Now you can bring a heavier bag as Qantas increases carry-on allowance

Qantas is increasing the per-bag weight limit for cabin bags on domestic flights, with passengers now able to bring a carry-on bag as heavy as 10kg.
The new rules take effect from Monday 25 March and provide additional flexibility for travellers who have felt stymied by the current cap of 7kg per bag.
The total cabin baggage per passenger will remain pegged at 14kg across two standard-sized bags, plus a small ‘personal item’ bag such as a satchel or slim briefcase.
However, the maximum weight of a single cabin bag increases from 7kg to 10kg – with the remaining 4kg available for a second bag if need be.
Qantas says the decision follows trials which included weighing passengers' carry-on bags at the boarding gate.
This found that while nine out of ten travellers had under 10kg of cabin baggage in total, around 40% of those had a bag weighing between 7kg and 10kg.
"We’ve had feedback from our frequent flyers who said they can easily keep within the 14kg limit but would like flexibility in how they use their cabin baggage allowance," remarks Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David, who cites that most passengers on short business trips and weekends away "only travel with one carry-on bag plus a small personal item."
"Customers will now have more choice how they use their 14kg carry on allowance, by having one bag that weighs up to 10kg."
The airline is hoping for a best-case scenario which will see passengers able to bring 10kg in a single cabin-bag rather than split their load across two bags, which will in turn free up space in the aircraft's overhead luggage bins.
The new cabin baggage policy applies to all Qantas passengers regardless of cabin or frequent flyer status, although the revised rules don't extend to QantasLink's Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop aircraft, where the 7kg/bag limit remains in effect.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 418
A win for commonsense. Thanks Qantas for listening to your customers.
02 Nov 2017
Total posts 35
A positive 'enhancement' for a change. Fantastic to see common sense prevail!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2012
Total posts 126
Good news. Just don’t quite understand why we have to wait until Monday 25th March for the new rules to be implemented.
04 Sep 2017
Total posts 3
They must have read my complaint deeply and thoroughly. It was common sense I’ve checked in a bag and you are hounding me for 8kg-9kg of normal stuff in my carry on bag.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 7
Hang on.... Last month any bags over 7kg were a health & safety risk for crew, but now bags 7-10kg are fine?! Curiously no mention of crew health & safety issues in this latest policy change.....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Sep 2016
Total posts 1
My thoughts exactly...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2011
Total posts 232
Maybe the crew have been hitting the gym hard and they're ready for those 3 extra kg now?
03 May 2013
Total posts 561
A select few def need gym!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 418
I suspect the union will be quite unhappy with this. But with the stats showing that 40% of QF pax were getting caught with bags over 7kg, I presume QF has taken the veiw that it's better to irritate some of your staff than a lot of your customers!
06 Feb 2013
Total posts 12
The staff have to do a training program to be able to manage the new safety risk. Also explains the delay to start.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Nov 2017
Total posts 58
Lift from the legs...
05 May 2016
Total posts 601
Good move.
It seemed very strange that you could pay extra on Jetstar to be able to take 10kg carry-on, whilst QF was still limited to a 7kg limit per bag.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 20
Thanks Goodness. Although most pax would be between the 7-10kg anyway, it makes so much sense. Thanks qantas for listening.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jan 2015
Total posts 64
Well done Qantas. Thanks David for the early good news reporting
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2016
Total posts 134
Good move and some common sense used in moving this issue forward. A welcome change. Have had to check luggage in on the last few domestic flights and even with platinum status there really is not priority on luggage based on my experience. I factor in 20 minutes as a minimum to get checked in luggage.
QF
04 Oct 2013
Total posts 11
Platinum One and bags NEVER off first. Last week in MEL 45mins!!!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Nov 2016
Total posts 14
Backward move. If you have that much stuff, check it in. Why the hell does anyone need 14kg of carry on that they won't/don't use on a flight as short as an hour ?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Nov 2018
Total posts 76
Are you serious? Its about Not waiting on the other end for a bag to come out.... i value my time.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1259
As the article states, you could previously carry 14kg on board over 2 bags up to 7kg each. You still can carry the same on board following this change.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 418
....and creates more room for everyone's carry-on. I was someone who had always had one bag of about 10kg. I had changed to two bags of about 6kg and 4kg. So I was taking up much more space in the overheads with two bags.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Oct 2018
Total posts 1
maybe some people want to get home quickly at 7pm on a Friday night
12 Sep 2014
Total posts 6
I nearly always travel with my husband and rather than have 2 carry on bags we share one between us which generally weighs around 10kg - because of the 7kg enforced limit we then had to take 2 carry on bags - how is this better than 1 10kg bag between us? Also we travel long distance - so it is not just a 1 hour flight to think of - some of us have to travel domestic to enable to catch up to an international flight.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Nov 2017
Total posts 58
Waiting for VA to match :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Jun 2014
Total posts 36
common sense prevails, had recent flight where the bags took 3 days to catch up with me, the carry on was a life saver..
