Post by oldmike on Feb 8, 2007 9:55:28 GMT 7
BA to charge £120 for each extra suitcase
By Andrew Pierce
Last Updated: 1:48am GMT 08/02/2007
British Airways has sparked controversy by adding £240 to the cost of a long-haul return flight if a passenger puts two bags in the airline hold.
The rule, which comes into effect on Tuesday, will also add £120 to all domestic flights and journeys to Europe.
But the first that many BA customers will know about the change will be when they check in at airports next week.
The airline confirmed yesterday that its sales staff were not instructed to tell customers in advance when they booked their tickets.
"They will tell people if they ask about our baggage policy," said a spokesman. "But it is on our website."
The rule means that customers will be able to put a bag with a maximum weight of 23kg into the hold. But if they put two, even if the combined weight is below the 23kg limit, they will have to pay £120 per item or £240 if it is a long-haul flight.
The change has outraged charities that help the elderly and infirm as it flies in the face of medical advice that older people should travel with lighter bags, rather than one heavy one, to distribute weight in a more balanced way.
The change has been instituted after profits at the low-cost airline Ryanair rose by 30 per cent in the last quarter, helped by its decision to charge passengers £7 for each bag that goes in the hold.
British Airways, which lost £80 million in revenue last month when more than 100,000 passengers defected to rival airlines to avoid threatened strike action by cabin crew, denied that its move was motivated by a desire to raise extra revenue.
The BA spokesman said: "This is about bringing simplicity to our complex baggage policy."
However, bulky sporting equipment such as golf clubs, scuba diving equipment, skis and bicycles are not covered by the excess bag rule.
Flights to America, Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico will be exempt from the change but all other long-haul routes will be restricted to one bag in economy class. All European destinations will be hit unless passengers fly Club class.
The criticism of the change was led yesterday by the Parkinson's Disease Society, which said: "The society is disappointed that a major airline has made changes to its baggage allowances without considering the needs of people living with conditions that can affect balance and movement.
"We hope staff will demonstrate flexibility and not inflict financial penalties on people because of their disability."
Help the Aged, which knew nothing of the changes, was also concerned. "This raises serious issues for older travellers," said a spokesman. "For many older people it is important that they can travel independently. But many will not be able to manage one bag."
BA said: "If someone is incapable of managing a single bag we would not discriminate against them".
By Andrew Pierce
Last Updated: 1:48am GMT 08/02/2007
British Airways has sparked controversy by adding £240 to the cost of a long-haul return flight if a passenger puts two bags in the airline hold.
The rule, which comes into effect on Tuesday, will also add £120 to all domestic flights and journeys to Europe.
But the first that many BA customers will know about the change will be when they check in at airports next week.
The airline confirmed yesterday that its sales staff were not instructed to tell customers in advance when they booked their tickets.
"They will tell people if they ask about our baggage policy," said a spokesman. "But it is on our website."
The rule means that customers will be able to put a bag with a maximum weight of 23kg into the hold. But if they put two, even if the combined weight is below the 23kg limit, they will have to pay £120 per item or £240 if it is a long-haul flight.
The change has outraged charities that help the elderly and infirm as it flies in the face of medical advice that older people should travel with lighter bags, rather than one heavy one, to distribute weight in a more balanced way.
The change has been instituted after profits at the low-cost airline Ryanair rose by 30 per cent in the last quarter, helped by its decision to charge passengers £7 for each bag that goes in the hold.
British Airways, which lost £80 million in revenue last month when more than 100,000 passengers defected to rival airlines to avoid threatened strike action by cabin crew, denied that its move was motivated by a desire to raise extra revenue.
The BA spokesman said: "This is about bringing simplicity to our complex baggage policy."
However, bulky sporting equipment such as golf clubs, scuba diving equipment, skis and bicycles are not covered by the excess bag rule.
Flights to America, Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico will be exempt from the change but all other long-haul routes will be restricted to one bag in economy class. All European destinations will be hit unless passengers fly Club class.
The criticism of the change was led yesterday by the Parkinson's Disease Society, which said: "The society is disappointed that a major airline has made changes to its baggage allowances without considering the needs of people living with conditions that can affect balance and movement.
"We hope staff will demonstrate flexibility and not inflict financial penalties on people because of their disability."
Help the Aged, which knew nothing of the changes, was also concerned. "This raises serious issues for older travellers," said a spokesman. "For many older people it is important that they can travel independently. But many will not be able to manage one bag."
BA said: "If someone is incapable of managing a single bag we would not discriminate against them".
