MH (temporarily) bans checked luggage

[joyvee]

Could it be a way of drumming up free publicity?

 

[codash1099]

Well, it looks like this has just been picked up by the mainstream media:

Malaysia Airlines temporarily bans checked baggage for flights to Europe due to 'safety, strong head winds' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation

One third of this particular article is about the baggage ban (basically just with quotes lifted from the MH website) and the other two thirds is about the airline's other incidents over the past couple of years....

Maybe it has something to do with using a 737, as shown in the accompanying picture in the article!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Could it be a way of drumming up free publicity?

Not with something as negative as this. It is the wrong message on many fronts... unable to route plan, unable to contingency plan, unable to work out that your A380 shouldn't have been excluded, unable to provide your passengers with the basics of warm clothing heading into a European winter...

This is not a case where 'any publicity is good publicity'. It's pretty much a PR disaster.

 

[Quickstatus]

It appears that the temporary checkin ban applies only for period 5-6 January 2016. So it would tend to fit in with headwinds??.

A BA 777 made a record subsonic transatlantic flight of around 5 hours + due to strong tailwinds.

Did MH buy the 77200ER with derated engines resulting in lower MTOW and therefore range?. I believe this may affect airport fees and purchase price?.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Wierd. If they want to cut weight, why wouldn't they just limit the number of PAX carried? I thought that was what QF did on its flights to DFW...

Cheers skip

 

[SeatBackForward]

Wierd. If they want to cut weight, why wouldn't they just limit the number of PAX carried? I thought that was what QF did on its flights to DFW...

Cheers skip

I think MH is already adopting that strategy...

 

[SeatBackForward]

Maybe they don't want to pay for fuel at the other end? I know, crazy, but add it to the list of possibilities.

 

[cmon0005]

I'd hate to be the check-in staff trying to explain and enforce this! But yes it is ridiculous, no way would I travel with hand luggage only on a Europe flight. Crazy..

 

[dodgeyhack]

Why weigh your plane down with free cargo when you can carry paid cargo instead?
I expect this is a way to minimise their loses.
Most airlines reduce the paid cargo load in the event of range issues. MH is going the other way.

 

[anat0l]

The MH statement says that checked luggage may be accepted but it will not be carried on the same flight. That would be a security violation, right? No idea on the delay on delivery of luggage, however.

Why weigh your plane down with free cargo when you can carry paid cargo instead?
I expect this is a way to minimise their loses.
Most airlines reduce the paid cargo load in the event of range issues. MH is going the other way.

Only thing I can think of is that MH painted itself into a corner with its cargo contracts / responsibilities. So their choices were alienate customers or face some stiff monetary penalties for breaking contracts. That's all I can think of. If the attitude at the airline was that their European network was going to be jettisoned anyway, I guess this kind of decision reinforces that lack of attention.



In any case, if MH is just trying to avoid Russia and Ukraine for security reasons, they're likely flying over more difficult territory, and the Russians or Ukrainians can shoot them down if they really want.

 

[eastwest101]

I am just thinking that another possibility is that it is potentially an EU ban or temporary policy due to shortfalls in security screening at KL or even an EU response to a specific security threat, I can't see how the A380 services could be exempt from any security threats or warnings though.

Or as others have said - a simple revenue grab to maintain freight volumes and income by offloading pax checked luggage? Will be interesting to see if/how they enforce the hand luggage limits. As anat0l implies, I can't see any other airlines taking the risk of large volumes of unaccompanied pax luggage at the moment so would be assuming that MAS Cargo or other cargo services would be clearing the 'backlog'?


As regarding to flight paths - I can see at the moment that nearly everyone in flying through Romania-Black Sea-Turkey-Iran or via Saudi Arabia-Egypt. Or an alternative wording is that it looks like Syria, Iraq and Ukraine are totally off limits to most mainstream carriers. I expect its been this way for quite a while?

 

[samh004]

Your guess is as good as mine...

