BA baggage allowance question
Thread Starter


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 158
From: Cornwall
BA baggage allowance question
Just flew BA premium economy with allowance of 2x23kgs but only had one bag which weighed 24.5kgs. Check in agent said I should be paying excess baggage.
In many years of flying I have never heard that before surely she was wrong? Thanks.
In many years of flying I have never heard that before surely she was wrong? Thanks.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 112
From: There and here
Sounds like they were a 'computer says no' type of agent. That said, for the baggage handlers there's no doubt a single person limit as per H&S rules and that is 23kgs per item. There should be a little leeway, as 1.5kgs could be put in a plastic bag and carried by the OP if it was such an issue to the airline.


Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 222
Likes: 73
From: UK
I while since I did checkin, but I doubt it’s changed. Anything over 23kg should have an orange HEAVY sticker attached, and requires 2 people to move it and the airline gets billed accordingly. That’s why Jet2 for example say 22kg, so they can give you 1kg leeway before their own excess charge, aren’t they nice. Anything 1gram over 32kg must go as freight.
Paxing All Over The World


Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
My experience with the 2 x 22 is that no single bag may be more than 30. That was when I travelled BA in WT+ a couple of years ago. As far as I know, they have not yet tacken on every aspect of LCCs ...
Thread Starter


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 158
From: Cornwall

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 2,041
From: Reading, UK
Thread Starter


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 158
From: Cornwall
That is where we have the contradiction, it would be interesting to have a legal view.
Regulations also state no bag can weigh over 32kgs so having weight in a bag in excess of 23kgs is allowable . If I have a TOTAL allowance of 64 kgs I have not exceeded my allowance so would a legal opinion be that extra charges are applicable? As it happened this time the check in agent did not charge me but I could see this being a contentious issue.
I will have less weight returning so the question should not arise.
Regulations also state no bag can weigh over 32kgs so having weight in a bag in excess of 23kgs is allowable . If I have a TOTAL allowance of 64 kgs I have not exceeded my allowance so would a legal opinion be that extra charges are applicable? As it happened this time the check in agent did not charge me but I could see this being a contentious issue.
I will have less weight returning so the question should not arise.

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 2,041
From: Reading, UK
Thread Starter


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 158
From: Cornwall
Of course I meant 46 kilos in premium economy not 64kgs but the result is the same. My wife was carrying under 30 kgs so arguably we could have also pooled our baggage.
Just never come across this before and could see how it could become an issue for some easily avoided by a simple word change the n the conditions.
Just never come across this before and could see how it could become an issue for some easily avoided by a simple word change the n the conditions.




Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 312
From: UK and Italy
Most airlines let you share your allowances between family members, but BA have always been a bit anal retentive about following the last dotted i and crossed t of the rules. The solution is simple: put the bags on the scales before leaving home, and if the total is under 46 kg, move stuff from one bag until each bag is under 23 kg, even if it means having feminine underwear in your bag or shaving kit in your teenage daughters' stuff.




Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 312
From: UK and Italy
There's an episode of 'Heathrow - Britain's Busiest Aeroport' in which at check-in the guy checks in the right weight (over-weight) to the loadmaster, but offers a discount on the overweight baggage charge, on a flight to either Pakistan or Bangladesh, I'd have to watch the episode again to remember which. The reasoning is that you get repeat business that way, whereas sticking adherently to the rules and charging for every gramme overweight might cause your pax to choose another airline next time.
Getting the aircraft loading is right is the job of the loadmaster, it affects the aircraft trim, and fuel load, the weight needs to reported correctly. But a bit of flexibility at check-in on *paying* for over-weight baggage can do wonders for passenger relations. I don't think BA understands this.
Getting the aircraft loading is right is the job of the loadmaster, it affects the aircraft trim, and fuel load, the weight needs to reported correctly. But a bit of flexibility at check-in on *paying* for over-weight baggage can do wonders for passenger relations. I don't think BA understands this.
Thread Starter


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 158
From: Cornwall
To be fair BA didn't charge anything and used their discretion and I have to say the service on the flight was superb.i guess also I could have checked in two bags and my wife none and would still have had less than 46 kgs in total
As to moving stuff to equalise the weight that is fine if after landing you are both going to the same place otherwise you would have to unpack again in the arrivals hall and move everything back
As to moving stuff to equalise the weight that is fine if after landing you are both going to the same place otherwise you would have to unpack again in the arrivals hall and move everything back




