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BA Baggage Allowance Cuts

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Old 10th Jul 2006, 12:36
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Let's get something straight here - the short-haul fares nowadays are comparable to EasyJet or Ryanair, with some being even lower than the charterers.

Nobody bats an eyelid when EasyJet or Ryanair charge for every grramme of excess (and their allowances are significantly less than BA's new ones), but somehow you feel BA is being unreasonable when it enforces the allowances.

The US carriers have disallowed bags over 23 kgs for over eighteen months now (AA, CO, US, UA etc) and charge $50 if a bag is over 23 kgs.

BA has chosen to have 23 kgs as the absolute upper limit - our prerogative, end of story! The terms and conditions of carriage are perfectly fair and reasonable and sufficient notice has been given for you to find an alternative carrier if you don't like the new allowances. The vast majority of passengers will notice little or no difference. The "traders" who have made vast profits at the airlines' expense for so long will now have to pay their way - and what's wrong with that?

If you ask for a refund of an existing ticket because the changes to the Terms and Conditions are no longer acceptable to you (ie You use the Trading Standards Terminology, asking to speak to a supervisor in necessary, that the reservation is "Not Fit For the Purpose For Which It Was Sold!") that we will undoubtedly refund your ticket price. British Airways usually acts fairly and reasonably under UK Law.

The aviation industry is undergoing rapid change. As fares are being driven ever downwards, managers are being forced into lateral thinking in order to replace the lost revenue.
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Old 10th Jul 2006, 18:07
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Originally Posted by bealine
Nobody bats an eyelid when EasyJet or Ryanair charge for every grramme of excess (and their allowances are significantly less than BA's new ones), but somehow you feel BA is being unreasonable when it enforces the allowances.

The US carriers have disallowed bags over 23 kgs for over eighteen months now (AA, CO, US, UA etc) and charge $50 if a bag is over 23 kgs.

BA has chosen to have 23 kgs as the absolute upper limit - our prerogative, end of story!
Certainly, it's BA's prerogative. But if that irritates BA's regular and loyal customers, we have an equal prerogative to make our feelings known.

BA is not EZY or RYR, in at least two respects.

First, we generally pay more money to fly BA. Sometimes it's a little more; some people pay a lot more. In return, I think that we are entitled to expect that there will not be a rigid technical penny-pinching attitude. There should be some flexibility built into the system. That flexibility does not have to be enough to encompass those who completely take the p1ss - and we've all seen our fair share of those. But the regular economy traveller who, on this trip, happens to have his bag at 25 kg rather than 18 kg is entitled to feel a little disgruntled. Airlines that want loyalty on the basis of service quality must allow for a bit of give and take.

Second, to a very large extent, comparing BA to EZY and RYR is comparing apples to bars of soap. BA operates a worldwide long-haul network; that is the backbone of its operation. The majority of BA's RPKs are clocked up by people flying several thousand miles at a time. The nature of that sort of travel demands a bit more flexibility. Applying a short-haul approach to long-haul travel is, again, apt to irritate.

The sort of flexibility I have in mind is precisely demonstrated by what the US airlines are doing. If you happen to be at 25 kg one day, it's USD 50 = GBP 27. In BA's new world, if you happen to be at 25 kg one day, it's GBP 120 - plus the cost of buying a new bag to put your excess in.

That's just stupid, IMHO.

Personally, I'd prefer not to have to pay anything, particularly in the light of all the times I've done long haul trips with nothing more than a 3 kg backpack under the seat in front of me, using none of my checked baggage allowance. BA could at least give me some credit for that. But if I have to pay something because I'm a couple of kg extra, don't make it the same amount as if I'd brought another whole suitcase along.

And the worst thing is that the most valuable customers, those holding higher tier FF status, are getting no extras. That is contrary to the practice of many major airlines, including BA's own partner QF. That, at least, would be a start.
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Old 10th Jul 2006, 18:57
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Originally Posted by bealine

BA has chosen to have 23 kgs as the absolute upper limit - our prerogative, end of story!
Absolutely

Originally Posted by bealine
The terms and conditions of carriage are perfectly fair and reasonable and sufficient notice has been given for you to find an alternative carrier if you don't like the new allowances.
Not if you've already purchased a non refundable ticket and had the T&Cs changed afterwards

Originally Posted by bealine
If you ask for a refund of an existing ticket because the changes to the Terms and Conditions are no longer acceptable to you (ie You use the Trading Standards Terminology, asking to speak to a supervisor in necessary, that the reservation is "Not Fit For the Purpose For Which It Was Sold!") that we will undoubtedly refund your ticket price. British Airways usually acts fairly and reasonably under UK Law.
Wrong, they will not refund non refundable tickets, I've asked.
Conditions of contract have been broken, this is a breach of contract, nothing to do with 'fit for purpose'. BA have been exceptionally careful in the wording of response and will not give a yes or no as to wether they will honour the paid for booking conditions - I think most could hazard an accurate guess why this might be. One suspects that anyone turning up on the old conditions will be allowed through to prevent the actual breach occuring, most people however (including myself) wont take the chance.

