Changes to hand baggage allowance and boarding the aircraft [effective 18 Aug 2015]
Jul 28, 2015, 10:25 am
#46
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
Here's what I would like to see:
• We will instruct our cabin crew not to use the overhead lockers at row 1 for their personal use - rather than for the convenience of the people who pay their wages (i.e. our passengers).
• We will instruct our cabin crew not to use the overhead lockers at row 1 for their personal use - rather than for the convenience of the people who pay their wages (i.e. our passengers).
Jul 28, 2015, 10:33 am
#47
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,736
For any particular cabin, the new procedures should ensure that the status passengers are first to board in that (say) WT cabin. If they are late to board, they risk not finding space, which is the same as now anyway. The "problem" is that higher cabins will have boarded beforehand, but hopefully they won't have taken space further back, which I suspect doesn't happen often.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:33 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: No longer bothered chasing FF status.
Posts: 2,345
It doesn't have to be a "laptop bag" ... it's described as a "laptop sized bag" with specific maximum dimensions. I usually travel with my laptop, keys, wallett, etc, in a small rucksack that meets the size criteria and have never had an issue.
If you're that worried, then pack a strong supermarket 'bag for life' and if you are ever put in this scenario whip it out and place your valuables in your plastic bag which will fit under your seat. @:-)
I don't really see what your issue is, the new system seems quite sensible and reasonable to me. You could encounter the same problem you are describing today under the current system. What do you expect the crew to do if you are last on board and there is no space for your bag? Just because you choose to travel with one bag, do you expect another customer to have their bag removed so you can keep yours on board?
If you're that worried, then pack a strong supermarket 'bag for life' and if you are ever put in this scenario whip it out and place your valuables in your plastic bag which will fit under your seat. @:-)
I don't really see what your issue is, the new system seems quite sensible and reasonable to me. You could encounter the same problem you are describing today under the current system. What do you expect the crew to do if you are last on board and there is no space for your bag? Just because you choose to travel with one bag, do you expect another customer to have their bag removed so you can keep yours on board?
No I don't expect one customer to have their bag removed so that I can carry on mine.
But I do expect to be able to carry my valuables with me on board when I travel. I don't travel with a rucksack the size you might see climbing Everest, but rather a small backpack, with the minimum amount of stuff in it that I need / want with me on board. If this backpack falls outside the magic dimensions of "Yellow tagged bag" it would now seem that in essence you run the risk of having these valuables taken away from you & put in the hold
Your suggestion of the "bag for life" is rather ridiculous, as I see no point in transferring my belongings into a shopping bag, while my now empty backpack goes to the hold. But thank you for the suggestion nonetheless.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:35 am
#49
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,736
That rarely happens these days. Less than one flight in ten in my experience, and that exception flight may be known to be lightly loaded.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:41 am
#50
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,835
Thank you for the attack !
No I don't expect one customer to have their bag removed so that I can carry on mine.
But I do expect to be able to carry my valuables with me on board when I travel. I don't travel with a rucksack the size you might see climbing Everest, but rather a small backpack, with the minimum amount of stuff in it that I need / want with me on board. If this backpack falls outside the magic dimensions of "Yellow tagged bag" it would now seem that in essence you run the risk of having these valuables taken away from you & put in the hold
Your suggestion of the "bag for life" is rather ridiculous, as I see no point in transferring my belongings into a shopping bag, while my now empty backpack goes to the hold. But thank you for the suggestion nonetheless.
No I don't expect one customer to have their bag removed so that I can carry on mine.
But I do expect to be able to carry my valuables with me on board when I travel. I don't travel with a rucksack the size you might see climbing Everest, but rather a small backpack, with the minimum amount of stuff in it that I need / want with me on board. If this backpack falls outside the magic dimensions of "Yellow tagged bag" it would now seem that in essence you run the risk of having these valuables taken away from you & put in the hold
Your suggestion of the "bag for life" is rather ridiculous, as I see no point in transferring my belongings into a shopping bag, while my now empty backpack goes to the hold. But thank you for the suggestion nonetheless.
Realistically, the worst that will happen is likely to be forced to put it under your feet (unless you're in an exit row where in extremis you might be parted with it).
