Virgin Weighing hand luggage

[serfty]

NZ typically weigh hand luggage at check-in at MEL.

Two points:
...
2: More importantly JQ operate Airbus a/c and DJ operate Boeing a/c and the overhead bins are different and therefore can easily have different limits.

I don't think that's really relevant.

FWIW, BA have both Boeing and Airbus craft and have a general 23kg weight limit - other than that the PAX must be able to put it into the OHSB unaided.

British Airways - Hand baggage

 

[munitalP]

Two points:
1: OT but as pointed out earlier in the thread Virgin won't like being called a LCC.
2: More importantly JQ operate Airbus a/c and DJ operate Boeing a/c and the overhead bins are different and therefore can easily have different limits.

So what? If someone wants to call a pot a pot or a pot a pan, so be it..

A mod and site manager making a statement like that sends out a lot of mixed messages...

my 2c worth

 

[NM]

I was very surprised on Thursday when checking in for QF51 that the check-in agent did not want to weigh my carry-on bag. Normally they do. I had weighed it at home and knew it was just under the 7kg limit (weighed 6.8kg according my digital bathroom scales).

When entering the security screening the airport "security" person manning the scales saw me wheeling my bag and made a direct B -Line for me to check my bag. She asked to feel my bag -yes just lifted it, not on the scales - and I smiled and commented "oh it ok, it weighs 6.8kg" to which she retorted abruptly "look, I am just doing my job." Boy she must get a lot of abuse to talk to me that way when I wad in no way complaining or aggressive towards her. I knew my bag was under the weight and size thresholds so I had no reason to be concerned about her "weighing" it. In fact I was quite expecting to have it checked. But her response really was extremely defensive and even aggressive as if I had lodged a serious complaint about being weighed.

 

[Austman]

Two points:
1: OT but as pointed out earlier in the thread Virgin won't like being called a LCC.
2: More importantly JQ operate Airbus a/c and DJ operate Boeing a/c and the overhead bins are different and therefore can easily have different limits.

1.
2. I doubt that this has much to due with the safety argument. Many US domestic airliners have a weight limit of 40 pounds (18kg) for a carry-on bag and some have no weight limit at all.

 

[straitman]

1.
2. I doubt that this has much to due with the safety argument. Many US domestic airliners have a weight limit of 40 pounds (18kg) for a carry-on bag and some have no weight limit at all.

OK, points taken.

 

[travelislife]

I had my hand luggage weighed on NZ last week flying MEL-CHC, wasn't expecting it at all. I was going to ski so was carrying my ski boots in my hand luggage (as I can live without using my own skis if they are lost but need my boots!) as well as just a couple of clothes, camera chargers, etc. I knew it would be over when she asked, so I put it on the scales and it was 10kg. Luckily for me I know my ski boots are exactly 7kgs, so I did what no one wants to be stuck behind and emptied the rest of the contents in to a plastic bag making my main carry on bag 7kg. I asked her why and she said for safety reasons, she then said you aren't allowed to put that stuff back in the bag after I put the sticker on it and it will be reweighed at the gate. I said yep that's fine and went on my merry way with my standard size hand luggage and plastic bag! Proceeded to put it all back in to the one back around the corner, no weighing at the gate and all fine.

On the flight back CHC-MEL I was on Jetstar with the exact same bag and weight and it wasn't weighed at check in.

So the whole full service vs LCC thing doesn't hold cause even trans tasman Air NZ is much better with AVOD and I loved the ability to just order food off the screen.

 

[greenfish]

Air NZ does have some LCC characteristics though - with baggage not included in their cheapest fare - and AVOD a comparatively recent reintroduction trans-tasman.

I'm always a little suspicious that weighing hand baggage has more to do with revenue raising than safety.

I've never had my hand baggage weighed on QF, but was asked to put my large bag in the sizer while boarding a few weeks ago in CBR - soft bag, so could easily be squashed in.

 

[oz_mark]

If they are weighing hand luggage then they won't be an option for me domestically. That I would consider to be LCC.

How is ensuring compliance with rules a sign of an LCC?

