British Airways has extended its hand baggage only fares at Gatwick airport.
The carrier introduced the new fare option last month (see online news February 19), initially on five short-haul routes to Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Jersey, Tunis and Turin.
This has now been extended to all of BA’s 32 short-haul routes from Gatwick airport, with the carrier stating that the new fare is “already proving popular with customers on the initial five destinations”.
Hand baggage only fares are now on sale for all routes, with the additional destinations valid for travel from April 2.
Examples given by the carrier include £39 one-way to Genoa and Glasgow, and £49 one-way to Barcelona, Nice and Venice.
Commenting on the extension of the discounted fares, Peter Simpson, director of Gatwick for British Airways, said:
“We are confident that they will prove popular during the busy summer season as short-haul customers continue to take advantage of our generous two-bag hand luggage policy. Those who still want to check in a bag will simply pay the same price they do now.”
Hand baggage only customers can carry on board one case up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, plus a handbag or laptop bag.
BA's new fare follows KLM's recent decision to charge for checked luggage on short-haul routes (see online news February 13). Business Traveller's consumer editor Alex McWhirter has also written a blog looking at the move here.
For more information visit ba.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
