QF cough about cabin bags

[TheRealBabushka]

Today out of SYD domestic both ground staff and cabin crew were particularly cough about the weight of cabin bags even though they were within regulation (2 pieces - one in the overhead compartment, the other fitting perfectly under the seat). Status appears to make no difference, not that it should but discretion would have been preferred. Makes for a very unpleasant experience. No issues on the outbound and no issues on the international segments. In the end, at the close of boarding there were still overhead bin space available! What’s going on?

 

[TheInsider]

Too many flights are getting delayed due to lack of cabin baggage space and then placing it in the hold. It's just being enforced.

Have you ever travelled in the US or in Europe, you'd be in for a shock there for cabin baggage space.

 

[smckay]

Too many flights are getting delayed due to lack of cabin baggage space and then placing it in the hold. It's just being enforced.

Have you ever travelled in the US or in Europe, you'd be in for a shock there for cabin baggage space.

What he said. 30 mins+ delay AKL-SYD last week trying to sort cabin bags out

 

[Hvr]

but discretion would have been preferred

And what level of 'discretion' would you like?
Just your bags?
Just a little bit overweight?
Just a little bit oversize?
Just one extra bag?

As @TheInsider has advised flights are being delayed, therefore QF is remediating the cause of the delays which is better for all, except those who believe they're entitled to 'discretion'.

In this instance, well done QF.

 

[blackcat20]

But a cabin bag at 7.5kg (for example) isn't delaying anyone compared with the same bag at 7kg as long as it fits and you can lift it, I don't see the issue.

 

[jastel]

Two words.

Christmas Presents.

 

[smckay]

I take about 10Kg per trip, but I use a bag that fits the lockers and is correct sized. Old mate beside me last trip took on a checked luggage bag and left it hanging out of the locker. Then pretended not to hear the crew asking who's bag it was . Add the lady in front who had a full size back/trekking pack and boarded last and there's ya problem.
In my experience it's the people who take 2 bags on board and won't put the personal item on the floor, or take 2 large bags on who cause grief.

 

[TheRealBabushka]

I often do and I take the exact same thing. No dramas there. AA staff gives you a wide berth if you’re Business/Emerald.

Too many flights are getting delayed due to lack of cabin baggage space and then placing it in the hold. It's just being enforced.

Have you ever travelled in the US or in Europe, you'd be in for a shock there for cabin baggage space.

 

[mrsterryn]

QF can't get it right either way
Either they don't police it and are lambasted or they do try and get it right everyone gets overhead space and they are still in trouble

 

[Franky]

But a cabin bag at 7.5kg (for example) isn't delaying anyone compared with the same bag at 7kg as long as it fits and you can lift it, I don't see the issue.

And what if it is 7.75kg? How far is far enough? Please read comment #4

 

[TheRealBabushka]

And what if it is 7.75kg? How far is far enough? Please read comment #4

And what if it is 7.75kg? How far is far enough? Please read comment #4

If it fits overhead and under the seat then it’s Kosher. It’s this whole pahlava around weight that is neither here nor there.

 

[TheInsider]

If it fits overhead and under the seat then it’s Kosher. It’s this whole pahlava around weight that is neither here nor there.

The weight is an issue, the allowance is the allowance (OHS, weight limits in the lockers, etc). Over, you check it in, really quite simple.

 

[TheRealBabushka]

And if the reason really is about ensuring an on time departure, perhaps QF needs the group boarding method. If it’s a full flight Groups 5 - 8 can be engaged proactively by gate agents to check in cabin bags.
Sorry Insider the weight rule is just silly, harder to enforce fairly and unfortunately not quite as simple as you’d imagine. The fact that you’re guessing the reason also suggests the rationale by Qantas is not well articulated.

 

[offshore171]

To be honest, a crackdown on carryon is well overdue. So many flights are getting delayed by too much carryon for the available space on the plane.

 

[TheInsider]

The fact that you’re guessing the reason also suggests the rationale by Qantas is not well articulated.

I'm not guessing, the reason for the enforcement is for on time performance.

Post automatically merged: Dec 2, 2022

And if the reason really is about ensuring an on time departure, perhaps QF needs the group boarding method. If it’s a full flight Groups 5 - 8 can be engaged

Or everyone is bound by the same rules as everyone else in their allowances.

 

[mrsterryn]

Say someone is able to put 15kilos in the correct size. However they try to put it in the overhead lockers and it falls .
Could it be an occ health and safety issue ? I mean I have seen the FAs having to assist people putting in their bags in overhead lockers ?

 

[oz_mark]

I take about 10Kg per trip, but I use a bag that fits the lockers and is correct sized. Old mate beside me last trip took on a checked luggage bag and left it hanging out of the locker. Then pretended not to hear the crew asking who's bag it was . Add the lady in front who had a full size back/trekking pack and boarded last and there's ya problem.
In my experience it's the people who take 2 bags on board and won't put the personal item on the floor, or take 2 large bags on who cause grief.

On Qantas domestic, one piece is allowed to be 10 kg.

 

[RooFlyer]

The weight is an issue, the allowance is the allowance (OHS, weight limits in the lockers, etc). Over, you check it in, really quite simple.

Yes, but we know checking in a bag isn’t always ‘quite simple’ in its consequences, don’t we?

Can’t complain about enforcement of the rules of course but some discretion is sensible. @Hvr i would say discretion means a case by case basis, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes 0.5 kg over won’t be tolerable, other times a kg over might not be an issue for in time performance or anything else.

Oversized bags very rarely, as space is more of an issue than deadweight ( if the latter, I’m in trouble without bags! ).

Example of discretion. I flew Virgin last weekend arriving back from an international itinerary and I had accumulated a bit more during the trip than the 14kg (HLO) that I flew out with and the carry on was a bit thicker than normal. Announcement in the gate lounge that the carry on allowance would be enforced and I blanched!. In the event there was no weighing, but I did mention to the FA that I was coming in from an international trip and as I was 1st to board there was no time lost or inconvenience to anyone with my 2 kg over.

Allowing some discretion may mean no exceptions, or just may mean something going through, which makes no difference to the performance of airline or inconvenience to anyone else..

 

[Rich]

Could it be an occ health and safety issue ?

I am embarrassed to admit that many years when accessing my bag in the overhead locker it fell onto a sleeping passenger. It was very light and I mostly broke the fall, but he looked pretty annoyed!

 

[TheInsider]

Yes, but we know checking in a bag isn’t always ‘quite simple’ in its consequences, don’t we?

Bags being lost or not being on flights is down to pre-covid levels and pre-outsourcing levels.

Most bags that mis-connect are actually from international to international services and some domestic to international services. Not point to point and when bags from the gate go directly down to the aircraft.