Ultimately - really stupid. Why open yourself up to such bad publicity for what must be very limited numbers and effectively near to nil cost for those with pre-existing bookings?
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Old 11th Jul 2006, 16:39
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Originally Posted by manintheback
One suspects that anyone turning up on the old conditions will be allowed through to prevent the actual breach occuring, most people however (including myself) wont take the chance.

Ultimately - really stupid. Why open yourself up to such bad publicity for what must be very limited numbers and effectively near to nil cost for those with pre-existing bookings?
I agree.

BA may have been advised that, even if it charges for those who booked before the change and who would have been within the limit but are now over, their liability is limited to ... the amount of the excess charged. That, after all, is the extent of the loss that you've incurred through the breach.

BA may also have been advised that the announcement of a change in the limits may amount to an anticipatory declaration that it will breach the contract, but not one that entitles the passenger to terminate the contract and get a refund.

I can see how this might be absolutely correct legal advice. It may be legal, but it isn't fair play. It's not what BA ought to be known for.

But waiting for the consequences is a bit like watching a train crash. You know the accident is going to happen, you know that it's going to be messy, and you just can't help but watch it happen.

Madness. Is this another consequence of the pursuit, at any price, of the totally arbitrary 10% margin figure?
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Old 11th Jul 2006, 19:25
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Originally Posted by 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”?
Well ZFT, as awful as it sounds but if you cannot pack a bag which you cannot take to the gate on your own and place into an over head locker, then you will need to check it in, unless you are travelling with someone who can do it for you. However if it fits under your seat then you are ok. This is the rule from above and regardless of whether we agree with it or not, has to be enforced. But I am sure that even a disabled passenger would not want a crew member risking the injury of their back just to stow your heavy bag.
I am usually rather pro BA but this particular policy is one that is really grinding me. I do agree that crew should not be expected to lift luggage anyways but I dont believe that BA are telling the passengers this and perhaps expecting us to lift bags anyways despite not being covered by insurance should we injure ourselves.
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Old 11th Jul 2006, 22:59
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Thanks. The reason I enquired is that I have a wheelchair bound friend who travels alone LHR – BKK rtn every year to visit me and this is really quite a significant issue.
Getting to the gate isn’t a problem as his cabin bag sits on his lap on the wheelchair.
Obviously he can’t reach the overhead bins even with a light bag and we both know the limited room available under the seat.
As a direct flight is essential for him, looks like his options are now limited to either EVA or TG next year.

Edited to add that I totally support any sensible initiative that restricts cabin baggage to the allowed weight & size

Last edited by ZFT; 11th Jul 2006 at 23:27.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 09:49
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I just want to clear something up here, it appears that everyone thinks that BA are implementing this new handbaggage and checked baggage poilicy to annoy all who fly with them. Let me point something out it has been highlighted in earlier posts that some of you travelling with BA are actually getting an INCREASED allowance. Now if I have read this wrong then I am sure it will be pointed out by one of you, but I am also pretty certain that Bealine will back me up. ALL european passengers (Eurotraveller and Club Europe) are actually getting a BIGGER allowance, if you look at the total weight allowed I am sure you will agree.
Club Europe - checked 2pcs @23kg each plus one hand luggage item (max weight will be 23kg) therefore total is - 69kg
Eurotraveller - checked 1pce @ 23kg plus one handluggage @23kg total - 64kg
Now before I continue I can see you all now reading this post and saying where the **** did he get the 23kg limit on handluggage from!!!!
Well here goes and this is the main point of my post. In the not too distant future the maximum weight of ANY bag passing through ANY UK airport is going to be 23kg that means checked luggage and hand luggage! This change is inevitable and BA are merely prempting the change. So can we stop the BA bashing and making out like they are doing this to **** you all off. You will also note in the new policy that BA will not accept any bags more than 23kg in weight so even if you think you are super strong and THINK you can lift a 30 to 40 kg bag into the overhead and then get on board the aircraft and find you can't, I think you will find that as they won't accept a bag of more than 23 kg (unless you have preadvised them that it will be heavier and there are only a few exceptions) then chances are you will be offloaded and once escorted landside will be left to your own devices to rebook and comply or go home!!!

