BA reducing economy baggage allowance

[scarletlancer]

No they are leaving buisness and WT+ alone.

thinking about this, I would not be surprised if Virgin followed suit.
I could not understand the reason for making PE allowance the same as Economy, now they have a reason to follow BA and make the difference between PE and econ again.....

I bet they are spinning it as an environmentally friendly change? If so, I wonder how much scientific evidence there is to bare out the idea that less emissions are caused by the weight from the baggage associated with passengers in premium cabins

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I bet they are spinning it as an environmentally friendly change? If so, I wonder how much scientific evidence there is to bare out the idea that less emissions are caused by the weight from the baggage associated with passengers in premium cabins

Well, this was the response I got from virgin:
"Virgin Atlantic has always offered an extremely generous free baggage allowance.

Firstly, we need to be consistent with other airlines when passengers purchase 'through tickets' requiring them to change airline in order to reach their final destination. It's confusing and frustrating for passengers travelling on different carriers offering different baggage allowances, and often results in unexpected expense and inconvenience should they find themselves carrying excess baggage after their journey has commenced.

In addition to this we must reduce how much weight we can carry in view of the ever increasing cost of fuel. We've taken the decision that it would be fairer to ask only those passengers carrying the higher levels of baggage to absorb the cost of the extra fuel required to carry it. "

 

[Rascal1003]

Sounds like Virgin wont be far behind then?

 

[scarletlancer]

Well, this was the response I got from virgin:
"Virgin Atlantic has always offered an extremely generous free baggage allowance.

Firstly, we need to be consistent with other airlines when passengers purchase 'through tickets' requiring them to change airline in order to reach their final destination. It's confusing and frustrating for passengers travelling on different carriers offering different baggage allowances, and often results in unexpected expense and inconvenience should they find themselves carrying excess baggage after their journey has commenced.

In addition to this we must reduce how much weight we can carry in view of the ever increasing cost of fuel. We've taken the decision that it would be fairer to ask only those passengers carrying the higher levels of baggage to absorb the cost of the extra fuel required to carry it. "

Reasonable I suppose but I would be curious to know what their margins actually are and how they accord with the "ever increasing cost of fuel", I would wager that these 'costs' that are having to be absorbed are already more than covered by periodic increases in fares. A case of having their cake and eating it perhaps?

 

[wideeyes]

I don't know how some one with a baby who would have no allowance would manage with one case at 23kg, I suppose it be okay if you had a big family and you could spread the weight about.

I was miffed when VA reduced the PE allowance as it made my life easier to take one big rather than 2 however I would struggle with just one 23kg case myself.

 

[wayneg]

I think some people could cut back(probaby see less being carried with new rules)
We are almost packed for next weeks trip, 23kg pp would be almost impossible. We usually always carry 2x23kg between 3 of us, thats what we took in May but this time we are going for 25 nights incl cruise with formal night, semi formal, Pirate night (pirate outfits) Fish extender, gifts for 20 families, snorkelling gear for Castaway Cay etc etc
Had to spread out into 3 cases and a holdall, this time we have a 96kg pp allowance so no worries but 23kg pp would be very difficult. Glad we are not taking gifts for our American friends this time.
Std 2-3 weeks with no cruise 2x23kg is plenty for 3 people (for us) but won't be for others.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Is that from manchester or Gatwick Wayne?

 

[disneyholic family]

Well, this was the response I got from virgin:
"Virgin Atlantic has always offered an extremely generous free baggage allowance.

Firstly, we need to be consistent with other airlines when passengers purchase 'through tickets' requiring them to change airline in order to reach their final destination. It's confusing and frustrating for passengers travelling on different carriers offering different baggage allowances, and often results in unexpected expense and inconvenience should they find themselves carrying excess baggage after their journey has commenced.

