Boxes allowed as checked luggage?
Dec 15, 2018, 2:06 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 165
Boxes allowed as checked luggage?
Will be turning silver on Wednesday! (When QR posts flights)
In January I will be travelling from LHR-NBO and have quite a lot of items to take to NBO, as I will be silver I will get 2 x 32kg even if I’m travelling economy.
I have googled around and saw max dimensions for checked in luggage are: 90 x 75 x 43cm . Does anybody know if these can be cardboard boxes?
Has anybody travelled with cardboard boxes before? I will shrink wrap them. Not used to checking in luggage at all so any advice will be grateful.
In January I will be travelling from LHR-NBO and have quite a lot of items to take to NBO, as I will be silver I will get 2 x 32kg even if I’m travelling economy.
I have googled around and saw max dimensions for checked in luggage are: 90 x 75 x 43cm . Does anybody know if these can be cardboard boxes?
Has anybody travelled with cardboard boxes before? I will shrink wrap them. Not used to checking in luggage at all so any advice will be grateful.
Dec 15, 2018, 2:15 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 165
I have just seen this on BA’s website
- You can take larger items of up to 190 x 75 x 65cm (75 x 29.5 x 25.5in) as long as they weigh no more than your permitted baggage weight allowance. If the bag weighs more than your allowance, you will be charged extra at the airport. No bag can weigh more than 32kg. Any items larger than the above dimensions will require shipping as cargo.
Dec 15, 2018, 6:02 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 20
Just a further note about boxes. I have done this often, especially when returning from the US with things I've bought. I quite often buy snacks, sauces, wine, etc. Put these in your suitcase and I can almost guarantee that the US authorities will open your suitcase and take a look. And damage the suitcase in the process, for which you have no redress. Put this stuff in a box and - who cares! If they open it, they just tape it up again and you will throw the box away anyway once you get home.
All this works best if you are not relying on public transport at either airport. And it is inconvenient loading a box onto the Hertz shuttle when you've dropped off a hire car.
All this works best if you are not relying on public transport at either airport. And it is inconvenient loading a box onto the Hertz shuttle when you've dropped off a hire car.
Dec 15, 2018, 6:53 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 669
Just bear in mind that if your box is damaged, BA may not be so willing to compensate you as it would if your suitcase was damaged.
Cardboard boxes are not designed to run down airport conveyors, through x-rays and other security screening apparatus and then be loaded in ULDs or as bulk.
So if your box gets torn as it trundles down a conveyor and your items spill out, BA may not pay out if you then try and open a Damaged Property Report (DPR) and may try and say that a cardboard box is unsatisfactory as baggage.
That said, I have travelled numerous times on BA and other airlines with boxes without problem but one should try and ensure they are sturdy and shrink wrapped to survive the journey.
Routes into Africa often see many pax checking in poorly prepared boxes or very cheap disposable bags and then getting upset when their baggage arrives damaged!
Cardboard boxes are not designed to run down airport conveyors, through x-rays and other security screening apparatus and then be loaded in ULDs or as bulk.
So if your box gets torn as it trundles down a conveyor and your items spill out, BA may not pay out if you then try and open a Damaged Property Report (DPR) and may try and say that a cardboard box is unsatisfactory as baggage.
That said, I have travelled numerous times on BA and other airlines with boxes without problem but one should try and ensure they are sturdy and shrink wrapped to survive the journey.
Routes into Africa often see many pax checking in poorly prepared boxes or very cheap disposable bags and then getting upset when their baggage arrives damaged!
Dec 15, 2018, 7:36 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LCY / LHR / ZRH / JNB
Programs: BA
Posts: 120
I have just seen this on BA’s website
- You can take larger items of up to 190 x 75 x 65cm (75 x 29.5 x 25.5in) as long as they weigh no more than your permitted baggage weight allowance. If the bag weighs more than your allowance, you will be charged extra at the airport. No bag can weigh more than 32kg. Any items larger than the above dimensions will require shipping as cargo.
I have carried many oversized boxes whilst furnishing a home in Africa and all have been straightforward, and have not incurred any extra charge. Often just tape my eBay purchase boxes together into one big Franken-box which fits within the rules, job done.
For extra convenience, note that AirPortr also accepts oversized items when travelling BA. I have travelled with boxes this way often, without having to schlep the boxes to Heathrow.
Dec 15, 2018, 8:31 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,351
Just a further note about boxes. I have done this often, especially when returning from the US with things I've bought. I quite often buy snacks, sauces, wine, etc. Put these in your suitcase and I can almost guarantee that the US authorities will open your suitcase and take a look. And damage the suitcase in the process, for which you have no redress. Put this stuff in a box and - who cares! If they open it, they just tape it up again and you will throw the box away anyway once you get home.
All this works best if you are not relying on public transport at either airport. And it is inconvenient loading a box onto the Hertz shuttle when you've dropped off a hire car.
All this works best if you are not relying on public transport at either airport. And it is inconvenient loading a box onto the Hertz shuttle when you've dropped off a hire car.
Dec 15, 2018, 12:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska MVPG
Posts: 206
Boxes travel well by plane, just use lots of tape. Think about the amount of handling and the numerous belts a box you ship UPS, FedEx, Post, etc goes through.
Hope it goes well.
Dec 15, 2018, 1:44 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,674
+1, I have taken cardboard boxes with me before to take advantage of the 2x23kg per person. Never a problem at all.
I have also travelled with oversized/overweight luggage before (I'm terrible, I know) but never been a problem, just be prepared to repack if called out. If it's just 2 cms I doubt it will be a problem.
I have also travelled with oversized/overweight luggage before (I'm terrible, I know) but never been a problem, just be prepared to repack if called out. If it's just 2 cms I doubt it will be a problem.