Baggage Allowances to Change from 23 Sep

quote:Originally posted by nevadakaz
When travelling PE/UC I have often used close to my max baggage allowance and know of many others who do likewise.


Anyone who travels with someone as similar as my #1 will know that 23kg is a challenge. Heck 3 x 30kg is a challenge for him - sometimes we even have to dip into the one case extra for Aus ... I blame America myself.

Maybe I should offer my services by giving lessons on how to pack light. [:p]

You're hired please report to Mrs Chumbas office and teach her please[:D] She doesn't understamd that for a two week holiday 6 pairs of shoes is more than enough and she doesn't need the other 5 pairs !

quote:Originally posted by hackneyguy
quote:Originally posted by nevadakaz
When travelling PE/UC I have often used close to my max baggage allowance and know of many others who do likewise.

With these latest changes, reducing the PE allowance to the same level as Y has taken away one of the incentives PE held for me.

I now see fewer benefits of PE over Y with an exit seat. Whent he prices are close, PE will still win out, but when they are ugely different, Y+ exit seat becomes more appealing.


As an Upper Class Pax I more regulary than not use all of mine so I guess I will just have to pay the penalty for going over the 23KG per case - no major drama.


Totally agree that there is no major drama.

However the removal of differentiators between Y and PE (VS highest yielding product ?), could lead to others,like myself, to consider more competitive options or other options where our extra money for a 'premium' product is rewarded with a better experience than economy.

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
Maybe I should offer my services by giving lessons on how to pack light. [:p]

Some of us are somewhat larger than you are Tinks!

And judging by your profile wear somewhat more ... [ii]

Larger clothes mean somewhat greater weight...[:w]

I'm slightly surprised that they didn't pull the health and safety card about reducing the single item weight down to 23kg.

Yesterdays Telegraph Travel mentioned the reduced baggage allowance for BA and VS as a reason for protecting the baggage handlers. It also said that you can take heavier bags but you have to pay more. It would appear that paying more to an airline makes their baggage handlers stronger.

quote:Originally posted by Paul H
[i] It would appear that paying more to an airline makes their baggage handlers stronger.


Nope - what it means that two handlers will carry a bag over 23kg. This is what happens now to bags >23kg but under <32kg except there has been no direct charge to a pax.

Regards,

Hackneyguy

So if we all paid more, they would take on twice as many handlers, who would then spend their wages, who would then..... This could be the way to end the recession.

The 32KG limit was intrduced some years ago and was due to Health & Safety. Am not sure that reducing it to 23kg is part of that and surely that would need a world wide agreement. Personally I think its more due to the price of fuel.

As to packing I am an expert packer it's just that the items I take refuse to bend to my will !

Bring back the 32KG allowances for PE and UC !

The thing is for years we have travelled with 20kg when travelling east!

Im surprised it was not reduced years ago to bring it in line when flying west.

In fact when the fuel prices were sky high last year I'm also surprised it was not reduced ages ago.

Just my thoughts.

When this was announced, I wrote in to VS to ask if the fees for bags weighing between 23kg and 32kg would be waived for FC AUers (akin to BA, who do not charge Executive Club Golds) - just had an answer. No.

Guys if we think this is bad BA is reducing the limit to 1 x 23kg to the USA!!!!

quote:Originally posted by rupsingh
Guys if we think this is bad BA is reducing the limit to 1 x 23kg to the USA!!!!


Crikey, if this is true, can you imagine the Dibb [:0]

David

quote:Originally posted by David
quote:Originally posted by rupsingh
Guys if we think this is bad BA is reducing the limit to 1 x 23kg to the USA!!!!


