Jetstar-esque carry-on experience with Qantas

[RichardMEL]

Here's the thing - One pax takes "a couple" of extra bags, even if flying in J, and one presumes not that much in there if they could be rearranged into two - is fine. If a non trivial number of pax also take that approach then there will be trouble. Airlines don't want to be stuffing around during boarding trying to sort this out - or delaying departure because there's no space on board because of the extra bags. Something we've all seen on flights the battle for bin space. I also think most of us seeing someone put 4 bags of stuff away wouldn't be too impressed.

One wonders why you didn't consolidate your bags before check in since you could do it? Then none of this would have been an issue - if you requested a BP be printed or not. tbh I'd have done it just to make it easier to carry and deal with tbh

I think it was absolutely appropriate they noticed, and picked you up on it. You may dislike it, and I understand why, but look what happened - YOU rearranged your stuff and boarded, and one presumes the flight was not delayed due to dealing with this at time of boarding.

Imagine it was left, and you did nothing because "it's only two extra bags" and seemingly having some sense of entitlement (because that's how your post comes across to me despite knowing full well you were well outside the carry on limits) and you go to board and THEN they pull you aside. Perhaps made a bit of a scene and you felt embarassed or singled out, and at least some fellow pax would know why. I think this was handled in a good way both to save any potential issue at the gate or even on board, and to handle it in a somewhat sensitive way.

I too find it quite rude that you just "wandered off" after the agent pointed out you were over on your Carry On. I hope at least you might have said to them "Yes, no worries. I'll rearrage these"

And well, if there is a note in your profile and it follows you around for a bit (though tbh I think that would be going a bit far) well it's that kind of behaviour, imo, that would lead to that kind of thing.

my 2 cents.

 

[RichardMEL]

But when checking in with Jetstar you will be allowed to repack your bags in my experience. And they will tell you what to do to abide by their rules in my experience. Seemed like a fair bit of negativity from the QF check in staff.

Hard to say. we have the version of the story from the OP who admitted they walked away from the desk. Who knows what the actual interaction was - and pointing out it was too many bags to carry on is absolutely correct. We don't know that the agent didn't say something like "Either you'll need to check something, or find a way to consolidate your bags." for example.

Maybe it was a negative attitude.. perhaps the staff figured "someone else trying to take it all on board" and being frustrated. Again, it's all in how it was handled, and we only have one point of view of what actually happened.

Not defending QF here per se, though at least the assessment was correct that the number of bags were well above the allowed for carry on - while the interaction may not have been too positive at least the reason for the OP being called back was correct. Someone actually bothered to notice and attempt to do something about it, and followed up (by notifying airside to page the pax).

 

[Quickstatus]

they have no business checking my carry-on or making sure that I'm compliant with the rules before I fly

I think they were well within their rights and to do so, and to follow up the call when you didn't respond.

 

[justinbrett]

But when checking in with Jetstar you will be allowed to repack your bags in my experience. And they will tell you what to do to abide by their rules in my experience. Seemed like a fair bit of negativity from the QF check in staff.

Slight difference being JQ will charge if your bag is overweight. Even if QF checked the bag, there would be no fee.

 

[Quickstatus]

I too find it quite rude that you just "wandered off"

That could possibly trigger alarm bells with the airline, possibly causing them to question if a passenger doing this should fly with them.

 

[Lynda2475]

QF must definitely be cracking down on HL enforcement. Am flying tomorrow and notice they have updated the info in the Getting ready to fly email to include:

Travelling with carry-on only?

We know how important an on time departure is to our customers. We encourage you to check-in any bags that you do not require during the flight. Please ensure that all carry-on baggage meets our allowance outlined here.

 

[DC3]

… what's the likelihood of me being flagged as a high-risk passenger with Qantas now - identified by QFF number - where they're going to be super-stringent with carry-on rules with me?

By posting about this, you’ve copped a bit of lecturing. However, there are some good points in the mix

 

[RooFlyer]

Yesterday HBA-MEL, B717, gate agents had bag measurer at the gate and checked at least one pax. B717 so not surprising.

