Most travelers have reluctantly adjusted to paying baggage fees every time they travel in the U.S. But international allowances for the most part have remained standard with even economy class passengers allowed two free bags. British Airways is about to change that.
In a letter to travel agents Friday, British Airways announced a new policy for economy class passengers booking after October 6, 2009 to or from the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. They will now be allowed only one free checked bag, which must weigh under 23 kilograms, or 51 pounds.
In addition, while British Airways has allowed one piece of sporting equipment to be checked free of charge beyond the regular allowance, that will be changing as well. Items such as skis and golf clubs will now be considered part of a travelers regular allowance, and subject to excess baggage charges.
The additional baggage charges will vary, but are in the $60 range at this point. And like many U.S. carriers, British Airways will be more lenient with passengers in their premium cabins, and their elite mileage members. (Although considering the airline only gives 25 percent of actual miles flown on most of their discount fares, it’s unlikely there will be too many elite mileage members traveling in economy class in the first place.)
Since the policy doesn’t go into effect for two months, the airline has time to tweak the policy. And presumably, to see if other carriers match.
While British Airways says the “vast majority” of their customers “choose to travel with one checked bag,” this policy will likely fall most heavily on the occasional leisure traveler, especially those visiting friends and relatives with gifts. Or shoppers from Europe taking advantage of the weak dollar. On the other hand, those aren’t the airline’s bread and butter anyway.
So we will see. But considering how much money U.S. carriers are making from their luggage charges for domestic flights, it’s hard to imagine that these new charges, and more, won’t be the wave of the future.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
