The BAA strictness varies from month to month. At its worst they were very strict, and extra 1/4 inch led to the bag being banned (this was in August 2006). I witnessed this several times, and once in the F lounge came across a BA Premier who was furious and taking it out on BA SS: he had arrived at LHR with normal carry-on, which was too large (by an inch), so he went to the luggage store and bought a new bag (for GBP 300) that was sold as being within the BAA limits, repacked and checked original bag, carried the new bag to security. Rejected again as too big. So he had to check that new bag too. The punch line: it was an inch smaller than the size limit published on the BA web site, hence the argument with BA. And this was for a Premier! I suspect he was going to be using the VIP security line from then on instead of Fast Track.

So, when the next security alert comes, you can be sure that the 22 inch Travelpro will not be allowed as carryon out of LHR. They do this to reduce the security checking workload (fewer bags to check, less volume to check). It is an absurd situation and very damaging to BA.

I got the idea from going to all four oneworld carriers' websites and copying down their checked and carry-on baggage rules/limits.

As for the size of AA domestic carry-ons, I was very surprised when I read that on the website. I just did 8.5 days MRs (34 segments) in the last 2.5 weeks, with my 22" TravelPro, and I can assure you that mine was about the smallest carry-on bag I observed. The norm was at least 50% larger, and there were a couple bags that had to have been nearly 100% larger than my bag! Apparantly they didn't have any problems getting those past TSA and the Gate Agents. I'm getting a 25" TravelPro for domestic long weekend jaunts (extended MRs ) which I'm sure will not be blinked at at all, given what I've seen.

Steve

Well, I've got six hours to blow at LHR waiting for the next flight, so I guess I'll take the risk. I will be flying J, and I'll have my "Mommy" along in a wheelchair (usually that helps grease the skids for any borderline stuff). If they do nab it, won't they (hopefully) just gate check it (like American Eagle flights)?

Is this just for BA flights? My parents' return will be on a BA flight into LHR, but an AA flight out of it.

Thanks,

Steve

Actually I mis-spoke. I double checked my past orders on eBags, and I in fact have the 20" TravelPro, which is 20x14x9 inches.

That should be able to get past BAA?

Thanks,

Steve

No the BAA baggage rules apply to all airlines. If it's going to get nabbed at a UK airport it will happen at/before the security check. After the security check they want you to buy lots of stuff in the shopping mall.

Edit: if the real overall dimensions of your bag, including handles, wheels, etc are less than 22*14*9 then no problem.

Change that to the 22" TravelPro for domestic long weekends (which is still within the AA rules).

Sorry, I had the wrong baseline as to what I already had. The 25" would be as flagrant as the baddies I saw, and I wouldn't want to be looked at askance by my fellow FlyerTalkers, now would I?

Thanks,

Steve

No it is all airlines - it is a UK rule enforced by the airport security, not an airline rule.

No gate check. If connecting and they have a problem with your carryon then you would get stopped at flight connection centre (FCC) and asked to proceed landside (through immigration) to check your bag in, even if this meant you would miss your flight. If merely departing then you would get sent back to check in by security.

The argument that the same size limits are not enforced strictly elsewhere wont bear any weight whatsoever. Yup seem to get away with far more carryon in us domestic flights - I always have to remind myself to leave the lounge early to board while there is still overhead space (despite having bigger bins than we'd have) vs asia-pacific where I can stay in the lounge and board last knowing there will still be room for my carryon.

Not if you or BAA are having a bad day. I have 18, 20 and 22" Crew5 Travelpros, and the 18" is the only one I can use to go through LHR without problems. The 22 fails the LHR bin test by a long shot, the 20 just makes it, but you have to push it into the bin, and that is, sometimes, not allowed.

Ah, excellent detailed answer!

The only time I have to get through is at the very beginning of the trip, so I could underpack the 20" TravelPro. I didn't see that there was an 18" TravelPro. I admit I was only checking eBags (getting more AA miles through their eShopping network).

We are taking BA into and back out of LHR (YYZ-LHR-NRT). Do I understand that they shove everyone out the door and through Immigration in that case? In other words, there isn't a dedicated International terminal where if you are just transiting through, you don't have to go through Immigration?

Thanks for all your patience and information!

Steve

All 4 terminals at LHR are "international" -- yes, every single terminal there has international flights. You can choose to enter the UK, clearing immigration and customs, or stay airside in transit, using the FCC (Flight Connections Centre). Either way you are subject to the same security check at LHR (and the same rules, e.g. limit on carryon size and contents, for example no foreign duty free liquids are allowed in carryon, they must be in checked baggage). If you have contraband, you are given the choice to have it confiscated or abandon the bag or go landside and check it; the FCC has a huge pile of trash filled with some amazing things that people have abandoned (rather than miss their connecting flight). Staying airside in transit is sometimes better/faster than going landside, sometimes it is slower/worse (presuming you don't have any visa issues with the UK and aren't on a wanted list). This month LHR has been a nightmare with huge lines and lots of problems (beyond the fog). It is not fun anymore. I'm afraid you will come to regret your long routings, which are very tiring (I've done them, and they are tiring even in F, never mind J) and this trip will seem more like an ordeal than a special treat. Good luck and do lots more research to mitigate the problems and make it work better.

ps. I've taken YYZ-LHR a dozen times (mostly in F, sometimes in J as BA uses 3-class planes for part of the year), and it is a terrible flight (compared to ORD-LHR for example). Too short to get any sleep, and they serve breakfast 2 hours before landing in J -- absurd. So even if you aren't eating (and you shouldn't be, there is lots of better breakfast in the LHR lounges) you are woken up by all the clatter. Plus the YYZ lounge is very shabby, and the food is dismal (used to be very good until 2 years ago, then the lounge manager and chef changed, and it is consistently poor now). YYZ-LHR seems to be the worst of the BA routes to Canada at the moment (YUL and YVR are much better, and the similar DTW-LHR and ORD-LHR are also better -- strange that YYZ is so bad, but I'm sure there is a reason).

http://www.travelpro.com/crew5/crew5exprollabord.html

60kg?!!

I have my diving equipment but deliberately don't have either a tank nor weight belt. Whilst it is a little bulky, it certainly ain't heavy.

To the OP: Weight belts and tanks are really easy to hire at your destination and most places assume you don't have gear if your going out on a boat so I really don't see what all the fuss is.

60Kg ; yuppers. I travel ( unless impossible to do so ) with all my own gear. Places may hire cylinders, however they tend to be cruddy low capacity aluminium cylinders and often do not have DIN fittings plus tend to be filled to a low pressure. Often no weight belt is needed so that isn't an issue

When on my own at 45m, I do not want to be relying on equipment which I do not know how well has been maintained

Makes me very happy with the new BA luggage policies .. 114Kg allowance...mmmmmm

Dave

Seems like you have had some bad luck then. Always seemed to have lucked out on the cylinder side even in some more out of the way places across the globe. In fact it would have been impractical to carry cylinders to some of the places I have been, especially when doing up to 3 dives a day (sometimes 4 if you include a night dive) depending on depths.