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MAS to join Oneworld by year-end

15 May 2012 by BusinessTraveller

Malaysia Airlines says it is “on schedule” to join the alliance by the end of this year, and has started to streamline carry-on baggage policies ahead of the inauguration.

The carrier says that passengers travelling in economy can now take one piece of carry-on luggage weighing up to 7kg (up from the previous 5kg), while those in business and first class have an allowance of two pieces weighing up to 7kg each.

Bags must not measure more than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm, and passengers can also carry onboard “a notebook/laptop or briefcase or a binocular bag”, as well as “a small handbag and walking stick”.

Interestingly, "streamlining" does not necessarily mean that the carrier's carry-on baggage policy is now the same as all Oneworld members. A look at Cathay Pacific's baggage policy shows limits of 7kg for economy and premium economy passengers, 10kg for business class passengers, and 15kg for those in first class. Meanwhile BA's policy advises travellers that their hand luggage may weigh up to 23kg, so long as the passengers is "able to lift the bag unaided into the overhead lockers in the aircraft cabin".

MAS says it remains on schedule to join Oneworld by the end of 2012, and ahead of this it has developed several codeshares with Oneworld partners including Cathay Pacific and Royal Jordanian.

The carrier is also set to take delivery of its first A380 superjumbo at the end of May (see online news May 11). The aircraft will feature 494 seats in three classes, with eight first class seats and 350 economy class seats on the main deck, and 66 business class seats and an additional 70 economy class seats on the upper deck (see online news March 8 for more details).

Visit malaysiaairlines.com.

Report by Mark Caswell

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