BA Baggage Allowance Cuts

[FloridaCandle]

Hi Globaliser and Lexxity - just wondered where your info came from. Just spoken to BA res and they advise that what you say is NOT the case, I will only be able to take 2 x 23kg NOT 2 x32kg.
Are you ground staff - have you been told differently? Would love to know where you heard this.

[lexxity]

Hi Florida I've been searching the BA website for their terms and conditions and here is what it says in their general terms and conditions of carriage

General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage - effective 1 March 2005

8. Baggage

8a) Your free baggage allowance

We will carry some of your baggage free of charge. Your free baggage allowance will be shown on your ticket, or in the case of an electronic ticket, on your itinerary and receipt and will depend on our baggage regulations applying at the time of your flight. If you are in doubt, please ask us or our authorised agents for details of your free baggage allowance and our baggage regulations.

It also states on ba.com

19. Our Regulations
When we carry you and your baggage you must obey our regulations. These concern, among other things:

- unaccompanied children;
- passengers with a disability;
- pregnant women and sick passengers;
- carrying animals;
- restrictions on using electronic devices on board the aircraft;
- smoking and drinking alcohol on board the aircraft;
- forbidden items in baggage; and
- limits on the measurements, size and weight of baggage.

It also states:

General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage - effective 1 March 2005

2d) Differences between these conditions of carriage and our regulations

If these conditions of carriage are inconsistent with our regulations, these conditions of carriage will apply.

So from what I can make out your allowance is 2x32kgs. Time for Flying Lawer to take a look at this I think.

(BTW, I don't work for BA, but I do work in the industry.)


Link here.

[FloridaCandle]

Hi Lexxity - thanks your response. I'd already looked into the T&C's but you know BA with their heavy legal team would never let a man on the street get away with suing them for something like this. Even in the terms you sent, the phrase "and will depend on our baggage regulations applying at the time of your flight" will no doubt cover them if they want to change the rules.
Whilst at Sir Freddie Laker's memorial last week one of the things that made everyone laugh was the way Sir F always used to say "sue the B.....ds" when anything went wrong - believe me I'd love to do it, but know I don't have a leg to stand on.
Fairly new to PPrune - who is Flying Lawer? If it's someone with the forums who can give any legal advice, would be greatly appreciated.

[FloridaCandle]

Meant to add this to previous message - the attached was taken from BA's website
Customers booked to travel should arrive at the airport two hours before the scheduled departure time, as normal. However, we advise customers to minimise the amount of hand baggage they carry with them and allow sufficient time to clear central security searches.[/I]
It seems like the left hand doesn't know what the right's doing at BA. Sure a lot will agree with me there. Either that or total hypocrisy.
I look forward to getting as familiar with the VS product as I have BA over the years. World's Favourite Airline? Not for much longer.

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by FloridaCandle

Hi Globaliser and Lexxity - just wondered where your info came from. Just spoken to BA res and they advise that what you say is NOT the case, I will only be able to take 2 x 23kg NOT 2 x32kg.

I was only passing on what I'd seen on another BB. I'm sorry that BA are denying it.

What I'd read did have the ring of truth about it: It looked like it was a carefully-crafted policy that got around the potential contract problems that BA would have if they strictly applied the new allowances to bookings made before the announcement. Some other airlines in a similar situation have adopted a grandfathering attitude towards existing bookings, which is why I thought that it was sensible. It was also too carefully-crafted to have been something dreamt up on the spot by a res/sales agent on a frolic of their own.

Originally Posted by FloridaCandle

I look forward to getting as familiar with the VS product as I have BA over the years. World's Favourite Airline? Not for much longer.

Unfortunately, history suggests that VS will not be far behind; they often lag BA in unpopular changes, sliding them in quietly. Of course, VS' better relationship with the media also means that the media conveniently ignore the changes that VS make first and hit BA when BA comes second (eg the last round of fuel surcharge increases, and the reduction for Y trans-Atlantic pax from 2 piece x 32 kg to 2 pieces x 23 kg).

I agree, though, with your point about minimising cabin baggage. This whole thing is a policy shambles.

[FloridaCandle]

Thanks Globaliser. I'm still hoping they will do the honourable thing - guess there's time to do so - I'm saying my nightly prayers!
When I made the comments about VS, I admit I was wrong in reading their info and hadn't realised VS was already down to 2 x 23kg in Economy.
However, their premium cabins have allowance of 2 x 32kg for PE and 3 x 32kg for Upper Class, which is equivalent to BA Club. That's recognition of extra they've paid. Let's not forget VS provide limo for UC pax within 50 miles of M25 (I am!) - that's another plus BA don't offer.
A further point, BA Res said how would check in staff be able to cope with some at 32kg and some at 23kg. Quite easy really if the PNR was flagged appropriately, even easier for those in premium cabins who check in at separate desks!

