mary

We are travelling on BA to Rome via London-we plan to bring one carry on a piece with no other luggage-will they object to this?? <BR>Is there a regulation?? <BR>Thanks <BR>Mary

elaine

last time I was on BA (1998)the weight restriction on a carry on was only 13 pounds on overseas flight from the US to Europe <BR>by all means call and check

Walter

The last 2 times I flew them (Feb99&Jan00) from Boston-LHR-Rome & Boston-LHR-Athens the weight and size wasn't checked anywhere. But it was off-season and the planes weren't full if that mattered? HTH Regards, Walter <BR>

Rex

Mary, <BR> <BR>I tried to do exactly what you are seeking to do last fall (JFK-LHR on BA), and the 5 kg limit (11 pounds, not 13 pounds) was strictly enforced, and I was required to check my only bag (a rollaboard). The counter agents was very clear that the SIZE (dimensions) of my bag did NOT put me outside the legal limits. <BR> <BR>Once I was on board, I saw many rollaboards in the overhead compartments. <BR> <BR>For what it's worth, my wife's carry-on WAS allowed, and the sticker they put on it does not preclude you opening it or putting more stuff in it. <BR> <BR>If I had it to do over, I would have had a non-traveling companion wait against the wall with most of my stuff in a plastic bag to "put back" into my (half-empty) rollaboard after it was stickered for approval to take onboard. <BR> <BR>There will be others who criticize the suggestion to cheat and break the rules, but I don't see what is wrong with a 10 kg rollaboard, if the exact same SIZE rollaboard is allowed at 5 kg. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

Lori

13 pounds is the limit a carryon can weight in coach class on BA - max. dimensions 46". Their web site spells it out. They enforced it in LA where we left from - they have a scale for you to weight it yourself if you are unsure. We did not see that in London or Paris but we still were restricted to one bag each for carryon. We're going next week out of LA so we shall see how it goes - we are taking one 44" roll on and hopefully it will not go over the 13 lb limit. To be on the safe side we have a nylon bag that we're folding up and putting in the carryon - if they make us check the carryon with our other bags we'll just take out some stuff and put it in the nylon bag rather than fight the issue. They can be sticky about it. I think 13lbs is unrealistic, but .... I would imagine if you have no other luggage your carryon will weight more than 13 lbs so be prepared to surrender it!

tom

Yikes!! <BR> <BR>I was considering BA for a trip to Europe, but they will lose my business over this. <BR> <BR>My camera & computer equipment would easily exceed 13 lbs - no way I'm going to check in $1000s of stuff.

kam

Think Lori's solution is a good one. I always travel with one of those cheap nylon zipper duffel things and fill it with dirty clothes to check on the return flight. Problem is sometimes when you're jet lagged you forget you've got another bag! I too have found BA very enforcing but fairly efficient.

Kathleen

BA is very unpredictable about this and will give contradictory information when contacted by phone. Some agents will tell you a reasonable camera bag is exempt, others will act as if it was any other carry-on. And they will not accept any responsibility for checking camera equipment. As a previous victim of lost luggage on BA to Pisa (bags went to Dallas, TX)and amateur photographer I carried a change of shirt and underwear, medicines, reading material, a small snack and my camera and lenses in a bag which easily fit under the seat (even at the window) and was still well over the weight allowance. One solution: put your camera with heaviest lens over your shoulder and carry your reading material. Remember: the reason the airlines do not not have enough space for a reasonable amount of luggage is that they have crammed far too many seats into coach. And they certainly could put better latches on the overhead and take better care of checked baggage. I'd be happy to check more items if I could be sure they would arrive safely. Honestly - who would carry an extra 20 pounds around if they didn't have to?

tom

I recently faxed BA a letter of complaint regarding their economy carry-on policy, I received this reply from Robert Rieser, Manager of Service Delivery at BA: <BR> <BR>* "reasonably" sized camera bags are excluded from carryon allowance. <BR> <BR>* computer cases ARE included & subject to 13 lb limit <BR> <BR>* 1st class & Club World cabins permit two bags, of 20 lbs each. <BR> <BR>Also, my local camera shop owner, who travels to europe at least yearly (various carriers) with 20-25 lbs of equipment in a larg-ish shoulder bag, says he has Never been challenged on the camera equipment.

