Bumping this thread with Jnr's experience today. You may well say "suck it up", which is fine. There is a very personal and emotional element to the story, which is probably totally irrelevant, but it was the reason Jnr did what she did.
Being a young person of limited means, Jnr flies LCC's. Today, she flew QF & JQ MEL-xSYD-MCY, booked as a Classic Award with my points 2 days ago. The reason for this short notice flight is because the other half (my ex) has just been diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. She wanted/needed to be there asap. She asked me this morning if QF will check her bag through to MCY, but I didn't know. She checked in online for both flights and travelled QF this morning without any issues, boarding with her cabin sized bag as hand luggage. Her ticket allows for 23kgs as checked luggage and I do not know the weight of the bag at this time (will find out later). She arrived in Sydney and goes to gate for boarding on the Jetstar flight SYD-MCY, where she is told that her bag is overweight and will have to be checked in (she's never had her bag weighed with Jetstar in all her previous flights, which she has ensured have all been within the weight limit). At this time, we are at the 36 minute mark to ETD, which is 6 minutes until the cutoff time that baggage can be checked in. Further to this, 2 other pax had their baggage designated as overweight and must be checked. However, Jnr was the only one charged the "inconvenience fee" of $50. Jnr asked the JQ agent why she was the only one being charged and was told "the other two were off duty staff members".
I guess my issue is that there may well have been sufficient time for her to check her bag (she had the allowance on the Classic Award ticket), but was not given the opportunity or option to do so, and that there were other pax (staff, who should know better) who were not charged.
As mentioned previously, we are emotional and stressed with the news of the terminal illness which is impacting our family, but I just think the penalty was unfair, particularly when off duty staff members who should know better than anyone what the baggage limits, are let off of any penalties in front of regular pax. A bit like a cop getting pulled up for speeding, but getting no penalty as opposed to a everyday driver who gets the fine and demerit points.
