BA excess baggage charges

[millie]

Saw this in the paper today and the information is on the website. Comes into effect from Tuesday 13th january and there seems to be a bit of a rage about it as BA are not contacting customers and will be asking people to pay at check in.

Here is what it says on the site. Hope it helps anyone travelling....

L

<span style="color:blue">Free checked baggage allowances
A single allowance system based on the number of bags that can be checked in will be introduced for travel from 13 February 2007.

FIRST and Club World
Customers will be able to check three bags into the aircraft hold free of charge. (23kg each)

Club Europe and World Traveller Plus
Customers will be able to check two bags into the aircraft hold free of charge. (23kg each)

World Traveller*, Euro Traveller, BA Connect & UK Domestic
Customers will be able to check one bag into the aircraft hold free of charge. (23kg each)



Excess baggage charges will be standardised across the network from 13 February 2007.

All baggage in excess of free checked baggage allowances will be charged at a fixed fee depending on the length of the journey.

For customers transferring flights, a single charge based on the longest flight will apply.

Customers on most routes can pre-pay online for their excess baggage and receive a 30% discount on airport charges, when travel is completed by 30 September 2007. The pre-pay facility can be accessed through Manage My Booking. Pre-pay is not available on certain routes, and some credit cards cannot be used as payment methods.

Excess baggage will be charged at a fixed fee per bag. The fixed fee is set according to whether the customer is travelling on a domestic (£30), shorthaul (£60) or longhaul (£120) flight.



Excess baggage charged at a fixed fee
Longhaul
£120 per bag or £84 per bag if paid online (includes 30% discount available when travel is completed by 30 September 2007).
Shorthaul
£60 per bag or £42 per bag if paid online (includes 30% discount available when travel is completed by 30 September 2007).
UK Domestic
£30 per bag or £21 per bag if paid online (includes 30% discount available when travel is completed by 30 September 2007).</span id="blue">

[CERICROWLEY]

This does not effect anyone flying to the US. We still have the two bag allowance. this only effects flights to Europe the Mid East and Australia

For the USA it is as follows.....

FIRST and Club World - 3 bags
World Traveller Plus and World Traveller - 2 bags
Maximum dimensions per bag(H+W+L): 158cm (62in)
Maximum weight per bag: 32kg (70lbs)

[Jill]

As mentioned it will not alter the number of bags we can take to the States but it will be interesting to see what happens with numbers using the european flights. I hear that Mr Whitelaw is stating they are bringing their policy in line with several other carriers. Guess if enough people vote with their feet and sales drop considerably they might look again at the policy.

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mach 2
For the USA it is as follows.....

Maximum weight per bag: 32kg (70lbs)
[/quote]

On the website it says the maximum weight will be 23k from September. Many carriers have already reduced their allowance to this.

[ShirleyD]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by millie
Saw this in the paper today and the information is on the website. Comes into effect from Tuesday 13th january and there seems to be a bit of a rage about it as BA are not contacting customers and will be asking people to pay at check in.

[/quote]

Far from trying to hide the policy as many articles have suggested, BA staff have been told that people with bags over 23 and under 32kg, will not be made to repack their bags (and therefore incur and extra bag charge) until after 30th Sept. This will give them time to get used to the new policy. Tickets have been showing the new allowance for some time now. Also anyone who has not pre paid for excess, will be directed to airport internet stations where they can pay and get the discount. If they pay in advance and then find they have no excess to pay, the charge is fully refundable.

[alastair]

They are just coming in line with other airlines who already operate these policies - Virgin already only allow 23 kgs in economy on all on there flights and there excess charges are in there website.

[freddiehollie]

I thought Virgins allowance was 23kg x 2 bags in economy.
32kg x 2 bags in premium.

Virgin Atlantic Baggage Allowance

For all new bookings from 1 April 2006 revised economy luggage allowances apply on Virgin Atlantic. For USA and Caribbean economy allowance is now 2 pieces of luggage at 23kg per piece. For all other destinations economy allowance is now 1 piece of luggage at 23kg. Total dimensions (length plus breadth plus height) of each item of luggage is not to exceed 158cms. For all individual pieces exceeding 23kg, excess baggage charges will apply.