Dawn

We didn't take much stuff going over when we left from JFK to Paris so we were able to bring it on. The way back we had tons of stuff that we bought but they didn't check the weight. I had a really heavy back pack on (my husband had to stand behind me so I didn't fall over it was that heavy!) but they didn't even notice it so I just checked my clothes and brought the pack on.

Dirk

I recently wrote to the CEO of British Airways to request an explanation of their coach carryon weight limit. The limit goes only to the weight. The size can be the same as for most other airlines. I am allowed to check two bags, each with a 70 pound weight limit. Customer service told me the limit had to do with a lack of space--obviously incorrect. If I filled the carryon with cotton, it would take up the same amount of space as if I filled it with iron. And if weight is a problem, since I did not plan to check my allowed two bags with a total of up to 140 pounds, the plane would be 120 pounds lighter if I carry on one bag weighing 20 pounds. What am I missing?

j

My friend worked for Northwest her jobwasto determine the weight of the plane loaded for fuel calculation.

Ed

The usual reasons for weight restrictions have to do with how much load the airplane can carry over what distance. Weight restrictions are particularly important on some of the smaller planes (&lt; DC-10/11 or B747) which are somewhat restricted in how far they can fly. There's a small cost factor at work as well, obviously. It takes about a pound of fuel (~1/6 gallon) to fly a pound of <BR>passenger/air frame/baggage/fuel across the atlantic.

Andy

If it's any consolation, Virgin Atlantic has the exact same weight restrictions as BA-Go same spiel from Virgin Atlantic pertaining to overloading plane. We have re=packed our 1 carry on to get it down to 13 lbs. So we are going to put some of the excess in our hangup bag that will carry a suit-since the suit won't weigh 13 lbs.---just disperse your stuff between 2 carry ons if you're 2 people. LAst time I flew Virgin, they DID weigh my bag and I thought I was gonna die. the lady on the phone the other nite said 13 lbs.was strictly enforced and if we went over,there's a $90 charge for excess baggage!!!!

kam

On a recent flight from California to CAncun Mexico, the overhead compartment was opened and a guitar came crashing down on top of my head. No, I wasn't seriously injured, but it didn't make me happy on the flight. Had it been a heavier bag, I could have been injured. Perhaps that's why BA is enforcing the weight restriction. I often sit in fear as people shove their heavy "carry ons" up into the compartments. Nobody likes lost luggage, but then nobody likes luggage dropping down on their heads either.

elvira

February (full flight) outbound to London, I had my rollon 'confiscated' at the plane by a rather supercilious flight attendant (male) who hefted the bag and deemed it 'too heavy'. Meantime, perky French girl rolled on large bag and tote, husband/wife team DRAGGED two duffels on board, and an oh-so-cute little girl hauled a giant shopping bag full of games and toys on board. Apparently, middle-aged women travelling alone are the only passengers subject to the 13lb weight restrictions.

Daphne

Elvira- That has been my exact experience with B.A. [even after weighing my duffel or rollaboard at home to exactly 13 pounds].

[email protected]

Just got back from Amsterdam via Continental Airlines. Total of 5 flights on the trip. On leg #4 at Amsterdam, our carry on was questioned and the 3 of us were forced to check it. Didn't matter that we had carried it on the previous 3 legs with no problem. We had checked prior to leaving and the dimensions of the our carry on met what was posted on the web. Unfortunately, we didn't check the weight. The check in agent told us we were only permitted 10 kilos (22 pounds) Our carry on weighed between 12 kilos and 14 kilos. Normally I would have asked for a supervisor, but we were on our way home and I just didn't feel like arguing, so we checked them. When we got home I checked their web page again and found that we could actually carry on 18 kilos (40 lbs). So, my advice is to not only check to make sure you are in compliance before you go, but also take a copy of the airline web page. What I have found over the years is that there is no consistency. It is up to the whims of the airline agent and what side of the bed they got up on.

mac

The weight limit of 5 kg is also enforced on many charters. Be aware that most 'carry'on rolling bags weigh up to 8 pounds empty, so that leaves you with 2 or 3 pounds for your stuff! <BR> <BR>Thus, carry your most important stuff in the lightest bag possible. Be prepared to check anything over the limit. They can and do enforce it!