry-on limits and it annoys me no end when my laptop or other small bag (my handbag in under the seat already) is moved to the other end of the plan to make room for someone who has exceeded their size or weight limits for carry-on.

I love it when FAs weigh bags or force passengers to prove the case fits can fit in the size guide before boarding. Singapore Airlines always used to weigh hand luggage at check in for flights from LHR.

 

[mannej]

I wish that overhead bins had dividers with seat allocations clearly marked - equal space per bin per seat per class of travel. Then it would be clear who was exceeding the size allowance.

I am not sure this would leave a lot of space if a locker system as such was implemented.

 

[boomy]

Too many times when traveling Business Class domestically on Qantas has my overhead locker been full of economy passages overflow of carryon luggage. I have found myself looking or cabin crew looking for another locker to put my bag in.

On 737s there is limited overhead space in row 4. On refurbished 737s (with no curtains) the overhead bin is shared between rows 3 and 4. Adding to that, pax seating in 4C/D have no storage space under the seat in front.
Being a regular in row 4 aisle seats and usually boarding late I’m guilty of taking some of row 3 storage space on more than one occasion.

 

[Franky]

If this was instituted system wide by any mainline airline, and it began to delay flights, there would be a huge cost to the carrier.

Would we then see a requirement that passengers be at the gate even earlier than at present, or some other sort of 'time penalty' that would be a huge annoyance to business travellers?

If so, it would strengthen the case for high speed rail linking the more populous cities on the east coast.

Please don't start me on that high speed train nirvana again!!

 

[Popeye]

Sydney to Perth, 26/8/2018, QF581.

QF was 1 hour late boarding. QF decided to weight all hand luggage. No exception over 7 KG - Fair enough.

Business class and VIP FFL no exempted. All luggage over 7 kg was check in. Some pissed off people .Staff took heaps of abuse....

I was 1 kg over, decided not to checkin and bought a $1 greeny bag, boarded and repacked into my hand luggage. Sometimes being agile and thinking laterally is a better option that being frustrated.

Happens all the time on Qantas Link.

Its also a way to reduce the amount of cabin luggage and pressure on overhead locker space.

Primary though its a weight and balance issue .... which is a safety concern or so they say. I cant really see that gate agents taking bags off pax then contacting load control saying that they have 5 extra bags at 8 kilos each and load control telling them where to put them for trim purposes

 

[fairbasa]

I timed the checked luggage today.

After walking from my 737 exit row seat to the carousel, it was 2:55 waiting at the carousel before the first bag was on the conveyor and 6:10 before I got my bag.

Slow day unfortunately.

 

[Archphoto]

I’m a photographer. I regularly carry much more than 7kg in my cabin bag. So mea culpa. However in my mind it’s a risk/benefit analysis. If I check my camera gear (that’s well over $10k worth) I will almost certainly find it damaged beyond repair (and any repair would be costly and at my cost too). I don’t know any serious photographers who check their gear. What am I to do? I don’t see a solution.

I feel your pain - I'm a photographer as well and agree 110% - that gear is my livelihood and I need it operational and ready to go when I arrive at my destination. If the bag I'm expected to check doesn't arrive at the destination, how the h*** am I supposed to do the job (I'm thinking check-in, not upon boarding)?

I've been pinged once on J* and simply emptied 2 cameras and 2 lenses, had the bag re-weighed and was told: "Don't put that stuff back into the bag." Then I saw some of the enormous rollers that others have been allowed to take on board, and wondered WTH???

If an airline could guarantee my gear will arrive, undamaged, without any pilfering and on the same flight, I'd happily check it, Sadly, I've had $25k worth of gear destroyed by an airline on one flight - one light just survived and lastest long enough to complete the shoot. Had it also been destroyed, I would have been totally s***wed - Colombo doesn't have photographic gear for hire and I'm pretty sure sending my assistant back to SIN for replacement gear wouldn't have gone down at all well with the client . . .

 

[fifo]

I feel your pain - I'm a photographer as well and agree 110% - that gear is my livelihood and I need it operational and ready to go when I arrive at my destination. If the bag I'm expected to check doesn't arrive at the destination, how the h*** am I supposed to do the job (I'm thinking check-in, not upon boarding)?

I've been pinged once on J* and simply emptied 2 cameras and 2 lenses, had the bag re-weighed and was told: "Don't put that stuff back into the bag." Then I saw some of the enormous rollers that others have been allowed to take on board, and wondered WTH???