For Longhaul travel I beleive that all they have done is restrict the max baggage weight to 23kg however the allowance of two bags hasn't changed (unlees you are heading East form the UK) in any class.

Next point - I beleive that you will also find that although BA have rarely charged excess in the past for sports equipment (it has never been a free allowance) I beleive that this has been added to the allowances with restrictions.

Lexxity - sorry if this has been pointed out before but the policy states

"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."
As I read it you will have to comply with the new policy.

So I think the bottom line is that we will all have to accept the change, but please believe me when I say that BA are not doing this to inconvinience anyone they are merley prempting the inevitable.

Rant over

Last edited by Bluejay; 14th Jul 2006 at 10:17.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 11:26
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Originally Posted by Bluejay
ILexxity - sorry if this has been pointed out before but the policy states
"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."
As I read it you will have to comply with the new policy.
No such clause exists on tickets I have in my possesion purchased before the new policy was introduced. Much of the discussion above is about changing the conditions of those who already had tickets.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 11:35
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Originally Posted by manintheback
No such clause exists on tickets I have in my possesion purchased before the new policy was introduced. Much of the discussion above is about changing the conditions of those who already had tickets.
That may indeed be the case, however it does exist on ba.com and I think that you will find that that is where you will find the full Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 12:39
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Originally Posted by Bluejay
That may indeed be the case, however it does exist on ba.com and I think that you will find that that is where you will find the full Terms and Conditions of Carriage.
I have the full written terms and conditions. The ones on the BA website you mention are new and apply to the new bookings. Thinking about it a bit more its a bit low to start putting in clauses that allow for fundamental alterations at a later date. Most if not all PAX would like certainty as to what they have paid for. Intangibles are for the likes of the insurance industry - not aviation.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 13:26
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Originally Posted by manintheback
I have the full written terms and conditions. The ones on the BA website you mention are new and apply to the new bookings. Thinking about it a bit more its a bit low to start putting in clauses that allow for fundamental alterations at a later date. Most if not all PAX would like certainty as to what they have paid for. Intangibles are for the likes of the insurance industry - not aviation.
I am sorry but that is not the case the T's&C's on the BA website are the CURRENT T's and C's and have not been amended. Can I suggest that you have another look. Go to www.ba.com at the top right hand side of the page click on legal and then click on General Conditions of Carriage followed by the link that says View the British Airways Conditions of Carriage, scroll to section 8a 'your free baggage allowance' and read. You will note if you scroll to the bottom of that page that the T's and C's were last updated on the 13 April 2005. The new baggage policy is simply a change of free allowance, as before you can take as much as you like, it can even weigh more than 23kgs subject to
"Advance notification is required 24 hours before departure for exceptional items that weigh between 23kg - 45kg (50 - 90lbs) and which cannot be repacked e.g. musical instruments, electrical wheelchairs, some sporting items, TV news cameras, commercial spares"
however if after the policy is implemented (11th Oct) your bags are in excess of 32kg you will have tto repack or you have more than your free baggage allowance then you will be charged.

Personally I think it is pretty clear, as to what you are allowed and when, you will also note that on tickets that are issued currently if the allowance is part of the piece system then it states the number of pieces you are allowed - for example I am looking at a ticket that I recently purchased for a round trip to Canada and it clearly states 2PC in the allowance box on the ATB ticket, there is no mention on the ticket of the maximum baggage weight, the onus is on ME the passenger to fully check the Conditions of Carriage and any other policies and regulations and comply or risk being charged! Basically you can't expect BA to read out to you all of the Conditions of Carriage in full for every ticket purchased if they did then nobody would get anywhere as it would take so long. The point I am trying to make here is that it is the PASSENGERS RESPONSIBILITY to make sure that they are in compliance with all of the T's and C's and that they are aware of any policies that may affect them. They are all on the website in black and white.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 16:13
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I think this will be my last post as its getting towards a flame, probably boring one and all but once and for all please note:

I HAVE THE WRITTEN TERMS AND CONDITIONS. 2 copies for 2 tickets issued at time of booking. Consisting of many thousands of words. There is NO reference to this new clause. end of. As posted earlier, the entries on the website and relating to my bookings WERE altered when the new baggage conditions were introduced and now differ to what I have in writing.

So how can you possibly say its pretty clear as to what you can carry and when, then quote a clause (which I havent got) saying it only applies at the time of your flight (potentially a year away) where it may be completely different (as has now happened).
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 17:04
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OK for the LAST time - here is the link it is current and if you travel with BA and are affected by one or both of the policies you will have to comply regardless of when you purchased your tickets!

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...ublic/en_gb#8a

And if for some reason the above doesn't work here it is in black and white as seen earlier.

