Baggage Allowance Changes eff Dec 1, 10
 

Hidden in the FF changes email:

Domestic checked baggage changes


For bookings made from 1 December 2010, for travel from 1 June 2011, Qantas is introducing a piece and weight allowance to domestic checked baggage. This means all Qantas customers will have a piece limit, as well as a weight limit, applied to their complimentary checked baggage allowances. When these changes take effect, Platinum Frequent Flyers will benefit from a generous allowance of two pieces, each up to 32kg, regardless of class of travel. You'll also enjoy extra allowances on selected Qantas international flights. Current privileges apply for travel until 31 May 2011.

Before 1 December 2010 for travel any time, or from 1 December for travel before 1 June 2011
Economy 23kg (50lb)
Business 30kg (66lb)
Qantas Club members, Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 33kg (72lb) Economy
40kg (88lb) Business
Platinum Frequent Flyers 38kg (83lb) Economy 45kg (99lb) Business

For tickets issued: From 1 December 2010 for travel from 1 June 2011
Economy 1 piece (maximum 23kg)
Business 1 piece (maximum 32kg)
Qantas Club members 1 piece (maximum 32kg) regardless of travel class
Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 1 piece (maximum 32kg) Economy
2 pieces (maximum 32kg each) Business
Platinum Frequent Flyers 2 pieces (maximum 32kg each) regardless of travel class

So now we need to deal with piece and weight restrictions. Lots of changes over the last few days and I am not sure any of them add anything.

WPs can now carry 64kg in two bags, Pity SWMBO is gold :D:D:D:D.

International allowance however seems to have been increased:

From 1 December 2010 for travel from 1 June 2011
Economy/Premium Economy 23kg (50lb)
Business 32kg (70lb)
First 40kg (88lb)
Qantas Club members 32kg (70lb) in Economy/Premium Economy
42kg (92lb) in Business
50kg (110lb) in First
Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers 32kg (70lb) in Economy/Premium Economy
64kg (140lb) in Business
64kg (140lb) in First
Platinum Frequent Flyers 64kg (140lb) regardless of travel class

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...gage/global/en

NB, this makes Star Alliance Gold much more valuable. e.g. travelling from BNE-FRA on SQ, I can carry 40kg. If I had QF Gold, I could only carry 33kg or 32kg on the new system.

Shame that they don't offer 64kg for other OWEs.

I'd almost bet that many WPs would try to minimise their baggage - so the 32 kgs or whatever is a somewhat irrelevant.

Another change is in relation to flights to/from the Americas.

Previously one need to show ticket(s) for an itinerary involving travel to/from the America's.

Now the USA travel must be on the one ticket to get the additional baggage allowance:

So is this a good thing or bad thing?

The way I read it Silver and Gold is getting a reduction in benefits (1 piece maximum, 1kg less weight), and Platinum is getting an almost irrelevant increase in benefits (Has anyone ever tried lifting a 32kg bag? Makes for an extremely unenjoyable travel experience). SO a Platinum in theory can carry 2x32kg bags. What happens if they turn up with 1 10kg and 2 15kg bags? Charged for extra piece I guess. I know as a WP I have travelled with bags approx 10+15+15, logistically easier for me, and now I have to pay extra for that? Sheesh, what an enhancement.

And a gold who used travel with a 10kg + 15kg bag, now has to travel with 1 25kg bag or pay extra?

It is all too confusing. With my multi carrier travel pattern, I never check-in any luggage more than 20 KGs...

I hope oneworld can have one universal luggage allowence like Star!

64kg for WPs. That's much more like it. I was getting fed up with being restricted by QF limits when travelling on combined BA/QF itinerary on separate tickets. The scary thing is that I do sometimes have luggage that weighs far more than myself, benefiting from this new limit.

The opposite is the case for me. I can max out any baggage allowance when traveling with family.
And also on business I can have a lot of lugagge as the samples etc can easily be 20kgs alone.

But it would be nice to spread that limit over more than 2 bags. I have travelled a few times with the current limit spread over three bags (logistically much easier).

From my personal perspective, two is fine as I prefer to have two checked bags + cabin bag + handbag rather than three/four checked bags + cabin bag + handbag, for a simple reason that the former requires one trolley, but the latter generally require two trolleys. I can't push two trolleys at once. Neither can I wheel four wheelies so easily (two checked bags + one cabin bag = 3 wheelies). High heels are not meant for pushing/pulling too many bags or trolleys! :p

However, I agree that it would have been nicer for WPs to be given an option to spread the 64 kg across more bags.

Nevertheless, AA have just changed premium class allowances to harmonize better with BA and IB. AA travels in First or Business now get 3 bags, 23 kg each, for a total 69 kg.