New baggage System for QF eff Dec 1, 2010

[proskyneo]

I just called up Qantas regarding the new baggage system and yup, sporting equipment (and I'm sure extra fishing bags) must be paid for.

By the by, if anyone else has gotten a decent answer when calling the Frequent Flyer Service Centre.. let me know?! I'm quite annoyed after that phone call - the person literally had no idea announcements had been made to the Frequent Flyer Program.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Always have had an intense dislike for piece limited systems. Not a good chance, even as an NB. What if between 4 of us we have 5 pieces? Say 4 suitcases and a 3kg duffel bag, or something that won't be allowed through as carry on such as a flag with pole (a legitimate concern for me as most of my travel is interstate or TT for sporting events).



Also paying for sporting equipment, that sucks even more. That was on of the better reasons to fly QF.

 

[proskyneo]

What if between 4 of us we have 5 pieces? Say 4 suitcases and a 3kg duffel bag, or something that won't be allowed through as carry on such as a flag with pole (a legitimate concern for me as most of my travel is interstate or TT for sporting events).

You will have to pay! PAYYY to represent your .. country:?: I assume.

Maybe a collapsible flag of some sort to fit into your other suitcases :-|

 

[Must...Fly!]

You will have to pay! PAYYY to represent your .. country:?: I assume.

Maybe a collapsible flag of some sort to fit into your other suitcases :-|

Telescopic pole maybe. We'll see if I come across that problem. TT travel is usually for a holiday combined with a soccer game in Wellington when they play Perth...

Like I said, unless people are checking in 5 bags weighing 2kg each, I really can't understand the issue with being so strict. I suppose we'll wait and see how strictly it is enforced. Wouldn't surprise me if a small extra piece (eg backpack, or flag thing) is waved through. I hope, anyway

 

[proskyneo]

Telescopic pole maybe. We'll see if I come across that problem. TT travel is usually for a holiday combined with a soccer game in Wellington when they play Perth...

Like I said, unless people are checking in 5 bags weighing 2kg each, I really can't understand the issue with being so strict. I suppose we'll wait and see how strictly it is enforced. Wouldn't surprise me if a small extra piece (eg backpack, or flag thing) is waved through. I hope, anyway

Ahh telescopic was the word I was looking for!

If it's checked in, they might not (or say they might not) be able to add additional bags without charging..

 

[oz_mark]

Like I said, unless people are checking in 5 bags weighing 2kg each, I really can't understand the issue with being so strict. I suppose we'll wait and see how strictly it is enforced. Wouldn't surprise me if a small extra piece (eg backpack, or flag thing) is waved through. I hope, anyway

"Waving through" is going to be a problem. Keep in mind that the change is about NGCI and its limitations. So if you are going through an NGCI airport, you may need to convince the computer to wave you through.

 

[Must...Fly!]

"Waving through" is going to be a problem. Keep in mind that the change is about NGCI and its limitations. So if you are going through an NGCI airport, you may need to convince the computer to wave you through.

Of course, NGCI....bah.

"hey NGCI, if you wave this through, I know a cute little iphone..i could introduce you..."
:mrgreen:

 

[proskyneo]

Of course, NGCI....bah.

"hey NGCI, if you wave this through, I know a cute little iphone..i could introduce you..."
:mrgreen:

NGCI:"Oh Must...Fly! You know just how to push my buttons "

 

[Must...Fly!]

NGCI:"Oh Must...Fly! You know just how to push my buttons "

lol!!

 

[JohnK]

Yeah I think the chances are pretty much zero. QF was one of the few remaining airlines in the world that allowed bikes and other approved sporting equip as part of checked baggage. Technically, they still do, you just can't check in a suitcase as well!!!!!

So do we know if this will definitely be the case?

When you look at airlines such as SQ and TG I thought there is a limit of 20kgs in economy (without status) and then there is a separate section mentioning sporting equipment will be accepted but included as part of your baggage limit.

Not sure I like this change from Qantas. On domestic commutes I may take with me a suitcase, golf clubs, carry on bag and laptop bag and on international flights I will take with me a suitcase, golf clubs and carry on bag. I guess I will be OK as long as I am Platinum but will be in trouble if I happen to lose that status.

I just called up Qantas regarding the new baggage system and yup, sporting equipment (and I'm sure extra fishing bags) must be paid for.

By the by, if anyone else has gotten a decent answer when calling the Frequent Flyer Service Centre.. let me know?! I'm quite annoyed after that phone call - the person literally had no idea announcements had been made to the Frequent Flyer Program.

Did you speak to a normal customer service agent or the premium desk?

It has come to the point where I simply do not trust what a QF customer service agent advises me unless they are from the premium desk.

Has anyone spoken to the premium desk about these changes? Perhaps it would be worth it having a look at the QF website if the latest baggage changes have been included.