"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."

This is the actual clause on the website, I have not made it up!!!!

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Old 14th Jul 2006, 18:48
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BlueJay,


I think manintheback is making a pretty valid point, and I'm not sure where you are coming from on this. You say "it is the PASSENGERS RESPONSIBILITY to make sure that they are in compliance with all of the T's and C's and that they are aware of any policies that may affect them", and whilst this sounds well and good, in reality, you, I and every airline in the world knows that no passenger will read all of the small print, for the same reason you state that BA can't possibly read out all the T&C's of each and every ticket. So that all sounds, and is, a bit disgenuine.

If you are not a BA employee, I cannot see much sense in defending this type of double standard by any airline. Whilst you fervently point out the web site terms and conditions, you really seem to be missing the point. At the time he bought his ticket, he was given the full t&c's, and he still has them, and those are the conditions under which he purchased the ticket. BA may like to imply that things are different just because they have changed their webpage, but the facts remain the same.

Whether it is legal or not is beyond me, but even so, it is shoddy behaviour, and will not encourage long term loyalty. If a garage did this to you, would you buy a car from them again? Thought not.

I personally think the new man in charge at BA, will simply achieve short term profit growth, in order to achieve his bonuses, will then leave, and the airline will be a mess, having lost most of it's premium passengers (just take a look at the letters in this month's business traveller magazine - mainly from real premium top level FF's). BA will be left in tatters, but hey, who cares, the numbers will look good for a year or two.

Last edited by 10secondsurvey; 14th Jul 2006 at 19:03.
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Old 14th Jul 2006, 21:07
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Originally Posted by bealine
Let's get something straight here - the short-haul fares nowadays are comparable to EasyJet or Ryanair, with some being even lower than the charterers.
Nobody bats an eyelid when EasyJet or Ryanair charge for every grramme of excess (and their allowances are significantly less than BA's new ones), but somehow you feel BA is being unreasonable when it enforces the allowances.
The US carriers have disallowed bags over 23 kgs for over eighteen months now (AA, CO, US, UA etc) and charge $50 if a bag is over 23 kgs.
BA has chosen to have 23 kgs as the absolute upper limit - our prerogative, end of story! The terms and conditions of carriage are perfectly fair and reasonable and sufficient notice has been given for you to find an alternative carrier if you don't like the new allowances. The vast majority of passengers will notice little or no difference. The "traders" who have made vast profits at the airlines' expense for so long will now have to pay their way - and what's wrong with that?
If you ask for a refund of an existing ticket because the changes to the Terms and Conditions are no longer acceptable to you (ie You use the Trading Standards Terminology, asking to speak to a supervisor in necessary, that the reservation is "Not Fit For the Purpose For Which It Was Sold!") that we will undoubtedly refund your ticket price. British Airways usually acts fairly and reasonably under UK Law.
The aviation industry is undergoing rapid change. As fares are being driven ever downwards, managers are being forced into lateral thinking in order to replace the lost revenue.
My bolding applies
Firstly - BA did NOT advise me of this planned change at time of booking in April - not made online, but through res office. Had BA advised this was to be the case in October I WOULD have taken my custom elsewhere. Yes it is your prerogative to change your policies, but I booked in good faith based on your policy at time of booking, not those which nobody bothered to mention until June.
Since April and date of announcement of changes, other plans have been made (both business and personal) which mean I can't change my dates of travel. So I either waste my ticket, or pay even more to bring home what I would've been allowed when I entered a contract with BA.
Secondly, I've asked what the situation is regarding refund, and unfortunately because of my ticket type they won't allow it.
So I'm sorry to say BA are screwing me every which way.
You say it won't affect many people, maybe it won't but the fact it affects those who booked in good faith with you is wrong. What about those people go on specific shopping trips to the US - it'll certainly affect them.
I use my October trip to buy different Christmas pressies for family and friends and have never had a problem in the past. BA have now made sure I will in the future.
I see VS are still keeping their 3 x 32 kg for UC pax and 2 x 32kg for PE pax, and remember their UC is equivalent to BA Club, not even First. Yes, I agree there's time for them to change, but they haven't done yet.
If things remain the same for my next trip in February, I WILL have a choice then and know which airline I'll use.
Finally, BA are planning to charge £120 a bag (discounted to £96 if pre paid), considerably higher than the US carriers rate of $50 (as you quote above)!
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Old 15th Jul 2006, 07:53
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Floridacandle just except that BA have in the past allowed you to flaunt the baggage allowance along with everybody else and now BA have decided to put restrictions on you and fellow flaunties!!!!! go to VS but i bet there policy changes soon as well. I for one look forward to sitting under a locker thats not full to bursting point !!!!
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Old 15th Jul 2006, 12:11
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Ok I seem to be going around in circles here. For the last time the clause that I am referring to has not been added all of a sudden to take advantage of unsuspecting passengers thinking they will get away with the old allowance and then charge them excess.

manintheback sorry if I have caused any confusion but if you don't have those words on your t's and c's then you may not have the complete printout. However to save any embarrasement at the airport may I suggest you bring those t's and c's that you do have with you and be ready to show them to the check in agent when you get to a desk.

