British Airways baggage policy

[aus_flyer]

Not happy Jan
(though not new news)

Dear odoherty,

I would like to tell you how we are simplifying our baggage policy to make it easier to
follow, reduce airport queues and align ourselves with UK Department for Transport
recommendations. The policy changes include hand, checked and excess baggage allowances and
will be phased in over the next five months.

-------------------
HAND BAGGAGE
-------------------
From 5 July 2006, all customers will be able to take one standard-sized bag (maximum size of
56cm x 45cm x 25cm) plus one briefcase, laptop bag or equivalent into the cabin as hand
baggage, complying with UK Department for Transport recommendations. You must be able to
lift your hand baggage into the overhead locker unaided and the briefcase or laptop bag must
fit under the seat in front of you.

------------------------
CHECKED BAGGAGE
------------------------
From 11 October, we will be making changes to the number of bags that you can check in. This
will vary according to your class of travel and route. The maximum weight per bag will be
reduced to 23kgs to comply with health and safety recommendations.

---------------------
EXCESS BAGGAGE
---------------------
Excess baggage charges will also be standardised from 11 October. A
fixed fee (dependent on the journey length) will be charged for each bag in excess of the
free checked baggage allowance. In the majority of cases the new charges will be less than
those currently levied and a further 20% discount will be available by pre-paying on line at
ba.com

Please familiarise yourself with details of the new baggage policy
http://www.ba.com/baggagepolicy


Yours sincerely,

British Airways

 

[Dave Noble]

The new hand luggage allowance is more generous than before and the hold lugagge is more generous than before

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The new hand luggage allowance is more generous than before and the hold lugagge is more generous than before

Dave

An over simplification. It has been reported that the new rules will be strictly enforced - meaning those few times when we've been slightly over wont be allowed any more. The enforcement will apparently be at check in, at security (sent back to check in if over) and also at transfers (flight connection centre) - which will cause chaos and major delays if rigidly enforced.

The carry on weight allowance is increased, but the piece allowance reduced - a second piece must fit under seat in front which may not be possible some seats, no more 1 bag + laptop + duty free or suit bag (1 of these will need to be checked).

The hold luggage allowance has reduced in some circumstances and increased in others. The biggest issue though is a strict limit on weight per piece of 23kg - if you're over you have to repack. The excess baggage fee is pretty high at 120 pounds for each longhaul flight - may well be cheaper to ditch stuff at check in if you're over and can't fit it in carry-on.

I am very glad I have a trip on BA a couple of days before the new rules take effect as I can imagine horrendous delays and multiple misconnects. I only hope my plans don't change to a later date.

 

[Dave Noble]

An over simplification. It has been reported that the new rules will be strictly enforced - meaning those few times when we've been slightly over wont be allowed any more. The enforcement will apparently be at check in, at security (sent back to check in if over) and also at transfers (flight connection centre) - which will cause chaos and major delays if rigidly enforced.

The carry on weight allowance is increased, but the piece allowance reduced - a second piece must fit under seat in front which may not be possible some seats, no more 1 bag + laptop + duty free or suit bag (1 of these will need to be checked).

The hold luggage allowance has reduced in some circumstances and increased in others. The biggest issue though is a strict limit on weight per piece of 23kg - if you're over you have to repack. The excess baggage fee is pretty high at 120 pounds for each longhaul flight - may well be cheaper to ditch stuff at check in if you're over and can't fit it in carry-on.

I am very glad I have a trip on BA a couple of days before the new rules take effect as I can imagine horrendous delays and multiple misconnects. I only hope my plans don't change to a later date.

1 bag + laptop + duty free bag is exactly what will be allowed. Suit carriers are not currently allowed in excess of this anyway, so any allowance of them has been beyond the cabin baggage allowance

The excess bag fee is significantly lower than before. At the moment, excess fees from UK-OZ for example is GBP25 per Kg . Under the new scheme the excess fee will be GBP120 ( or 96 if prepaid ) for an additional piece of up to 23Kg.

Currently , on most routes, the allowance for hold baggage is 23/23/30/40 Kg; under the new scheme it will be 23/46/46/46 for Y/W/J/F respectively, albeit limited to 1 piece in economy and 2 pieces in all other classes

I find it hard to find anything to complain about to be honest , except for those doing transatlantic flights where 2 * 32 has reduced to 2 * 23

Dave

 

[NM]

My concern (purely personal due to my own travel patterns) is that this policy is different to other airlines that I use on the same trip (usually something like a DONE4).

So for purely BA travel, or even for BA/AA combined travel, it is indeed generous and workable. But when my travel includes QF or BA, my carry-on bag size is limited by those airlines policies, so if I want a "standard size" carry-on for my BA flights, it will need to check checked for QF.

