fishee

BA just got real strict on their carryon and I had to check my rolling bag at LHR-IST. Since I assume this will be the same thing at IST when I return I have a question -- Will BA connect my checked luggage through all the way to ORD or do I have to pick it up in LHR and re-check it?



Policy below, sorry if it's repetitive, but they are being strict -- my hardcase Samsonite is quite small but the wheels prevented it from going into the test box they used.

"The hand baggage policy will be the first to change from 5 July 2006.
All passengers will be able to carry one standard-sized bag and one briefcase, laptop computer bag or equivalent on all flights.
The maximum size of the bag, 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 18in x 10in) has been set in line with the UK Department for Transport recommendations. Passengers must be able to lift their bag unaided into the aircraft overhead locker.
The briefcase, laptop computer bag or equivalent must fit under the seat in front."

jody

Actually they (BA) have RELAXED their carryon policy. The old limit was no more than 13 pounds!

flanneruk

If you're connecting at Heathrow within 24 hours onto a BA flight, and it's on the same ticket, they'll check the bag through.

If you're connecting onto a non-partnership flight on a separate ticket, they won't.

For any other combination (such as connecting onto a partner airline), the rules with BA can be complicated (they seem more prepared to through-check onto other airlines on expensive tickets, though they always seem happy to through-check on partner airlines on the same ticket). You should ask them direct.

janisj

fishee: How do you figure BA has tightened their rules? As Jody mentions, the recent changes are a <b>Major</b> relaxation of what used to be really strict rules.

Basically - as long as the bag fits the sizer box and you can lift it unaided into the overhead you can now carry it on.

BA and Virgin were about the only lines I used to have to check my bag - only 19 inches long but well over 13 lbs filled. Now I can carry on - yippee!!

alanRow

It's not a &quot;British Air&quot; (sic) carry on policy.

It applies to ALL airlines flying from UK airports

http://tinyurl.com/lhgkr

fishee

Oh, another thing for you small over-packers. You're expected to lift and take down your carry-on &quot;unaided&quot; as specified in BA rules -- good thing for the FA's!

Cicerone

Regardless of what airline you are flying from LHR to ORD, I believe that BA will check you bags all the way through from IST to ORD, assuming your connecting flight from LHR is the same day. Please do not confuse a lack of code sharing with baggage handling agreements which virtually all airlines in the world have with each other. Airlines routinely transfer bags from one airline to another even though they are not code share airlines. If BA will not do this, then they are the only airline I have heard of so far in 25 years of international travel that will not do so. Example: I flew Cathay Pacific and Thai Airlines from Hong Kong to Mumbai last week. They are very much NOT code share partners, they directly compete with each other on many routes. However, my bags were checked all the way through from Hong Kong by Cathay without any question (and without my even having to ask this is just so routine) and were transferred in Bangkok right onto the Thai Airways flight. No need for me to re-check them, I never saw them. I was not so lucky, as I had to go to the transfer desk and get a boarding pass, as Cathay in Hong Kong would not actually go so far as to issue me a boarding pass for the Thai Airways flight. They had no problem, however, agreeing to transfer my bag.

A quick call to BA in the US will answer the question about baggage transfer, but I would be very surprised if they would not to this, as these agreements are reciprocal, which means people transferring to BA flights from other airlines would not get their baggage transferred if BA refuses to do this for other transferring passengers.

W9London

As for BA check-in luggage, make sure it's within 50lbs weight limits! Trans-Atlantic flights still allow 2pcs of check-in luggages for economy class.

...come to think of it, I think those restrictions should be pretty much the same across carriers, as they're set by the airport operators and the government...

flanneruk

Cicerone has clearly neither tried to through-check bags with BA onto a non-partnership connection, consulted BA's policy on their website nor read previous postings here on this topic.

Which is why Cicerone's observations are simply wrong. What Thai or Cathay do is irrelevant.

BA make their own policy. And that policy is not to allow non-partnership through checking on separate tickets.

