New Baggage crackdown starts this week at VA

[AIRwin]

Good morning AFF! First BNE-SYD flight of the day. Didn't check in my carry-on as I've a tight international connection on a separate booking. I had a man bag as well which I stuffed into the haversack containing my laptop. I was the second in the general boarding queue as I didn't want to miss out on overhead compartment space. Then I was pulled aside... not because of the weight but there was an issue with my boarding pass, holding up the queue. Perhaps that was a fortunate distraction?

 

[pauly7]

VA police weighing hand luggage at Premium Entry at SYD late last week in the AM, similar to what they have done in BNE. None at gate. On my return from BNE no weighing at Premium Entry or gate though.

Weighing at Premium Entry is actually better IMHO than them weighing at the gate as gives time to check their bags FOC, avoid fines and minimise delays in boarding. But only I guess if people are within their check in times.

I asked if they had caught many, and the lady smiled and said ‘quite a few today’. I asked if this was going to be ongoing and she said the front line staff don’t have much viability of the bigger plan.

I wonder if VA/JQ/QF got together, had consistent rules and agreed and worked with airports that all bags were weighed at security or just before/after whether would have a bigger impact....

 

[SeaWolf]

I wonder if VA/JQ/QF got together

I don't think they would have, or at least, they shouldn't have. Baggage allowance (like any kind of service offering) is something they should be competing on, not colluding about.

 

[AIRwin]

Didn't check in my carry-on as I've a tight international connection on a separate booking.

I made it... Thanks Virgin!

 

[pauly7]

I don't think they would have, or at least, they shouldn't have. Baggage allowance (like any kind of service offering) is something they should be competing on, not colluding about.

Think that goes without saying
Little curious how VA and QF both came out at very similar times though hey

 

[jase05]

JQ were heavily enforcing in at OOL Saturday. They were going down the boarding line at gates and weighing all carry on luggage. Was quite funny seeing people suddenly all start putting on multiple layers of clothes as the weighing staff made their way down the line

 

[Warks]

Got my carry on weighed today only because I had to check in a parcel and when I was at the counter I was asked to weigh my bags. Went over by 1kg combined due to a few extra things in my computer bag I don't usually carry. No biggie this way as I have to pick up the parcel at the other end anyway. As a PS I can't go through the premium entry to the Lounge any more so I would probably have not been checked without the checked box.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

VA... CNS - BNE 738, No checking.

 

[Ausbt]

I'm definitely concerned about a SYD-BNE-LAX trip in two weeks time, obviously the first leg. I've got to carry two laptops, QC35s. I'll be wearing/carrying a large coat I guess. Ski boots? Forget about it, I'll leave them at home I guess.

 

[ozstamps]

VA police weighing hand luggage at Premium Entry at SYD late last week in the AM, similar to what they have done in BNE.

How stupid.

Hit up the once a year $90 vacation flyers but ....................

 

[henrus]

I guess the baggage crackdown has created extra space for Business, Gold and Platinum. In short, 2x 7kg bags are now allowed for Gold, Platinum and Business passengers on Domestic, Trans Tasman and Short Haul international routes.

Virgin Australia increases business class cabin baggage allowance

The details are now live on the Virgin website:

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/plan/baggage/carry-on-baggage/

This change also increases the size allowed for all passengers.
Previously it was a 7kg bag with the dimensions of 48cm x 34cm x 23cm

Now it's one 7kg bag with the dimensions 56cm x 36cm x 23cm or two smaller pieces 48cm x 34cm x 23cm (with 7kg total allowance for economy or 7kg per bag for Business, Gold, Platinum).

 

[ozstamps]

Some sanity prevails for a change.

 

[Pleb Status]

A welcome change for SG/WP/J pax.

This will now legitimise my notebook/tablet satchel...

 

[hydrabyss]

I guess the baggage crackdown has created extra space for Business, Gold and Platinum. In short, 2x 7kg bags are now allowed for Gold, Platinum and Business passengers on Domestic, Trans Tasman and Short Haul international routes.

Virgin Australia increases business class cabin baggage allowance

The details are now live on the Virgin website:

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/plan/baggage/carry-on-baggage/

This change also increases the size allowed for all passengers.
Previously it was a 7kg bag with the dimensions of 48cm x 34cm x 23cm

Now it's one 7kg bag with the dimensions 56cm x 36cm x 23cm or two smaller pieces 48cm x 34cm x 23cm (with 7kg total allowance for economy or 7kg per bag for Business, Gold, Platinum).

Don't forget this bit
All guests travelling on A320, ATR and F100 aircraft and all Alliance Airlines operated flights receive the Economy Guest allowance..

 

[pauly7]

Don't forget this bit
All guests travelling on A320, ATR and F100 aircraft and all Alliance Airlines operated flights receive the Economy Guest allowance..

Why A320 flights?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Why A320 flights?

All aircraft listed are run under the VARA AOC, I suspect something to do with that.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

That's great news -- for domestic travel! Both for the increased weight, but also moving from 105cm to 115cm officially.

I noticed they were weighing bags for non-premium guests on SYD-MEL last Saturday, at the gate. I wonder if in the future they'll bother weighing the bags of premium passengers at all, and make people redistribute weight if one bag is > 7kg and one is < 7kg?

For international travel though, this is actually a step down from their previous allowance, which in business was a straightforward 2× 7kg 115cm (compared to the now 1× 7kg 115cm or 2× 7kg 105cm), consistent with most airlines internationally and in particular their partners SQ and EY.

This makes a difference because it's common to have a 115cm roller, and then some other bag (e.g. backpack) much smaller than a roller, but bigger than a "personal item". That would technically now fall outside the rules, even with status flying international business.

 

[AIRwin]

Good morning AFF! First BNE-SYD flight of the day.

Good evening AFF! Another week another flight... After my boarding pass was scanned, I overheard the gate agent mention to the next passenger about weighing their roller.

Posting this using the free WiFi onboard my BNE-PER flight!

 

[henrus]

Posting this using the free WiFi onboard my BNE-PER flight!

Bit off topic but could you do a speedtest.net and/or fast.com speedtest to see how it's going?

Despite being VA Platinum (and doing a fair bit of domestic travel) I've never actually had free VA wifi domestically, only on the 737's to NZ (where it's $13 per flight).

That being said I've used Qantas' free wifi a bit lately and speeds have solid, basically never drops lower than 12mbps.

 

[AIRwin]

Bit off topic but could you do a speedtest.net and/or fast.com speedtest to see how it's going?

* Could not reach our servers to perform the test.

I'll try again on my return flight...