British Airways baggage policy

[JohnK]

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

So the best advice as I understand is for me not travel with BA in economy.

I can't avoid having 27-28kgs on my trip. Which means if I do go to BKK in July, there is only a BA flight available for award redemption on the day I want to travel, I would have to check-in a suitcase with only 22kgs and have a separate bag for the other 6kgs. On the return BKK-SIN-CNS-SYD, on AY and QF, I would check-in suitcase BKK-SYD and lug around a 6kg bag with me. Or I can use one of those mesh bags and returning I can just pack everything it my suitcase again. Problem solved.

 

[Dave Noble]

So the best advice as I understand is for me not travel with BA in economy.

I can't avoid having 27-28kgs on my trip. Which means if I do go to BKK in July, there is only a BA flight available for award redemption on the day I want to travel, I would have to check-in a suitcase with only 22kgs and have a separate bag for the other 6kgs. On the return BKK-SIN-CNS-SYD, on AY and QF, I would check-in suitcase BKK-SYD and lug around a 6kg bag with me. Or I can use one of those mesh bags and returning I can just pack everything it my suitcase again. Problem solved.

No it isnt. If you return on AY where the economy allowance is 20Kg, you would be 8Kg overweight and could well be liable to excess baggage charges on that flight

As a QF Gold, travelling on QF ONLY, you are entitled to an additional allowance

Dave

 

[JohnK]

No it isnt. If you return on AY where the economy allowance is 20Kg, you would be 8Kg overweight and could well be liable to excess baggage charges on that flight

Sorry Dave, I have travelled on AY SIN-BKK-SIN 2.5 times now and my 27-28kgs suitcase was not even questioned once! When I was re-routed onto the Swiss Air flight in April again not even questioned again! The check-in agent did not even blink.

As a QF Gold, travelling on QF ONLY, you are entitled to an additional allowance

Not just QF Gold. As a QF Silver I was also entitled to the extra 10kgs giving a total of 30kgs. I can probably even get away with another 14kgs carry on. Makes perfect sense to travel QF/AY if travelling economy.

Now if QF/AY were to change the goalposts....

 

[Dave Noble]

Sorry Dave, I have travelled on AY SIN-BKK-SIN 2.5 times now and my 27-28kgs suitcase was not even questioned once! When I was re-routed onto the Swiss Air flight in April again not even questioned again! The check-in agent did not even blink.

If you were travelling in business class, then you were within the limit; if yoiu were travelling economy class you were over the limit and could well have been charged. Not being charged when overlimit is luck and not to be relied on.

Not just QF Gold. As a QF Silver I was also entitled to the extra 10kgs giving a total of 30kgs. I can probably even get away with another 14kgs carry on. Makes perfect sense to travel QF/AY if travelling economy.

Now if QF/AY were to change the goalposts....

I know that QF Silver gets the extra allowance on QF; since you are currently Gold that was what I was referring to. Travelling on QF, you are entitled to 1 extra piece on piece routes and extra weight on weight routes.

If travelling economy on AY (or any airline), you cannot rely on them ignoring 8Kg of excess baggage; their doing it one day does not mean that they will do it another

BA are , quite correctly imo, going to a consistent application of baggage fees. Anyone over limits will be treated equally. This, to me, is quite fair.

Dave

 

[JohnK]

If you were travelling in business class, then you were within the limit; if yoiu were travelling economy class you were over the limit and could well have been charged. Not being charged when overlimit is luck and not to be relied on.

Dave, I do not think that getting away with 27-28kgs 5 times on AY and once on LX is luck. In defence of the situation each time the luggage was checked from SYD through to BKK and when returning the luggage was checked from BKK through to SYD. In these situations those airlines probably thought it best not take any action.

My Dad went SYD-SKG with Gulf Air in May in deep discount economy and checked-in 27kgs no problems. Most airlines, based on personal experience, allow passengers this leeway. I also remember once checking in 32kgs flying Olympic on discount economy ticket.

 

[NM]

Dave, I do not think that getting away with 27-28kgs 5 times on AY and once on LX is luck.

If these were economy class tickets on AY, then yes you were lucky. If they were business class fares such as the D fares used by some people for the SIN-BKK Status Runs, then you were entitled to check 28kg according to the ticket purchased. Were these 5 examples travelling on an economy or business class ticket?

Most airlines, based on personal experience, allow passengers this leeway.

And times are changing. Don't assume such policies to continue. We should never expect an airline to carry more than their published allowance without charging their published excess baggage fees. If we don't get charged, that is a bonus not a right or an expectation, nor should it be a precedent for future travel.

When I travel, I make sure I understand the allowances to which I am entitled for the ticket purchased and I pack according to that knowledge. As such I have never been charged for excess baggage, nor have I had to plead, wink at, nor thank an agent for waiving an excess baggage fee which I should have been required to pay.

