Flyers slam baggage ban

Airline passengers have slammed a push by baggage handlers to ban heavy luggage as the industry braces for severe travel disruptions.

The outcry came as Qantas refused a union demand to cut the 32kg domestic limit to 20kg, paving the way for work bans on baggage over 20kg and possible widespread disruptions from next week.

Transport Workers Union secretary Tony Sheldon said workers now had no choice but to impose the bans.

"I'm sure the general public would understand with Qantas' failure to act, and with Qantas literally breaking the backs of their own employees and crippling family members, that they've left no alternative but for the workforce to start taking matters into their own hands," he said.

But the travelling public does not appear to be so understanding at all.

Businessman Ashton Bilbie said the ban was "ridiculous" and would stop travellers bringing gifts and souvenirs home.

"They sign up for the job - it's not as though they're going to be lifting serviettes,. We're going to the States mid-year and we like to bring gifts home for people, so on the way back our luggage is going to be heavy," he said.

"Whenever I go home to New Zealand I take stuff back for my family."

Mr Bilbie, a 29-year-old director of a recruitment firm, said he couldn't even put heavy toiletries like shampoo and conditioner in carry-on luggage because of security restrictions.

"It's a pain," he said.

His girlfriend Melissa Cigoja, 22, said keeping luggage at 20kg was unreasonable.

"I take more than that usually," she said.

"Last time we flew to New Zealand and my luggage alone was 26kg."

Jenny Booth and her husband Wesley Lew, from Belrose, usually take two big bags for them and their three children.

"They're always over 20kg. If they bring that in we're just going to have to take more bags," Mrs Booth said.

"We did five weeks in Vietnam and China with two bags last year and it is easy; much more convenient than having four bags. It probably is an occupational health and safety issue but they choose to do that job."

Mr Lew also had little sympathy: "There are other jobs they can do."

Melody Chaplin, from South West Rocks on the Mid-North Coast, was going to London for six months to meet her boyfriend.

"It has been snowing there and I'm going for a while so I have to take two sets of clothes," she said.

"I don't think it should be restricted."

Qantas and the TWU were last night still locked in talks but there was no breakthrough in sight. The union claims almost a third of handlers suffer injuries.

The airline says this number has been steadily declining.

Source: Angela Saurine and Joe Hildebrand, The Daily Telegraph

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