Prepare to be screwed by Qantas

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25277676-5014090,00.html?referrer=email&source=eDM_travel

Qantas is set to reduce the weight you get charged for on domestic flights. Previously you could get away with 32kg's, but now its 23kg's. That means if you're carrying 10kg's of kiting gear, prepared to get slapped with a $100 fee each way!

So, added to the list of airlines to avoid while travelling with gear are:

Qantas
Jetstar

Lets hope Virgin continue to keep their sporting gear policy.

They still give you an extra 5kg's which takes it up to 28kgs. That's 5 more than qantas and 8 more than jetstar.

Not gonna happen mate, they're becomming like the banks, all over the world too. greedy b**tards.

D

im off to Byron on Tiger soon, what is their baggage policy like?
I cant believe she booked us with tiger tbh, i have heard so many stories about them, none good.

Guess my bindings are coming with me as hand luggage. If anyone complains I'll walk onto the plane wearing them as shoes :p

Do those 'golf bags' work for airlines that have golf club concessions?

cheers

Have been using a mates golf bag when travelling internationally - gives you an extra 10kgs to play with, golf clubs and bicycles have some weird rule that means you are alowed an extra 10kg if you take them on the plane with you. Never really got to test the theory cos each time ive weighed in its only been like 22kg and the check in staff are like "dont worry". They often ask if its golf clubs and I say "yes its a golf bag", omitting the fact that the said bag contains no clubs.
Closest Ive come to being busted was when the security dude at the oversize baggage check in had a chuckle when he watched the bag go thru the x-ray machine.

Who gives 10kg extra on Golf gear?

I'm gonna get me some.

2 cougars thanks

Tiger are actually pretty good, they give you the option to buy sporting goods extra luggage, which is worth doing, (inside tip there is no weight cap on it as long as it is only one item)

The charge is per sector ie each flight, so pay that, and yes they will weigh your hand luggage and if you are over 7kgs, they will make you put it in your check in luggage, and if that is over, then that is where they make their profits.

Simple solution, get some scales and weigh all your baggage before you get to the airport, might save you mega bucks, and read each airline policy on luggage. Being polite at the check in counter never hurts either.

And if you are going to Byron, whatever you do, don't kite where you are not allowed too.... and happy travels!!!

Be careful with any american airline they charge on Girth if it is larger than the average bag. Ie, they measure around the circumference of the bag and charge accordingly. I was charged $400 U$D for a Flying Objects Cheeseburger one way to Hawaii one time which sucked because the dollar was at about 60 cents

Read their baggage allowance CAREFULLY and carry a credit card with you just in case.

Good winds,

I have flown back and forth from London - Melbourne a few times and I have never been charged excess. One way with Malaysian and the other two times with Qantas. On my home trip from London - Melbourne (January) with Qantas I just had my kite bag and a carry on. The kite bag weighed 29 kg and the guys just checked it through as business class luggage. I have a Naish golf bag, it has paid for itself.

I think the best things to do are:

-Rock up very close to the counter closing time. If it is going to delay you getting to the flight by paying for your excess they book you on, they may not charge you. (Often you have to go off to a separate counter to pay and that adds delays)

-Have all your details close to hand so you aren't mucking the check in person around. Make you check-in as smooth as possible for the staff. Don't give the staff any grief.

-Look neat and tidy, as though you have money to give the airlines repeat business.

If the flight is fully booked I think you stand better chances with the luggage as well, since all the seats are sold on the aircraft. If the flight was only 50% booked, the operator will be looking for ways to squeeze more money from the flight. Given that airlines are currently cutting their flights and putting seats on sale the baggage policy is probably linked to this.

Remember, its a game you are playing to minimise your excess baggage charges, if you don't get away with it, don't take it personally. Some times you win (all the time for me so far) some times you lose.

If you think Qantas or Jetstar are bad you should try fliying Ryanair. They charge for EVERYTHING, if you don't have an EU pasport you pay an extra 5 pound to check in manually at the airport instead of printing your own boarding pass! You even pay to check a single bag in the hold, 20 quid for a snowboard or kitebag, no exceptions.

BAAAAHAHAHA

It's no longer 32kg, it's definitely 23kg. I thought the same thing and got caught on a trip to Canada at the beginning of the year and had to cough up. Couldn't even try and repack as I didn't want to draw attention to my "golf bag". But the upside is it's 2 pieces of 23kg each if you're travelling to North America and generally if you confirm beforehand "snow gear" doesn't attract extra charges

my advice, book your flight at the worst hour possible, like 2AM, the plane will not be as full as a day flight, so it's easier to take more weight for free.

in the last 3 years I have done, paris-dubai-perth, perth-cairns, weipa-cairns, cairns-perth, perth-kuala lumpur-paris, paris-kualalumpur-perth.

for all this flights I paid 30$ extra only on weipa-cairns, because there is only one flight a day and it was full.
I often had more than 20kg above the limit, but the plane was nearly empty.

another thing, take a big carry-on luggage, leave some of your heavy stuff(ie lap top) to a friend , and put your heavy stuff in your carry-on after it has been weighted.