Give it to me straight...

The most important thing to have is a top tier FF status on the airline. They don't mess with high mileage frequent flyers as much. Staying within the airline FF circle also helps. I'm stuck with Star Alliance nowadays but always liked One World more. I approached Qantas to give me equal status to my Marco Polo Platinum from Cathay Pacific. While you had to call for the staff sometimes, Platinum Qantas lets you carry a lot more than what Oz airports allow. Just don't join Asiamiles... the biggest waste of time FF program EVER!

Drew,

Top tier on a OneWorld carrier (AA) will get a better carryon allowance on QF? Do you try to deal with this at check-in? I have a CNS-SYD flight this summer that I'm worried about.

Reuben, I was working in Australia and requested equal platinum status from Qantas as I was travelling a lot on them. They gave it to me based on my status with Marco Polo. And that Qantas status saved me a bunch of times flying out of Draconian SYD, BNE and PER. The ground stuff had to personally sign off my cabin bags, which often was one big housing + camera, laptop and bits and pieces to allow shooting once I arrive.

Reuben, I was working in Australia and requested equal platinum status from Qantas as I was travelling a lot on them. They gave it to me based on my status with Marco Polo. And that Qantas status saved me a bunch of times flying out of Draconian SYD, BNE and PER. The ground stuff had to personally sign off my cabin bags, which often was one big housing + camera, laptop and bits and pieces to allow shooting once I arrive.

Got it. I'll just have to hope I get lucky. At least that's my only flight on QF.

I too got nailed in Brisbane and also Cairns for my carry-ons. Both airports check your carry-ons at security and at the boarding gate on Qantas. When I flew Singapore Air from Cairns they caught me at security for my backpack and roller bag, but was able to talk my way around this by saying politely I was on Singapore Air and was allowed these items as carry-ons. So being nice helped. I think the security people get a kick back from Qantas and New Zealand Air from the extra baggage fees.

What ever happened to the friendly sky's that the airline used to give us??

I too got nailed in Brisbane and also Cairns for my carry-ons. Both airports check your carry-ons at security and at the boarding gate on Qantas. When I flew Singapore Air from Cairns they caught me at security for my backpack and roller bag, but was able to talk my way around this by saying politely I was on Singapore Air and was allowed these items as carry-ons. So being nice helped. I think the security people get a kick back from Qantas and New Zealand Air from the extra baggage fees.

 

What ever happened to the friendly sky's that the airline used to give us??

Sounds like Quantas and Australia in general is a good place to avoid, in terms of carry-on weight issues.

Any other reports from Indonesia / Bali or at least the airlines in question, though? (OP is on Eva, I'm on Cathay Pacific in steerage... no special FF memberships since we're not wealthy world travelers and don't travel for work)

Allison, I have a 40 LB backpack plus a briefcase with laptop. In my last six trips with NWA going to Asia (Philippines) I have had zero problems.

Any other reports from Indonesia / Bali or at least the airlines in question, though? (OP is on Eva, I'm on Cathay Pacific in steerage... no special FF memberships since we're not wealthy world travelers and don't travel for work)

Haha, yeah, well, now I know who to book with NEXT year - I found this on the NWA site:

Northwest has a generous carry-on policy designed to allow passengers to carry on those items for which Northwest accepts no liability. These items include, but are not limited to, medicine, keys, important papers, travel documents (passport), jewelry, cash, computers, computer equipment, cameras, and other items of high personal value. DAMN! EVA's policies are not quite so liberal!!!

In most cases, seems like the problems happen more en route home - Kalani, I think the mule and I will be dividing crucial (to me ) gear between two backpacks - camera body, housing, lenses, diopters, one arm piece, a single, small backup strobe and cord plus glass dome port, plus canister light heads. Regs and all dive gear checked, along with bigger strobes, ports, remaining arms, sync cords. This should keep carry-on weights to a minimum en route there and still allow for a few pictures if all else goes wrong. On the way back, we'll probably check the housing and all strobes, and carry on lenses and cameras and dome port...and maybe he can take his regs at that time. Not such a big deal if stuff gets lost on the way home, I figure.

We're in premium economy, at least, so I'm hoping they'll be kind.

Sounds like Quantas and Australia in general is a good place to avoid, in terms of carry-on weight issues.

 

Any other reports from Indonesia / Bali or at least the airlines in question, though? (OP is on Eva, I'm on Cathay Pacific in steerage... no special FF memberships since we're not wealthy world travelers and don't travel for work)

I've flow Cathay to Indo but both times I was on award tickets in business and first. They didn't give us any problems, but our bags weren't particularly large, just heavy. I made a point of carrying my bag as thought it didn't weigh a thing. Did the same thing on Merpati and Lion in Indonesia and got away with it without problems. (I guess I'll be trying it again in Cairns.) The only grief was for overweight charges on our checked baggage and application of that seemed capricious to say the least. Where it was applied, lengthy bargaining brought the charges down for about $150 for the three of us to around $ 60.