Have just created this as a new post after responding to an earlier thread with jet star in the title.
Due to our work we do a heap of flying ex east coast into Perth and back.
Below is the latest breakdown of baggage allowances and excess baggage charges from Qantas.
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Have just completed 2 x trips Syd to Perth in the last 3 weeks.

First trip I had 1 x board, 1 x sail, 1 x boom, harness, fins, extension... all in a double board bag.
I had one other bag with me for check in.
As I do a lot of flying I am able to have 2 x check in bags with Qantas.

Everything was weighed... and the total calculated to see what was over the allotted 30 kg (2 x bag Gold Frequent Flyer policy)

Was told by the check in staff the gear was over weight slightly but they would let it through... but was then warned I would be charged ex Perth if I had the same weight on the way back.

No probs ex Perth as I returned without sailing kit.

Second trip ex Sydney to Perth return last week.
Checked in with a full crew (4 guys and a HEAP of camera gear which equated to 6 bags/cases checked in between 4)
Everything was weighed... right on the money no probs !

Ex Perth to Sydney on Saturday VERY DIFFERENT STORY

The official charge is now $10 per additional kilo over your allowable/allotted amount.
Had to shell out $270 in excess baggage fees
We were a man down at check in as one of our team had to leave on an earlier flight.

Long story short.

If you fly qantas and do NOT have gold frequent flyer or do NOT fly business class.

23kg is your allotted amount
They are now weighing everything... surfboards included :(
The weight of your board is now subject to your allowable weight.
Anything over 23kg is now charged at $10 per kilo.

Kev

PS - oh and anyone expecting to load up their carry on with additional weight... they are now looking at weighing ALL carry on luggage with a maximum allowed weight of 7.5kg

PPS - Qantas are no longer using the $11 per surfboard/windsurfer rate for additional luggage. It's all done on weight. This now covers ALL sporting equipment (golf clubs, ski paddles, tennis bags ect ect) All are now weighed and referenced against your allowable 23 kg

Thanks for that Kev

I thought Qantas couldn't take a sailboard because of length, or is that Jetstar.

Last January I went Cairns to Perth with Virgin, because I had my son with me and they allow an extra 5 Kg per passenger for sporting gear I had no excess baggage cost, the downer is no direct flight for me.

If Qantas can take my board I now have to weigh up my options, because they fly direct and at this stage have cheaper flights. I'll make a few calls and weigh all my crap.

It is a bummer when you pay excess and you look around the plane at all the fat buggers

I think you guys are missing the point entirely (sorry!).

The airlines aren't out to make a fair system for you. They aren't there to make sure that you have a pleasant experience flying with them.

They are there to make money. Nothing else.

They are only nice to you to make you come back to them, and in the case of the budget carriers, they are only nice enough to make you come back if the price hasn't already made you.

They will never give a discount for lighter passengers as there is no benefit to them.

On the other hand, they can offer freight for a specific market where they can set the price to what the market will bear. As they are scrambling for more money, they can set it at a price they know they can get away with, and at the moment it is $10 a kg. Given that this is for 'instant' freight, it is IMO a cheap rate. Their normal airfreight rates are horrendous!

sailpilot said...

What would happen if you bought yourself 2 discount seats on the one flight, therefore for 60-80 bucks you should get another 23 kg ($230 worth) of luggage. Plus no fat bastard flopping his lard over your side of the armrest.

Seriously? Well, if you had no person to take that seat, you would lose your 'extra' airfare and still have to pay for your excess luggage.

It doesn't help too much with flights between Sydney and Perth anyway, as the cost of an extra airfare is more than the extra luggage allowance is worth.

I would be happy to pay the excess luggage costs if I could rock up to a freight terminal give them my boards and sails, and fly out a different day. The worst part about taking the gear is getting it to the airport in the first place.

WindWarrior said...

As I do a lot of flying I am able to have 2 x check in bags with Qantas.

Everything was weighed... and the total calculated to see what was over the allotted 30 kg (2 x bag Gold Frequent Flyer policy)

I am flying melb-perth with qantas in a couple of weeks (Gold FF). Done so in the past with my gear (usually 3 sails, 1 board) and haven't had a problem, but I am thinking of taking an extra sail and mast. do you recon they will let a fin go in hand luggage (could be expensive mistake)? I thought the allowance was 32kg? any clues?