I'm not sure whether I believe their reasoning though. Why aren't any other airlines affected?

Honestly sounds like they're prepared to make customers suffer instead of taking on less cargo (which I'm sure they're still carrying tons of).

 

[JohnK]

The MH statement says that checked luggage may be accepted but it will not be carried on the same flight. That would be a security violation, right? No idea on the delay on delivery of luggage, however.

I believe it is only a security violation if you request to travel on a different flight to your luggage.

 

[eastwest101]

I believe it is only a security violation if you request to travel on a different flight to your luggage.

Correct - but if someone were to book a flight from KUL-Europe right now on MH - thanks to the current policy - you are almost guaranteed not to be on the same aircraft as your luggage. This has made Malaysian Airlines an easier target for potential terrorists, and as such, an increased security risk, so I wouldn't at all be surprised if the Dutch/French or UK government bans MH from flying to their airports whist this policy is in place, or they consider doing so, if they are concerned about security.

 

[thehound]

In all my years of being a points chasing frequent flyer, this is one of the most bizarre things I've seen in a long time! I saw the story on the abc new website initially and thought it must be either a gag or a mistake. Surely this kind of action has a very high likelihood of crippling the airline - even if the policy does only last a few days, if the story gets disseminated widely enough the damage will be done and irremediable.

 

[Punky]

Not with something as negative as this. It is the wrong message on many fronts... unable to route plan, unable to contingency plan, unable to work out that your A380 shouldn't have been excluded, unable to provide your passengers with the basics of warm clothing heading into a European winter...

Other airlines had chosen to fly over Iran, Malaysia had decided not to fly over Iran, but rather take a more scenic route.

Honestly sounds like they're prepared to make customers suffer instead of taking on less cargo (which I'm sure they're still carrying tons of).

The weren't.

 

[Punky]

If they have an range/loading issue due to a "temporary longer flight path", then why not add a temporary tech stop somewhere (like DOH or DXB)?

Crew hours....

 

[takenbyaliens]

Maybd MH have received a security threat re checked luggage? !

There is a story going around that this indeed may be the situation. LHR seems not to be involved but CDG and AMS are. If load an issue why not offload some low yield pax but keep baggage??? Seems v strange way to solve the 'problem'. Also their exchange policy does not allow refunds...you can rearrange and have your holiday/trip later or cancel to use fare cost within 12 months. All seems like ??????

 

[medhead]

Fuel has never been cheaper.

Maybe they don't want to pay for fuel at the other end? I know, crazy, but add it to the list of possibilities.

Seems the issue was having enough fuel to make the destination. I'm pretty sure that the price of fuel has no relationship to the ability to actually store it on the aircraft.

What would passengers do who arrived at the airport (as a family of four) with 80 kilograms or more of luggage supposedly for checking in if they wanted quick access to their luggage at the destination?

Rush around to the freight section of KUL airport and try to consign it to MEL, SYD, ADL or other destinations - and risk missing their booked flight (plus make a huge hole in their credit card(s)?

Does the ban only apply northwestbound, and not returning from Europe to KUL?

that's a nice idea. Family travelling to europe, this ban was only for flights to europe, and luggage goes on holiday to Australia.

 

[Quickstatus]

MH rescinds checked baggage ban.

Now apparently taking a more northerly route.

The more southerly route via Saudi Arabia and the Sinai peninsula now replaced by a slightly more northerly one via Iran and Turkey.

Cynical me says MH did not want to pay the high fees charges by Iran to transit their airspace, until now

MH2 up till Jan 7 took approx 15.5 hours and the flight on Jan5 took 15 hours 45 min. (gives credibility to the headwind issue) The Jan 7 MH2 now scheduled to take just under 14 hours

The returning MH1 still taking the southerly route via the Sinai Peninsula

In comparison SIA 322 flies a much more northern route via Kazaksthan and Russia and usually takes 13.5 hours.