Crikey, if this is true, can you imagine the Dibb [:0]

David


More information
Customers travelling in World Traveller on flights to and from the Americas* (except Brazil) will have a free allowance of one bag weighing no more than 23kgs. This means that the World Traveller allowance will be the same for the majority of British Airways routes
World Traveller customers travelling to and from Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and on through-checked journeys between India and the USA, Canada and Bermuda will retain a two-bag free allowance of up to 23kgs per bag
Gold and Silver Executive Club cardholders will be entitled to two pieces of luggage on all routes when they travel in World Traveller, Euro Traveller and Domestic
There will be a reduction in charges for the first bag in excess of the free allowance on longhaul
The cost of extra bags on UK domestic routes will be brought in line with other shorthaul European services at 35 per bag
Heavy bag charge for bags between 23kgs and 32kgs will increase from 25 to 30. The special bag charge for items that exceed the maximum dimension will no longer apply.

quote:Originally posted by David
quote:Originally posted by rupsingh
Guys if we think this is bad BA is reducing the limit to 1 x 23kg to the USA!!!!


Crikey, if this is true, can you imagine the Dibb [:0]

David


There goes all their shopping in Orlando!

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
quote:Originally posted by David
quote:Originally posted by rupsingh
Guys if we think this is bad BA is reducing the limit to 1 x 23kg to the USA!!!!


Crikey, if this is true, can you imagine the Dibb [:0]

David




There goes all their shopping in Orlando!


[:D] They are up to 6 pages already.

Alot of the comments however, are wondering when Virgin will follow BA [:0]

David

I am busy looking for a set of luggage that has all the necessary space, is easy to push/pull when on the move but doesn't weigh masses to start with - otherwise I can see this being expensive even with the UC allowance.

quote:Originally posted by Jacki
I am busy looking for a set of luggage that has all the necessary space, is easy to push/pull when on the move but doesn't weigh masses to start with - otherwise I can see this being expensive even with the UC allowance.


Easy choice:

The Tumi creditcruncher

Believe available in a variety of sizes..
[y]

quote:Originally posted by northernhenry
quote:Originally posted by Jacki
I am busy looking for a set of luggage that has all the necessary space, is easy to push/pull when on the move but doesn't weigh masses to start with - otherwise I can see this being expensive even with the UC allowance.


Easy choice:

The Tumi creditcruncher

Believe available in a variety of sizes..
[y]


Thanks, I'm on the case (apologies that was terrible!)[:D]

It will be interesting to see how this change in baggage policy affects the London-Lagos route. LOS passengers are notorious for having lots of luggage.

I remember that when BA introduced this same policy a while ago, many LOS passengers switched to VA as a result. I would expect to see a large number of passengers now switching to Arik Air(which also flies from LHR). Its free baggage allowance is 2x30kgs in Economy and 3x30kg in Business. I also hear that the service is surprisingly very good.

While it cuts down a bit on the USA routes, on a personal level it's great for us going to HKG in March. Going away for 39 nights, especially as it's on a cruise, we'll need plenty of clothes. So the new UC allowance on that route is much better for us.

Hi All

Did anyone notice the small print section in this month's Virgin Atlantic newsletter about 'changes in baggage'? (I didn't - luckily my wife pointed it out)

From Sept 23rd Virgin are 'unifying' their baggage allowances - now more 'by weight' or 'by piece' depending on destination.

New allowances are weight based - but with differing weights depending on where you're going (confused yet?)

Table is as follows
NEW BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE:

Destination:
Economy Premium Economy Upper Class
USA, Caribbean, Kenya, Nigeria 2 x 23 kilos 2 x 23 kilos 3 x 23 kilos

All other International destinations 1 x 23 kilos 2 x 23 kilos 3 x 23 kilos

Already a huge thread about it here

Thanks Tinkerbelle

I was out of the country those weeks (early July) and missed the thread

However to add to it, what happens now to the 'sports bag' policy. As well as usual baggage, Virgin used to take a sport bag, which in the case of Scuba diving, could weigh up to 32Kgs. Presumably this will also come down to 23Kgs? - I couldn't find anything on the website about change of sports bag allowance - probably because they like to keep fairly quiet about it...

[Nottingham Nick]

Tow baggage threads merged to prevent duplicate discussion. [:D][:D]

Nick