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Qantas has begun weighing passengers’ carry-on luggage at the gate. As part of the crackdown on overweight hand luggage, bags over 7kg are being compulsorily checked in at the boarding gate. Even Business Class passengers and Platinum One frequent flyers aren’t exempt, as the 7kg carry-on limit exists for safety reasons.
Every passenger on an A330 flight from Sydney to Perth over the weekend had their hand luggage weighed while boarding. According to AFF member Andz, who was on the flight, the Qantas staff copped a lot of abuse from passengers that were unhappy about having to check their overweight carry-on bags.
Qantas carry-on bags have always been limited to 7kg. But it is unusual for Qantas staff to actively enforce this policy in such a way.
While it appears many Qantas flyers were frustrated by the Qantas carry-on crackdown last weekend, most AFF members find this reasonable. Firstly, the 7kg weight limit is not new and is well-publicised. And although many find it inconvenient to check in their carry-on items, the airline is not trying to make a quick buck out of passengers who are caught out. (Or not yet, at least.)
On Qantas domestic flights, passengers are allowed either one larger carry-on bag, two smaller carry-on bags, or one smaller carry-on bag and a garment bag. Each item must weigh no more than 7kg. Passengers are also allowed one small personal item such as a handbag or laptop computer.
Weighing hand luggage at the boarding gate is common practice for low-cost airlines like Jetstar. A key difference here, however, is that Jetstar charges an extortionate $50 fee to passengers with more than 7kg of hand luggage.
Virgin Australia also had its own carry-on crackdown back in April, with frequent flyers specifically targeted.
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