BA's change to their published allowances and their policy for calculating and charging excess fees is easy to understand. In all cases it is at least the same as previous limits and in many cases they provide increased limits.

I certainly expect other airlines to follow the lead of AA and now BA in limiting individual pieces to a maximum of 23kg. I believe its only a matter of time. Perhaps its time to formulate a different packing regime that matches the published allowances of the airlines you plan to travel on.

I don't care what the policy is, so long as it includes reasonable limits (and 23kg checked plus medium sized carry-on for an economy passenger is reasonable in my opinion) and so long as it is applied consistently across all airlines on the same ticket. Different policies between airlines on the same ticket is where I have to pack according to the lowest common denominator. But again, so long as I know what that is, I will ensure I comply without an expectation that they generously waive an excess fee just because it was done previously.

 

[JohnK]

If these were economy class tickets on AY, then yes you were lucky. If they were business class fares such as the D fares used by some people for the SIN-BKK Status Runs, then you were entitled to check 28kg according to the ticket purchased. Were these 5 examples travelling on an economy or business class ticket?

Economy class tickets. I didn't carry luggage on the status runs.

And times are changing. Don't assume such policies to continue.

Please don't misunderstand me. I know times are changing and nothing should be taken for granted

I don't care what the policy is, so long as it includes reasonable limits (and 23kg checked plus medium sized carry-on for an economy passenger is reasonable in my opinion) and so long as it is applied consistently across all airlines on the same ticket.

There is no consistency now but may well be sometime in the future.

I was only relating my story. I find it difficult to wheel one bag and carry another or wheel both bags. So if I have 2 connections in the one day, which I normally do when travelling overseas, I will be lugging a bag around with me at transit points. And yes, I know tough luck for me if rules change on QF as well.

Other than the silly safety issue of not lifting more than 23kgs why can't I be able to check-in a 28kgs bag and something written on my boarding pass not allowed carry on. I guess too much extra work for FA's or you could get stopped at security, so people would not cheat.

I guess I am too selfish.

 

[Maca44]

Dave, I do not think that getting away with 27-28kgs 5 times on AY and once on LX is luck.

JohnK, I don't think you will beat the system and to change the goal posts would not be unusual. However, if you have gotten away with 27-28kg on five occasions I suppose you might be lucky, but on one of your future trips if you get charged for excess baggage I would not consider this as bad luck, its just the rules.

 

[NM]

I was only relating my story. I find it difficult to wheel one bag and carry another or wheel both bags. So if I have 2 connections in the one day, which I normally do when travelling overseas, I will be lugging a bag around with me at transit points. And yes, I know tough luck for me if rules change on QF as well.

Maybe its time to get some luggage that enable you to get around with more than one bag.

On my recent RTW trip, I started out with one rolling suitcase that weighed in at around 18kg, plus my wheelie briefcase and a backpack carrying my laptop. On previous trips I only used the briefcase, but as it weighs over 7kg with the laptop inside, I split it into two so each carry-on was under 7kg and hence conformed to the lowest common denominator.

By the time I left the conference in Miami, I had collected a significant volume and weight of additional things to carry home. At the conference, all deligates were provided a bag to carry the things you normally collect from the various conference displays. So I stuffed some of the heavier and non-breakable things into this bag and checked it in as well as my suit case. I probably could have fitted everyting (including this conference bag) into my suit case, but it would have been over 25kg altogether, and I know the AA policy for checked baggage and their 50lb limit.

My suit case has a strap for attaching other things to the outside and this allowed me to "connect" the two checked bags for easy handling through the airports for the remainder of my trip - as well for hotel transfers using buses, taxis and trains. No problem with getting around with two checked bags when they connect and roll along as one.

My backpack can either be carried on my back or slung over the handle of my rolling briefcase. So with one rolling suit case + extra bag on one hand, and the rolling broefcase and backpack in the other, I was not more or less constrained than if all my checked belongings were in a single bag.

Now obviously this is only an option when flying on a ticket that permits two checked bags! If on a ticket with only a single checked bag entitlement I would have prepared differently

Other than the silly safety issue of not lifting more than 23kgs why can't I be able to check-in a 28kgs bag and something written on my boarding pass not allowed carry on. I guess too much extra work for FA's or you could get stopped at security, so people would not cheat.

The only reason is the health and safety issue of handlers lifting bags in excess of 23kg, not the total weight of your checked and carryon bags.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, I don't think you will beat the system and to change the goal posts would not be unusual.

I am not trying to beat the system Maca. I am not lucky either. Many people I know, no status passengers, are able to check-in up to ~32kgs on most airlines. I have been used to something that makes me comfortable but good things do not last forever. With the rules changing I need to change my luggage strategy somehow. Not very happy about it though.