Jul 28, 2015, 10:46 am
#52
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: No longer bothered chasing FF status.
Posts: 2,345
New rules today for the "yellow tagged bag" - 40x30x15 within which my bag does not fit !!
Jul 28, 2015, 10:48 am
#53
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 570
• Customers travelling in all cabins, except First and Club World will receive a yellow tag for handbag/laptop sized bags which are within the new dimensions. We guarantee that customers can take this bag on board. The tag must be visible for boarding and placed under the seat in front.
Unfortunately the statement from BA is worryingly open to interpretation.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:50 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,879
Kered
Thats the dimensions of the smaller bag. Since you only have one bag you are allowed the bigger one.
the additional cabin bag remains unchanged and should be no larger than 56x45x25cm and can weigh up to 23kgs.
I think the word additional is the problem. The yellow tag bag is the additional bag
No airline guarantees your hand luggage flies with you. On planes I fly regularly, unless is handbag/laptop size they take your hand luggage off you as you board and give it back to you as you get off.
I do not think you have anything to worry about
Thats the dimensions of the smaller bag. Since you only have one bag you are allowed the bigger one.
the additional cabin bag remains unchanged and should be no larger than 56x45x25cm and can weigh up to 23kgs.
I think the word additional is the problem. The yellow tag bag is the additional bag
No airline guarantees your hand luggage flies with you. On planes I fly regularly, unless is handbag/laptop size they take your hand luggage off you as you board and give it back to you as you get off.
I do not think you have anything to worry about
Last edited by scottishpoet; Jul 28, 2015 at 10:55 am
Jul 28, 2015, 10:55 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: No longer bothered chasing FF status.
Posts: 2,345
However, early indications are that, that is not the case, rather that if your one & only bag is larger than the "yellow tagged bag" you run the risk of it being taken off you & put in the hold. Only the magic 40x30x15 bag is guaranteed to go on board with you.
Jul 28, 2015, 10:58 am
#56
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,879
If you are amongst the last people to board and your bag does not fit under the seat there is a risk if there is no room left you bag goes in the hold.
This is true with all airlines.
Yellow tag bags are safer because, other than exit row, your bag can go under the seat.
This is true with all airlines.
Yellow tag bags are safer because, other than exit row, your bag can go under the seat.
Jul 28, 2015, 11:00 am
#57
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
I do expect to be able to carry my valuables with me on board when I travel. I don't travel with a rucksack the size you might see climbing Everest, but rather a small backpack, with the minimum amount of stuff in it that I need / want with me on board. If this backpack falls outside the magic dimensions of "Yellow tagged bag" it would now seem that in essence you run the risk of having these valuables taken away from you & put in the hold
The main issue I see here is BA's poor record in enforcing anything whether it's priority boarding, hand baggage or other things.
If enforced it all sounds good - the boarding makes sense and the hand baggage rules may help. The 'tagged bag will travel' rule will certainly make a difference to my thought process as in the past I have generally binned it.
Jul 28, 2015, 11:02 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
Jul 28, 2015, 11:06 am
#59
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: No longer bothered chasing FF status.
Posts: 2,345
• Customers can continue to carry 2 pieces of hand baggage. One bag should be a handbag/laptop sized bag which should now be no larger than 40x30x15
• Customers travelling in all cabins, except First and Club World will receive a yellow tag for handbag/laptop sized bags which are within the new dimensions. We guarantee that customers can take this bag on board. The tag must be visible for boarding and placed under the seat in front.
• On very busy flights we may have to ask some of our customers to check bags without yellow tags into the hold if the overhead lockers are full.
......only those bags that fall within the new dimensions of 40x30x15 will be tagged & therefore guaranteed to go onboard, regardless of if they fit under the seat in front or not.
Last edited by kered; Jul 28, 2015 at 11:13 am
Jul 28, 2015, 11:10 am
#60
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Anglia, England
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,056
I think organised boarding described here is an 'enhancement' long overdue. It makes sense to give cabin preference too. But given the proliferation of carry ons, which BA has encouraged I remain skeptical that this will make a significant impact on the speed of boarding and seating.
H
H