I was on QF427 from Sydney to Melbourne on Sunday morning and every single piece of carry-on luggage was being weighed. No exceptions for business class or status, if you were on QF427 your carry-on bags were weighed. I was under the 7kg bag limit but a lot of people weren't, some were over by less than 1kg and were still being instructed to check in their bags. A lot of complaining being done. So it seems like these sporadic bag checks which have been reported in the past are still happening. Personally I don't mind them, rules are rules after all and I always make a habit of packing light.
Can you please confirm if this was QF127 to Hong Kong? Or another flight number Sydney to Melbourne. Interested to see if this is happening domestically or internationally.
I personally cram everything I can into my carry-on and often gets up to 9 or 10kg.
It was QF427 - I was also on the flight. The whole thing was a debacle, with boarding slowed considerably. My roller, at 7.5kg and well under the prescribed size limits, had to be sent to the hold. The justification was apparently that there are a number of crew currently injured from having lifted or moved bags well over the 7kg limit. Had a real LCC flavour about the whole thing.
My carry on is always between 7-8kg. I'd be incredibly annoyed at needing to check it in at the gate. I'm also forever helping old ladies with their hand luggage, and their hand luggage always seems incredibly heavy. I only have carry on as a time conscious business traveller, but I don't understand why people on holidays insist taking obviously heavy and large carry on bags for a holiday trip when they could just check it in.
I’ve found these sporadic checks very irritating. I understand the need for some rules around this however in my experience you can’t help like feeling you’re back at school at the mercy of a surly head mistress.
I’d much rather qantas took a more flexible approach based on number or pieces and size, instead of whether you’re 1.5kg over.
I do think 7kg is a bit light on. 10kg is ideal from my perspective. depending on the bag it can weigh 1kg or more on its own. I do agree with the post above that if you cant lift it yourself no matter how light then check it
Qantas checked baggage delivery is notoriously slow, especially in Melbourne. Coming off the aforementioned QF427 yesterday we waited over 30 minutes for the first bag to be delivered. Fix that and you might just get people more willing to check in luggage. I don't have time to wait for 45+ minutes to get my baggage back when travelling for work.
Qantas should do these 'spot checks' more often but I agree there should be a little latitude, 500g over is not a big deal. And I think that they should be more generous towards business class passengers and Gold & Platinum QFF members where they are a bit over the limit.
I had a long chat with a CSM about this. She had been off with a shoulder injury.
Apparently the issue is the newer 737s with the fold down bins. When loaded they are heavy and a number of crew have received injury from closing them.
I have sympathy for this. But 7kg remains a very light load for a bag. And the inconsistency is the issue.
Last editedby Grumpyoldman at Nov 12, 2018, 05:13 PM.
Nailed it! I agree there should be a 1kg or so allowance. Sure people trying to bring 10kg - 15kg onboard need to be brought into line, but strictly 7kg is pretty poor. Also, if it's OH&S, why can't they announce to pax to place heavier items under the seat. And send Boeing their Workers Comp bills until they sort out a fix!
I had a long chat with a CSM about this. She had been off with a shoulder injury.
Apparently the issue is the newer 737s with the fold down bins. When loaded they are heavy and a number of crew have received injury from closing them.
I have sympathy for this. But 7kg remains a very light load for a bag. And the inconsistency is the issue.
Last edited
by Grumpyoldman at Nov 12, 2018, 05.13 PM.
interesting and a salient point that should be considered thoughtfully
bins usually fit 3 bags of carry on size calculate that x 7 kgs (or more for all those who have commented they stuff their bags to extreme limits) + all the other miscellaneous bags, shopping etc, + the actual weight of the locker itself, multiplied by the number of bins on a plane the staff close each flight, multiplied by the number of times a day/week they are rostered
ends up a significant physical workout, and dare I say, probably way more that many road warriors would do.
Anna80
Anna80
Member since 09 Mar 2015
Total posts 15
I was on QF427 from Sydney to Melbourne on Sunday morning and every single piece of carry-on luggage was being weighed. No exceptions for business class or status, if you were on QF427 your carry-on bags were weighed. I was under the 7kg bag limit but a lot of people weren't, some were over by less than 1kg and were still being instructed to check in their bags. A lot of complaining being done. So it seems like these sporadic bag checks which have been reported in the past are still happening. Personally I don't mind them, rules are rules after all and I always make a habit of packing light.