As a few other people have realised on this thread the change is inevitable, the DfT (not BA) are bringing these changes in, they will effect you and the airlines are bound by law to comply, so feel free to go to VS and take advantage of there baggage policy, but in the not too distant future they will have to comply as well.
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Old 15th Jul 2006, 13:41
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Originally Posted by marlowe
Floridacandle just except that BA have in the past allowed you to flaunt the baggage allowance along with everybody else and now BA have decided to put restrictions on you and fellow flaunties!!!!! go to VS but i bet there policy changes soon as well. I for one look forward to sitting under a locker thats not full to bursting point !!!!
Wrong - I have NEVER flaunted my baggage allowance. Everyone else may have done it, but I NEVER have. Both my cabin and checked baggage have always been within their limits. So I am not a flauntie and strongly resent you calling me that.
My cabin baggage is never over 7kg. I don't buy booze as I don't drink so my duty free bags usually have a carton of ciggies and a few newspapers! WT+ always allowed 12 kg, J allowed 18 kg. So how can you say I flaunt the allowance.
My checked luggage has always within my allowance and if I've had a third suitcase, I've always been prepared to pay and have done so on a few occasions. Again, I've followed the rules, not been a flauntie.
The one thing I agree with you on is wanting to sit under a locker not full to bursting point. But it's BA who've changed the rules to make this more possible, NOT ME, so don't blame me for it.
Finally, paid for my ticket three months before these changes were announced so terms I booked under are no longer the same. This is my REAL point - all I'm asking is give me what you've contracted with me to provide - nothing more. This is a perfectly fair and reasonable request and you will see from this and other forums that I'm far from alone in thinking this way.
As far as VS, if you read my thread correctly you will see that I made reference to the fact they could change their policy and went on to say "if things remain the same ..." . I'll say no more.
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Old 15th Jul 2006, 18:30
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Originally Posted by manintheback
I think this will be my last post as its getting towards a flame, probably boring one and all but once and for all please note:
I HAVE THE WRITTEN TERMS AND CONDITIONS. 2 copies for 2 tickets issued at time of booking. Consisting of many thousands of words. There is NO reference to this new clause. end of. .....
The post from manintheback prompted me to look at my e-ticket receipt and t&c's sent by BA (6 A4 pages in total). Under the section headed Baggage it states "Your hold baggage allowance is 2 Pieces per person. No single piece may exceed 32kg."

At no point does it say that this is subject to the terms which exist at the time of travel.

If I no longer had a computer, this information would be all I had, and it clearly tells me 2 x 32kg.
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Old 16th Jul 2006, 10:30
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I will back Bluejay up in that he is right in what British Airways are telling us, the staff, to do and that the Terms and Conditions applicable on the Date of Travel are what we, the staff, are being told to implement.

As far as the law stands, I cannot profess to be an expert, but I would expect there to be reasonable grounds for complaint if the new Terms and Conditions are unreaonable and would have stopped you making your booking had you known about them at the Point of Sale. (In the same way as if you ordered a 7 seater family car and the manufacturer changed the design before build to a four seater!) I would, indeed, be very surprised if the Sale of Goods Act does not cover this sort of eventuality - perhaps Flying Lawyer could enlighten us!

What I do know is that it is important, if you are going to ask for a refund, to include the phrase "Unfit For The Purpose For Which My Booking Was Purchased!" (Under the Sale of Goods Act, which also covers services, both parties are responsible for ensuring suitability. If the supplier changes the goods/services to something unsuitable before delivery is complete, you should be entitled to a refund.)

Certainly, British Airways will never act outside of the law - so if Flying Lawyer could offer some advice to those who do want a refund it would be most helpful.

Then - once we have given refunds to those who want them, we can move forward with the new allowances and get back to normal harmony.

However, Florida Candle, you will find that no carriers that will allow the 2 X 32kg allowances - CO / AA / UA will allow over 23kg to 32kg at extra charge for a short period, but once the BAA / CAA clamp down on maximum bag weights, even that will have to stop!

No Flames - I'm only interested in getting back to decent customer relations!
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