 

[proskyneo]

So do we know if this will definitely be the case?

When you look at airlines such as SQ and TG I thought there is a limit of 20kgs in economy (without status) and then there is a separate section mentioning sporting equipment will be accepted but included as part of your baggage limit.

Not sure I like this change from Qantas. On domestic commutes I may take with me a suitcase, golf clubs, carry on bag and laptop bag and on international flights I will take with me a suitcase, golf clubs and carry on bag. I guess I will be OK as long as I am Platinum but will be in trouble if I happen to lose that status.

Did you speak to a normal customer service agent or the premium desk?

It has come to the point where I simply do not trust what a QF customer service agent advises me unless they are from the premium desk.

Has anyone spoken to the premium desk about these changes? Perhaps it would be worth it having a look at the QF website if the latest baggage changes have been included.

Up to these latest changes, QF has allowed sporting equipment if it was within weight limits (with size limits for bicycles, equipment etc.), this sounds in line with SQ and TG as it is all part of weight. It seems nothing will change with regard to the weight of sporting equipment, but the new piece system will not allow a non-status pack to have check-in luggage plus any sporting equipment as the sporting equipment will be counted as separate pieces, even if total weight is under the weight limit (23kg and 32kg for non-status, NB and QPNBs). (DJ is even more generous - giving an extra 5kg for sporting equipment without using the piece system.)

This information was from the Qantas Reservations department as baggage isn't under the jurisdiction of the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre reps. The Qantas Reservation person did seem to know what was going on, so I'd take her word on this, no matter how much it stinks.

As a QFWP, I'm guessing you are fine with a pack of golf clubs and a single check-in (2 pieces), but it sure stinks for non status pax. Not sure if the premium desk would know much about the baggage limits, but maybe they won't cos elite pax arn't as affected

Instead of waiting for another person (after the Qantas Reservations lady), I hung up and sent another email through the feedback form on the website asking for another person to call me back.

The following week, I got a call backk - thankfully from a different person - addressing most of my other concerns with some satisfactory answers, but some of the information given was contrary to what is on the website, but she was quite adamant. (Unfortunately I can't contact the premium desk .. but if you can ask them if QBNB members get Q bag tags, as the website says no, but the Service Centre says yes - and they were very sure!)

 

[JohnK]

As a QFWP, I'm guessing you are fine with a pack of golf clubs and a single check-in (2 pieces), but it sure stinks for non status pax. Not sure if the premium desk would know much about the baggage limits, but maybe they won't cos elite pax arn't as affected

I totally agree with you. I do not like this change even with my status.

What is wrong with checking in more than 1 piece as long as you stay under your baggage allowance. When I came back from BNE last month I had a suitcase, golf clubs and carry-on bag which I checked in as I was ill at the time plus a laptop bag. The total weight of the checked pieces was 29kgs which is well under my baggage allowance.

Next time I have to take the carry-on with me or pay a fee to check-it in. Makes no sense unless QF are going to provide more overhead space on their aircraft as there is hardly any additional space now.

 

[dfcatch]

New baggage System for QF eff Dec 1

What is wrong with checking in more than 1 piece as long as you stay under your baggage allowance.

I know I may be at odds with a lot of others here, but I don't mind the piece system AS IT USED TO BE before the current weight system was introduced domestically. I'm someone who does quite often fly with sporting equipment and i liked being able (as QP/status) to check 2 x 32kg domestically, or 3 x 32kg when traveling to LOTFAP.

Now, even as a WP, I have less of an allowance than when I was only QP.

And I'm not referring to 20 years ago, this was only a cpl of years back.

 

[VirginiaF]

Latest announcement on this - looks like NB and others will have to use self applied paper tags, and I am slightly concerned about the robustness of the RFID tags' ability to withstand the rigours of baggage handling along with unforgiving carousels:

Qantas adopts RFID for domestic baggage checks - mobility, qantas, RFID - Techworld

Qantas adopts RFID for domestic baggage checksSeeks to reduce domestic check-in times through radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to be placed on frequent flyers' baggage

Chloe Herrick 25/10/2010 11:41:00


Australian airline, Qantas (ASX:QAN) has penned a four-year deal with Unisys to provide a Baggage Reconciliation System (BRS) for its Australian domestic flights, to begin on 10 November.

The BRS will use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to track and verify bags and will be part of the airline’s Next Generation Check-in, a self-service baggage check in facility with the aim to reduce domestic check-in times.

Under the agreement, Unisys will supply systems integration, implementation and rollout services, in addition to application hosting and support for the BRS at its Sydney data centre.

Following its Sydney launch and trials in Perth in July, the Next Generation Check-in system will be progressively introduced in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra next year.

In the initial rollout stage, passengers will be able to print their bag tags, which have an identifying barcode, at a check in booth, before leaving their bags at the bag drop area. From here the bags’ barcodes are scanned to link bags to passengers’ flight information.