Reciprocity, BTW, isn't their policy either.

suze

BA has always been strict about carry-on luggage. Actually this is a more liberal policy now, because it used to also have a weight limit imposted of 13 lbs.

janisj

&quot;<i>Oh, another thing for you small over-packers. You're expected to lift and take down your carry-on &quot;unaided&quot; as specified in BA rules -- good thing for the FA's! </i>&quot;

I don't understand - in nearly 40 years of flying I can't remember ever asking an FA lift my bag. Carrying on does not mean the suitcase is heavy - my fully packed bag weighs between 20lb and 25lb tops. I have no problem lifting that. That is everything for a 2 or 3 week trip. It is just too heavy to be carried on under the old BA Policy - meaning I previously had to check it.

rogerdodger

Please don't dump on me, but why is carry-on allowed at all. It only takes a few minutes more to get your luggage from the checked luggage area and we are suppose to me taking things easy for our vacation. Now, having said that, I take a small gyn bag that weights 10 lbs when packed. Really, it does seem to me that without carry-ons the plane could be loaded and unloaded much faster and eliminate people constantly getting up and down to rummage through the bags.

Cicerone

Flanneruk, please re-read my post as you have misunderstood me. I was not stating what BA's policy, what I wrote was that if BA would not allow inter-airline baggage transfer, that they were the only airline I had heard of in 20 plus years of international airline travel that would refuse to transfer a passenger's baggage simply because the passenger's onward flight was not on BA or a partner airline. I still find this very hard to believe, as interairline baggage handling agreements have been a staple of the airline industry for literally decades. Have you actually had BA refuse to ticket bags through to a destination?

I will read the BA webiste, and will check with BA itself when I am at Hong Kong airport next week. This would really shock me if that were the case.

janisj

cicerone: &quot;<i>Have you actually had BA refuse to ticket bags through to a destination? </i>&quot;

Most anyone who has flown BA w/ separate tickets on other airlines has faced this. You <u>might</u> be able to talk an agent into through checking bags - but it would definitely be an exception.

MorganB

Roger,

I carry the following items in my carry on

travel documents
fragile items
valuables
any medication
items for my entertainment in flight

I dont see really how I could forgo a carry on.

Also many people are business travelers and only traveling for a day trip. The MUST have what they are traveling with to conduct business and cannot risk a misdirected bag.

Cicerone

Wow, I can't believe they consider themselves a world class airline, even Air India does this for God's sake.....

SB_Travlr

Hey rogerdodger, the reason I take a SMALL carryon bag is that I want to be sure I have essentials on hand for the first couple of days in case my checked bags go astray. If that has ever happened to you, you'll appreciate that living for a few days in the clothes you wore for an overnight flight is just not fun. (Schedule may not allow for replacement shopping at that point.)

I also carry on various necessary meds -- can't let those go astray.

When we went to Nigeria, carryons were critical. DH and I shared one small wheelie bag that was slightly over the weight. The checkin folks &quot;winked&quot; and let us go ahead because it was one bag for two passengers...So thanks BA, those few extra pounds are a big help.

llamalady

Hey, Rogerdodger - a small gyn bag?
Brings a new meaning to 'carry-on' for
sure!

nho9504

&lt;&lt;It only takes a few minutes more to get your luggage from the checked luggage area and we are suppose to me taking things easy for our vacation. &gt;&gt;

Huh? he who posted that obviously never have experienced waiting at the conveyor belt for over an hour then only to realize his checked bag(s) would not be there because the airline &quot;lost&quot; it in transit.

Besides bravo to you to be able to travel 2 to 3 weeks with only less than 10lb gyn bag.

I think we pride ourselves to be able to do 3 weeks in Paris with just a 20&quot; carry-on, but it still weighed about twice of your gyn bag.

Just for the frequency of misdirected luggage alone, carry-on is a Godsend for those who could not afford to not having their bags right at arrival - business travellers come to mind, so as those in transit, en-route to their final destination ... Or, happened to go on a 12 days cruise ...

lifelist

In addition to the risk of misdirected luggage, one must also consider the risks of theft and damage. I often travel with thousands of dollars worth of camera gear, and would not even consider checking it for fear of damage or theft.

If the airlines could guarantee that luggage would not get lost, damaged, or stolen, then I would not have a problem traveling with only a very small carry-on containing in-flight necessities.