Qantas Frequent Flyer - Bag Check at Gate

I am going to be travelling F to/from the USA and wanted to make sure I understood the baggage rules correctly.

1. On the website it says (http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/baggageCheckedNew) that the "total" allowance is 2 bags @ 32kg each, but lower down it says that QC members (like me) get an extra piece. Does that allowance stretch the meaning of the word "total", so that in fact my total checked allowance could be 3 pieces?

2. I am expecting to have some semi-bulky stuff (clothing, mostly) that I will have to take through security so I can claim the GST refund. It will all fit comfortably in a medium-sized overnight bag and I think would be under 7kg, but I just would rather not carry it around and on board, especially as I will have a laptop already. Could I gate check a bag, assuming that it didn't over run my total checked bag allowance? In an ideal world I would like to take the items through, claim the GST, and then have Qantas put the bag in the hold.

TIA.

I am going to be travelling F to/from the USA and wanted to make sure I understood the baggage rules correctly.

1. On the website it says (http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/baggageCheckedNew) that the "total" allowance is 2 bags @ 32kg each, but lower down it says that QC members (like me) get an extra piece. Does that allowance stretch the meaning of the word "total", so that in fact my total checked allowance could be 3 pieces?

Yes; as a Qantas Club member you can take 3 x 23 Kg


2. I am expecting to have some semi-bulky stuff (clothing, mostly) that I will have to take through security so I can claim the GST refund. It will all fit comfortably in a medium-sized overnight bag and I think would be under 7kg, but I just would rather not carry it around and on board, especially as I will have a laptop already. Could I gate check a bag, assuming that it didn't over run my total checked bag allowance? In an ideal world I would like to take the items through, claim the GST, and then have Qantas put the bag in the hold.

I am not aware of any such facility; if you take it as hand luggage, then hand luggage it is

Dave

I am not aware of any such facility; if you take it as hand luggage, then hand luggage it is

Dave

Bugger. Oh well, it was only hope on my part since I know they gate check strollers/prams and items too big/heavy for the overhead bins. Therefore items clearly can go from the cabin to the hold and I was hoping to piggyback on that. I will probably just ask at the lounge and see if they have any bright ideas.

Thanks for clarifying.

Asking at the lounge may be your best bet ... please advise what happens. :)

You can get your stuff inspected before you check in.

- Go to the customs office which is behind the glass elevator,

- they will check your purchases and stamp your receipts

- check the bag in

- Clear immigration and go to the GST refund desk

- they will inspect your reciepts and process the refund.

You can get your stuff inspected before you check in.

- Go to the customs office which is behind the glass elevator,

- they will check your purchases and stamp your receipts

- check the bag in

- Clear immigration and go to the GST refund desk

- they will inspect your reciepts and process the refund.

Is this MEL or SYD? I will be departing from MEL and was not aware of any facility to claim GST back prior to check-in (which would make too much sense...).

...alternatively, staggering toward the gate, labouring to carry a piece of hand-luggage sometimes achieves the same result...

"I'm sorry sir, you're going to have to check that heavy bag." :D^

BD

Is this MEL or SYD? I will be departing from MEL and was not aware of any facility to claim GST back prior to check-in (which would make too much sense...).

This is Sydney. Every other international airport would also have a customs office landside.

Note: This is not claiming your refund prior to checkin, this is getting your goods inspected prior to them being checked in. You still claim the refund after immigration.

Just to clarify X_Class is correct for items that will be checked you have customs inspect them and stamp the receipts before you go to check in. You then take the receipts to the TRS office after security.
At SYD the Customs office is on the Ground/Arrivals level by the escalators, elevators SQ A380 model.
All other international airports are to have the same office, check around the arrivals area.

I am not aware of any such facility; if you take it as hand luggage, then hand luggage it is

I've gate-checked a child's push-chair/pusher/buggy (choose your term).

If it's possible to gate-check this, it means the facility is available, but might be restricted to certain items.

I've gate-checked a child's push-chair/pusher/buggy (choose your term).

If it's possible to gate-check this, it means the facility is available, but might be restricted to certain items.

I'm not sure how long ago you did that, but my experience has been that they make you check the pusher in at check-in and then provide you with a complimentary pusher until the flight - at which time you simpoly leave it at the gate or plane door.

I've gate-checked a child's push-chair/pusher/buggy (choose your term).


I'll select "Perambulator". :)

Just reporting on my experience with TRS at SYD as I have claimed GST on items on every trip I have taken overseas in the past 7 years.
And by the way, all items I have taken were for friends overseas.

At first, they were flexible: show them the items (a couple of laptops, or slimline machines) at the customs office prior to check in. They would stamp the invoices that I would present to the TRS office after immigration. No problems whastoever.

Then in late 2007, I got an officer at TRS desk claiming that they no longer accept this method; only if the item was large (his words: like a surfboard, or a large suitcase, or something like that). I noted to him the weight I had checked in shown on my boarding pass, but he simply became more annoying:'that doesn't mean anything, you still can take the laptop out prior to check in'.
We went into an argument about why would I do that given the airport was CCTV monitored. His reply was:' you still could it'. That became his standpoint.

In the end, he let the invoices through. Although I was surprised at the lack of customer service skills he showed.

In early 2008, wanting to avoid such hassle, I took on board with me the 4 laptops (which were still in shrink wrap, sealed etc.). The guys at security past immigration were baffled saying that was the most they had seen.

At the TRS desk, I presented the laptops with the receipts. I was 2 hours before departure time. She took her time, to look up my flight (ignoring the departure time on the bp, and the information screen that was behind her). She then said:'you've just made it ahead of the deadline if you were 5 minutes late I wouldn't have processed this' (yeah, pretending it was a favour, I was lucky she was working by the rules in her her head-not).

Anyhow, she looked at the computers then began:'why are you taking 4 laptops?' 'you have to name the people who you are taking these laptops for' 'did you know that you cannot bring these back with you?' and the cherry of them all 'I'm gonna put a note on your file so that when you return we will inspect all your belongings and if we find one of these machines back here, you will have to pay all the GST back' (did she forget about the $900 allowance - how each machine was worth $550)

I took my time with the lady -almost 30 minutes, until the paperwork was done.

On my last trip, I was surprised to see the desk relocated to a smaller area (pending renovations); and the staff there did not ask a single question about the $5k camera they thought was a laptop. Things might have changed, but this sums up my experience with TRS. Point is, better safe than sorry, take the extra bag with you (hand luggage - don't worry no one will ask you why 2 or about the weight since you're in F), and at the gate, ask the officers to check it in for you (but make sure the bag is properly locked).

Having said that, if it is worth a refund, I wouldn't check it in since it might get lost. Besides you won't be holding that extra bag in your hands during your flight.

Hope this helps.

This is Sydney. Every other international airport would also have a customs office landside.

Note: This is not claiming your refund prior to checkin, this is getting your goods inspected prior to them being checked in. You still claim the refund after immigration.

I get the process, and am glad you told me as I had no idea it existed. It certainly seems like it would solve my particular problem. Anyone know off-hand where the MEL landside customs office is that can do this inspection?

I agree with edy4eva on their TRS experience. I have never had a pleasant customer experience from them. The closest I had was when I was claiming the GST back on some shirts and she could not believe that 4 Zegna shirts would possibly cost $1,700....(they did not I got them for $150 each at a liquidation sale:D) and wanted to not only see them but pull them out and touch them. SHe them congratulated me on the bargain and on how great they looked. I got my refund but only after 45 minutes, cutting down on crucial Flounge time.;)