[lexxity]

Hi Florida, Flying Lawer is a very nice chap on this site who is a lawyer. He would be able to advise you in clear terms where you stand. He is great at putting legal jargon into plain english.

[Haven't a clue]

Confused pax

I am trying to understand how these new baggage rules apply to the whole BA empire. Most of my sectors start with what is now BA Connect from the Isle of Man. Now as they are not BA Mainline I guess there's a bit missing at the moment from the policy to warn those pax flying subsidiaries that the new policy does not apply to them.....?
So I anticipate those wonderful people who crew G-MABR (the BAe146-100 which unfortunately replaced the much missed and possibly sold in error 146-200 G-MIMA on the IOM-LGW route) to be confronted with over burdened pax fighting for a slice of the totally inadequate locker space on this aircraft in the mistaken belief that their BA ticket entitles them to carry their two huge bags on board. Of course I will be arguing equally strongly since I am connecting with another BA service which offers to carry my overweight carry-ons, provided I can lift one of them into the locker (which of course I can, 'cos I've been training for this moment..!)
Perhaps the bigger driver for this new policy is the realisation by BA management that allowing the customer to print out his own boarding pass permits him/her to bypass all the human checks including an assessment of carry-on baggage until he/she is almost on board the aircraft, so what the hell - if he/she can carry it, let it on board.
Oh and I'll have to pack some scales to check the weight of my checked luggage on its return journey to ensure I don't exceed the new maxima (which incidently we did on our return from our family holiday last month).
As a Gold card holder and a BA shareholder I have to wonder what is really going on here.

[reuters77]

According to the BBC, Heathrow are now going to be imposing their own limits on the amount of hand luggage that passengers can carry through security. I'm not sure how this works with BA's new policy. It would appear that not only are different parts of BA not speaking to each other but also that no one is speaking to BAA!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5097328.stm

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by reuters77

I'm not sure how this works with BA's new policy.

As I understand it, the gauges will be sized to match exactly the new BA limit. Or maybe it's the other way around.

[manintheback]

I am flying to SAfrica next Feb, tickets booked 8 weeks ago for the 2 of us. BA have confirmed today that the new limits apply (they have even 'kindly' changed the allowance limits on my exec club ebooking page), and not the ones in the T&Cs when I purchased the ticket for which I have a written copy. Pathetic and probably not lawful

edited to add: And further after a long discussion with BA Customer Services, they were exceptionally careful not to answer my question 'will you honour the T&Cs of my booking' repeated a number of times. Good politicians I will grant them that.

[FloridaCandle]

Hi ManintheBack - I'm in same situation. No matter what you ask them - they won't say anything except the new policy will apply to all passengers.
I agree it may not be legal with those holding ticketed reservations, but if you look further back in this thread you will see something which is along the lines of carrying your baggage free of charge, subject to the terms and conditions which exist at the time of travel. Something like that. As others have said on this and other sites, this has not been worded the best and may or may not be a get out clause for them. It'd be interesting to hear if any legal bods have any viewpoint.

[flyyy]

hey maninthe back.
for you it should not really make a difference (assuming you fly from italy to south africa. baggage limit on that route has always been 23kg per person on that route. the only difference is, that now you only have 1 bag per person.
actually you ar winning, as you are allowed to take more handluggage.
if flying from the US it is a bit different, but overall (including handluggage) you are still allowed to take about the same amount of luggage.
if flying business class it 2*23kg, so more than you were allowed to.
only passengers really loosing is pax flying from america. but there it seems it is not a standard to have only 2*23 (instead of 2*32) kg (saw the same limits on CO).

[apaddyinuk]

EXPECT DELAYS....

....when this fully comes into effect. As crew for BA we have been instructed by the company (and totally backed up by our union) not to touch any bag in any circumstances as a result of the revised weight limit. Many of us even have little cards in our pockets to back this up should we develope any grievences with customers.
So make sure you can lift your heavy bag into the lockers by yourself (keeping in mind some lockers are smaller/higher than others and lets not even get into a discussion about the 767) or you will be asked by the crew to wheel it up to the door and have it placed in the hold, even if your a little old lady.
Sounds harsh I know but unfortunately why should we risk injuring our own backs (which is very easy to do even with a light bag) for the sake of this new baggage policy especially when the company wont pay for any treatment.

