Confusion over checking in hand luggage with HBO fare
Aug 1, 2020, 5:28 am
#16
Join Date: May 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 320
And here is my take. This is where I think it changes from being hand baggage to checked baggage (all be it hand baggage sized checked baggage).
There seem to be 2 main ways in which the checking of cabin baggage can be offered to HBO ticket holders.
Just because someone has bought you a bottle of bubbly that you're trying to get around the liquids policy wouldn't really qualify as a reason to open up the above to you.
You're not able to gate check because you have liquid over 100ml and the flights not warranted as being busy enough to have the official waiver applied (presumably this would require some sort of supervisory sign off as a lost revenue stream?)
It sounds as though the check in agent made a discretionary decision and allowed you to check your bag in the terminal for free. They didn't have to do this to you on a HBO fare which was a good call for all concerned.
There seem to be 2 main ways in which the checking of cabin baggage can be offered to HBO ticket holders.
- At the gate when a call is made as a way to free up space in the cabin and overhead lockers when it becomes apparent there may be issues securing space for everyone who's turned up.
- In the terminal at the check-in desk on particularly busy services where BA knows in advance that they're going to be operating full, they generally send a text in the hours leading up to OLCI opening inviting you to do so.
Just because someone has bought you a bottle of bubbly that you're trying to get around the liquids policy wouldn't really qualify as a reason to open up the above to you.
You're not able to gate check because you have liquid over 100ml and the flights not warranted as being busy enough to have the official waiver applied (presumably this would require some sort of supervisory sign off as a lost revenue stream?)
It sounds as though the check in agent made a discretionary decision and allowed you to check your bag in the terminal for free. They didn't have to do this to you on a HBO fare which was a good call for all concerned.
Aug 1, 2020, 5:29 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,576
Aug 1, 2020, 5:43 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
I think the point the poster was making about the bottle is, at the time of booking they didn't anticipate a gift bottle - so clearly at this stage they just want to know the best and cheapest way to check in a bag. It's clearly not a discretionary decision to allow to check in hand baggage at Heathrow itself, as a number of posters, and BA have made clear (either as a sign in the airport or on the phone to me).
Aug 1, 2020, 6:05 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London
Posts: 342
I think the point the poster was making about the bottle is, at the time of booking they didn't anticipate a gift bottle - so clearly at this stage they just want to know the best and cheapest way to check in a bag. It's clearly not a discretionary decision to allow to check in hand baggage at Heathrow itself, as a number of posters, and BA have made clear (either as a sign in the airport or on the phone to me).
Aug 1, 2020, 6:11 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
You bought the subject up. If you didn't want an array of views then why bother? I don't see any rants, just different points of view and understanding. Certainly nothing to get knicker twisted about
Aug 1, 2020, 6:14 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London
Posts: 342
