BA Baggage Allowance Cuts

[Jordan D]

Not sure if this has come up in the last week (whilst I was away), but it appears that BA is changing its baggage policy - which can mean an upto 18kg cut in checked luggage allowance, and difficulties for ensuring luggage is under limits.

Changes are summarised at http://www.britishairways.com/travel...y/public/en_gb

Comments...?
Jordan

[Railgun]

Originally Posted by Jordan D

Not sure if this has come up in the last week (whilst I was away), but it appears that BA is changing its baggage policy - which can mean an upto 18kg cut in checked luggage allowance, and difficulties for ensuring luggage is under limits.
Changes are summarised at http://www.britishairways.com/travel...y/public/en_gb
Comments...?
Jordan

18 kg been the biggest cut. What about the +23 kg increase for WT+ pax traveling towards the east? or the +16kg increase for F or J pax traveling to the east? And club europe pax have had the same increase in baggage allowence. Its only west bound travel that has suffered a 18 kg cut.

[hapzim]

email from BA

We're making a few changes to our hand baggage and checked baggage allowances.

The new baggage policy is easy to follow and will reduce airport queues, making your journey quicker and hassle-free. The policy changes include hand, checked and excess baggage allowances and will be phased in over the next five months. I’ve included a quick guide below, and a link to the complete policy if you'd like to read more.

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. You must be able to lift your hand baggage into the overhead locker unaided and the briefcase or laptop computer bag or equivalent 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

[lexxity]

Is current health and safety guidelines not 32kg then? BA have always been more generous for economy pax with a 23kg limit, but what if you've paid for a club or first ticket? What if you're flying to the US where according to IATA allowances are 2pieces at 32kg? (Although a lot of the US airlines are now ignoring this!)

Flying is getting more confusing by the chopping and changing of things like this it is more hassle for the average pax to understand easily.

[manintheback]

So BA think all passengers will put one piece under the seat and the other in the locker? dream on. Thos onboard early will fill all the lockers up. Pity the poor CC trying to sort this out and the Pax who are going to find their hand luggage chucked into the baggage hold.
It might work up front with fewer passengers per locker but not a chance in the back.

[Globaliser]

Some discussion was kicked off about this here in this thread over on Airlines, Airports and Routes.

FWIW, I'm not a "kitchen sink" person, but my problems with this are the reduction in flexibility with the new approach, and the fact that too many people will now bring too much cabin baggage for the economy cabin, with all the associated problems that are well known.

[slim_slag]

Originally Posted by lexxity

Flying is getting more confusing by the chopping and changing of things like this it is more hassle for the average pax to understand easily.

I think it's getting simpler, the differentiation in service levels between carriers is becoming less and less. BA is just following the leads set by Easyjet (take what you like on board as long as you can lift it) and Ryanair (checked baggage is a profit centre). It's getting to be the only difference between the carriers is how much you pay (Ryanair < Easyjet < BA), and whether they are late/cancelled or not (Ryanair better than Easy better than BA).

[manintheback]

Having now read the regs:
1 Bag per Economy passenger checked in?. Guess WW has made it clear where he wants to position BA in the market.

[patdavies]

Originally Posted by lexxity

Is current health and safety guidelines not 32kg then?

32Kg is defined as a two man lift. 25 Kg is a one man lift.

[Seat1APlease]

Whether the numbers are better or not is arguable, what is clear is that it is long overdue to have a policy and stick to it.
Most of us will have found ourselves waiting in the check in queue whilst the couple at the front load their 8 various packages and parcels on the belt, including TV sets, fridges etc. (you know the sort), then start to argue whilst the check in agent tells them that they are X kgs. overweight and that will cost Y dollars or whatever, whilst all those behind them get more and more frustrated.
If the agent now says that two bags are free and the others cost Y$ per bag, with no haggling, then that would be quicker for everyone.
I am a bit dubious about a hand baggage limit controlled by size rather than weight because I suspect many will just try it on, with bigger and bigger bags.
On a recent flight from Nice some economy passengers were coming on with 2 large wheely-bags and expecting to stow them overhead, meaning others couldn't even find room for their coats.
Provided they make it clear that anything over the size limit goes in the hold with the appropriate charge, and no arguments then it might just work.

[Jordan D]

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.

Its a bloody disgrace.

Jordan

[FloridaCandle]

I agree with a previous comment, this is a bloody disgrace, but especially to Club and First passengers who pay so much more. I've a keen interest as I'm flying out to the States on the day policy comes into effect. I've booked a ringside seat for the Passengers v Check In fight, likely to go over a hundred or more bouts!! I'm now trying to change my flight to avoid the riot.
I booked Club partly because of extra hand luggage allowance, checked luggage was never in question. In so doing paid £1,000 more than economy seat. Why did I bother? I can now travel with the same luggage as if I pay £400 on a sale fare (travel allowance is same whether F, C, WT+ or WT on US routes). Scandalous!
Despite paying more I'll still get clobbered by excess fees should I dare to bring the amount of luggage BA's contract says I can have. This is outrageous.
Cabin baggage is now unlimited in weight so I look forward to mini fridges, car engines, and other wonderful items on board - if they fit in the size of bag who cares how much it weighs. This will alleviate any savings BA hope to make on fuel, and could raise a safety issue if weight is not determined for items. I personally would be interested to see how BA react when a fridge falls out of an overhead and lands on a passenger!
BA say its down to health & safety but other baggage handlers at Heathrow are still able to manage to deal with 32kg limits. I am a 5'2" 51 year old lady and if I can manage to lift my bags, then I'm sure a strapping baggage handler can do the same. If not, perhaps they should be in a different role.
Or perhaps BA are trying to cut out the baggage handlers altogether??!!
Note VS still allow 3 pieces up to 32kg each. Despite my strong preference for BA, I will have no hesitation in changing my carrier next time round. I'd do it this year, but realistically would be "cutting off my nose to spite my face".

