BA and luggage

[JuliaVA]

Hi - has anyone flown on BA lately and know anything about how strict they are with their 1 suitcase per passenger rule? We are a couple with 2 kids and a baby and we have 1 large and 4 small suitcases. No suitcases are over the weight limit- most are significantly under but I'd quite like to take 1 more suitcase. Will I have to pay or will they allow it considering our luggage is under the allowed weight?? Any advice gratefully accepted.

 

[2Tiggies]

You have to comply with the per piece and per weight limit so you will be charged for the extra bag. Do you not have one or two larger ones that you can use?

I think you will have your hands full with more smaller bags AND a baby (and a pram/stroller?) when you could just take for example 3 full sized suitcases. BA is quite generous on size of luggage compared to other airlines as long as you stick within the 23 kg limit. You are allowed the same weight for hand luggage, which means between the 5 of you, you are entitled to a max of 230 kg. That is a LOT of luggage!

 

[General Panic]

Bear in mind infants do not qualify for any free baggage even though you pay a fee for their tickets.

 

[2Tiggies]

Bear in mind infants do not qualify for any free baggage even though you pay a fee for their tickets.

They do on some airlines, although I did not check specifically about BA. Thanks for that.

To the OP, I would seriously consider taking fewer pieces and utilising your weight and space allowance per person. I have watched so many people at check in having to sit on the floor and try repack things to make them fit when they have ample space/pieces/weight, but have just not adhered to one of the guidelines and refuse to pay the charges. It always makes for a funny story with friends later on, but if you happen to be standing behind this in a queue with your correctly packed bags, there is no love lost between you and the person holding everyone else up.

 

[2Tiggies]

Bear in mind infants do not qualify for any free baggage even though you pay a fee for their tickets.

I think they do. This is off the BA website (infants under 2 years) :

One standard- sized bag plus one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat
You cannot pay to take extra bags for an infant.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagchk/public/en_gb

 

[JuliaVA]

Oh sorry I didn't make it clear that I am already here in Florida. I wish I had brought bigger bags now!! I should have known I'd do more shopping than I'd expected. According to BAs website a full price economy ticket y class is allowed 2 bags but I suppose I'd know if I had one of them?

 

[2Tiggies]

Oh sorry I didn't make it clear that I am already here in Florida. I wish I had brought bigger bags now!! I should have known I'd do more shopping than I'd expected. According to BAs website a full price economy ticket y class is allowed 2 bags but I suppose I'd know if I had one of them?

Yes, you would. It should say on your eticket confrimation what kind of ticket you have. Is it not cheaper to buy a cheap bag? Not sure if you have a car

 

[General Panic]

I think they do. This is off the BA website (infants under 2 years) :

One standard- sized bag plus one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat
You cannot pay to take extra bags for an infant.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagchk/public/en_gb

By Jove i stand corrected. That must be new...ish but about time i would say.

 

[2Tiggies]

By Jove i stand corrected. That must be new...ish but about time i would say.

Don't worry - although I was sure I had seen it, I did have to go check after I read your post. When my 9 year old was a baby they did not get luggage allowance. Only a pram and a car seat. I know VA have been doing it for a long time but they certainly didn't in 2002 and 2003 when I flew VA with DD.

 

[WiganTony]

If you are thinking of buying anotyher case out there, you could put one of the smaller cases inside and pack other stuff around it.

As also noted in one of the replies, BA doe have an extremely generous cabin baggage weight allowance subject to the case being "cabin size", so in theory you could check-in four cases and take two or three on as hand baggage.