Another carry-on excess story

Submitted by Geoff Mastus on Sun, 12/04/2015 - 23:41

The carry-on luggage allowance is clearly stated, but the $50 fine (which it is) is nothing more than ripping off their customers to raise revenue.
Today I was fined $50 for being 2.5kg over the 7kg limit.
My fault for misunderstanding the "combined" weight rule.
My carry-on bag was under 7kg but my hand bag added 2.8kg.
The smugness of the staff member advising me of my error and the overcharging for the minimal weight was enough to infuriate me to the point the beginning of my vacation has been marred.
Had I been charged $10 a kg for any excess, I would have thought stupid me but fair enough.
I think the bigger picture here is Jetstar are trying to discourage their customers from traveling light.
I personally don't want to check a bag in when I fly.
By reducing the carry-on allowance to 7kg and taking the big stick approach to anything above, it makes it difficult to travel for any extended period without checking a bag in.
Anyhow, having tolerating the crap customer service after other Jetstar issues this has tipped me over the edge.
They got their 50 bucks from me today, but that will be all they get ever.
This was my last flight with Jetstar or Qantas.
I have never had a bad experience with Virgin Airlines.

Domestic

Australia-Cairns

Australia-Gold Coast

Comments

I agree with you Geoff. Its

Submitted by Amir Taefi on Mon, 13/04/2015 - 13:26

I agree with you Geoff. Its not so much the $50 dollar theft but the smugness that their staff tell you about it. It looks like they actually really enjoy seeing you feel ripped off but not able to do anything about it. Its the same when you contact their overseas call center. If you get annoyed they actually ask you to wait and don't hang up while they go check it out. Then they never come back so after an hour of hearing the annoying music you realise the scam and hang up having wasted all that time and money.

Stick with Virgin and tell everyone about it. Thats your best revenge on these bastards.

Yeah Amiir, by spreading the

Submitted by Geoff Mastus on Mon, 13/04/2015 - 17:54

Yeah Amiir, by spreading the news and posting on this web-site at least it gives us an opportunity to vent our frustration and move on.....

Hi Geoff same happened to me

Submitted by Henrica Tramboo on Mon, 13/04/2015 - 19:49

Hi Geoff same happened to me just 2 days back! Is there any way to complain and get the money back? The staff is really enjoying the moment they charge you 160NZ $ to check in your bag that weighs 8 kilos! The customer service staff told me to pay or leave my bag behind. The worst ever experience I have to say total ripp off! Everything in the plane also cost extra i. e. watching a movie. Staff inside the plane are extremely moody guess they get ripped off with their salary payments too.

Just a word about Virgin.

Submitted by Peter Finch on Mon, 20/04/2015 - 23:51

Just a word about Virgin. They also have a 7kg combined hand luggage limit. They charge a minimum fee of $70 for excess. Virgin are a myth. In 2014 they cancelled not only a greater number of flights compared with Jetstar, but also a higher percentage of flights. Amir - not sure why you would keep pushing Virgin - at least Jetstar is 51% Australian owned.

Thanks for the input Peter. I

Submitted by Geoff Mastus on Tue, 21/04/2015 - 07:43

Thanks for the input Peter.
I also noticed Virgin had scales permanently located at the gate I recently departed from.
In the past couple of years I have mainly flown international with Virgin and they have never checked my carry on luggage. Perhaps the days of traveling light with anything more than a change of socks and jocks have sadly gone.