But the bag they checked was a small soft back-pack type and second last I saw (as I passed through the gate) was that it didn't fit ( too bulgy, not too big overall).

The pax still had it, seemingly unchanged when they passed me on board a few mins later. I guess squeezy was deemed ok, else they took a 'personal item' out and then put in back in again.

 

[thrillho]

If you're ever forced to speak to anyone when you check in or bag drop with Qantas, beware - they seem to be policing their carry-on rules a lot more. I'll let you decide whether the lesson here is to follow their carry-on rules more stringently or to avoid talking to Qantas staff wherever possible during the flying process.

I flew domestic J yesterday, and I didn't have a smartphone, so I went to the check-in desk to print a boarding pass. After being gazumped by two non-priority passengers in being served at the desk (...), I politely asked the Qantas staff member for a boarding pass, showing them my ID. They gave it to me, and I turned and walked towards the security gate.

They subsequently surprised me by calling out my name, and said I wouldn't be able to take what I was carrying as carry-on. I was carrying a small backpack, a suit bag, and two small shopping bags with dirty clothing and various possessions - technically four bags. I said that I could put one bag inside another, and he said that I'd still have three bags and would need to check one in. Not wanting to make a scene, I just turned around and walked away, knowing they couldn't do anything at the gate if I followed Qantas's rules to the letter. They called out my name, and I ignored them.

After going through the security gate, I was bemused - but not entirely surprised - to hear over the airport loudspeaker that Qantas were paging me by name, asking me to go to a service desk. I got some food with my friends, rearranged my possessions into two bags, and subsequently approached a different service desk (closer to the food court), who had no idea why I was paged. Immediately after talking to them, I was paged again over the loudspeaker, this time to the boarding gate (30 minutes before boarding). I went there without my carry-on, leaving it with my friends. The staff at the gate said they had been told that I had four bags, and needed to see my carry-on luggage. I said I didn't have it, and politely but firmly said that I knew what the carry-on rules were, quoting them. They let me go.

What a waste of time - they have no business checking my carry-on or making sure that I'm compliant with the rules before I fly - only when I'm at the gate and about to get on the plane! Sure, I shouldn't have walked away from the check-in desk employee while they were talking to me, but I shouldn't need to demonstrate at the check-in desk that my carry-on bags meet the requirements. After all, they can't prove I'm going to take everything that I'm carrying at that point on the plane. I'm happy to suffer the consequences at the boarding gate, of course. (But if I wanted all my bags weighed and measured, I'd fly Jetstar!)

Thankfully, no-one questioned me when I went on the plane, and my J flight was lovely. But I won't be flying with Qantas again for a while, unless I'm forced to for work (lowest corporate price policy).

Related: what's the likelihood of me being flagged as a high-risk passenger with Qantas now - identified by QFF number - where they're going to be super-stringent with carry-on rules with me?

Terrible attitude - ignoring staff, wilfully knowing you've got too much luggage. Don't know if you think you need a reality check, but here's one for you: you're not that important.

 

[Melburnian1]

Qantas regularly turns around its 737 aircraft in 35 minutes or less.
This is from the moment the aircraft in on blox to the time the aircraft is off blox for the next departure. The minimum turn is 35 minutes.
This is not just the boarding time either, this includes cleaning, catering, refuelling, unload and load of bags and passengers and crewing changes.
So Australia is very well versed in tight turns.

Does it? I just looked at a couple of randomly selected B738s, with some turnarounds scheduled for at least 40 minutes.

Ryanair is not a legacy airline, so not as complex as the latter (no parcels, other freight or Royal Mail carried) but it's (in)famous for 25 minute turnarounds.

Overall, QFd (along with JQd and VAd) have poor punctuality. Of course, other factors come into play but slow loading and unloading of passengers and other items plays a part.

If one could rely upon QF to deliver luggage to its intended destination airport, maybe fewer kilograms would be loaded into the overhead bins by passengers.