13 Apr 2018
Total posts 14
Same for Jetstar PLEASE??? They tried charging me $50 when my bag was 7.1kg last month.
12 Sep 2017
Total posts 18
Yeah.... nah....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 24
They used to be 10kg until about 2015. Luggage would be there biggest ancillary money maker for sure. Never expect it to go back up
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 833
It only makes sense if they are going to vigorously enforce these limits. Carry-on is a constant source of frustration and the amount of available space hasn't increased so if this isn't enforced, the chaos on-board will increase.
03 May 2013
Total posts 561
While a great 'enhancement' this should have been the strategy from the outset. What they did had many fliers disrupted, upset and also placed cabin crew under pressure at check-in. My bag was 1 cm too large in one dimension! ( but under in the other two dimensions - 114CM all up) and after 3 years of using it no problem all of a sudden I was forced to check-it in or buy a new one because of this ill thought strategy. What a ridiculous state of affairs this trial was Qantas. QF 'Brains Trust' may well be in need of some vitamin E tablets next time before these things are considered and implemented.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Dec 2014
Total posts 44
This "strategy" was forced upon them by CASA hence why Virgin put the same "strategy" in place at the same time. A number of cabin crew had been injured trying to lift excessively heavy bags into the overhead lockers and so CASA clamped down on the airlines. If Qantas is now able to increase their weight limit to 10kg they must have been able to convince CASA that it is safe to do so (which is probably why there is a wait until March 25th. They will have been given tentative approval with formal approval coming in a couple of weeks).
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2988
Actually, a 10kg bag is nothing new in Australia: for many years Jetstar had a standard carry-on baggage weight allowance of 10kg. They lowered it to 7kg just before they put out a hiring call for 'cabin baggage officers' to begin charging passengers what was effectively a penalty (min. $50 per bag at the gate, from all reports), for having more cabin baggage than their ticket permitted (effectively a nice profit spinner), and last year introduced the option for passengers to be able to pay extra to 'upgrade' their cabin baggage weight allowance from 7kg back to the old 10kg per bag, which Qantas said had been driving Jetstar's "ancillary strength" at its most recent financial results - seemingly nothing to do with CASA there, at least when it comes to the distinction of 7kg vs. 10kg.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 63
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1390
Sense prevails..
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 418
In some cases, that's because the bins in older aircraft are more shallow. The same bags fit into the newer style bins with no problem.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 271
100%!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 76
So before with a 7kg limit passengers would carry on 10kg.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Aug 2014
Total posts 76
Did the flight prices just go up a few dollars???
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Aug 2016
Total posts 9
If Qantas could deliver bags faster (particularly in Melbourne where 20mins seems to be the KPI), maybe more people would be inclined to check bags in.
06 Mar 2017
Total posts 11
Hypocrisy from JQ and TT exposed. The "weight safety" issue was never an issue because on TT you can increase your cabin bag weight to 12kg by paying an extra fee which is more than the cost of a checked-in bag. Purely a means to extract more revenue.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Oct 2012
Total posts 22
This is a great development; but as a few have mentioned the key issue will be enforcing these new limits. Whilst they are quite generous its a regular occurrence to see the people who think they can have an exception to any rule. Whether that is checking in times, bag size and weight limits, phone usage... Even if this was 20kgs they would push it...
06 Jun 2017
Total posts 21
Purely marketing to get a edge over the others. The only safety issue was a small person trying to lift their 10-12kg bag up to the overhead stowage compartment. This had an element of danger to nearby passengers. In this situation, the bag should have been stowed and not carried on, but then, like everybody else, they didn’t want to wait at the carousel.
09 Mar 2017
Total posts 7
Here's hoping Virgin match QF asap!
Etihad - Etihad Guest
08 Mar 2019
Total posts 1
Seems completely illogical that it was for staff safety.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2014
Total posts 11
Q.Who is liable when a passenger in their haste to disembark ,or when loading / retrieving their carry on just can’t handle the weight / size of the bag and it drops or swings onto / into the hapless passenger sitting below the overhead bin?
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 271
A. The same people who were liable when it was 7kg
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 95
I confess. I’ve done this. Worst feeling ever!
