RSJ
Well-Known Member
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6341129.stmBritish Airways is planning to add up to £240 to the cost of a return long-haul flight if passengers want to check in an extra bag.
Travellers on shorter international trips will face a bill of £120 and those on domestic journeys, £60.
Until now customers have been allowed to check in more than one bag as long as they did not go over weight restrictions.
The fees, which come in from Tuesday 13 February, will apply even if the combined weight of the two bags is below the allowance.
In a statement on its website, BA said the new system aimed for a "single allowance system based on the number of bags that can be checked in".
Passengers will get a discount by pay in advance via the internet.
The extra charge will be £168, £84 and £42 for return long-haul, short-haul and domestic flights when booked on line, up until 30 September.
BA said that flights to America, Canada, the Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico would be exempt from the new charges to bring policy "in line with the local government regulations".
Independent air transport consultant John Strickland told the BBC he was surprised by the move.
"In some ways they are taking a leaf out of a low-cost airline's book by charging," he said.
"They obviously see it as a way to actually make some more money out of carrying additional baggage rather than carrying it as a cost and taking up sport but it's a risk and it may backfire.
"They are seen as a full service airline and certainly not as a low cost carrier."
