Excess baggage weights and status
Feb 25, 2019, 5:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Excess baggage weights and status
If you have status does the excess baggage allowance match the regular allowance 23kg or your status allowance of 32kg?
I suspect the former but thought it not a bad idea to check
I suspect the former but thought it not a bad idea to check
Feb 25, 2019, 6:03 am
#4
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Now this is well outside my experience, but what I think it is is that there are actually 2 charges here - one for the extra bag, and potentially one for the being overweight. And Emeralds (not just Golds) are waived from having to pay that overweight fee whether on the allowance or the excess allowance. So in essence it is 32 kgs.
Feb 25, 2019, 6:19 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
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Posts: 7,067
What I think our perhaps over-terse OP is referring to is that if he has 4 bags, and therefore has to pay an excess charge, is that 4th bag kept to 23 kgs or 32kgs.
Now this is well outside my experience, but what I think it is is that there are actually 2 charges here - one for the extra bag, and potentially one for the being overweight. And Emeralds (not just Golds) are waived from having to pay that overweight fee whether on the allowance or the excess allowance. So in essence it is 32 kgs.
Now this is well outside my experience, but what I think it is is that there are actually 2 charges here - one for the extra bag, and potentially one for the being overweight. And Emeralds (not just Golds) are waived from having to pay that overweight fee whether on the allowance or the excess allowance. So in essence it is 32 kgs.
Wow!! Is this a first? I may add that to my profile.
Just spoke to the Gold line and they stated that you only get the 23kg
Feb 25, 2019, 7:00 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Feb 25, 2019, 7:56 am
#8
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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The following frequent flyer members can take the maximum weight of 32kg per bag without paying the heavy bag charge (except for hand baggage only fares). This applies to the cardholder only.
Then in the section marked "Overweight Bag Charge" it says- British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members
- oneworld Emerald and Sapphire
The following customers are entitled to a 32kg baggage allowance per bag at no additional charge:
Then finally on the page specific for "Excess baggage", it repeats that second quote one more time, and that is after a long spiel going through all the charges for extra bags, which clearly would require payment in your particular scenario. If it was a 23kg limit then (a) they would say so and (b) they would not unnecessarily repeat a wadge of information which was irrelevant.- Customers travelling to and from Brazil.
- First, Club World and Club Europe customers on all routes.
- British Airways Executive Club Gold and Silver members.
- AA Advantage Executive Platinum.
- Iberia Plus Platinum
- Qantas Platinum One and Platinum
- Japan Airlines Diamond and JGC Premier
For the dimensions, it says
Any items larger than 190cm x 75cm x 65cm (75in x 29.5in x 25.5in) require separate shipping as cargo.
with a link to IAG cargo. We've seen recent threads where BA have turned a blind eye to skiing equipment going too far on the length side, but I doubt you can fully rely on that in all circumstances.
Nov 5, 2019, 11:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: LHR/SIN/CGK
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR
Posts: 580
What are the maximum permitted dimensions for a checked bag or box? I know when the BA Forum Dashboard > BA Baggage guide was written in 2014, the maximum permitted size was 190 cm x 75 cm x 65 cm. The BA website also states this on the Baggage Essentials > Checked Baggage Allowances:
Which contradicts what it states further up the page:
Do they mean a checked bag can be up to 90 x 75 x 43 cm, but something like sports equipment or a box can be up to 190 cm x 75 cm x 65 cm?
Which contradicts what it states further up the page:
Do they mean a checked bag can be up to 90 x 75 x 43 cm, but something like sports equipment or a box can be up to 190 cm x 75 cm x 65 cm?
Nov 6, 2019, 8:34 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LCY / LHR / ZRH / JNB
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Posts: 120
I have done this both outbound from the UK and inbound to the UK, to and from various out-stations, without any problems. Often the items I see others checking via this method are children’s buggies, racing bikes in a bike box, sports equipment and so on. My own experience is from checking large household items, boxed for travel. Note that bikes have their own rules and you need to notify BA in advance that you are carrying one. I haven’t ever pre-warned BA of carrying non-bike large items and this has never been a problem for me.
