Seems a good place to ask about my experience about 10 days ago. I have done limited international flying in the last 3 years or so, but I was still a little surprised by what happened.

I was ticketed with Qantas SIN-MEL and return. I never check bags and brought my small "personal item" and normal 20" rollaboard that I have used all over the world with no problem. No questions, no problems going to MEL. On return flight to SIN, MEL agent at check-in asked if I was checking bags and I said I was not- both bags were clearly visible.

Immediately on going through the "passengers only" door, I encountered a gentleman who wanted to weigh my bag (only the rollaboard). As both bags contained substantially less than on my arrival (due to presents delivered in MEL), I thought there would be no problem. Turned out my bag weighed 11 kg and agent said the limit was 7 kg! I was amazed and he said it was a Qantas rule, but only in MEL.

I asked if I could transfer some things from the rollaboard to the shoulder bag and he agreed. I thought it odd as same weight would be going on the plan, but I try not to argue such things. I opened the bags and began to transfer the two or three items of any weight at all; most contents were light clothing and the case was only 2/3 full. I chatted with the fellow re his country of origin and he said if I could get down to 9 kgs he would let me go. It soon became apparent that was unlikely as most of the weight was apparently in the rollaboard itself.

Lucky for me, a very aggressive couple with several bags came through the door and began to berate the agent saying they had already checked bags. The agent and I rolled our eyes at each other and, as I started to put my bag back on the scale, he just waived me through.

I'm sure there is good reason for this and I undoubtedly missed something in reading the fare details. I am, however, a little jealous of all the talk of 40-50 pound limits, etc. I see people like myself traveling everywhere with similar two bag configurations. I guess those who know about it just check the bag and I would have been willing to do the same at the check-in desk (one is required to return to that desk if the bag is above the 7 kgs).

Any comments?