piece concept
 

Piece concept is being reduced soon to 2 pieces max 23kg each, about time the US was brought into line with the rest of the world....

US cutting down to 2 x 23 kg ?

Presumably they will all expect to take this in as cabin baggage :rolleyes:

God forbid that anybody should want to carry more than 23Kg of stuff. Just wait until the BAA get their new check in desks that will lock out any baggage over 23 Kg. Yet another bright idea to cheese off our poor , long suffering pax who travel via UK airports. No wonder anybody that can, tries to transit via non BAA airports. Yet another nail in the coffin for aviation in the UK. I'm just waiting for the handicap of VAT on jet fuel to pass through the new parliament and that should finish off the last of us. A pity the rest of Europe/US won't follow us down the path of righteousness.

Much as I love the aviaton industry and my airline career, my "Green conscience" disagrees with your sentiment!

A few days ago, we despatched a LGW-MAN aircraft with 29 pax, a LGW-JER with 11 pax and a LGW-EDI with 14 pax. (The return loadings were not much better) Just think of all that kerosene and carcinogenic smoke pi55ing out the jets and fogging up the landscape for no real purpose! If taxation makes airlines, who are the biggest contributors to global pollution, start thinking responsibly and consolidating flights (Perhaps BA, BMI, EasyJet etc will communicate by computer one day with this in mind) with low pax volumes then I'm all in favour!

Don't forget, when the US government and the British Government gave financial help to the ailing industry, that money was used to reduce fares! Fares need to be set at a responsible level, so that the traveller pays for the global destruction to which he/she is contributing, and the world's polluters need to act responsibly!

The trouble with pollution, carcinogens and noxious substances is that we can't see the damage we're causing. Undoubtedly, some of the additional deaths in oncology units around the world is caused by our industry and our lust for foreign travel!

Just think about this for a second:

The Road Haulage Industry, which carries essential items around the countryside - livestock to the processing plants, meat and veg to the supermarkets etc has to pay VAT on fuel. The Bus and Coach operator pays VAT on their fuel purchases - Why not aviation? Why should the yachtsman be exempt from VAT? - after all, flying and boating are both leisure pursuits!

"about time the US was brought into line with the rest of the world...."

Redfred. What do you have against Baggage. As one who travels a couple times through Europe to Africa from the west coast of the U.S. 30kgx2 is sort of nice. All the reduction means to me is now a few folks on the Dark Continent wont be wearing clothes.
Maybe soon we can find a way to bypass Europe on the way down South. Saves us some money and then I guess some folks in Europe wont be wearing clothes..
Anyway, if I want to take 3 or 4 bags at 30kg each, all I have to do is pay a bit more.....there are no free rides if you havent checked lately.
Bealine, go back into your Cave........

like to see you smile when you are told how much '3 or 4 bags at 30 kg each' will cost you in excess baggage.

But really everyone else in the world gets about 20kg per person, seems a bit unfair for you guys to get 64kg each.....

.........and, with the USA emitting 25% of Global pollution, there you have an educated answer!

Tell me, B Sousa, just who is the troglodyte here???

"like to see you smile when you are told how much '3 or 4 bags at 30 kg each' will cost you in excess baggage.

But really everyone else in the world gets about 20kg per person, seems a bit unfair for you guys to get 64kg each....."

Redfred,
Point being it can be done and some dont mind paying......
Also in long trips of over a couple months it is nice to have a little more baggage. I rarely travel for less than a months stay.
It seems its jealousy at this point, therefore maybe folks in Europe should up the anty, go for 32 KGs x 2. First class get by with x 3, Most wont use it anyway. IF I were to travel across the pond or say from the U.K. to France for a few days, I also would have no problem with a lesser load. Thats what most folks in Europe do. When I travel in the states I also travel light. The long trips though, I usually use it all.

Bealine,
As to Global Pollution, do you really think if we lessen the baggage allowance that the airlines are going to take off lighter, maybe throttle back and save some fuel. Get Real,
Its a way to charge more as the planes are so severly packed that they can no longer get all the seats filled with a large baggage allowance.
If its not my baggage it will be cargo and the drivers up front will still be doing the checklist for Max Performance takeoff.

Ah, I love the smell of the London streets..............the air so refreshing...........gag.

Paxboy (down below) Keep dreaming, it aint getting any cheaper.

bealine: You are on the mark. Yes, I like cheaper travel and if the price goes up I will not be able to do so much of it. So be it. We have to try and slow down this maddness.

B Sousa - Are You For Real?

I am no physicist, God knows, but any scientist will tell you that even carrying a sachet of sugar surplus to requirements across the Atlantic will add a few pence (cents) to your operating costs. Carrying unnecessary extra baggage (and who needs 64kg for a two week vacation) will add a significant burden to the airlines' fuel bill! However, I wasn't bemoaning your baggage allowances - I was responding to the "Heavens Above, the EU will impose VAT on fuel" argument!

I love travelling the world as much as anyone else, I enthuse over aeroplanes and I really enjoy my career - BUT - I want my children and grandchildren to enjoy the world too!!!

"I was responding to the "Heavens Above, the EU will impose VAT on fuel" argument!"

Taxation from the European side will always be a pain. If I remember this correctly we had a fight over the Brits taxing Us a few hundred years ago.
Thought we had solved that but now we are catching up again. Governments would tax daylight if they knew how to get away with it.

If I remember this correctly we had a fight over the Brits taxing Us a few hundred years ago.

.........Something about Boston and Tea springs to mind!
:ok:

I agree that I hate taxation, but I am so frustrated about what we're doing to our planet! Last month's "National Geographic" magazine was a real eye-opener and, yet, there are still those who don't believe in Global warming!

I think you and I are in basic agreement - but how are we to reduce pollution without taxation? Air fares are just getting cheaper and cheaper!

Since when did taxation solve any problems?

Car drivers in the UK are taxed to the hilt due "environmental concerns". Are people driving less? No! Why? Because there are no real alternatives, public transport in this country is just not up to the job. All taxation is doing is making some worse off, whilst the government coffers swell. Is that helping the environment?

Many people need air travel, and most want air travel. Until a suitable alternative is found, people will fly. Increasing tax won't stop people flying,it will simply make them poorer. And the environmental effect will not change one bit.

Tax is not the answer, it's an easy way for some to make money at the expense of many.

"All taxation is doing is making some worse off, whilst the government coffers swell. "
Believe me the folks you voted for are very good at knowing how to spend it...........

Of course the whole Boston Tea Party thing was about a point of principle - no taxation without representation - , what is generally not realised is that, at that time, the ONLY tax levied on the american people was a tax on tea.

Personally given a choice between paying a tea tax and no representation or VAT, income tax, inheritance tax, National Insurance, Vehicle Excise Duty, Fuel Tax, etc., etc., .......and a gormless MP........

I'd pay a bit more for my morning brew