Nov 6, 2019, 9:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: LHR/SIN/CGK
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR
Posts: 580
Yes. A checked bag can be 90 x 75 x 43 cm. But you can take ‘larger items’ up to 190 x 75 x 65 cm. After check-in, these have to be deposited at the ‘Oversized’ baggage belt (next to the F Wing at T5) and retrieved from the Oversized collection area at the destination. There is no additional charge for checking an oversized item but it is subject to the usual weight limits, and each oversize item counts as one normal bag.
I have done this both outbound from the UK and inbound to the UK, to and from various out-stations, without any problems. Often the items I see others checking via this method are children’s buggies, racing bikes in a bike box, sports equipment and so on. My own experience is from checking large household items, boxed for travel. Note that bikes have their own rules and you need to notify BA in advance that you are carrying one. I haven’t ever pre-warned BA of carrying non-bike large items and this has never been a problem for me.
I have done this both outbound from the UK and inbound to the UK, to and from various out-stations, without any problems. Often the items I see others checking via this method are children’s buggies, racing bikes in a bike box, sports equipment and so on. My own experience is from checking large household items, boxed for travel. Note that bikes have their own rules and you need to notify BA in advance that you are carrying one. I haven’t ever pre-warned BA of carrying non-bike large items and this has never been a problem for me.
Nov 7, 2019, 12:37 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 882
Yes. A checked bag can be 90 x 75 x 43 cm. But you can take ‘larger items’ up to 190 x 75 x 65 cm. After check-in, these have to be deposited at the ‘Oversized’ baggage belt (next to the F Wing at T5) and retrieved from the Oversized collection area at the destination. There is no additional charge for checking an oversized item but it is subject to the usual weight limits, and each oversize item counts as one normal bag.
I have done this both outbound from the UK and inbound to the UK, to and from various out-stations, without any problems. Often the items I see others checking via this method are children’s buggies, racing bikes in a bike box, sports equipment and so on. My own experience is from checking large household items, boxed for travel. Note that bikes have their own rules and you need to notify BA in advance that you are carrying one. I haven’t ever pre-warned BA of carrying non-bike large items and this has never been a problem for me.
I have done this both outbound from the UK and inbound to the UK, to and from various out-stations, without any problems. Often the items I see others checking via this method are children’s buggies, racing bikes in a bike box, sports equipment and so on. My own experience is from checking large household items, boxed for travel. Note that bikes have their own rules and you need to notify BA in advance that you are carrying one. I haven’t ever pre-warned BA of carrying non-bike large items and this has never been a problem for me.
Oct 29, 2022, 4:55 am
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 452
Just to check - has anything changed since 2019, or is showing up with a "larger item" still fine as long as it's there sufficiently early (and weighs within the limits)? I'm seeing this on the BA website:
"The maximum dimensions for an oversize bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm.Bags larger than the standard size but within these maximum dimensions are known as out-of-gauge bags. They're accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance but must be checked in at the out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight to ensure they travel with you.
You don't need to let us know in advance that you’re bringing a larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in."
which I'm hoping is still current.
"The maximum dimensions for an oversize bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm.Bags larger than the standard size but within these maximum dimensions are known as out-of-gauge bags. They're accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance but must be checked in at the out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight to ensure they travel with you.
You don't need to let us know in advance that you’re bringing a larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in."
which I'm hoping is still current.
Oct 29, 2022, 5:02 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 397
Just to check - has anything changed since 2019, or is showing up with a "larger item" still fine as long as it's there sufficiently early (and weighs within the limits)? I'm seeing this on the BA website:
"The maximum dimensions for an oversize bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm.Bags larger than the standard size but within these maximum dimensions are known as out-of-gauge bags. They're accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance but must be checked in at the out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight to ensure they travel with you.
You don't need to let us know in advance that you’re bringing a larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in."
which I'm hoping is still current.
"The maximum dimensions for an oversize bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm.Bags larger than the standard size but within these maximum dimensions are known as out-of-gauge bags. They're accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance but must be checked in at the out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight to ensure they travel with you.
You don't need to let us know in advance that you’re bringing a larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in."
which I'm hoping is still current.
Oct 29, 2022, 5:12 am
#15
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Now I know that quoting you is comparable to quoting the Bible - but I suspect that this may apply beyond BA. I checked in with IB to fly to Nantes yesterday and checked baggage as we are moving possessions to out new home in Brittany. It weighed 28.5 kg - she just put the "Heavy" tag on it and off it went. I was fully expecting to have to pay and was pleasantly surprised.