Grannular
Grannular
Member since 31 Mar 2014
Total posts 284
Can you please confirm if this was QF127 to Hong Kong? Or another flight number Sydney to Melbourne. Interested to see if this is happening domestically or internationally.
brettmcg89
brettmcg89
Member since 12 Nov 2018
Total posts 10
It was QF427 - I was also on the flight. The whole thing was a debacle, with boarding slowed considerably. My roller, at 7.5kg and well under the prescribed size limits, had to be sent to the hold. The justification was apparently that there are a number of crew currently injured from having lifted or moved bags well over the 7kg limit. Had a real LCC flavour about the whole thing.
sid
sid
Member since 07 Jan 2011
Total posts 209
Should be a rule: if you can't lift your carry-on you need to check it in.
PCHammond
PCHammond
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 24 Aug 2017
Total posts 22
My carry on is always between 7-8kg. I'd be incredibly annoyed at needing to check it in at the gate. I'm also forever helping old ladies with their hand luggage, and their hand luggage always seems incredibly heavy. I only have carry on as a time conscious business traveller, but I don't understand why people on holidays insist taking obviously heavy and large carry on bags for a holiday trip when they could just check it in.
flyme2themoon
flyme2themoon
Member since 23 Apr 2015
Total posts 25
I’ve found these sporadic checks very irritating. I understand the need for some rules around this however in my experience you can’t help like feeling you’re back at school at the mercy of a surly head mistress.
melbtraveler
melbtraveler
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jan 2015
Total posts 20
I do think 7kg is a bit light on. 10kg is ideal from my perspective. depending on the bag it can weigh 1kg or more on its own. I do agree with the post above that if you cant lift it yourself no matter how light then check it
brettmcg89
brettmcg89
Member since 12 Nov 2018
Total posts 10
Qantas checked baggage delivery is notoriously slow, especially in Melbourne. Coming off the aforementioned QF427 yesterday we waited over 30 minutes for the first bag to be delivered. Fix that and you might just get people more willing to check in luggage. I don't have time to wait for 45+ minutes to get my baggage back when travelling for work.
Snail
Snail
Member since 16 Jan 2018
Total posts 23
Rules are rules. 8kg or not, you drive over speed limit, even just 1km/hr is still wrong.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 737
This is why a lounge check in is so much better. No scales but if it seemed too big then could send you out though
Anna80
Anna80
Member since 09 Mar 2015
Total posts 15
It was QF427, my mistake, I've had my comment updated to show the correct flight number.
Bob Burgess
Bob Burgess
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 49
Qantas should do these 'spot checks' more often but I agree there should be a little latitude, 500g over is not a big deal. And I think that they should be more generous towards business class passengers and Gold & Platinum QFF members where they are a bit over the limit.
Grumpyoldman
Grumpyoldman
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 31 Jan 2018
Total posts 13
I had a long chat with a CSM about this. She had been off with a shoulder injury.
Apparently the issue is the newer 737s with the fold down bins. When loaded they are heavy and a number of crew have received injury from closing them.
I have sympathy for this. But 7kg remains a very light load for a bag. And the inconsistency is the issue.
superflyer
superflyer
Member since 18 Apr 2015
Total posts 18
Nailed it! I agree there should be a 1kg or so allowance. Sure people trying to bring 10kg - 15kg onboard need to be brought into line, but strictly 7kg is pretty poor. Also, if it's OH&S, why can't they announce to pax to place heavier items under the seat. And send Boeing their Workers Comp bills until they sort out a fix!
barecub
barecub
QF
Member since 27 Jul 2016
Total posts 21
I had a long chat with a CSM about this. She had been off with a shoulder injury.
Apparently the issue is the newer 737s with the fold down bins. When loaded they are heavy and a number of crew have received injury from closing them.
I have sympathy for this. But 7kg remains a very light load for a bag. And the inconsistency is the issue.
Last edited by Grumpyoldman at Nov 12, 2018, 05.13 PM.
interesting and a salient point that should be considered thoughtfully
bins usually fit 3 bags of carry on size
calculate that x 7 kgs (or more for all those who have commented they stuff their bags to extreme limits) + all the other miscellaneous bags, shopping etc, + the actual weight of the locker itself, multiplied by the number of bins on a plane the staff close each flight, multiplied by the number of times a day/week they are rostered
ends up a significant physical workout, and dare I say, probably way more that many road warriors would do.