Hi everyone,

Do the Australian airlines (Quantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar) enforce carryon policies regarding carry-on size and weight? Which airline is the most strict with carryon size? Most relaxed?

I'm planning to take a domestic flight within Australia and carryon my backpack. Price being equal, my preferred airline would allow me to carryon my slightly larger pack without making me check it as baggage. Also, I heard that Air New Zealand strictly enforces their carry-on size rules. Is this true? Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

Rob

I have had Qantas check the size of my carry on every time I have flown internationally out of Brisbane. The first time, I was allowed through with a heavier bag because it had a laptop in it--even though it was a backpack stuffed with plenty of other stuff. Every time since then, I have given my bag to my boyfriend, who isn't checking in, so he goes and sits down with the bag and they only check my smaller purse. I've never had any issues past checkin (eg, at security, at the gate). However, I have flown Qantas domestically a couple times and have never had my bag weighed, so I don't know if it is a difference in international/domestic policy or just checkin attendants that couldn't be bothered...

With Virgin Blue, I had to repack in the airport to check my backpack and carry my laptop by hand onto the plane because they wouldn't allow it as a carry on (too heavy, I think).

I was really happy to see someone on Air Canada almost be denied onto the plane because of their carry-on size. Almost 2x the allowed size and his reasoning was "I don't have time to wait around for the carousel after the flight". Almost not allowed on because the cargo hatches were about to be shut and he'd miss his chance to get the bag under the plane.

The 'proper' size bag will fit under the seat in front of you. If it doesn't fit I have NO issues stepping on it as I get in/out of my seat.

Sorry, I'm really tainted and tired of 3/4 of the people on the plane smuggling their over sized stuff into the cabin when you don't actually need it.

/just me
// 85000 Aeroplan miles in 2006, never more than a small plastic bag for in-flight stuff needed.

I am in agreement. Luggage needs to be at or smaller than 14" X 22" X 8" or smaller or it needs to be checked.

People already know this, flout it, and I wish the ground crew would enforce it. The FAs shouldn't even have to deal with it.

They're quite strict for international flights but don't tend to care too much for domestic flights.

In my experience, as long as you can fit it under the seat and/or in the overhead compartment they don't really care for domestic flights. If you're worried, ask at the counter and they'll either tell you it's fine or ask you to check it in. I've never ever had a problem with the weight/number of pieces of checked baggage on a domestic flight (international is diff.) so if you have too much just check it in.
I don't think I've ever been under the weight limit for checked baggage and I've never had carry-on questioned, even when I had my laptop backpack stuffed full (about 7kg) and a wheelie bag (another 10kg or so) and a handbag. It was ridiculous and I know I shouldn't have taken that much, but I also had a check-in bag full of lab equipment (definitely over weight too) and was going away for 2 months...

Thanks for your responses. I also dislike huge carry-ons that are obviously over sized and overweight, but it seems like carry-ons in Australia must be smaller and lighter than in the US. For example:
Virgin Blue --48x34x23cm (17x13x9in) and 7kg (15lb)
Most US airlines--------- (22x14x9in) and 40lb

My carry-on bag is about 30lb so it will meet the US requirements but won't meet the Australian requirements, which is why I'm wondering which Australian airline won't mind that my bag is a little over weight (and about 5 inches too long).

Ickis--Which airline are you referring to?

And if anyone has carry-on experiences with Air New Zealand I'd like to hear about their enforcement, too. Thank you!

Rob

quote:

Originally posted by Rob500:
Thanks for your responses. I also dislike huge carry-ons that are obviously over sized and overweight, but it seems like carry-ons in Australia must be smaller and lighter than in the US. For example:
Virgin Blue --48x34x23cm (17x13x9in) and 7kg (15lb)
Most US airlines--------- (22x14x9in) and 40lb

My carry-on bag is about 30lb so it will meet the US requirements but won't meet the Australian requirements, which is why I'm wondering which Australian airline won't mind that my bag is a little over weight (and about 5 inches too long).

Ickis--Which airline are you referring to?

