Free check in of baggage due to heavy loads but flight showing as empty?
 

I've had an email for my LHR - CFU flight tomorrow saying that BA will check in hand luggage for free due to a busy flight. However when checking loads on Expert Flyer, it's showing as pretty empty across all fares (every bucket is 9). Is there an operational reason for such an email on an empty flight or a mistake on BA's part? Would make life easier to check the baggage, but don't want to get to LHR to find it was a mistake and get charged etc.

Hi,

It is standard practice at lhr to allow this so there will be no problem.

Less likely for this to be allowed at outstations.

Regards

Tbs

Thanks for the clarification. During OLCI should I say a bag will be checked or just do it at the bag drop in T5? (as it's a hand-luggage only fare I don't want to be charged!).

To give yourself maximum flexibility, select the "don't know" option.

It appears OLCI is unavailable anyway - presume because it is a flight to Greece and the require to see the PLF at check in.

Correct.
If you're on the BA0648 (I am) and currently dont have but would like lounge access please feel free to PM me. Enjoy your trip to Corfu whatever and take a brolly apparently :-(

Maybe because not many people have said they have bags to check into the hold so locker space could be severely limited?. I know Jet2 do this when not many hold bags have been booked on certain flights

It is also worth noting that the reliability of the availability to buy seats on expert flyer is correlating less well with number of tickets sold currently- with high levels of no-shows airlines are allowing for greater oversales- for example I know from a friend who works at BA that her flight tomorrow is oversold but is showing good availability on EF.

I received the same email on Thursday this week for the BA633 from Athens to LHR yesterday on the 787. The flight was quite busy but certainly not full. I think the £99 upgrade offer to sit in a Club World seat for the 3hr 20 journey was popular.

Ianos has passed but CFU got off lightly. EFL and ZTH resemble a war zone

I'm also on the 648 to Corfu tomorrow, maybe loads are higher than you think if you use representation on this thread!

Bit worried about the brolly comment though I guess I can use it as a parasol if not really needed.

Question regarding checking in hand baggage though- if I do so, which would make my life easier on liquids, will I have to wait until two hours before to bag drop? Last time I got to the airport 2.5 hrs early with luggage I found that it said bag drop wasn't opening until t-2h but first wing didnt comment and let me check in

Sorry, second question- can the first wing do the PLF or do I need to go to a separate area for that?

you can also use the brolly to fend off the sunglass salesmen on the beach.

You can do everything you need to get to Greece (PLF) in the first wing.

Except pens. They were very thin on the ground ! I had to pony up 2 quid in Smiths.