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British Airways hand luggage - how strict are they on measurements?

British Airways hand luggage - how strict are they on measurements?

Old Aug 27th, 2015, 09:27 PM
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British Airways hand luggage - how strict are they on measurements?

I'm flying Bangkok to London.

My first cabin bag is your typical 20" hardcase so no problem there. I'd like to take a second bag though, and it's a duffle measures about 20x12x12, which is a few inches over their smaller bag limit. (It also has wheels! I'd likely carry it to not look like I'm overdoing it.)

Am I likely going to be made to check it in?

I'm certainly not going to be going over my 23kg per bag limit, as the duffle is rather light.
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Old Aug 27th, 2015, 09:43 PM
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you ask the wrong question - you need to ask

"am I prepared to accept the consequence if my bag doesn't fall within BA regulations?"

only you can answer that
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Old Aug 27th, 2015, 09:51 PM
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^I already have that taken care of thank you very much. I worded my question the way I did for a reason.
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Old Aug 27th, 2015, 10:58 PM
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They are very strict in my experience. The bags have to be approved and one has to be small enough to go comfortably under the seat.
Last year they were rejecting a lot of second pieces as too big, and I had an email from them recently emphasising the new rules and that the will be enforced.
I wouldn't risk it. Second piece can be a camera bag, laptop bag, ladies handbag. Not another bag approaching the size of the main carry on piece.

I have been told, by someone who works for BA, that if this doesn't work they will go to a single piece of carry on. So don't screw it for the rest of us.
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Old Aug 27th, 2015, 11:17 PM
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What you describe are two essentially full sized carry ons. You cannot take two bags that must go in the overhead . . . And even IF your bag sneaks through that is selfish IMO.

Why not conform to the requirements?
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Old Aug 27th, 2015, 11:24 PM
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your bag is TOO BIG, change it for one that complies.
I could say ,go ahead you will be fine but I don't think "Unclegus said it would be Ok" will cut it with the gate agents.
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Old Aug 27th, 2015, 11:56 PM
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They have also ( this month) changed their carry on rules ( read stricter) and I hear from those on the ground they are enforcing them....
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 12:33 AM
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If it is not going to fit under the seat in front of you, it's too big. The idea is that your carry-on case goes in the overhead bin, and an extra bag can be put by your feet under the seat. Are you going to be comfortable on that long flight with that bag by your feet?
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 01:01 AM
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I think the duffle may be cutting it close by what people say but I wouldn't mind it under my feet for the flight, as I did similar for my flight to Bangkok. I do have another bag that's like within an inch or two of the smaller bag. It's 18 x 15 x 7.6 inches, rounded up. (the smaller bag requirements are 16 x 12 x 6). I'll try and skirt by with that bag instead, I think.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 01:03 AM
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Smeagol, how have they changed them? The measurements in my previous post appear in my 'manage my booking' area.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 01:03 AM
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Smeagol, how have they changed them? The measurements in my previous post appear in my 'manage my booking' area.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 01:03 AM
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Smeagol, how have they changed them? The measurements in my previous post appear in my 'manage my booking' area.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 01:29 AM
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Whoops sorry for multiple posts!
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 04:16 AM
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http://www.fodors.com/community/air-...ryon-rules.cfm

Maybe this will help you decide if you should follow the rules.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 04:39 AM
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^ I read it before posting but what they say is not always what they do. I learned this the hard way with a budget airline with a 7kg carry on allowence recently. They didn't enforce weight or size at all.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 04:55 AM
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It really depends on how full the flight is and on the staff. If everyone puts 2 carry-ons in the overhead bins, there will not be enough room, and those boarding last may have to hand over their bag to be checked.
This happened to me once; my carry-on was regulation size and I was boarding fairly late. All the overhead space had been taken by then. The last 10 or so people to board had to check their bags. This was on an Easyjet Nice-Brussels. Brussels baggage claim is very slow, so I try to travel with carry-on only.
Due to inconsiderate travelers taking too much stuff, and staff that was not strict enough, I had to check my one regulation size bag.

So you may get away with it, you may not. Or maybe you get away with it, and the person after you has to check his bag because your bag is taking up his space.
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 05:04 AM
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^I hope you didn't have to pay to check that bag since it wasn't your fault
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Old Aug 28th, 2015, 06:57 AM
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Please follow the rules. They're in place for a reason and by not obeying them you make the rest of us-- fellow passengers and future passengers-- pay the price.
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