Hand luggage limits will be enforced from today on Australian domestic airlines

Passengers travelling on domestic airlines across Australia will have hand luggage weighed from today amid a crackdown on cabin baggage.

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia will start to implement the 7kg limits, which have rarely been enforced. Qantas announced the move in a statement last month.

If baggage is too heavy, customers will have to check it in to go into the hold, where it will count towards their luggage weight limit.

In a statement to customers, Qantas said it wanted to ‘remind’ them of how much luggage they could take on board.

“Qantas offers the most generous amount of cabin baggage of any Australian airline and we know customers like the convenience of not having to check in luggage,’’ the statement said.

“We’re renewing our focus to keep cabin baggage within the ¬allowances and to ensure everyone has their fair share of space.’’

Virgin Australia said cabin crew have been injured by passengers cramming “everything but the kitchen sink” into overhead lockers and flights can also be delayed as luggage is moved around.

“We’re seeing injuries to our cabin crew caused by closing overhead lockers full of heavy baggage, shifting bags in overhead lockers to assist guests finding space and assisting passengers with lifting their bags into the overhead compartments,” Virgin Australia general manager of ground operations Paul Woosnam said.

“This is preventable if all passengers adhered to the baggage limits and guidelines, and from the customers we’ve spoken to, we know they’re in favour of our renewed focus on cabin baggage.”

Low cost airlines such as Jetstar and Tiger Air already enforce luggage weight limits.