What is going on with QR BKK ground handling agent lately?
Dec 16, 2018, 7:31 pm
#31
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J or Y? I'm flying out on Friday in J, hoping to take just my usual (large) carryon with a laptop bag/sleeve.
Dec 16, 2018, 8:41 pm
#32
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Just to top it off received an alert from my QR app letting me know my flight is delayed..
RANT OVER
Dec 16, 2018, 8:49 pm
#33
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This. I believe that there's also a left luggage storage place somewhere at BKK, too. That's what I think that I'm going to do. My laptop is an Alienware 17, which is 5 kg by itself. I don't know that I'd want to leave an expensive laptop with a luggage wrapping guy; it's just too portable and concealable. OK, so it just means that I'll have to get to the airport a little earlier.
Dec 17, 2018, 3:35 am
#34
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This. I believe that there's also a left luggage storage place somewhere at BKK, too. That's what I think that I'm going to do. My laptop is an Alienware 17, which is 5 kg by itself. I don't know that I'd want to leave an expensive laptop with a luggage wrapping guy; it's just too portable and concealable. OK, so it just means that I'll have to get to the airport a little earlier.
Dec 17, 2018, 4:18 am
#35
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Dec 17, 2018, 5:53 pm
#36
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This. I believe that there's also a left luggage storage place somewhere at BKK, too. That's what I think that I'm going to do. My laptop is an Alienware 17, which is 5 kg by itself. I don't know that I'd want to leave an expensive laptop with a luggage wrapping guy; it's just too portable and concealable. OK, so it just means that I'll have to get to the airport a little earlier.
1. The policy needs to be rationally based.
a) As tight as space in the overhead storage lockers can be in Y, it's equally empty in J. I'm a regular/frequent QR premium cabin flyer; and I have yet to see a situation in a premium cabin where the overhead lockers were even close to being full. In fact, I've never had any problem getting an overhead locker right above my seat. Why? Easy. Premium cabin seating is much less dense than Y seating. There's an increased checked baggage allowance for premium cabin flyers, why not an increased carryon allowance for them, too?
If you/they argue about the increased fuel required to carry heavy items, then allow people to exceed the carryon allowance by paying a surcharge, same as with checked bags. However,...
b) It's not really about weight. You can check as much luggage as you like if you're willing to pay for it. Overhead locker space isn't about weight, either. The limitation is really one of size. So limit the size of carryons, not the weight. Why, for example, is a heavy laptop like mine restricted? It's flat and takes up virtually no space. Doesn't affect or impede anyone else's use of overhead lockers. When the lockers are full or nearly so, as on domestic U.S. flights, I put my carryon in the locker then the laptop on top of it. Or I put the laptop inside the carryon.
If you/they argue about the increased fuel required to carry heavy items, then allow people to exceed the carryon allowance by paying a surcharge, same as with checked bags. However,...
b) It's not really about weight. You can check as much luggage as you like if you're willing to pay for it. Overhead locker space isn't about weight, either. The limitation is really one of size. So limit the size of carryons, not the weight. Why, for example, is a heavy laptop like mine restricted? It's flat and takes up virtually no space. Doesn't affect or impede anyone else's use of overhead lockers. When the lockers are full or nearly so, as on domestic U.S. flights, I put my carryon in the locker then the laptop on top of it. Or I put the laptop inside the carryon.
2. The policy needs to be enforced consistently. Enforcing it at a couple of outstations but not in the rest of the network leads to major problems for travelers. How do I pack? Enforcement shouldn't depend on where you happen to be flying from.
So, yes, IMO, QR needs a rational, reality-based and consistently enforced carryon policy.
Dec 18, 2018, 5:25 pm
#38
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I think someone was gently poking fun at your change of attitude regarding cabin baggage from slightly po-faced through "I'm all right Jack", to understandable concern about restrictions to your hand-baggage on your next next trip - complete with an excellent strategy for circumventing the very rules you'd apparently suggested should be enforced.
