As of 18 September, the free ride is over for Tigerair passengers, at least when it comes to hand luggage. According to a statement issued on 5 September, passengers will no longer be able to carry more than 10kg of hand luggage, any more than two bags, or bring bags bigger than 54cm x 38cm x 23cm on board a Tigerair flight.
Any passengers travelling on flights with a duration less than one hour and 45 minutes, will find themselves paying $70 to check in a bag at the airport, while those on longer flights will be hit with an $85 fee.
Other low cost airlines in Australia already enforce strict hand luggage allowances, details as follows:
AirAsia – each passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse or briefcase, with the maximum dimensions of carry-on luggage being 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm and a maximum weight of 7 kg.
Jetstar – as with AirAsia, each passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item, such as a purse or briefcase. For every kilogram of baggage above the allowance specified, there is a fee per kg charged, commencing at $10 per excess kilogram.
Virgin – the carry on allowance for each passenger is one bag, one garment bag and personal items with the maximum dimensions not to exceed 23 cm x 34 cm x 48 cm and the weight to be less than 7 kg.
Do you think it is fair that airlines charge for excess hand luggage? Or do you think such charges are excessive? Do you think we should be able to carry whatever we like onboard domestic and international flights?