15 Nov 2017
Total posts 8
This is great common sense. My wife and I travel the world with cabin luggage only. Tight but achievable. Now we need
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2018
Total posts 3
Great news and highlights Qantas does listen to feedback. Well done
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 24
If they listened to feedback they never would have lowered it to begin with.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Jul 2017
Total posts 6
Fantastic news about the luggage increase. Just a little dismayed to see so many comments about the expectation for crew to lift the 10kg bags into the overhead lockers. I wouldn’t dream of handing my heavy cabin bag to anyone to lift up. Anyone in a position requiring assistance with a heavy bag should really just be checking them in.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 271
Exactly right.
QF
04 Oct 2013
Total posts 11
Just last week a flight out or MEL which was delayed by 40mins saw the staff stop and insist on weighing every bag! So much for common sense. Many PAX had tight connections so further delaying departure was ridiculous.
06 Mar 2017
Total posts 11
JQ is QF. TT is VA. Domestically they fly the same planes. There is absolutely no reason why LCCs should have different weight restrictions [except for fleecing us]. 7 kgs is ridiculous, when a trolley can weigh 2-3 kgs when empty. Another respondent was correct...size is the main problem and that should be enforced.
05 May 2016
Total posts 601
If your case is 2-3kg you should buy a light weight one
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jun 2013
Total posts 39
Perfect! Flown 4 times with the 7kg enforced rule with a 9kg bag and every time was having a minimum 40 minute wait at the baggage carousel.
22 Jun 2013
Total posts 4
“satchel or slim briefcase.” or a handbag for the female readers.
qantas
23 Jun 2014
Total posts 12
Adampies I had the same explanation: "Health & Safety issues" when I was surprised by the low weight allowed in economy carryons.. We had to take heavy items from my wife carry on and put them in a coat pocket so all was OK. I could not help annoying the agent by pointing out that in business a higher weight was accepted and so Qantas clearly did not care about the health and safety of business travellers.
31 Aug 2018
Total posts 6
This is a nonsense discussion. It s all irrelevant if the boarding staff don't enforce the limits. Ive NEVER been checked at the gate (Gold FF with both airlines) and have lost count of the times Ive seen people carry 2 bags, a seperate shopping bag from Aldi with snacks, plus a backpack, a watermelon sized handbag and those ridiculous large over ear headphones. The bored checkin staff barely look up. I have been weighed at checkin for a jetstar flight to DPS from BNE but they were pleasant and reasonable and did not charge us, as we were 3kg over in one bag but daughters bag was 2 kg under.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 197
Are the rules fir International carry-on changing also?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2445
No, this is only for domestic flights.
09 Jan 2016
Total posts 44
Bizarre headline...”Business travellers the winners”.... it applies to all passengers.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2445
The rules certainly apply to all passengers, but leisure travellers are more likely to have checked luggage as they set out on holidays (except for, say, a weekend away) so this rules has reduced impact on them.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Jan 2013
Total posts 1
Nobody should be congratulating Qantas for this commonsense move. The idiots should never have brought the limit down to 7kg in the first place.
25 Feb 2018
Total posts 2
I am a short woman and have never been offered help to lift my luggage by staff either in economy nor business class. When my son was very little occasionally other passengers would help ( they did so spontaneously- lovely people) . So like others I was always perplexed by the concern about staff safety.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2017
Total posts 8
Welcome common sense move that should cover the majority of business traveller needs. Will still need enforcement for non-ff holiday shoppers.
03 Nov 2018
Total posts 2
I would love to see this also curtail the wheelie bag + the back pack + the multiple designer shopping bags filled with everything from neck cushions to leggo (anything but the Prada on the outside) that seem to be in the too hard basket or the exception to stop. You know the ones I mean...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Oct 2014
Total posts 7
Perhaps QF could learn from Alaska with their guarantee on baggage delivery time to the carousel to encourage more people to check their bags.
18 Feb 2018
Total posts 9
Sigh.... Really.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Oct 2013
Total posts 1
Why not the 23kg limit of British airways? (Which applies to Y as well as J fares throughout Europe and uk domestic)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Oct 2012
Total posts 7
While the increased allowance is good for some, it's the way some passengers put their bag in the overhead that has annoyed me. Put it in the first available space, even if it is no where near your seat. Get it in and take up as much space as possible.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Dec 2015
Total posts 11
I think this is a sensible decision as 7kg was fairly limiting. I would like to see Qantas (and all airlines for that fact) impose the said limit on the number of items people bring onto planes. On a recent flight from Adelaide to Sydney a passenger had two wheel-ons, a small backpack/rucksack and her handbag!
Etihad - Etihad Guest
12 Mar 2019
Total posts 1
I agree, it's how people put their bags in the lockers as well as the number of bags. I only carry large handbag with essentials and medications. Fits below seat. Happy to wait 20mins for checked bags, time to stretch legs. Enjoy the journey😁😎
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