CX Media Kit
| QANTAS prepare rude shock for bands |
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| Written by Julius Grafton | |
| Saturday, 20 June 2009 | |
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It was until recently a simple $10 or $20 extra charge to check in a
guitar or roadcase when flying around Australia on QANTAS. Bands and
crew always chose QF ahead of Virgin Blue because of this. Now the two
airlines are charging airfreight rates for excess baggage. Now QANTAS
charges $10 per kilo over the standard 23 kg limit, which amounts to
about $150 for a guitar in a case.
A band with 4 guitars, 2 amp heads and a cymbals case could pay more than $1000 one way. “Additional Collection on QANTAS, we have simplified rates….” says the internal airline memo, which insists that excess rates should be collected in Business Class and international First Class as well. Events firms are incensed. “To add insult to injury you waited until the deadline for moving frequent flyer points from various credit cards to the Qantas system has expired and then announced the excess baggage changes”, wrote Simon Kemp of Bramshaw ICS Conference Communications. “You have removed what we regard was your last and only unique selling point - we always flew Qantas because you did not engage in this excess baggage treachery - now we will fly with anyone because it makes no difference”, he concluded in an angry letter to the airline. A tour manager who works with major bands told CX he had not yet been forced to pay the excess, because he always turns up two hours before departure and sweet talks the checkin staff. “But I will budget for this, because it could cost a lot”, he says. His international tours sometimes need a 2 tonne truck for excess bags and backline essentials. At $10 per kilo, that would be a $20,000 cost if the airline applied its rules. “I wrote a letter to the CEO but got no reply”, he says. “We have no package rate for excess baggage, just for air freight”, explained Phil Robinson the National Sales & Client Manager for Show Group. Like other specialist travel agents, they arrange group travel and deeply discounted unconditional air travel that suits entertainment and events professionals. But they can’t help defray the new excess baggage charges. Anyone carrying professional equipment should be aware of the new charges, which go as high as $50 per kilo on long haul international flights. This would add $750 per guitar on a one way trip to London. With no distinction between a deeply discounted ticket costing under $1,000 and a full rate First Class ticket costing ten times more, the new charges appear set to cost the airline its preferred carrier status with backstage crew. * From CX Magazine, July 15 issue. |
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