Virgin 32kg promise what to do?

[Boo Boo Too]

Still awaiting a response from British Airways on their position. Any more info? Bump.

Like Virgin, BA SHOULD honour the weight allowances for a booking made BEFORE the announcement of the change in baggage policy... BUT should and will are two different things.

My suggestion is to phone them - if you are weighting for a reply to an email you could be old and grey before it arrives...

Also, if you are a member of their Executive Club (frequent flyer scheme)... you should have access to your bookings online (through "Manage My Booking"). Your online booking states your baggage allowances for your trips and this will relate to the baggage allowance when you booked (i.e. before the change in policy). You could print those details out with you and take them to the airport.

But, if I was you, I would phone...

We have BA bookings for October. They were booked in March (before the new baggage policy). BUT I am aiming to be within the allowances of the new policy. I don't want any possibility of problems (which would be a REAL pain at the airport) AND we have internal flights in the US with AA (and they are very strict on the 23kg limit anyway).

Boo

 

[Ruth B]

panic panic.........
i booked a virgin flight through airmiles last sep but no where on the e-ticket( as issued by airmiles) does it say the weight allowence.
I'm planning on phoneing but did you ask for them to emial you the allowence as well?
really don't want to be chrage for the extra weight
thnaks for your help
Ruth

 

[Netty]

ask them to check and tell them when you booked. If it is 32kgs make sure they have put a note on your details on their computer. they have done this with us.

 

[wayneg]

Checked in with BMI yesterday. They were allowing 32kg for anyone.

 

[Laurafoster]

Can anyone confirm what the previous limit was? Was it 2 cases per person at 32kgs?

Im not intending on taking that much at all if i can help it, just that im going out for my wedding and have my dress, bridesmaids dresses, wedding favours etc etc to take over??

 

[Miffy2003]

Can anyone confirm what the previous limit was? Was it 2 cases per person at 32kgs?

Yes

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Yes I think they are as long as the tickets were bought before the announcement of a reduction in weight. Same I would thought would apply for a package.

Claire

Claire, a word of caution. On PPRUNE web site they are saying that BA will NOT allow over 23 KG

see here
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=230439&page=2

Not good

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Claire, a word of caution. On PPRUNE web site they are saying that BA will NOT allow over 23 KG

see here
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=230439&page=2

Not good

No, although it would only be a "stay of execution" for pre-booked trips anyway... (anything booked after the new allowances were introduced, would be at 23kg anyway...).

Fortunately - despite booking my BA flights before the changes - I intend to stick to 23kg per case anyway (23kg seems reasonable AND we have some inbternal flights within the US anyway...). However, my concern is BA's completely inflexible approach: i.e. 23kg is their ABSOLUTE maximum (no arguments). So if you are 1kg over, you have to repack your bags...

I think that it may well be carnage at BA check-in on 11th October onwards (fortunately I depart Gatwick on 4th October, but we fly back on 21st October). There will be lots of people who are either ignorant of the changes or think that they will "get away with it" anyway... Think that there will be a lot of arguing, unpacking and repacking at check-in counters... AND a LOT of hold ups... in particularly at premium class check-in (imagine having paid £2k/£4k/£6k+ for your ticket and being told that you are in deep, deep doo-doo with your two 32kg cases... )

BA may well need to introduce an emergency policy regqarding this "absolute" figure and charge for in lieu of completely disallowing excess weight...

Boo

 

[#1MMFan]

I got told 23kg x2 ... doesn't matter I booked before the changes. My booking online also says I'm not allowed to prepay for extra weight on this flight which is something I'm supposed to be able to do according to BA's website. It's a total rip-off. Incidentally we did the whole over-the-weight for internal flights with american airlines in june, and they only charged $50 so quite reasonable. It was something like $50 for up to 32kg/70lb (not charged per kg over). BA's is £120 for one case being over, long haul. It's totally ridiculous. I think I will write BA.

 

[gismo1554]

Dont quote me on this but when I came through Downtown Disney last month we didn't get our bags weighed at all as they didn't have any scales down there.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Dont quote me on this but when I came through Downtown Disney last month we didn't get our bags weighed at all as they didn't have any scales down there.

For Virgin this may be the case, but BA don't do downtown check-in (all luggage is checked at the airport - where they will weigh your cases). Think it is going to be with BA that the bigger problems arise...

Boo

 

[Laurafoster]

Is BA now only 1 bag per person at 23kg??

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Is BA now only 1 bag per person at 23kg??

If you travel to the US, then it is two 23kg bags (for all classes of travel). So you still get 46kg of luggage allowance per adult, BUT neither of those two pieces of baggage must exceed 23kg in weight.

See https://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagpolicy/public/en_gb for details.

Boo

 

[Laurafoster]

Ahh didnt notice the bit at the bottom! Thanks!!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Ahh didnt notice the bit at the bottom! Thanks!!

That's ok.. one suitcase of 23kg would have been a little scarey...

 

[marlouwrig]

We have just returned from California with Virgin - 3 cases over the 23kg limit outbound and inbound.

I was reminded of new weight limit at check in both times for future reference but they were already aware that I had booked before the changes and so entitled to 32kg per case. At SFO the check in girl said that next time I would be charged $35 for each overweight case.

 

[lorapinky]

Hello

I am flying with virgin next year but I have already had my 32kg honoured, but I am curious what Virgin would do if I had one suitcase weighing 26kg and one weighing 38kg? Would they make me re-pack it? I know its a bit extreme but I was just wondering what they would make you do?

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Hello

I am flying with virgin next year but I have already had my 32kg honoured, but I am curious what Virgin would do if I had one suitcase weighing 26kg and one weighing 38kg? Would they make me re-pack it? I know its a bit extreme but I was just wondering what they would make you do?

According to http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/allowances.jsp -

"Passengers who exceed this maximum weight limit will be asked to repack their luggage into smaller units before they can check in. Excess baggage charges will be applied where applicable."

However 32kg is the MAXIMUM weight that they will allow you to check in (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/excess.jsp). So, either you manage to repack that 6kg into the lighter bag (or your hand luggage) or you repack it into a NEW bag (i.e. you buy a cheap holdall for that extra 6kgs of luggage).

If you check in an extra piece (i.e. if you have to check in an extra case/holdall for the extra excess baggage), then you will be charged "per piece" ($115 per extra bag you check in).

Boo

 

[lorapinky]

Thanks for that Boo!

 

[lorapinky]

EAK!!!!!!!!!

My DH pointed out a good fact last night that I hadn't thought of and now I am worrying

We booked before the April baggage allowance was enforced and we have an email from virgin saying that we can still have the full 2 x 32kg baggage allowance.

However about 5 weeks ago we amended the booking, and moved the holiday forward by a week. I am now unsure if this will mean my holiday was booked then and not before april. Any advice anyone?