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

[TheInsider]

Good luck on that for Jetstar. The reduced cost model they run is thin on staffing and services. To make a complex weight system work in uniformity with the cabin luggage is going to be very stressful for check-in staff.

Well thankfully they employ gate staff that only check for cabin baggage and also have done for many years so far.

 

[Daver6]

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.

Check it in as fragile in a pelican case or similar. Will be fine. Of course, this is inconvenient, but there are practical solutions to your problem. I'd also imagine you could insure your gear.

I've checked in cases of wine as fragile without any special protection and never had an issue.

 

[Archphoto]

Check it in as fragile in a pelican case or similar. Will be fine. Of course, this is inconvenient, but there are practical solutions to your problem. I'd also imagine you could insure your gear.

I've checked in cases of wine as fragile without any special protection and never had an issue.

Been there, done that (we *never* travel without protective cases & they're conspicuously marked fragile with tags and stickers) and they still managed to destroy my equipment. I've seen the way some of these guys toss bags about, and honestly, I'm surprised I haven't had more gear broken than I have.

It's not a case of claiming on insurance, it's the inconvenience of arriving in a remote location with gear smashed and unusable - no insurance is going to help me out if I can't get gear to undertake the shoot.

I sometimes wonder if those (HUGE!!) fragile tags we have plastered all over the cases are magnets for rough handling . . .

 

[mrsterryn]

Have to say that this thread has been handy . Has been ages since travelling economy international and didn't realise only one carry on

Thanks

 

[Vic]

No it’s not. JQ is also 7Kg. It used to be 10Kg but they changed a few years ago.

Thanks for posting, that is new. Effective Tuesday.

It’s really strange that the max bundle doesn’t include the extra allowance, which is more than double the cost of the flexibiz bundle.

Also not having a uniform weight limit is going to make it harder to police, as they’ll have to check your boarding pass as they weigh your bag. Although now, they have more incentive to weigh your bag to protect the extra revenue stream.

Flexibiz bundle has been around for a while, well over 6 months, with a 10 kg allowance. Certainly 10kg is legal on Jetstar.

 

[QF WP]

Certainly glad they weren’t weighing hand luggage on my QF503 BNE/SYD flight this morning - this was taken as boarding was called and is the Priority lane (for Gate 24 in the distance) - easily 60 pax long. I went to the significantly smaller general whY line and got onboard before most of them. A number of them would have failed spectacularly...

 

[Austman]

Certainly 10kg is legal on Jetstar.

Which goes to show that a 7kg limit is more about the airline making money, one way or another, rather than passenger safety or comfort.

10kg with a bag size and number limit seems more reasonable.

My maximum size carry-on weighs around 10kg when filled with clothes/shoes/toiletries. It still takes up the exactly same space in the bin when only partly filled and weighing 7kg.

Published studies I’ve read show that the smaller and odd shaped items that can more easily move around in the bin are the cause of most injuries. A maximum size carry-on is more stable in the bin. Of course, a passenger must be capable of safely lifting and removing their carry-on. And on modern large aircraft it’s virtually impossible for such carry-ons to overload the bin weight limit. The bin becomes full before that happens.

 

[justinbrett]

Flexibiz bundle has been around for a while, well over 6 months, with a 10 kg allowance. Certainly 10kg is legal on Jetstar.

I refuse to believe any member of this forum is purchasing Flexibiz bundles in lieu of starter/max bundles where points/SCs are earnt. And if they are, they need to have a hard look at themselves

 

[Vic]

I refuse to believe any member of this forum is purchasing Flexibiz bundles in lieu of starter/max bundles where points/SCs are earnt. And if they are, they need to have a hard look at themselves

hmm, guess I'm not a member of the forum then...

Flexibiz bundles are actually a good cost compromise, 10 kg carry on for 2 items suits me perfectly for multiday work trips, upfront seating, and same day flight changes. That is better than the Plus bundle for carry on allowance, seating and flexibility, for about the same cost. I earn enough status and points outside of Jetstar flights. When I do work trip the things that I can check in, a few shirts, knickers and toothbrush weight about 3 kg. Work papers, computer etc.have to stay with me. If I was going to buy a max bundle then I'd just fly qantas or virgin.

 

[justinbrett]

hmm, guess I'm not a member of the forum then...

Flexibiz bundles are actually a good cost compromise, 10 kg carry on for 2 items suits me perfectly for multiday work trips, upfront seating, and same day flight changes. That is better than the Plus bundle for carry on allowance, seating and flexibility, for about the same cost. I earn enough status and points outside of Jetstar flights. When I do work trip the things that I can check in, a few shirts, knickers and toothbrush weight about 3 kg. Work papers, computer etc.have to stay with me. If I was going to buy a max bundle then I'd just fly qantas or virgin.

I guess it depends on the route - I wouldn't fly Jetstar if I had a choice to fly Qantas mainline on the same route. For the jetstar only routes they don't really have the frequency for same day changes to be of use (note - you can still change your flight the same day on starter/max bundles but you're liable for fare differences if there are any). And the 3Kg extra - well, I think we've demonstrated that's a waste of time. (I'm not saying they don't weigh on Jetstar, but I haven't had my bag weighed for several years).

You don't get the F&B voucher, you don't get front row / exit row seating, and you don't get SCs - the three things that I feel make it worth getting the bundle for.

 

[Vic]

I guess it depends on the route - I wouldn't fly Jetstar if I had a choice to fly Qantas mainline on the same route. For the jetstar only routes they don't really have the frequency for same day changes to be of use (note - you can still change your flight the same day on starter/max bundles but you're liable for fare differences if there are any). And the 3Kg extra - well, I think we've demonstrated that's a waste of time. (I'm not saying they don't weigh on Jetstar, but I haven't had my bag weighed for several years).

