"Forced" to check hand-baggage
#136
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: BA Executive Blue
Posts: 140
Just at LHR for a flight to Frankfurt. Just before security there were four BA staff claiming “All flights this morning are completely full.” They made people give up their hand luggage pieces.
As I’ve got an interview tomorrow morning, I put my clothes into my hand luggage, as I would not be able to replace in time, if lost.
Stated as much and was told to get my bag tagged and the take it through to surrender at boarding if needed.
Edit to add: Flight does seem busy, but is not full according to an FA.
Did see a woman who had four bags, completely unchallenged.
Second staff member who did the tagging then said to just take it through.
Strangely enough, they didn’t even ask people what their destination was and stated that this morning only groups 1, 2 and 3 would be allowed to take bags on board.
As I’ve got an interview tomorrow morning, I put my clothes into my hand luggage, as I would not be able to replace in time, if lost.
Stated as much and was told to get my bag tagged and the take it through to surrender at boarding if needed.
Edit to add: Flight does seem busy, but is not full according to an FA.
Did see a woman who had four bags, completely unchallenged.
Second staff member who did the tagging then said to just take it through.
Strangely enough, they didn’t even ask people what their destination was and stated that this morning only groups 1, 2 and 3 would be allowed to take bags on board.
Last edited by ankasi; Feb 17, 2024 at 11:52 pm Reason: Added something
#137
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,666
Anyone else notice a change though? It's probably been discussed somewhere above, but I noticed on a recent flight that they ask people to check-in cabin bags before the flight but "you will be given group 3 priority". So rather than them being the first to board, before group 1, they are boarded after groups 1-3.
#138
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,749
yes they have been saying "you will board with group 3" for a few months now on the automated messages. however, there has been no actual change in process, and people with gate checked bags are sent down with children and those needing extra time at the start as before.
#139
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: The Blackwater Valley (Berkshire/Hampshire/Surrey border area)
Programs: BAEC Silver, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Diamond, etc etc
Posts: 220
An occasional travel companion (who never makes even Bronze) has taken to booking HBO, then gate-checking his (inevitably oversized) case.
Booking HBO saves him 20 or so per short-haul return, but this approach still allows him to check his bag and gets him earlier boarding than his Group will offer... for him, the system works well!
Booking HBO saves him 20 or so per short-haul return, but this approach still allows him to check his bag and gets him earlier boarding than his Group will offer... for him, the system works well!
#141
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,666
I don't think a tag really makes a huge amount of difference. The biggest difference seems to be if you're in CE. I've never seen a CE flyer check-in anything yet and I often queue with my cabin bag, a back pack containing my laptop and a separate jacket bag. Never been stopped yet, despite all the 'it's a full flight...' announcements. When I board, first thing I do is hand the crew at the front my jacket bag and ask them to stow in in their cupboard.
#142
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,485
On our flight to GIB on Friday morning I heard a lot of grumbling at the entrance desk to the gate (T3 gate 9) from people who were being asked to check rollaboard bags.
When I got on the plane I realized why: BAs planes have old overhead bins which dont fit wheeled bags with wheels in first, which means you can fit many fewer since they have to go in sideways. Is there any proposal to upgrade the overhead bins to the newer ones that some other airlines seem to have that do allow such bags to fit in forwards? Or can the A320 series not fit those new bins?
When I got on the plane I realized why: BAs planes have old overhead bins which dont fit wheeled bags with wheels in first, which means you can fit many fewer since they have to go in sideways. Is there any proposal to upgrade the overhead bins to the newer ones that some other airlines seem to have that do allow such bags to fit in forwards? Or can the A320 series not fit those new bins?
#143
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 66,505
On our flight to GIB on Friday morning I heard a lot of grumbling at the entrance desk to the gate (T3 gate 9) from people who were being asked to check rollaboard bags.
When I got on the plane I realized why: BA’s planes have old overhead bins which don’t fit wheeled bags with wheels in first, which means you can fit many fewer since they have to go in sideways. Is there any proposal to upgrade the overhead bins to the newer ones that some other airlines seem to have that do allow such bags to fit in forwards? Or can the A320 series not fit those new bins?
When I got on the plane I realized why: BA’s planes have old overhead bins which don’t fit wheeled bags with wheels in first, which means you can fit many fewer since they have to go in sideways. Is there any proposal to upgrade the overhead bins to the newer ones that some other airlines seem to have that do allow such bags to fit in forwards? Or can the A320 series not fit those new bins?
#144
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold, LH SEN , A3*G & others less exciting that don't fit in my wallet
Posts: 1,738
There are quite a lot of NEO aircraft with the new overheads - if you have been doing any shorthauls a fair pecentage of A320s have them now. Not only do they fit in forwards, they are supposed to then be turned 90 degress, so as to be stacked like a bookshelf. Though these BA aricraft have signs saying that, I've never actually seen anyone doing this, they tend to use the space on top for coats etc, which is inefficient. On AA they mention it in their PAs, to which at least some people listen (but not many).
Are the AA bins even a little bigger than the BA neo bins ? ..Not sure most wheeled cases would fit in "like a taco" on the BA bins ?
#145
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 66,505
#146
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,749
On a recent AA domestic flight there were constant PAs on the topic saying that you should put your wheelie case in the overhead "standing up like a taco, not flat like a burger"!
Are the AA bins even a little bigger than the BA neo bins ? ..Not sure most wheeled cases would fit in "like a taco" on the BA bins ?
Are the AA bins even a little bigger than the BA neo bins ? ..Not sure most wheeled cases would fit in "like a taco" on the BA bins ?
#147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,541
On our flight to GIB on Friday morning I heard a lot of grumbling at the entrance desk to the gate (T3 gate 9) from people who were being asked to check rollaboard bags.
When I got on the plane I realized why: BA’s planes have old overhead bins which don’t fit wheeled bags with wheels in first, which means you can fit many fewer since they have to go in sideways. Is there any proposal to upgrade the overhead bins to the newer ones that some other airlines seem to have that do allow such bags to fit in forwards? Or can the A320 series not fit those new bins?
When I got on the plane I realized why: BA’s planes have old overhead bins which don’t fit wheeled bags with wheels in first, which means you can fit many fewer since they have to go in sideways. Is there any proposal to upgrade the overhead bins to the newer ones that some other airlines seem to have that do allow such bags to fit in forwards? Or can the A320 series not fit those new bins?
#149
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,586
#150
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,586
I can speak from personal experience that my compliant Rimowa does not fit wheels first into some BA A320 lockers so your statement is incorrect.