Baggage problems when connecting from CX to BA flight
 

A friend of mine was flying HKG-LHR-GLA today and had huge problems when trying to check in his baggage. He had a large suitcase which was about 29kg, and a roll aboard sized suitcase which was 7kg. He is a MPO Gold flying in Y so should have had a weight limit of 35kg.

The CX agent at the airport express insisted that since he was connecting to the BA flight to GLA, the system would not allow her to check all the baggage through wiuthout charging excess of $2800 for 17kg excess. She said that she would have no problem checking it through to LHR on CX, and he had the option to take the baggage off at LHR and then re-checking it. Of course my friend didn't accept this situation and the manager came over. The manager agreed the system was blocking the checking through of baggage, and suggested to take the roll-aboard as cabin baggage, and then they would be able to check the large suitcase through to GLA.

When I was told about this, I thought this was due to the new BA rules. But then later I realised the new rules don't come into effect until 11 October. The BA website clearly states:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel...k/public/en_gb

So has anyone else received similar check in problems from CX recently?

Nothing has changed here - the extra baggage allowance due to CX status has only ever applied on CX flights. There is no OneWorld status extra baggage allowance.

What he should get is what it says on his ticket, which, if he is in Y, is almost certainly 23kg.

My mother had same problem in Milan, the domestic airline refused to load the 10Kg. CX silver counts at Rome..

I understand if the tickets are not on the same PNR that BA has no obligation to take the additional luggage, but when the ticket is from HKG to GLA and sold by CX as a GLA flight and the flights are on the same PNR shouldn't the higher baggage allowance apply? The BA website itself states that when there are connecting flights on the same PNR then the more generous allowance applies which in the case of MPO members is x kg more than their standard allowance.

The higher ticketed allowance applies. Nowhere does your friend have a ticket which gives him 35kg. The additional FF allowances which CX gives its elite members when flying on CX are not part of the contracted conditions.

Your friend needs to just write this one off to experience.

Yes that's true.....however he has travelled the same route quite a number of times with this much luggage and this is the first time there's been a problem. Looks like BA is increasingly becoming a PITA in a run up to their new baggage allowances. So much for *one*world.

All airlines are doing this now -- probably related to fuel costs. Past experiences of agent generosity in exceeding baggage allowances are simply not applicable to today's environment. An interesting point in your original posting is that the computer was not allowing the agent to accept the baggage without the addcollect for excess. Lots of airlines have revised their computer systems to enforce the baggage limits, removing the agent's discretion in making an exception. BA is somewhat more militant than other airlines about this, for various reasons, but all 3 alliances are doing this same baggage enforcement.