You don't get the F&B voucher, you don't get front row / exit row seating, and you don't get SCs - the three things that I feel make it worth getting the bundle for.

Timing is an important factor, where Jetstar has been better than both Qantas or Virgin for me. Especially if adding in price.
Inclusion of a $10/$15 voucher = so what?
Have always had carry on weighed with Jetstar. Certainly on my most recent trips my carry on luggage has been about 9.5 kg. That's has meant heading to the lounge on arrival to charge someone at my hourly rate instead of standing around waiting to pick up 3 kg of clothes.
And my last jetstar flight row 1 was included for the cost of the flexibiz bundle - you know Upfront.

 

[justinbrett]

Timing is an important factor, where Jetstar has been better than both Qantas or Virgin for me. Especially if adding in price.
Inclusion of a $10/$15 voucher = so what?
Have always had carry on weighed with Jetstar. Certainly on my most recent trips my carry on luggage has been about 9.5 kg. That's has meant heading to the lounge on arrival to charge someone at my hourly rate instead of standing around waiting to pick up 3 kg of clothes.
And my last jetstar flight row 1 was included for the cost of the flexibiz bundle - you know Upfront.

We are getting OT - but I was referring to 1A-C, extra leg room, which is not included in the Flexibiz bundle. As for weighing bags, in my experience they are more interested in turning the aircraft around (which is usually already late) than worrying about carry on. Again, depends on the route. I only ever really fly on the NTL routes (BNE & MEL) and it's very rare - and if it is it's not in NTL (have seen it in BNE a few years ago).

$10-15 - so what? I'd rather have cheese and wine on the flight than 3Kg of luggage they may or may not weigh.

 

[Vic]

We are getting OT - but I was referring to 1A-C, extra leg room, which is not included in the Flexibiz bundle. As for weighing bags, in my experience they are more interested in turning the aircraft around (which is usually already late) than worrying about carry on. Again, depends on the route. I only ever really fly on the NTL routes (BNE & MEL) and it's very rare - and if it is it's not in NTL (have seen it in BNE a few years ago).

$10-15 - so what? I'd rather have cheese and wine on the flight than 3Kg of luggage they may or may not weigh.

Yep this is getting off topic.
1D-F are available and the leg room is the same as 1A-C. Fortunately, I can survive an hour or so on a plane without cheese and wine. The cheese and wine in the lounge is better anyway.

I do not want to check in luggage, if 3 kg extra makes that possible then good. And it is within the legal jetstar carry on allowance - the on topic point that started this discussion.

 

[justinbrett]

Yep this is getting off topic.
1D-F are available and the leg room is the same as 1A-C. Fortunately, I can survive an hour or so on a plane without cheese and wine. The cheese and wine in the lounge is better anyway.

I do not want to check in luggage, if 3 kg extra makes that possible then good. And it is within the legal jetstar carry on allowance - the on topic point that started this discussion.

It's not the same if there's a bulkhead in front of D-F and none in front of A-C.

And back OT - my argument is you're paying to add 3Kg to an allowance that on many routes/airports they won't weigh.

 

[Matt_01]

Interesting thread and opinions.

Personally I think some of the carry limits are antiquated and result in more carry on being taken on a plane. After reading this thread I actually weighed my carry on last Sunday for the first time in many years and I fit into the over 7kg camp. In saying that I travel every week and only use x1 (small to medium size) 2 wheel roller that when empty weighs between 1-2 kg. Add in the standard travel stuff, laptop (no charger) tablet, phone, umbrella, notepad, couple of pens, spare pair of glasses, a set of noise cancelling headphone (no case) and house keys. Then depending on the the direction of travel either suit and shirt or jeans and shirt, normally wear one or the other in one direction and carry the other. Add that lot up and it comes in at 9.1kg in a single carry on.

Under this silly 7kg rule I could easily split out my worldly possessions into an additional bag/backpack or a backpack and laptop case but now I am carrying 2-3 items onto the plane and taking up more locker space, under seat space and most likely an extra couple of kilos on bags that are not required.

I plan to stay with my current routine.

 

[mannej]

The weight of the laptop can be considered outside of the 7kg allowance as per the QF website on the proviso it is carried in a slim bag.

In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop computer*, overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material or a small amount of duty free goods (where permitted).

 

[justinbrett]

The weight of the laptop can be considered outside of the 7kg allowance as per the QF website on the proviso it is carried in a slim bag.

Or no bag, that would also do it. Intent of this caveat is they don't want massive laptop bags to count as a personal item.

 

[Matt_01]

Or no bag, that would also do it. Intent of this caveat is they don't want massive laptop bags to count as a personal item.

I think the intent/ caveat is not to take a massive laptop bag but I am yet to see that enforced. I am constantly astounded as I watch PAX board with the 115cm rollers, the backpack and then the expandable laptop bag then proceed to place their luggage in various overheads as they make their way down past R15.

 

[mannej]

Or no bag, that would also do it. Intent of this caveat is they don't want massive laptop bags to count as a personal item.

But QF explicitly state it needs a slim bag to not be counted as part of the allowance

Important information
Disclaimer: * For a laptop computer to be considered a personal item it must be carried in a slim bag. Laptops carried in large laptop bags will be counted as part of your carry-on baggage allowance. Laptop computers must conform to any applicable regulatory requirements, be submitted for security screening, and must not be used during take-off or landing or interfere with the aircraft's power supply.

 

[justinbrett]

But QF explicitly state it needs a slim bag to not be counted as part of the allowance

Keep reading. The next sentence says large laptop bags count as part of carry on. Logic says no bag would be treated the same as slim.