There are a couple of different figures (re weights) that Qantas use

23kg - allowable luggage weight with standard seat purchase

30kg - allowable luggage weight for Gold Frequent Flyer and/or Business class seat

32kg - the maximum weight the bag snatchers out back will carry

The current system (which I experienced personally on Saturday) would allow a person with a standard ticket to have 23kg of gear as part of your seat purchase.
You can take more but will simply be charged $10 for EVERY kilo over 23.

If your bag weighs more than 32kg.. you will need to re-pack into another bag... still being charged for the weight above 23kg AND the bag*

If you are a gold frequent flyer or have a business class ticket you get 30kg of allowable luggage weight.
If you have over 32kg** you get charged an additional $20 ($10 per kilo)
If it is over 32kg you will need a second bag and will be charged for the additional weight

* I watched on as a person had to strip gear out of their luggage on the floor in front of the check in counter and stuff it inside a bag provided by the check in staff. (Cheap arsed blue and red checkered bag with zip and handles.. $2 from any Go Low or Two Buck shop)
By the comments I think they were being charged for the bag on top of the additional weight !

I have also had to do this before but was not charged for the bag or the additional weight under the OLD system ($11 per additional bag)

** The 32kg ruling is an OH&S requirement that the bag snatchers not lift anything over that weight

Qantas - The Flying Kangaroo Bastards

Kev

PS - fin, extension or harness in carry on is a big NEGATIVE. Apparently any of which could be used as a weapon to take over the plane... or to hijack the food cart so all the fatties can gourge away on on what our crew refer to as SH^T in a TRAY

FormulaNova said...

I think you guys are missing the point entirely (sorry!).

The airlines aren't out to make a fair system for you. They aren't there to make sure that you have a pleasant experience flying with them.

They are there to make money. Nothing else.

That's because like so much else in this beautiful country these companies are primarily operating on the basis of greed. Look at companies like American Apparel... you can be profitable, make a truck load of cash and still have social conscience without being driven by greed.

On the other hand, they can offer freight for a specific market where they can set the price to what the market will bear. As they are scrambling for more money, they can set it at a price they know they can get away with, and at the moment it is $10 a kg. Given that this is for 'instant' freight, it is IMO a cheap rate. Their normal airfreight rates are horrendous!

Last quote I got for air freight ex Germany to Australia was $7.5/ kg. I don't see how $10 a kg is cheap. The real problem (as you point out) is that due a lack of competition Qantas can charge whatever they want. They are pretty much the airline version of Telstra.

So for example how is it that European carriers have special flat rates for windsurf boards and surfboards? Yes they actually know the difference and unlike Qantas they actually know that modern windsurf equipment packs neatly into a 250cm bag.

Ever wondered why the number of Euros in WA during summer has dropped? Well, it's because you can fly to South Africa (which has very similar conditions to WA) and take your board either for a flat rate of $150 or in some cases even for free... and yes, you can take you bags and check them in at the airport the night before. Why all this special service? Because they have competition and we don't... sad reality.

stehsegler said...

Last quote I got for air freight ex Germany to Australia was $7.5/ kg. I don't see how $10 a kg is cheap. The real problem (as you point out) is that due a lack of competition Qantas can charge whatever they want. They are pretty much the airline version of Telstra.

So for example how is it that European carriers have special flat rates for windsurf boards and surfboards? Yes they actually know the difference and unlike Qantas they actually know that modern windsurf equipment packs neatly into a 250cm bag.

....

Ever wondered why the number of Euros in WA during summer has dropped?

That's not something the locals are going to be bothered about :) Although it will tip the balance in favor of the Euro kitesurfer...

Well, it's because you can fly to South Africa (which has very similar conditions to WA) and take your board either for a flat rate of $150 or in some cases even for free... and yes, you can take you bags and check them in at the airport the night before. Why all this special service? Because they have competition and we don't... sad reality.

I guess that's one thing about Australia. We have a large landmass with a relatively small population. For both Telstra and Qantas, you don't have as much competition as the profits to be made are not as big as places in Europe or the US.

You can see that now as other airlines are moving into routes where they can make money and are staying away from routes where there is no healthy profit margin.

The lack of competition is there because no other carrier sees a profitable reason to get involved, and as a result prices are high.

In my own experience, I started using VirginBlue because they offered an excellent sporting goods luggage allowance, and only looked at Qantas when they dropped the generous allowance. Of course, at this point Qantas decided that they didn't need to be so generous either....

I think they dont charge you when you take off but then sling you on the way back when you are away from home with all your gear and no choice. I had this happen to me with Virgin Airlines on the way back from Melbourne.
Not Happy Jan!!