Just got back from Mumbai from where I departed on QF 52, a trip I take about every 6 - 8 weeks, connecting to MEL on QF in SIN

And every time, the following happens.....

Without exception I get asked to weigh my hand luggage and the 7Kg rule is RIGIDLY enforced.

This is a totally ridiculous situation by the 3rd party ground handling staff but which is actively supported by the QF supervisory staff at Check In.

On this last trip I had 2 hand carry items - as you will all know the allowance in J on long haul is 2 items, each of 7kg.

My roll on bag weighed 10.5kg, my laptop bag just 1kg ( Toshiba Portege R500 - weight 973grams! and nothing else in there) Tiny bag in keeping with the 11inch screen laptop

I was REFUSED the right to take my roll on bag on board and made to check it in!

I was offered the opportunity to transfer 3.5kg to the laptop bag but since this was a tiny bag in keeping with the tiny laptop this just wasn't possible

As I entered into a heated discussion with the senior QF staff member at BOM I pointed out to her that this was the final leg of a J class itinerary that had included MEL - SYD on QF -no problem with my bag, even on a 737.

Ditto SYD - BKK on BA, BKK - DEL on CX and even DEL - BOM in Y with Jet!!!

Her reply was the astonishing " we can't be responsible for other stations, we implement the rules as they should be implemented here"

After about 20 minutes she offered to retrieve my bag from the hold "if you really insist", and offer which I declined since I dreaded to think what notes would be in my booking as "the man who checked a bag in and the asked for it back"

And the icing on the cake?

To be behind a whole bunch of Y class passengers at the boarding gate, at least 30% of which were carrying 2 holdall sized bags / rucksacks ( all males, so forget the "womens handbag" argument)

If the "rules are strictly enforced" for J class passengers re no bag more than 7kg, can someone please tell me what happened to the strict enforecement of the "one bag only" rule in Economy class???

Would hate to think that the rules were different for "friends and family" of the airport checks in staff, ('cos that is what it certainly looked like from where I was standing)

Of course to add insult to injury:

* Load in J class on QF 52? 8 People. Clearly a need for massively vigilent enforcement of the 7kg rule

* Load in J on my QF 10 connection SIN - MEL? 100% full and 80% of pax with 2 big carry ons......

* Was travelling on full fare J class ticket

* My FF Status? One World Emerald (BA) but actually with more QF flights in the last 18 months than BA

Would love to hear from any Qantas person monitoring this forum on the above - a complete joke to me

For me, this is the final straw - this is by no means an isolated incident at BOM - and I'm taking my business to SQ or CX. Can't fly BOM - MEL without changing planes anyhow so why put myself through the aggrivation of the above every time I fly out of BOM?

Actually come to think of it, I'd also get a flat bed from SIN - MEL or HKG - MEL if I did SQ or CX also, compared to QFs' "angled lie flat"

Given the above you'd think that QF might actually be a bit more enlightened with their attitude out of BOM wouldn't you?