News

BA reduces transatlantic luggage allowance

31 Jul 2009 by Mark Caswell

In a week when the BA has said it will cut routes (see online news July 28), economise on catering (see online news July 29), and admitted a record first quarter loss, the airline says it will introduce a new baggage policy from this October. The news, still not officially announced, has been posted on the carrier’s website ba.com.

It means that for bookings made from October 7, economy class passengers flying on most transatlantic routes will see their free checked luggage allowance reduced from two pieces to one. This brings the transatlantic routes (where there been a two piece rule in force for many years) in line with other long-haul destinations.

At the same time BA will make some changes to its excess baggage rates.

What is confusing is that the new rule does not cover every route – see below. To satisfy market demand it seems BA will let the two-piece rule remain on routes where passengers are known to take a lot of checked luggage.

It’s believed that only Delta and Northwest currently have the one-piece rule on flights to and from the US. But given BA’s dominant position in the transatlantic market other rivals may follow suit.

For more informationvisit ba.com.

Report by Alex McWhirter

BA baggage policy changes for bookings made from October 7, 2009

  • Customers travelling in World Traveller on flights to and from the Americas* (except Brazil) will have a free allowance of one bag weighing no more than 23kgs. This means that the World Traveller allowance will be the same for the majority of British Airways routes

  • World Traveller customers travelling to and from Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and on through-checked journeys between India and the USA, Canada and Bermuda will retain a two-bag free allowance of up to 23kgs per bag

  • Gold and Silver Executive Club cardholders will be entitled to two pieces of luggage on all routes when they travel in World Traveller, Euro Traveller and Domestic

  • There will be a reduction in charges for the first bag in excess of the free allowance on longhaul

  • The cost of extra bags on UK domestic routes will be brought in line with other shorthaul European services at £35 per bag

Heavy bag charge for bags between 23kgs and 32kgs will increase from £25 to £30. The special bag charge for items that exceed the maximum dimension will no longer apply.

* Americas routes affected: USA, Canada, Bermuda, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean

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