 

[CaptJCool]

Does it? I just looked at a couple of randomly selected B738s, with some turnarounds scheduled for at least 40 minutes.

Ryanair is not a legacy airline, so not as complex as the latter (no parcels, other freight or Royal Mail carried) but it's (in)famous for 25 minute turnarounds.

Overall, QFd (along with JQd and VAd) have poor punctuality. Of course, other factors come into play but slow loading and unloading of passengers and other items plays a part.

If one could rely upon QF to deliver luggage to its intended destination airport, maybe fewer kilograms would be loaded into the overhead bins by passengers.

The observation that’s necessary to make is this

Airbus luggage is in bins (ULDs Unit Load Devices) and loaded in/out of the hold
Boeing does the traditional bag by bag loading

The first is going to be quicker UNLESS you need offload a specified PAX Bag in which case if it’s in the first bin in, you gotta take all 3 out to access it !

However, normally turn around time is gonna be faster

Also found this of interest cause everyone wants some FREE MILES

Alaska’s 20 Minute Bag Guarantee Explained | No Mas Coach!

Alaska Airlines is one of the most customer friendly airlines I’ve ever had the pleasure of flying. One of their most underutilized and perhaps most awesome benefits is the 20 minute bag guarantee. The number of people who I see who don’t bother to take advantage of it even though they’re...

nomascoach.boardingarea.com

 

[offshore171]

I think the further upstream the airlines can have the “you’ve got too much carryon” conversation, the better.

Much less likely to induce delays than someone “kicking up a stink” at the gate, plane door, or (worst) in the cabin itself.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Yikes. Didn't they know who you are?

 

[tdimdad]

I think the further upstream the airlines can have the “you’ve got too much carryon” conversation, the better.
Much less likely to induce delays than someone “kicking up a stink” at the gate, plane door, or (worst) in the cabin itself.

Exactly! In a good process, any potential issues are fixed as early as possible, and QF should be no exception. The mention of a check-in agent attempting to address the four bags is a good sign, them operating in the interests of the overall process and customer convenience (streamline the gate & onboard actions). Thumbs up for them.

I'd rather see airlines tackle this at the check-in / bag drop instead the gate, and never leave it to be fixed onboard.

 

[BAM1748]

It’s the staff job to point out you had too many bags it’s your job to turn up at the gate with the correct number. This happened so no big deal.

I’ve come across some pretty toxic airline and airport staff over the decades and yes it’s hard to deal with idiots whom have a little perceived power.

I think had the OP put his plastic bags in his other bags at the counter nothing further would have been made of it but he does have the right not to.

I seriously doubt the OP is on any list.

 

[Thea Hillier]

... But I won't be flying with Qantas again for a while...

Given your behaviour outlined in your email, both the airline and your fellow travellers here will be most grateful for that decision.

 

[Thea Hillier]

That could possibly trigger alarm bells with the airline, possibly causing them to question if a passenger doing this should fly with them.

Maybe they could just put a note in his booking - "Passenger thinks it's acceptable to turn away and ignore people when being spoken to. Feel free to show passenger similar behaviour when they approach you with a query".

 

[RichardMEL]

I wonder if the OP, whoose profile states VA Platinum, has the same attitude over there, or this is a wind up because it's QF?

 

[RichardMEL]

And strangely timed I'll just leave this here coming from late last week in DEN - also a carry on about carry on's - the number and size thereof....

Marlon Wayans cited after luggage dispute with United worker at Denver airport

Comedian and actor Marlon Wayans was cited for disturbing the peace after a dispute he says he had last week with a United Airlines employee over carry-on luggage at the Denver airport

abcnews.go.com

 

[The-Aviator]

It is a legal requirement to follow instructions of crew in the air. Perhaps not the same on the ground but whatever the case, I'm sure they're still paying attention.

Honestly, after ignoring the check in agent and multiple pagers I'm surprised they let you fly at all. I think for many passengers it would be a very different conclusion, especially if they're flying economy or simply behaved like this with the wrong employee.