In addition to this we must reduce how much weight we can carry in view of the ever increasing cost of fuel. We've taken the decision that it would be fairer to ask only those passengers carrying the higher levels of baggage to absorb the cost of the extra fuel required to carry it. "

when you fly between airlines you can really get screwed...

my mom always flies to here via northwest/klm (nwa to amsterdam, then klm from amsterdam the rest of the way)..

on international flights, nwa permits business class passengers to check 3 bags (2 bags at 32 kilo and 1 bag at 23 kilo)....
when flying from detroit, in other words, when flying the NWA leg first, she's permitted the 3 suitcases on both NWA and continuing on KLM..

but when she flies back home, which means she does the KLM part first, she is only permitted 2 bags....it drives her stark raving mad every time...
doesn't matter how many times we talk to them - telling them the ticket is an NWA ticket....and that she's connecting to NWA.....no matter...KLM won't hear of it....she's only permitted 2 bags even though she's checked through to nwa, even though it's an NWA ticket...even though the KLM flight is a code share...nope...no matter...
in that direction she can only carry 2 bags....

 

[welsh princess]

We fly with BA 29/12 and booked before this announcement, does this mean we only have the new allowance, as I am reading it as new seats booked from the date stated in oct?

Any advise

Emma

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

We fly with BA 29/12 and booked before this announcement, does this mean we only have the new allowance, as I am reading it as new seats booked from the date stated in oct?

Any advise

Emma

I read it as tickets booked after 7th october

 

[paulh]

ok you will only get one checked in bag of 23kg but do you still get a carry on? that way were ok with the luggage amount
Paulh

 

[welsh princess]

Thank you Obi Won Kenobi, thats what I read it as

Emma

 

[amystevekai&bump]

This news has made it a lot easier for me to talk DH into an Owner's locker!!!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

ok you will only get one checked in bag of 23kg but do you still get a carry on? that way were ok with the luggage amount
Paulh

Yes, the unlimited (sort of) hand baggage is still as it was

 

[wigeboo]

I have rang BA today

This is the first time we have booked with them
we always fly with virgin BUT BA were doing the same baggage and flights for 300.00 cheaper woo hoo (we get to stay in disney longer with the money we saved)

sorry anyway we booked about a month ago for next april
BA said that the would honor the baggage

but i will also double check again before we go.

 

[kristieuk]

I know it is the way of the world, but isn't it always a cut in benefits? I agree that the gap between the 'schedule-ds' and the budget carriers is becoming almost non-existent these days.

We manage ok as there are 4 of us, so 4 bags is more than we can manage anyway, but a couple or single traveller who eg take golf clubs are going to be struggling with the new allowance

 

[Chris and Pooh]

kevin,
everyone has different reasons for taking more than 23Kgs per person, whether it be for medical reaosn, child reasons, holiday reasons and of course, bringing back goods reasons.
Some people pack more than you, some its their first time and do not know what there is available so take more for safety.

My problem with 23KG limit is that if you take, say 25Kg, now you have to take 2 cases insead of one which could accommodate 32KG

I wrote to Virgin on this very matter when they changed their limits from 32kg per case in Economy, arguing that some people would actually end up increasing their carbon footprint:
1 case weight 7kg contents 20kg =27Kg
2 cases weight 14Kg contents 20Kg = 33Kg. I put forward the argument that if a passenger was only taking one case then they should still be allowed 32Kg. Virgin agreed to come back with a an answer, but never did, apparently Aer Lingus now operate this way but I cant be certain. However if they copy BA then it is not an issue, at least not in Economy, but it would still apply to PE though.

 

[disneyholic family]

This news has made it a lot easier for me to talk DH into an Owner's locker!!!

yes, for anyone making repeated visits, this makes Owner's Locker almost a must have...
we don't go every year anymore, but if we did, i would certainly get an owner's locker..
i have stuff stored in a suitcase that i ONLY take to WDW......things we've purchased over the years for our trips there...
if i knew we'd be going every year, i'd definitely leave all those things in an owners locker - saves the hassle of having to drag it all back and forth every time and now having to pay for extra baggage...

 

[getready]

I guess if you upgrade the UK return leg only to WT+ you get the comfier seats plus the bigger baggage allowance?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I guess if you upgrade the UK return leg only to WT+ you get the comfier seats plus the bigger baggage allowance?

Only on the way back