We have the same problems with cabin bag weight restrictions at some TK outstations (Jakarta is my bugbear). It's variously been attributed to load restrictions on overhead lockers, ditto the backs of cabin staff and even transfer logistics at Istanbul. The more cynical suggest it might be a wider strategy to generate excess baggage charges. I think it's more a case of contracted check-in staff blindly applying rules ....
.... which brings us back to your laudable plea for airlines to establish a more rational set of rules. Though rationality and QR rules are not always concepts in perfect harmony.
We have the same problems with cabin bag weight restrictions at some TK outstations (Jakarta is my bugbear). It's variously been attributed to load restrictions on overhead lockers, ditto the backs of cabin staff and even transfer logistics at Istanbul. The more cynical suggest it might be a wider strategy to generate excess baggage charges. I think it's more a case of contracted check-in staff blindly applying rules ....
.... which brings us back to your laudable plea for airlines to establish a more rational set of rules. Though rationality and QR rules are not always concepts in perfect harmony.
Dec 18, 2018, 6:17 pm
#39
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If there are two things of which I have way too many, they are keyboards and mice. I'll be much stingier with the tea, however!
Dec 18, 2018, 6:20 pm
#40
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I think someone was gently poking fun at your change of attitude regarding cabin baggage from slightly po-faced through "I'm all right Jack", to understandable concern about restrictions to your hand-baggage on your next next trip - complete with an excellent strategy for circumventing the very rules you'd apparently suggested should be enforced.
If the rules were consistently enforced, it would be much easier to plan. Rational? Well, that's another story altogether.
Dec 18, 2018, 6:48 pm
#41
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In the extreme case of an accident the disgorged bin contents would create obstructions for evacuation.
And those contents would create a significant ouch! moment if they fell on passengers
As for cabin crew and their backs, I've seen some struggling to juggle mega-bags around between lockers to make space - and to assist passengers place their carry-ons.
Dec 18, 2018, 10:11 pm
#42
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Not in the U.S., you haven't! IIRC, cabin crew helping passengers lift their carryons into the overhead storage lockers is prohibited by most/all union contracts.
Dec 19, 2018, 2:53 am
#43
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But I have been impressed by the way they move bags around within and between lockers to make room.
BA has the same rule in place regarding assisting passengers place their bags in overheads. I'm pleased to say most cabin crew seem to ignore the restriction when it comes to helping passengers in need.
Dec 19, 2018, 8:24 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2017
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IME being QR PLT while flying J does get one some leeway at checkin. In one of the threads (but I can't recall which one right now) I wrote about such an experience at CDG checkin last year, where I heard a supervisor say to the checkin agent that it was OK, as I am PLT (it was not carryon weight, it was a different issue).
Last September at CGK, I was bringing two rather bulky looking carryons and a small backpack, flying J. At the gate, the gate staff said that I was only allowed to bring two pieces carryon (backpack included), I pointed at the sign which says two carryons and a personal item for J passengers. He smiled and said no, two carryons only, includes your backpack. I was at a loss, until the station manager came over and recognised me, and told the gate staff to let me pass. phew...
I guess flying the same flight 8 times in a span of a month helped a bit
Dec 19, 2018, 7:09 pm
#45
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As I'm packing this morning (36 hours pre-departure), I realized that I want to take a few things which might not make it through security scanning in a carryon. So I'm going to check my carryon bag and carry my 11 pound laptop along with a change of clothes for showering in Al Mourjan. Since the laptop (plus keyboard, mouse, power transformer) and the overnight bag in which I carry it may exceed 7 kg., I'll stick the transformer in my blazer pocket for checkin. That should keep me under 7 kg. I will not, however, enjoy schlepping that thing around. It fits so nicely on the top of my wheeled carryon, and is so much easier to transport that way.
I'll check back in here for the return trip on January 2 because some of the things which might not pass security will be left in Boston.