I am glad that QF has not changed their baggage policy yet!

 

[Dave Noble]

I am not trying to beat the system Maca. I am not lucky either. Many people I know, no status passengers, are able to check-in up to ~32kgs on most airlines. I have been used to something that makes me comfortable but good things do not last forever. With the rules changing I need to change my luggage strategy somehow. Not very happy about it though.

I am glad that QF has not changed their baggage policy yet!

You are trying to "beat the system". The baggage allowances are quite clear and you are deliberately trying to flout it. So far you have been lucky but you stand a good chance that some days you will be getting a credit card out to pay a bill

20Kg allowance means a max of 20Kg, not 22Kg , not 25Kg, not 28Kg. Some airlines/airports are more strict and there are oft complaints of "Why are you charging me, I wasnt charged on the way out/last time .. WAAAAAH!" ( even the Holiday Airport - Sydney showed an example of this on a QF passenger )

On Qantas flights, thanks to the additional allowance, you are fine with 28Kg ( unless they elect to join in with the BA scheme ) , but on all other carriers dont rely on getting away with excess weight ( especially BA from Oct )

Dave

 

[JohnK]

You are trying to "beat the system". The baggage allowances are quite clear and you are deliberately trying to flout it. So far you have been lucky but you stand a good chance that some days you will be getting a credit card out to pay a bill

Ok dave, as usual you are right again.

"Deliberately trying to flout it"! Absolute rubbish. Everyone does it. You do it. Even the travel agents say you have 20K allowance but you can take 7-8kgs more and they won't say anything.

If I was asked to pay excess I wouldn't be paying it just delay check-in by a few minutes, buy mesh bag and put excess baggage into mesh bag. And if I am still over then I will have to start wearing some of the excess clothes to make sure I am under the baggage allowance.

 

[Dave Noble]

Ok dave, as usual you are right again.

"Deliberately trying to flout it"! Absolute rubbish. Everyone does it. You do it. Even the travel agents say you have 20K allowance but you can take 7-8kgs more and they won't say anything.

Any travel agent that says that is being a fool and leaving themself open to litigation. If you know that the limit is 20 and you deliberately take 28Kg regardless, then yes, you are deliberately trying to flout it imo.

I have seem people being charged excess baggage for being 5 Kg over

Dave

 

[Mal]

I have to ask...

With this new policy in place, what stops a CSA from being super generous once again with allowing eg a 25Kg bag or more without charging the customer?

I've never been more than 1Kg over any checked baggage limit provided by an airline, so this change doesn't worry me. I'd find it hard to pack a bag more than 23Kg for any short/reasonable length trip!

 

[Dave Noble]

I have to ask...

With this new policy in place, what stops a CSA from being super generous once again with allowing eg a 25Kg bag or more without charging the customer?

BA are being clever little chappies and are linking their check in system to the weight. If the weight of bag is over 23Kg it wont allow it through. If the agent requests more luggage tags than allowed it will require the payment details

Dave

 

[jakeseven7]

BA are being clever little chappies and are linking their check in system to the weight. If the weight of bag is over 23Kg it wont allow it through. If the agent requests more luggage tags than allowed it will require the payment details

Dave

There will be ways around it. There always is.

 

[Dave Noble]

There will be ways around it. There always is.

I wouldn't bet too much on it. BA have realised that there is good money in excess baggage and putting steps in place to take away the agent's discretion on charging will limit ways around it

Dave

 

[Yada Yada]

I wouldn't bet too much on it. BA have realised that there is good money in excess baggage and putting steps in place to take away the agent's discretion on charging will limit ways around it

Oh well, if they get too gestapo-like in policing this policy they will very likely scare some of their customers away to competitors.

 

[jakeseven7]

I wouldn't bet too much on it. BA have realised that there is good money in excess baggage and putting steps in place to take away the agent's discretion on charging will limit ways around it

Dave

I would bet on it actually. Here are 2 examples.

1) Getting a nice check in person when you are only a couple of kgs over 'Just um lift your bad a bit sir, take some of the weight of it until I hit the button'
2) And I have done this with mates twice on Jet* after benders on the GC - one person is decoy, chatting to check in staff avidly, one person rests their foot under the baggage to stop the full weight registering... - heh heh Another variation is resting it on the metal guards - but deemed too obvious.

Where there is a will there is a way.

 

[Mal]

There are several tricks to making a scale not show the correct weight of an item. Not that the BA staffers will be able to easily do them with a 20+Kg bag, but they are possible.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

I do applaud BA on their lockdown though. Not from a consumer's view, but from a Shareholder's type view. Very crafty to implement changes down to the scales level.