Mixbury

It seems to me that this is a targeted attack on C-W-S; the addition charges he is going to incur getting all his luggage down to London are designed to offset the surge in EC261 compensation resulting from the advice he dispenses here.

EuropeanPete

But I thought that C-W-S had a Tardis-like bespoke carry-on and specially designed body harnesses which allowed him to pack 8 weeks in his carry-on.

Tdgraves

I wondered why my recent booking had the luggage allowance written separately for both legs....

Globaliser

The trade page does give an example, though of the lower allowance applying under this new rule, by virtue of the MSC rule.However, I suspect that this is likely to be a relative unusual scenario, given BA's route network.

orbitmic

indeed, I believe cws is part of our bunch of hardcore ‘hand luggage whenever possible’ of which I’m also a club member.

nope, targetting luggage allowance is a personal attack on LTNPhobia, which makes it a far more dangerous move by BA.

Dave Noble

Th example given above in thread

The most significant international operating carrier (MSIOC) rule will still apply on a single journey component involving a connection (less than 24 hours).

Example:
CPH-DXB: if Club Europe is booked on the CPH-LON sector and World Traveller on the LON-DXB sector, the World Traveller baggage allowance would apply.

logically implies that the international sector would determine the allowance. If CE-> WT leads to WT allowance , then ET => CW would imply that the CW allowance applies

mikebg

I have to say that in the past I was a very loyal traveller on another international airline and regularly flew out in Business class and returned home in First. I never thought it a problem that my baggage allowance on the outbound was only 3 bags and on the return it was 4. I always thaought this was perfectly normal, after all, I could have chosen to fly F both ways but I chose not to.

The first time I noticed the difference with BA (getting the high allowance for both legs) I was actually quite surprised.

I don't really think most connecting passengers will notice a difference either, as most will connect directly to/from regional flights and will not stop over for more than 24 hours.

GlasgowCyclops

This does not affect me because of status. But if I didn't have status it would prevent me from flying BA on many occasions. I frequently fly routes like GLA-LHR-HKG in WT+ (3days in Hong Kong) -TPE (few days) then back. On many occasions, the option on the Middle leg HKG to TPE (only an example) would be business or economy. As I read it. To maintain the WT+ baggage I would need the link in business which would make me have to fly ME3. I can justify the extra price on BA because of the baggage allowance.

Also so a load of skiers (and there are tons on snowheads.com) who use this facility simply because if they buy easyJet and add in all the extras it comes to the same price as BA. So they book ET and mix CE to get the extra bag for free and a wee treat of lounge access. There is a big debate on there just now with many people now not going to buy a BA ticket and simply get EasyJet or KLM.

So because of this BA will definitely lose business. I don't see anyone saying...... oh okay I'll just pay the extra £100 for the extra aweigh and sports equipment etc etc.
They will now simply go EasyJet or KLM from regional and Swiss from London.

GlasgowCyclops

Also I don't think this is really a problem to people flying J and F. It is a big problem for people flying ET and CE.

Andriyko

It should not show a separate allowance for the ET sector, even if there is a stopover. I often do stopovers both in London and in NYC on a WTP through fare to West Coast from KBP, and the allowance is uniform for all sectors. I believe they made an error in the announcement.

BA used to be one of a handful airlines that offered the most generous allowance for the entire ticket. But of course people will say how they will now fly all these other wonderful airlines that never offered the benefit in the first place.

As long as passengers are informed about their allowance I don't see what the big deal is? There is an option to pay and take a greater number of bags with you.

sxc

It’s a big problem for those who fly WTP and who want to spend a few days in London as part of their trip when connecting from UK/Europe.

GlasgowCyclops

Absolutely. If it were me I would consider another airline. This is a big mistake by BA. As a Gold member who flys WT+ mixed with ET it makes me wonder what next. E.G. Gold status only on premium cabins. I'm just making that one up but I do wonder what next and announcements like this make me think about looking at alternatives.

HIDDY

Not a problem for the majority of travellers. We never use our full allowance especially on the outbounds. Maybe they identified a loophole that was being used by a small minority?

NickB

Several issues with this statement but let us highlight the two main ones:
1) if it is only a "small minority", this presumably has negligible impact on BA so why bother with it at all?
2) The concept of a "loophole" strikes me as highly problematic: using the benefits that have been deliberately and consciously designed as part of a product can hardly be described as exploiting a loophole. Making use of the baggage allowance that comes with a fare is no more a loophole than making use of a lounge with a business class ticket is. The concept of a loophole is premised on an unintended consequence. I am therefore puzzled as to where the supposed "loophole" in this case would be.

Andriyko

The allowance should be uniform on a through fare, even with a stopover. I'd wait for a clarification from BA before jumping to any conclusions.

Regarding the alternatives - BA stopped what many airlines never offered, so I am not sure which alternatives you're looking at.

I would not call it a problem at all. A passenger can pay and take as many bags as they like. When BA decreased the allowance for CW it affected all business class passengers, however, it did not change the fact that whoever wanted to take more than 2 pieces were not affected in the slightest - there is a very straightforward way to take more bags.