£120 to take a second suitcase to Australia sounds steep but you could actually be better off under BA's new strict baggage policy
(Tim Ockenden/PA)
BA has simplified its baggage policy by limiting economy class passengers to checking in a single bag weighing no more than 23kg. The new strict weight limit and flat rate fee to carry extra bags will leave domestic passengers worse off but will benefit long haul passengers who want to travel with a lot of luggage.
For passengers travelling after October 11, the airline will no longer check in any bag that weighs more than 23kg. Previously passengers on domestic flights could take bags of up to 32kg, but now passengers in any class, on any flight must take items out of their luggage if it weighs even a few kilos over 23kg.
For business and first class passengers this is less of an issue because they can check-in two pieces of luggage weighing up to 23kg - both on short and long haul flights.
If items have to be removed from a checked piece of luggage, they can be transferred to hand luggage, which will from July 5 be in line with the baggage policy of easyJet, allowing passengers to carry bags of unlimited weight onto the aircraft. The only criteria is that a passenger can lift the bag into the overhead locker, and that the bag will fit in the locker, so it needs to be within the dimensions, 56x45x25cm, slightly larger than easyJet's 55x40x20cm. In addition to this bag a laptop-sized bag or handbag can also be taken. The limit is the same for all passengers, regardless of the class they travel in.
If excess items cannot be unloaded from a check-in bag into the carry on, then a second bag must be checked in, which incurs a set fee per bag. This fee is £30 per bag for UK domestic flights, £60 per bag for short haul flights and £120 per bag for long haul flights. It is hard to say whether travellers will be better off with these new fees, because previously the excess baggage charges were made per kilo and varied according to route.
For example, on Frankfurt flights, excess baggage was charged at £4.96 per kilo, amounting to over £100 on a 23kg bag, which would now cost £30, likewise the charge was £34 per kilo to Singapore - a weighty £782 for a 23kg bag versus the new charge of £120. Obviously, the lighter the second bag, the less the cost savings gained from the new flat rate fee.
The excess baggage fee can be paid at the airport, or from July 12, passengers can pay the fee in advance, and save 20 per cent using BA's "manage my booking" facility online.
In addition to the new policies above, passengers can continue to check in one piece of sporting equipment free of charge, such as golf clubs or skis, and from October 11 families travelling with infants can carry 23kg for each infant (up from the current 10kg) plus a pushcair and a second piece of carry-on luggage.