[Jordan D]

Originally Posted by Mike Jenvey

You can, but only....

Ah, but what if I was travelling elsewhere?

Jordan

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by FloridaCandle

I agree with a previous comment, this is a bloody disgrace, but especially to Club and First passengers who pay so much more.
...
I booked Club partly because of extra hand luggage allowance, checked luggage was never in question. In so doing paid £1,000 more than economy seat. Why did I bother? I can now travel with the same luggage as if I pay £400 on a sale fare (travel allowance is same whether F, C, WT+ or WT on US routes).

There are things about this policy which are not good, and about which I've vented elsewhere. But we also have to keep this in perspective.

Current North Atlantic (broadly speaking) allowances:
First: 2 bags x 32 kg each
Club: 2 bags x 32 kg each
WT+: 2 bags x 32 kg each
WT: 2 bags x 32 kg each

New North Atlantic allowances:
First: 2 bags x 23 kg each
Club: 2 bags x 23 kg each
WT+: 2 bags x 23 kg each
WT: 2 bags x 23 kg each

So for current piece count routes, First and Club pax currently have the same baggage allowance as WT+ and WT. There isn't really a valid complaint on these routes that because you've paid more, therefore you should have more baggage allowance - it's already the current position that everyone gets the same.

The real complaint should be that 2 x 23 kg isn't enough for First and Club.

Current rest-of-world allowances:
First: 40 kg
Club: 30 kg
WT+: 23 kg
WT: 23 kg

New rest-of-world allowances:
First: 2 bags x 23 kg each = 46 kg (increase of 6 kg over current limit)
Club: 2 bags x 23 kg each = 46 kg (increase of 16 kg over current limit)
WT+: 2 bags x 23 kg each = 46 kg (increase of 23 kg over current limit)
WT: 1 bags x 23 kg each = same weight as current limit

So nobody is allowed less weight than before, and all the premium classes are allowed more weight than currently.

As I say, there are other problems with this, with which I'm not happy. But let's make sure that criticism is directed where it belongs.

[FloridaCandle]

Hi Globaliser - put it that way it doesn't sound so bad!! But I booked in good faith without any forewarning they were planning this, and am now having to pay even more. Most people I've spoken to agree they'd be p....d off! Yes I can put more items into my hand luggage, but the 1,000 metre sprint to Immigration in the US is bad enough with light hand luggage, let alone heavy stuff.
The decent thing to do would be for BA to honour their commitment of 32kg to those pax who booked before the change was announced, but travelling on or after implementation date. Provided of course that those pax do not exceed the old TOTAL checked limit of 64kg, ie. instead of 2 bags at 32kg, 3 bags at 21 or 22kg each. That would be a fair compromise for all.
Another quick thought - the overhead bins on the upstairs of 747's are often smaller than others on the a/c, so that will place a further, albeit slight, limit on pax seated up there. The side bins are handy, but not very roomy being so slim.
Does anyone know if VS are planning to follow suit with this? Their allowance is better and they offer more to premium pax, ie. limo transfer, etc. I just happen to prefer BA because of my history with them and their professionalism on board.

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by FloridaCandle

The decent thing to do would be for BA to honour their commitment of 32kg to those pax who booked before the change was announced, but travelling on or after implementation date.

I agree with this. It's one of the wrinkles that they ought to have sorted out in the policy before they announced it. They had long enough to think about things like that, especially during the delays in the announcement.

[Swedish Steve]

Originally Posted by Seat1APlease

I am a bit dubious about a hand baggage limit controlled by size rather than weight because I suspect many will just try it on, with bigger and bigger bags.
.

We have got some new bag size gauges to put at check in and at the gates. They are like the scales BA had a few years ago. The bin is about 3ft off the floor and if you can lift your bag in it is OK.
Lets see how they are used.

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by FloridaCandle

The decent thing to do would be for BA to honour their commitment of 32kg to those pax who booked before the change was announced, but travelling on or after implementation date.

I've seen it posted elsewhere today (another BB) that if you had a confirmed reservation made before the policy announcement for travel after the new checked baggage policy comes into effect (11 October 2006), and your reservation is ticketed by 10 October 2006, you will have 2 x 32 kg as it currently is now.

This is sensible (as I've already said). You may want to confirm this with BA. I hope they'll make this clear on their website.

Ticketed means exactly that; a confirmed reservation with a PNR locator is not itself enough. If you have a BA locator, use it on www.checkmytrip.com to see whether there is a ticket number showing in your PNR.

[FloridaCandle]

Hi Globaliser - thanks for this, I do hope you're right. As I said before, this would be honourable thing to do.
I have e-ticket, and ticket number's shown in the res with all the pricing details, etc. Manage my Booking still shows 2 x 32kg, but BA Res said they were working to change this. BA web site still doesn't say anything about those already booked. We wait and see.
Meanwhile, I've decided might be best all round to try and change flt to day or two before so as to avoid chaos at check-in on first day of new policy. Now just have to wait for right class of service to come up to allow me to do it!!
Thanks again - much appreciated.

[lexxity]

Florida as you have ticket numbers on your e-reservation that means that your flights have already been ticketed so the old baggage allowance will apply. Which will be 2x32kgs for your transatlantic sectors.