But QF and CX will permit me 2 checked bags to 32kg each, while BA and AA limit them to 23kg each.

So I end up with the need to arrange my luggage (carry-on and checked) based on the lowest common denominator. Which means one small carry-on bag (to 7kg) plus laptop, and two checked bags to 23kg, which is somewhat less than either the BA/AA combined allowance or the QF/CX combined allowance.

The sooner all OneWorld airlines move to a common allowance (whichever one, I don't care a great deal either way), the better.

My only other concern is seeing people struggle to fit their "standard size" carry-on bags into the overhead lockers on BA's 737 and A319/A320 aircraft and noting the need to board early to ensure sufficient space for my QF-sized carry-on bag.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The excess bag fee is significantly lower than before. At the moment, excess fees from UK-OZ for example is GBP25 per Kg . Under the new scheme the excess fee will be GBP120 ( or 96 if prepaid ) for an additional piece of up to 23Kg.

It is higher - if you're 1kg over then 120 pounds vs 25 (I'll take your word that is the current charge). And don't forget the free allowance per bag is lower so that makes it even worse.

A 32kg bag under current rules is charged nothing (unless in economy and not on a ticket that includes americas). Whereas under new rules you have to split it into 2 bags, and the extra 10kg (assuming 1kg empty weight of the extra bag) is charged 120 pounds.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

My only other concern is seeing people struggle to fit their "standard size" carry-on bags into the overhead lockers on BA's 737 and A319/A320 aircraft and noting the need to board early to ensure sufficient space for my QF-sized carry-on bag.

Having significantly heavier carry-ons may well lead to the circus that us-based airlines have for boarding

 

[NM]

IA 32kg bag under current rules is charged nothing (unless in economy and not on a ticket that includes americas). Whereas under new rules you have to split it into 2 bags, and the extra 10kg (assuming 1kg empty weight of the extra bag) is charged 120 pounds.

Where can I buy one of those 1kg bags capable to safely carrying 10kg of contents as checked baggage?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Hey I didnt say it would be safe! Pretty sure those cheap jumbo size plastic bags weigh 1kg or less and can carry several kilos. But you're right - I was being generous for a normal suitcase let alone a wheelie.

 

[Dave Noble]

It is higher - if you're 1kg over then 120 pounds vs 25 (I'll take your word that is the current charge). And don't forget the free allowance per bag is lower so that makes it even worse.

A 32kg bag under current rules is charged nothing (unless in economy and not on a ticket that includes americas). Whereas under new rules you have to split it into 2 bags, and the extra 10kg (assuming 1kg empty weight of the extra bag) is charged 120 pounds.

A 32KG bag on a non US route should be charged for 2 Kg over for business ( GBP50 on a UK-OZ ) and 9 Kg over for economy ( 12 * 25 = GBP225 on Uk-Oz)

If travelling business, it will have to be 2 bags but there would be no excess charge owing and in economy, the excess would be GBP96/120

Seems better to me

Dave

 

[JohnK]

I normally travel with one bag at around 27-28kgs with no carry-on unless I have duty free.

Now I need to keep the weight of the bag to less than 23kg and carry an extra bag with for the other 4-5kgs. I will also have to make sure that my scales are absolutely aligned with the scales used at check-in counters around the world, otherwise I will have to fiddle around unpacking and re-packing bags, that have already been carefully packed, at check-in.

So now I have two bags to worry about. What about duty free? Need to make sure that the carry-on bag is big enough to carry that.

Thanks BA! I may have to fly with you to BKK in mid-July as this is the only award choice available on the day I want to travel but we will have to see for next time.

 

[Yada Yada]

The new hand luggage allowance is more generous than before and the hold lugagge is more generous than before

If the max weight per checked bag is being reduced, and you can only check one bag in economy, how is this more generous?

 

[Dave Noble]

If the max weight per checked bag is being reduced, and you can only check one bag in economy, how is this more generous?

Economy has only been 23Kg up till now and this isn't changing. As I pointed out

W goes from 23Kg to 46Kg ... increase of 23Kg
J goes from 30 Kg to 46Kg ... increase of 16 Kg
F goes from 40Kg to 46Kg ... increase of 6Kg

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

I normally travel with one bag at around 27-28kgs with no carry-on unless I have duty free.

Under the current scheme you would be opening yourself to 4-5Kg of excess baggage charges if they didnt change the allowances, given their intention to stop allowing ppl to exceed their allowances

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Under the current scheme you would be opening yourself to 4-5Kg of excess baggage charges if they didnt change the allowances, given their intention to stop allowing ppl to exceed their allowances

Which in my opinion is a whole lot of hogwash. I now have to lug two bags around if I want to travel BA. It is a whole lot easier to wheel one bag of 27-28kgs then it is to wheel one bag of 23kgs and carry a bag of 5 kgs in my other hand or lug it on my shoulder.

