How to beat the hand luggage crackdowns by Jetstar and other airlines

Plane passengers have found two simple but super-effective ways to evade the new carry-on baggage crackdown by Jetstar and other airlines.

Plane passengers have found simple ways to evade airlines’ new carry-on baggage crackdown.

And they have expressed scepticism about the accuracy of scales used to weigh hand luggage.

At least two workarounds have emerged in response to carriers weighing what people bring to a departure gate.

Queensland woman Chris Heath told News Corp Australia that prior to a recent flight from Sydney, Jetstar made several announcements at the gate to get passengers to have their cabin gear assessed.

Those who knew or suspected their bags were over the limit removed contents before coming forward.

“We observed these people taking stuff out, leaving it on a seat, getting their bag weighed then going back to the seat and repacking their bag,” Ms Heath said.

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Beat the baggage crackdown by taking items out before weighing. Picture: Istock

That was not the only way the crackdown was being beaten, she said.

Jetstar’s staff removed the scales 20 minutes before boarding, which meant people who had heavy bags but arrived close to departure were not scrutinised.

Ms Heath said she approached the airline staff and asked why they had stopped checking. “They said ‘We’ve been told not to do it up to the last minute because it causes too many delays’.”

Customers that Jetstar finds to be carrying even one kilogram of extra baggage at the gate have to pay $60.

The workarounds have come to light as News Corp Australia embarks on a campaign called Fee Fighters which aims to help consumers deal with blood-boiling, budget-bleeding charges.

Today it was revealed that Jetstar charges higher prices for checked baggage on shorter flights than longer ones.

Several readers have commented that scales used to weigh luggage have produced heavier readings than their own measurements. There are also reports that base-line readings have not been set to zero before weighing.

A Jetstar spokeswoman said more than a third of its customers don’t purchase any extra baggage.

“We can offer such low fares because customers ultimately choose what other add-ons they want to buy, and our pricing for baggage reflects that,” she said.

Got other ways to beat the luggage crackdown? Email [e-mail]

HOW TO SAVE ON AIRFARES

* Weigh bags at home at home. Stand on scales without your bag, get off, then get back on holding it

* Be wary of bundles: 20kg of baggage to Phuket is $90 in Jetstar’s “Plus” bundle but only $39 unbundled

* Jetstar hides a good-value option: 25kg, which is only $42 to Phuket. See it by clicking “More baggage options”

* Two 25kg bags should do a family, so choose individually

* Use everyone’s carry-on limit. For a family of four that’s 28kg

* On Scoot it is cheaper to buy a 20kg and meal than to purchase the bundle combining them

* If you’re flying outbound with Virgin Australia and returning with Qantas, be careful: they have the weight limit of 23kg but Qantas only allows one checked bag

* Travelling with a pram? Buy a carry case. It protects your pricey pusher and you can stash extra luggage inside

* Always reject a foreign airline’s offer to convert a payment to $A. Let your card do it. You will save a fortune

Originally published as How to beat the hand luggage crackdowns by Jetstar and other airlines