[FloridaCandle]

Originally Posted by flyyy

if flying from the US it is a bit different, but overall (including handluggage) you are still allowed to take about the same amount of luggage.
if flying business class it 2*23kg, so more than you were allowed to.
only passengers really loosing is pax flying from america. but there it seems it is not a standard to have only 2*23 (instead of 2*32) kg (saw the same limits on CO).

My bolding applies
Your post is not 100% clear. If you are referring to flying business class to the US, luggage allowance is NOT more than you were allowed, but rather 18kg (or 20lbs) less over the 2 bags. A BIG difference.
You add "there it seems it is not a standard to have only 2*23 ..." - again this doesn't make sense and not sure what you mean - whether it is standard or not.
Most, if not all, US carriers now only allow 2 x 23kg, though they will allow passengers to have bags up to 32kg, provided excess is paid.
Furthermore, VS continues to allow 2 x 32kg for PE pax and 3 x 32kg for Upper Class - equivalent to BA's Club. It is only Economy that is restricted to 23kg with VS.
Yet BA will charge their WT+, Club and First passengers for anything over 23kg.
This is why it's so unfair on the transatlantic routes and has the potential to lose them a lot of high end business.

[ZFT]

apaddyinuk
What is the policy for a disabled passengers cabin baggage if BA’s policy is “not to touch any bag in any circumstances”?

[Leclairage]

Without wishing to detract from all the factual information given by others, my view of this is a tad cynical - particularly with BA. When it comes down to it, their preferred customers (the big-ticket, silver/gold club members) will be allowed to bring on board what they please, just as now.
Who hasn't had to struggle to find overhead space anywhere near their seat because of this, or watch others bring cabin luggage on board that beggars the rules when one has been denied modest items?

[WHBM]

If BA try to enforce rules that were not in force and not advised at the time of booking they will, at least in the UK, come under the Unfair Contract Terms Act, which will hold them to be unreasonable and therefore unenforceable.

[sixmilehighclub]

Whats also cr*p about this policy, is that say I am travelling and want to split my 23kg allowance from one large bag into two smaller bags (for convience, or for any other reason, because I am the traveller, I've paid for the ticket and I can pack how I want), I am now no longer allowed to do this.

Why? Surely if I turn up with 23kg of checked luggage, and my allowance is 23kg, thats all that should matter. Not how many bags I've chosen to put said luggage into.

Why?

It's unlikely everyone would, but if every passenger on a Jumbo split their allowance into 2 bags, it would take twice as long to load the bags! Twice as long to offload them and twice as long for a bag to be found if a passenger fails to make the flight they've checked in for. BA are trying to improve punctuality, because this is one of the most important factors discovered in results from customer feedback.

BA have been fairly laid back until now. Many passengers have taken advantage. This has been recognised and it has spoilt it for everyone.

Previous to this new policy, review any of the flights during boarding. You would regularly see the Cabin Crew fighting with overhead lockers, lifting overweight bags about the cabin themselves just to get all the bags in to approved places so that the flight can leave on time (Gents, would you expect a female on a train to help you with a heavy bag and risk injury?).

I have sat and witnessed people turning up on a plane with a large wheelie bag, a laptop bag, a cabin bag and a jacket, as well as duty free shopping and whatever else they've collected from various other airport shops. Well above the allowance. Then expect the crew to help or put their heavy bags into the wardrobe, which it is not stressed for to be safe. (And Leclairage, its not the cardholders who are the guilty party as they have already paid extra for the privelege, but on European routes tend to be on businees for a day or two, whereas the majority in Economy are leisure and carry more in the cabin as they are going fopr longer).

I know that for one night away, I can fit all of my belongings and clothes into a bag twice the size of my laptop. For 5 days everything fits into a small trolley bag. If i'm away for longer I have my laptop bag for the cabin, and a suitcase for the hold but I don't go overweight.

Passengers know the rules and have relied on BA's discretion and goodwill for so long. Now they are changing it no-ones happy!!

[manintheback]

Originally Posted by WHBM

If BA try to enforce rules that were not in force and not advised at the time of booking they will, at least in the UK, come under the Unfair Contract Terms Act, which will hold them to be unreasonable and therefore unenforceable.

And as large companies like BA know, the man in the street isnt going to sue them.