If you are allowed to check-in 23kgs and carry-on 7kgs then why can't I check-in 30kgs and have no carry-on? Absolutely dumb decision.

Just off topic slightly. As a OneWorld sapphire am I not allowed to check-in 32kgs in economy with QF plus have carry-on bags as well. Am I allowed this privilige with any OneWorld carrier? Why would I travel BA in economy with their new rules?

 

[NM]

Which in my opinion is a whole lot of hogwash. I now have to lug two bags around if I want to travel BA. It is a whole lot easier to wheel one bag of 27-28kgs then it is to wheel one bag of 23kgs and carry a bag of 5 kgs in my other hand or lug it on my shoulder.

If you are allowed to check-in 23kgs and carry-on 7kgs then why can't I check-in 30kgs and have no carry-on? Absolutely dumb decision.

You can thank the baggage handling unions for this one. They have set the 23kg limit not for the airline's benefit, but for occupational health and safety requirements for the handlers. They believe that lifting any more than 23kg at a time is a potential health/injury risk and hence why no one piece can exceed 23kg.

Just off topic slightly. As a OneWorld sapphire am I not allowed to check-in 32kgs in economy with QF plus have carry-on bags as well. Am I allowed this privilege with any OneWorld carrier? Why would I travel BA in economy with their new rules?

extra baggage allowance is not a OneWorld benefit. It is a benefit offered by QF (and some other airlines) to their own elite FF members, as well as to passengers paying for premium cabin tickets.

 

[Dave Noble]

Just off topic slightly. As a OneWorld sapphire am I not allowed to check-in 32kgs in economy with QF plus have carry-on bags as well. Am I allowed this privilige with any OneWorld carrier? Why would I travel BA in economy with their new rules?

Your ticket indicates the allowance , which in economy on BA is 23Kg. QF offers their own silver/gold/platinum members an additional allowance when travelling on services QF marketed and operated .

On BA , your current allowance in economy is 23 Kg plus 1 medium bag of max 6kg . No bag may exceed 32Kg , however excess baggage fees apply for bags 23-32Kg on a per kilo excess.

Under the new scheme you will be allowed 1 bag of max 23Kg plus 1 medium piece of cabin baggage with no 6Kg restriction any more plus a laptop

No difference in your allowance than before other than you will not be able to have bags exceeding 23Kg and the excess fees will typicially be lower than current

For an economy passenger this seems to be a good reason to use them

Dave

 

[aus_flyer]

How long until "occupational health and safety" deems 10kg too heavy to lift?

 

[JohnK]

No difference in your allowance than before other than you will not be able to have bags exceeding 23Kg and the excess fees will typicially be lower than current

There is a huge difference otherwise this thread would not exist.

Dave I have travelled with BA from BKK-SYD a few years ago and had a bag that weighed 27-28kgs as it always does when I travel overseas and had no problem. Now I have to split items into 2 bags, one to check-in and one to carry on board. It is problem for me as I do not want to lug 2 bags around. I am paying enough for airfare as it is, so no need to pay excess baggage fees on top.

It appears that travel in BA economy is now a big no no for most people.

 

[Dave Noble]

There is a huge difference otherwise this thread would not exsit.

Dave I have travelled with BA from BKK-SYD a few years ago and had a bag that weighed 27-28kgs as it always does when I travel overseas and had no problem. Now I have to split items into 2 bags, one to check-in and one to carry on board. It is problem for me as I do not want to lug 2 bags around. I am paying enough for airfare as it is, so no need to pay excess baggage fees on top.

It appears that travel in BA economy is now a big no no for most people.

You are missing a major point. With a 28Kg bag you are exceeding the baggage allowance that exists at the current time anyway. BA is adjusting their systems such that staff will not be able to avoid charging excess fees due to the large amounts that they have calculated that they have lost by agents not charging it. If they did not change the allowance, then yes , you could check the bag in however you would be hit for excess bag charges of 4-5 Kg.

In order to avoid excess fees, you need to ensure that you are within the allowance. Given that you only check in 1 bag, there is no difference for you at all , since I presume that you would ensure that if you knew that they will not ignore overlimit baggage you would not check in 28Kg

For an economy passenger, the only real difference is

only 1 piece <=23Kg allowed, rather than multiple up to 23Kg (e.g. 2 bags 10Kg + 12Kg )

For World Traveller Plus

Rather than 1 piece <=23 Kg , 2 pieces <= 23Kg - complete benefit

For J and F

They do have the issue that currently they could check in a 28Kg bag but now need to either (a) check 2 bags in or (b) carry on some of the stuff. They do have a larger allowance overall though


Dave