 

[kpc]

My carryon rarely weighs less than 7kg....more like 10kg with laptop, laptop charger, camera, camera charger, mobile phone charger etc. With QF, I can always take 3 kgs out and place that in my clothes bag as they allow 2x7kg. No problem with J* as the allowance is 10kg.

I'm going to struggle with the 7 kg if enforced by DJ


PS: my all time record carry on weight was 26 kg as a student coming back to Oz after spending 3 months away in Europe:shock:. This was on top of my checked luggage of 35kg (limit 20). This was back in 1990 when rules were not enforced as they are today; it was on good old SQ who had a reputation back then of being very lenient with excess luggage!

 

[Simo]

Came back from Maroochydore last week on Virgin. Boy if they'd been weighing hand luggage half the passengers would have been thrown off. I suspect it's becase (a) their excess checked luggage charges are murderous, and (b) since the tickets cheaper (kind of) if it's only carry on baggage - the blighters just cram stuff in carry on. Incidentally we took 2 checked bags plus golf clubs, paid extra on line when booking. On the way back were stung nearly $150 xs...... for the same luggage plus a couple of items of clothing. Staff pleasant but no budging. We paid up cause we just wanted to get home. Planning to pursue it though

This is the reason I will not fly VA.

Did it once and paid more than the cheap ticket was worth in excess luggage.

We where traveling with our new born baby and was told that non of the baby's luggage was subject to excess luggage.

How wrong was that advice.

We flew home QF on that trip and lost the VA tickets as we got presents when where visiting friends and family.

 

[Alanslegal]

I wished airlines were MORE active in enforcing and partolling cabin carry on. Seriously if airlines did it more, yes it will inconvenience those who ignore limits but overall it will be BETTER for all the majority of flyers. at least my bag will be above my seat rather than 6 rows back!!

And how the heck does checking hand carry mean the airline is a LCC?!? i see no logic to that point, fly within the rules or cop the consequences

 

[Jude Starr]

I wished airlines were MORE active in enforcing and partolling cabin carry on. Seriously if airlines did it more, yes it will inconvenience those who ignore limits but overall it will be BETTER for all the majority of flyers. at least my bag will be above my seat rather than 6 rows back!!

Totally agree!

 

[greenfish]

Totally agree!

But what does it matter if you have 7Kg or 10Kg of baggage, providing the volume is within the rules?

 

[Noob]

To me it means that they take safety seriously - of course there should be some leeway. I do not see a connection between enforcing a safety procedure and Virgin being "low cost".

The rule is 7KG of carry on, stick to that and you will not have any problems I have the whole weight thing down to a pretty fine art now, but to get it right I found using a portable bag weigher for a few flights handy.

 

[greenfish]

I'm at a loss to understand how it can be safety related, when other carriers with the same aircraft can support 10Kg or even no limit.

It smacks of revenue raising to me.

 

[straitman]

I'm at a loss to understand how it can be safety related, when other carriers with the same aircraft can support 10Kg or even no limit.

It smacks of revenue raising to me.

It is possible to have different opinions on how to achieve the same safety outcomes.

Nothing to do with revenue IMHO.

 

[greenfish]

It is possible to have different opinions on how to achieve the same safety outcomes.

Nothing to do with revenue IMHO.

True, but the inability to agree on the number of carry-on items (e.g. QF 2 x 7Kg, DJ 1 x 7Kg) must be about revenue raising - and encourages "pushing the limit" on the 7Kg individual item limit.

 

[straitman]

True, but the inability to agree on the number of carry-on items (e.g. QF 2 x 7Kg, DJ 1 x 7Kg) must be about revenue raising - and encourages "pushing the limit" on the 7Kg individual item limit.

I agree that it encourages people to push the limit however do not and cannot agree that it is to do with revenue raising :!:

 

[Jobu]

7kg is too low. Those bins can hold much more. They should weigh passengers if weight is such an issue.

 

[oz_mark]

7kg is too low. Those bins can hold much more. They should weigh passengers if weight is such an issue.

Most bins have a placard stating their maximum capacity. IIRC on a 737 this is of the order of 35kg (I'll take a look if I remember next time I'm on a 737!). A number of the injuries or deaths in the Kegworth 737 crash were attributed to the overhead lockers collapsing due to being overweight.