I was flying for a weekend to Sydney from Adelaide for work at a convention, so I only had carry on luggage. I had a small suitcase, a pair of spare shoes and a birthday present for an interstate friend of mine who I hadn't seen in months due to proximity.
While boarding the aircraft, I was stopped by a rather rude, attitudey staff member who said I had too much carry on and was only allowed to take two items. I looked down at my carry on: a small suitcase, my shoes and my friend's present, a box 10cm x 10m x 20cm. I explained that I didn't want the box to get crushed in my suitcase, yet was still told to put it in my suitcase or I wasn't allowed on the plane with it. When I asked multiple times for other options, if there was a post office so I could send it back home or a locker I could hire or something, or if I could check in one of my bags, I got the same dead-pan, unhelpful response: "You're only allowed 2 items." She just wasn't listening or helpful at all, offering no suggestions or answering my questions.
Eventually, I was told I had to pay $70 to check in my small suitcase, not including the 10% eftpos fee.
Basically, I had to pay almost $80 to carry on a pair of shoes and a novelty alarm clock on a plane, while some people in front of me were allowed much more. The couple in front of me had 2 suitcases, 2 backpacks, a laptop bag, 2 handbags and a shopping bag of stuff between the two of them for carry on. It was ridiculous.
$80 for 3 pairs of socks and 2 shirts to be checked in as overflow is bullshit, but the most annoying thing was the staff's bitchy attitude. I honestly felt like I was being singled out. It was like I was 15 years younger and being picked on in high school. A passenger on the plane even approached me later and said, "That woman was a bitch to you. Hope you got all your luggage on."
Now I'm on my way back to Adelaide. I gave my friend his gift, but God so help my temper if some bitch at the airport says I have to check in my bag because each shoe counts as an item of carry on.
Next time, I'm going Virgin.
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