And if anyone has carry-on experiences with Air New Zealand I'd like to hear about their enforcement, too. Thank you!

Rob

What?!?!? I lived in the States most my life and I've never noticed anyone taking 40lb carry-ons ...

A 7kg carry on is standard almost everywhere and you might get away with a bit more but I think 30lbs would be really pushing it!!

What is it with this phobia of checking in bags? I spend less time waiting at the carousel for my luggage than waiting for all those people fussing with masses of (oversized) handluggage, and I too wish that the rules would be enforced more strictly.

I sympathise with ickis' case, but in most cases it seems to be pure laziness.

pacific blue to new zealand was really strict, as was jet star when I was there in 04...i cant see it getting better, those airlines make a killing on charging for oversized carry ons, especially in australia where I know the weight limit and size limit are pretty scrawny

My biggest problem with the rules is that you can't easily move weight around, even if your total weight is below the total threshold you are allowed.

My checked bag is usually 15kg, but my carry on is a camera bag that weighs 11kg. It is the size of a normal, carry on backpack, but it is filled with stuff I don't want to put in my checked baggage. The total weight I'm bringing on board the plane (which should be really all that matters) is below what is allowed. My carry on fits within the volume allowed for carry ons, but if they make me weigh the carry on, I get in trouble.

Air New Zealand were biggest hard asses on this. I got around it by putting what I could in my checked bag (power adapters mostly) and used my laptop and and some other heavy items as my "comfort item".

It was all so silly because all it did was make me shuffle things around. The weight I brought on the plane wasn't effected nor was the space I took up in the cabin.

Theoretically, it does make a difference where the weight is distributed on the plane. They have to balance it and it's much easier for them to control where checked stuff goes than hand luggage. However, in reality I reckon if they're not going to weigh the actual passengers a couple of extra kilos is hardly going to matter when you consider the broad range of weights people can be.

Carry-on luggage is just that - hand-held luggage you take on the plane with you. As the "backpacks" are not hand-held luggage they should be checked in and placed in the hold or whatever it's called.

Expired, I agree with you 110%. Why should somebody stuff their r*##y great big pack in the overhead lockers taking up soooo much room that other passengers cannot place their item in there also?

This has happened to me and it makes me furious that some people are so inconsiderate that they virtually take up the whole locker. This is why we have restrictions. If i need an umbrella I have to but one in whatever place I am in because my brolly is too long - you won't catch me trying to sneak it on the plane, even though technically it takes up far less room (L x W) than most cabin luggage.

I too am tired of people not obeying the rules.

Cabin luggage is cabin luggage.

Have a nice day, Whistler.


Travel broadens the mind and flattens the wallet. SMC.

I have to agree that people need not to bring so much shit into the airplane with them.

I do however understand the check-in phobia. I have had my cell phone stolen by Ryanair ground handling out of my bag and the one time that I have checked my bag recently it didn't make it to the destination until 24 hours later. I understand the people that don't check luggage because they are cheap and don't want to pay the baggage fee for airlines like Skybus, easyJet and Ryanair but the solution is to bring less, not to try and cheat them. I get by well with my 9 KG bookbag for months at a time. If you are bringing a bunch of extra gear then you really just have to check it.

quote:

Cabin luggage is cabin luggage.

It really isn't as simple as that. Well it is as far as the airline is concerned but not for the poor saps flying with them. As Brambles said, things get broken/stolen when they're checked in. Expensive items (like my camera equipment which is worth $6000+) are in danger and for peace of mind, we try to carry them on wherever possible. I know that we shouldn't do it at the expense of others but if they were a little less strict about weight, we could still fit our carry on into a specific space in the overhead lockers and put the rest under our seats. In the end, they just force us to be silly, by wearing a big heavy jacket with lots of pockets and stuffing them full of things just to walk on the plane with!

I agree that it should be OK to bring expensive gear onto the plane, within reason. I don't think that it causes problems if people carry on their laptops/camera bags plus a small utility bag, but rucksacks and suitcases belong in the hold.