Travel Light to Aus. Overhead suitcase
 

Has anyone traveled to Australia with a suitcase that fits in the overhead? And had no Additional lugguage to check?

We are flying to Sydney, Gold Coast, GBR for 15 day trip in Aug. 2008 and I don't want to have to check luggage.

If I understand Quantas' overhead luggage allowance: it is one 15 lb. suitcase that is 2 x 105 cm (41 inch) bag
OR 1 x 115 (45 in) bag

Your thoughts and recommendations will be helpful.

This exact issue came up recently, if you search for Songdoc's thread on this forum (use the search funciton above) there is some information about Qantas' weight restrictions.

I'd paste the thread for you, but it never seems to work!

I think this is the thread Susan refers to:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35129657

I have tried to fly from Australia on Qantas (there isn't a "u") with only carry on - it's difficult. 15lbs is not very much. It's difficult to find a suitcase that weighs under 7.5 lbs which leaves you with only 7.5lbs for everything.

If you travel internationally on Qantas, they quite often will weigh your carry on luggage if you do not check in a piece - and they are strict. I had to check mine. If I check a piece in, my carry on is never weighed.

BTW checking luggage in on Qantas Domestic isn't a big deal. It comes off quickly and I haven't heard of stories of lost luggage in a long time.

Hi Nanabee,
Here's the Qantas link you need:
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying...baggageCarryOn

Note the domestic limits are less than the International.

Just in case you're flying Virgin Blue or Jetstar internally, here are their links.

Virgin will and do enforce their limits and charge like wounded bulls if your luggage is over their limits. www.virginblue.com.au/.../BaggageDangerousGoods

Can't comment on Jetstar because I would rather walk barefoot over broken glass than fly with them, but here's their link. Be aware if you do - they will cancel your ticket if you are the merest nanosecond later than their check-in time.
www.jetstar.com/

I should add that I don't have a problem with airlines enforcing their size & weight limits. I'm sure we've all had to wait, and wait while people attempt to heft bags clearly heavier & larger than they should be into the overhead lockers - taking up all the space intended to be shared by all of the passengers in the 3 seats below.

I realize the restrictions may have changed since our October 2006 trip. We flew Qantas to/from San Francisco and had four internal VB flights (thank you Happy Hour fares). For our five-week trip over several climates, we had 22" roll aboards, which we checked, and smaller carry-ons. We found that VB honored our international weight-limit status on every flight. We were overweight for those flights, but it was never questioned, and we paid no fees.

Thank you to everyone. I think we need to re-think taking only carry-on.
Sarvowinner mentioned we'll only have about 7 lbs. for clothes after we deduct the weight of the suitcase itself.
Ahh. I was hoping to grab and go!!

Hi Nanabee!

Ah...it's my dream, but apparently unattainable, to take one bag to stow in the overhead on Qantas!

I'm a pretty "spare" packer - my bag typically weighs between 20-25 lbs. for a 3 week trip (either Europe or Oz or NZ), but I just can't quitttteeeee make it to 15 lbs! (and besides I know it will be heavier on the return).

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Hi walzmatidla:

I agree, I want to pack light but I don't think less than 15 pounds incl the weight of the suitcase is just too impractical.
You'd think the airlines would encourage more light weight packers!

I was told when I booked my flights with Qantas (yep no 'u', altho it is pronounced like it has one!)on 3 July 2008 that the carry on and checked baggage limits of the international flight would be honored on the domestic flights, since(I am guessing) I booked all the flights, both international and domestic at one time. If anyone has recent experiences - please share.

A bit difficult to travel only "carry on" luggage, if your staying for some time in Australia.

I frequently fly to Sydney on business, staying for a week, and I can get by only taking a carry on bag.

Jetstar & Virgin Blue offer a cheaper ticket, if you only have a carry on bag. I must say I do find it helpful, especially, after arriving in Sydney, grabbing my bag from overhead, leave the terminal, whilst everyone else is still waiting at the luggage turnstile.

rfofpns

QANTAS is an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited - hence no U.

You are correct, if you are travelling on one ticket - Qantas will honour the international limits - but "carry on" is only 15lbs.

Where I find the difference between Int & Domestic, is that if you are flying with carry on only, you're more likely to weighed on international than on major domestic routes, where it is very common for people to use carryon only. I quite often fly domestically with overweight carry on.

If you are travelling on smaller planes - it will be more likely that you will be weighed.

Sydney weather will still be cool in August, don't forget to include some warm clothes which also take up more room in your luggage.

For 26 years I lived in the USA and travelled to Australia for 6-8 week visits every year taking only carry-on bags. The down side is that with this limit you really have to holiday in one pair of shoes and carry/wear your coat @ check-in. AND...in photos you are always wearing the same damn outfit. The upside is amazing. Whizzing in and out of airports and taking 3 minutes to pack...