Platinum, gold and silver Qantas Frequent Flyer members will receive a chip-enabled "Q Bag Tag" in the leadup to the launch. It will also use RFID technology enabling identification and tracking and will eliminate the need for these passengers to print a new bag tag each time they fly.

Unisys Asia Pacific vice president, global commercial industries, Sue Carter, said an effective BRS system will help improve passenger facilitation by scanning bag tags when passengers check in and reconciling tags with passenger records before they can be loaded onto the aircraft.

“Because the airline has a record of the baggage loading order, it can quickly identify and recover bags if passengers fail to board,” Carter said in a statement.

 

[drron]

I must say being merely QP on QF this is the change that annoys me most.Obviously linked to NGCI which just as obviously is of benefit to QF and not to many pax-yes I know some of you like it but most really couldn't give a fig re the technology but will be miffed when they find they are now being charged for the second bag when it didn't happen before.
However i note that on the QF site if you book your flight before Dec 1 then the old baggage rules will apply until June 2011.looks like all my DPO flights in the first half of next year will be booked early.
And just when will they get NGCI at DPO.

 

[proskyneo]

However i note that on the QF site if you book your flight before Dec 1 then the old baggage rules will apply until June 2011.looks like all my DPO flights in the first half of next year will be booked early.
And just when will they get NGCI at DPO.

Actually, if you book before Dec 1.. travel anytime will have old luggage rules.

So you could book your travel up to June 1 at any time and the old rules will still be in effect, or up to Nov 30th 2011 for your travels now (is it 353 or 355 days.. well whichever!) and the old rules will still be in effect.

I'm planning to book a July return soon under the old/current/proper system and try and catch them out lol!

 

[John Reid]

On the whole, the new baggage rules really do STINK! Who in their right mind is going to pack one bag weighing 32kg for goodness sake! (and take the chance that the check in scales are accurately calibrated) Try lifting that down two flights of stairs, into the the cab (as if the cab driver is going to help you?), then out of the cab and then into NGCI.

Come on QF, this has not been thought through one iota, apart from the bean counters dreaming up more ways to bleed people dry.

As SG, given I have had the luxury of 32kg no matter how many pieces I check in, it has ALWAYS been 10kg below the limit. That is with suitcase and bike.

All this new policy does is:

1. Force me to pack a carry on (which is rarely appropriate) because according to the new rules I can still check in my bike as one piece of checked baggage.

2. Fly another airline (DJ status match to Gold).

What would you like QF, an extra $100 each way or me taking my business elsewhere?

It is kinda predictable that RED ROO has not responded to anything recently and that both Crazeydave98 and Velocity Rewards are only too willing to help.

Where are you QF? Help out your loyal customers here before we go elsewhere...........................

 

[openseat]

Latest announcement on this - looks like NB and others will have to use self applied paper tags, and I am slightly concerned about the robustness of the RFID tags' ability to withstand the rigours of baggage handling along with unforgiving carousels:

Qantas adopts RFID for domestic baggage checks - mobility, qantas, RFID - Techworld

Qantas adopts RFID for domestic baggage checksSeeks to reduce domestic check-in times through radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to be placed on frequent flyers' baggage

I wonder how Bronze QP Life members will be treated under this regime. Will they get an RFID luggage tag or will be a matter of being treated like a Bronze or nothing when it comes to self check-in? After all PS come and go, but QP Lifes are, well, life.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I know I may be at odds with a lot of others here, but I don't mind the piece system AS IT USED TO BE before the current weight system was introduced domestically. I'm someone who does quite often fly with sporting equipment and i liked being able (as QP/status) to check 2 x 32kg domestically, or 3 x 32kg when traveling to LOTFAP.

Now, even as a WP, I have less of an allowance than when I was only QP.

And I'm not referring to 20 years ago, this was only a cpl of years back.

A couple of years back (maybe prior to April 2008?) everyone eg NB and no status pax could check in 2 pieces per person up to 32 kg in each bag ie 64 kg per person which was included in the cost of the airfare.

If you were PS & above you could check in 3 pieces @ 32 kg each piece! I forget what it was for WP - might've been 5 piece @ 32 kg.

 

[dfcatch]

New baggage System for QF eff Dec 1

A couple of years back (maybe prior to April 2008?) everyone eg NB and no status pax could check in 2 pieces per person up to 32 kg in each bag ie 64 kg per person which was included in the cost of the airfare.

If you were PS & above you could check in 3 pieces @ 32 kg each piece! I forget what it was for WP - might've been 5 piece @ 32 kg.

I thought for domestic it was 1 piece @ 32kg for NB, an extra piece for QC,PS,SG, and 2 extra pieces for WP.
For USA it was 2 pieces @ 32kg for everyone, and QC/status got a third piece free.