Have Silver baggage privileges been downgraded ?
Jul 21, 2013, 6:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 154
Have Silver baggage privileges been downgraded ?
I have been a BA Silver Executive cardholder for a while, and one handy benefit was that when I travelled with family who were NOT then the WHOLE party was able to benefit from the heavy bag charge being waived.
So it meant we did not need to worry about weight of bags.
Just checking today, it seems that this has changed and that this waiver applies only to the Silver card member.
Is this a change ? When did it happen and why didn't BA notify Exec Club members ?
Is it the same for Gold ?
All insights are welcome !
So it meant we did not need to worry about weight of bags.
Just checking today, it seems that this has changed and that this waiver applies only to the Silver card member.
Is this a change ? When did it happen and why didn't BA notify Exec Club members ?
Is it the same for Gold ?
All insights are welcome !
Jul 21, 2013, 6:31 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
I have been a BA Silver Executive cardholder for a while, and one handy benefit was that when I travelled with family who were NOT then the WHOLE party was able to benefit from the heavy bag charge being waived.
So it meant we did not need to worry about weight of bags.
Just checking today, it seems that this has changed and that this waiver applies only to the Silver card member.
Is this a change ? When did it happen and why didn't BA notify Exec Club members ?
Is it the same for Gold ?
All insights are welcome !
So it meant we did not need to worry about weight of bags.
Just checking today, it seems that this has changed and that this waiver applies only to the Silver card member.
Is this a change ? When did it happen and why didn't BA notify Exec Club members ?
Is it the same for Gold ?
All insights are welcome !
Jul 21, 2013, 6:40 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, LH M&M Member
Posts: 2,705
Something seems to have changed on June 6th. It certainly was a published benefit but now everything seems to have updated conditions.
Now the situation is everyone in the party gets the extra baggage allowance (by piece count) but only the cardholder gets the 32kg allowance.
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...age-allowances
Now the situation is everyone in the party gets the extra baggage allowance (by piece count) but only the cardholder gets the 32kg allowance.
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...age-allowances
Last edited by NeverFirst; Jul 21, 2013 at 7:16 am
Jul 21, 2013, 6:58 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 137
The loss of 32kg allowance for all on the same booking as a silver card holder is definitely a change -- I've got a screen shot of the BA webpage (not sure how to post a jpg) taken on 21st April '13 saying:
"The following frequent flyer members can check in two bags in all cabins, on all routes, unless the cabin allowance is greater (except hand baggage only fares). This applies to all customers travelling in the same booking.
- British Airways Executive Club Silver
- oneworld Sapphire
The following frequent flyer members can take the maximum weight of 32kg per bag without paying the heavy bag charge. This applies to all customers travelling on the same booking.
- British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members
- oneworld Emerald and Sapphire"
"The following frequent flyer members can check in two bags in all cabins, on all routes, unless the cabin allowance is greater (except hand baggage only fares). This applies to all customers travelling in the same booking.
- British Airways Executive Club Silver
- oneworld Sapphire
The following frequent flyer members can take the maximum weight of 32kg per bag without paying the heavy bag charge. This applies to all customers travelling on the same booking.
- British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members
- oneworld Emerald and Sapphire"
Last edited by SleepySynapse; Jul 21, 2013 at 7:02 am Reason: clarified
Jul 21, 2013, 7:28 am
#5
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: 63,804
Welcome pps197
Welcome pps197 to Flyertalk, and welcome to the BA area in particular. Silver cardholders are especially welcome here, so please make yourself at home. It's great to see you here, and please continue to participate. Thank you for your question too, however I am somewhat unable to help, I don't check in bags (and the thought of travelling with 32 kgs just blows my mind!). The only thing I do know is that the 32 kgs limit has been discretionary, in the sense that the fee for excess weight is waved. I must admit I thought it applies to all on the same booking with the Silver or Gold cardholder. If it did change recently I am surprised it hasn't been brought up before in fairly robust terms.
Jul 21, 2013, 8:04 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Usually travelling
Programs: BA, SQ, VS, Lifetime Diamond Club Appreciator, Mucci
Posts: 488
The baggage rules for status holders have changed several times in the last few months since they opened them up to OW Sapphires/Emeralds (from 1st March I believe).
They have made the following changes, all unannounced and quietly:
They have made the following changes, all unannounced and quietly:
- Excluded hand baggage only fares
- Excluded group booking fares
- Excluded the 32Kg per bag from everyone but the cardholder
- Revamped the page (looked just now!) to a new style/format
Jul 21, 2013, 8:39 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
BA now has to accept 32kg per piece from these passengers whilst before this was (technically) optional.
Jul 21, 2013, 8:43 am
#10
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
Jul 21, 2013, 8:54 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,597
It makes a difference though if checking in with another airline connecting onto BA where the BA allowance applies. If published as 3x32Kg, then will be allowed 32Kg regardless. If the allowance is 3x23Kg and BA just chooses to waive charging it, can still be charged excess amounts
Jul 21, 2013, 9:04 am
#12
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
It makes a difference though if checking in with another airline connecting onto BA where the BA allowance applies. If published as 3x32Kg, then will be allowed 32Kg regardless. If the allowance is 3x23Kg and BA just chooses to waive charging it, can still be charged excess amounts
The only substantive change is that the 'waiver' now only applies to the cardholder. The cardholder's perk has not changed, they still get the 32kg, BA have simply changed the language for clarity.
When interlining I was never asked for excess baggage fees.
Jul 21, 2013, 9:57 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,597
You suggest BA had a discretionary choice, that was not the case. The allowance for Gold and Silver (and those included in the booking) was 32kg, it was a published benefit that heavy baggage fees would be waived.
The only substantive change is that the 'waiver' now only applies to the cardholder. The cardholder's perk has not changed, they still get the 32kg, BA have simply changed the language for clarity.
When interlining I was never asked for excess baggage fees.
The only substantive change is that the 'waiver' now only applies to the cardholder. The cardholder's perk has not changed, they still get the 32kg, BA have simply changed the language for clarity.
When interlining I was never asked for excess baggage fees.
If checking in with airline XX connecting to BA on a through itinerary where BA was the carrier whose allowance applies, the allowance would be only 23Kg per piece, not 32Kg and charges could be applied
By changing the ticketed allowance to 32Kg per piece, this problem would not occur
Jul 21, 2013, 10:20 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
Since BA simply waived charging, the ticketed allowance would be 23Kg per piece
If checking in with airline XX connecting to BA on a through itinerary where BA was the carrier whose allowance applies, the allowance would be only 23Kg per piece, not 32Kg and charges could be applied
By changing the ticketed allowance to 32Kg per piece, this problem would not occur
If checking in with airline XX connecting to BA on a through itinerary where BA was the carrier whose allowance applies, the allowance would be only 23Kg per piece, not 32Kg and charges could be applied
By changing the ticketed allowance to 32Kg per piece, this problem would not occur
Jul 21, 2013, 10:23 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 84
Now I know what the check in agent was talking about when I went to Prague last month.
He must have thought I was a right DYKWIA when I was insisting that everyone on the same ticket had 32Kgs. As between the 3 of us we had 6 x 32 kgs
I guess the extra item is still useful.
He must have thought I was a right DYKWIA when I was insisting that everyone on the same ticket had 32Kgs. As between the 3 of us we had 6 x 32 kgs
I guess the extra item is still useful.