If an airline could guarantee my gear will arrive, undamaged, without any pilfering and on the same flight, I'd happily check it, Sadly, I've had $25k worth of gear destroyed by an airline on one flight - one light just survived and lastest long enough to complete the shoot. Had it also been destroyed, I would have been totally s***wed - Colombo doesn't have photographic gear for hire and I'm pretty sure sending my assistant back to SIN for replacement gear wouldn't have gone down at all well with the client . . .

If only there was a way to echo your sentiments some more. I'm a diver and underwater photographer. I have 6kgs of items that legally cannot be put into checkin (lion batteries and devices). Does that mean I don't get to take a laptop and jumper onto the plane, or a pair of shoes? This is besides which, my rebreather head which is worth 10kUSD to replace and is critical life support equipment, should I check that too?
My carryon all goes into one duffel, within the size restrictions. I carry a laptop back or backup with my regular stuff like laptop etc.

- People on here who think their monochrome world view of 'why would anyone EVER need more than 7kg of carryon' are just plain ridiculous. Get a broader mind, even I don't think my situation is all that unique and can imagine a few others that may require a greater allowance.
- People on here who think there is some sort of SWL limit to a luggage hold...hmm, the exact same planes fly in the USA where there is no limit, so thats bs. I reckon there could be a better locking system on the doors however.
- People on here who whine on about OHS rules for FAs. Simple, they don't need to touch a paxs stuff, ever. Ask the pax. Also, again, doesnt seem to be a problem in USA, BA etc.

Overall, I reckon BAs 23kg allowance is pretty reasonable. USA unlimited is pretty great too. QF/VA 7kg is laughable. Especially laughable when some people literally have no other option.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree crew should have a safe workplace. And crew shouldn't lift bags. Trying to assist an on-time departure is admirable, but perhaps short-sighted. If flights consistently took off late because crew refused to lift bags, perhaps the airlines would crack down?

As for bags falling out of lockers... I suspect that's an issue of bad loading, not of the weight of the bag. If bags are properly stowed - not sliding on top of each other - they shouldn't be a safety issue.

But I admit I say this from a perspective that my cabin bag is usually in the 15kg range. I lift it myself. I stow it properly. The size is on spec. I don't want to be penalised because other people can't stow their bag properly, or can't lift it, of bring on over-sized bags.

 

[fifo]

Really, the 7kg policy is archaic, move with the times Australia!

 

[appaz]

This is so frustrating to read and yes I would of been rather pissed off if my bagged weighed 8kg and I had to check it in.

Even more so if you consider yourself a health conscious individual with a healthy BMI and see a morbidly obese passenger walk on the same plane you've just had check-in a bag over 1-2kg!

I was recently on a flight from Perth to Sydney with Qantas where the stewardess moved a passenger from economy to a free seat in business class in order to move another very large passenger from his original seat to this recently vacated seat which happened to be the only one on the plane with nobody sitting next to them. Ridiculous

Someone so large they are literally taking up the space of those seated next to them is catered for by being moved to sit with an empty seat beside them, another passenger randomly receives a free upgrade and now they are weighing carry on bags and upsetting loyal customers over a couple of kgs.

 

[Scott K]

My carryon contains only my laptop, a DSLR, one extra lens, chargers for phones, laptop and camera and CPAP machine and total weight comes to well over 7kg. At a pinch I could sling the camera over my shoulder and claim the CPAP machine as a weight-exempt medical device to slide in at under 7kg.

Your CPAP should be regarded as exempt. As most sit between 3 to 5 kilo it’s always going to be a major weight. Do you have a padded transport bag for it? Most machines come with this, and I would strongly suggest keeping it separate anyway.

 

[fifo]

I was recently on a flight from Perth to Sydney with Qantas where the stewardess moved a passenger from economy to a free seat in business class in order to move another very large passenger from his original seat to this recently vacated seat which happened to be the only one on the plane with nobody sitting next to them.

You'd be pretty pleased if you were that Y passenger though! Seems odd they didn't move the passenger next to the 'very large' passenger. I've had this happen to me and they moved me to an empty row with 2 free seats.
But yes, I agree, with your sentiment, all quite a joke. Maybe i'll start rectally carrying smaller items.

 

[Popeye]

It's one of the main reasons I like QF, generally their passengers don't try to stuff things best put in the hold into overhead lockers. I think 7kg is plenty and if everyone sticks to it then the overhead lockers are actually not straining to bursting point and you can put your bag where you're sitting.

There is, however, a case for dimension based rather than weight. It's almost unenforceable though. I haven't been near a check-in desk for years, and 90% of my flying is HLO so the QF staff have no idea what I'm carrying as luggage ( Weight wise )

When I was working in New Zealand we saw a guy trying to board a flight with a gearbox for a morris minor in his hand luggage... was easy to spot the way he was waling carrying this thing .... funny though what people try to get away with