When you book cheap British Airways flights, you don’t usually get a checked baggage allowance. On the other hand, it is offered for other premium cabin classes. Therefore, your allowance for the checked baggage is dependent upon your;
• Fare class.
• Travel route.
• Type of ticket.
• Aircraft type.
• Destination.
• Airline policies.
• Executive Club Membership Status.
Checked baggage is the baggage that you submit to the airline while checking in for your flights. Once handed over to the airline staff at the airport, it is only accessible to you after you arrive at the final destination because it is stored inside the specific aircraft storage compartment. Due to this reason, it has a more weight and size limit as well as allows carrying items that are prohibited in the carry-on luggage.
Economy Class.
Short-Haul Flights (Within Europe).
Most of the basic economy fares booked for the short-haul European flights with British Airways don’t offer free checked baggage. However carry-on luggage is allowed. For this reason, if any of such travellers wants to add checked baggage to his/her ticket, it is available at an extra fee which can range from £20 to £40 or more for the first checked bag.
However, one must know that the fee to add checked baggage can also vary depending on the flight route, and the time of booking the checked baggage i.e. either prepaid online or purchased at the airport during check-in.
Long-Haul Flights (International).
Economy class fares on most long-haul international flights often include a checked baggage allowance from the airline. For the majority of travel routes, passengers receive the allowance of only one free checked bag that can weigh up to a maximum of 23kg (50 lbs) and have dimensions under 90cm x 75cm x 43cm or 35in x 30in x 17in.
If you require additional checked bags beyond the complimentary allowance for your economy class tickets, the fee for each additional bag starts from £65 per bag, depending on the route and availability.
Premium Economy, Business, and First Class.
Passengers travelling in the premium cabins i.e. Premium Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class typically enjoy more generous baggage allowances. Therefore, for the majority of routes;
• Premium Economy Class passengers get two checked bags weighing up to 23kg each.
• Business Class passengers get two checked bags weighing up to 32kg each.
• First Class passengers get three checked bags weighing up to 32kg each.
These are the complimentary checked baggage allowances from the airline. If you require additional baggage, you can purchase it from the airline at an additional fee.
Frequent Flyers and Executive Club Members.
British Airways Executive Club members may receive additional baggage benefits depending on their membership status and tier. Higher-tier members might be entitled to extra free checked bags, increased weight allowances or other such benefits.
Variances and Exceptions.
Special Offers.
Occasionally, British Airways may run promotions offering free checked baggage for certain routes or specific fare types for a limited time. Therefore the checked baggage policies vary for such tickets purchased.
Route-Specific Policies.
Baggage allowances can also vary based on routes, partner airlines, and specific fare rules with the regulations differing between short-haul, long-haul, and connecting flights. All in all, this impacts the number of free bags allowed and associated fees.
Additional baggage limit.
Each passenger travelling with British Airways can check in up to 10 pieces of luggage (maximum) per ticket. This includes the free checked bags allowed by the airline as well. For instance, if you get one piece of checked baggage complimentary from the airline, you can add up to nine extra pieces. Similarly, for the premium travellers getting 2 checked bags, 8 additional bags can be purchased.
Prices for these bags can range from;
• £36 to £120 or more (per bag) when booked online.
• £40 to £140 or more (per bag) when booked at the airport.
If you have an overweight bag, you will need to pay an extra fee of £65 per bag, unless over 32kg.
A passenger carrying anything heavier than the 32kg limit would be considered cargo and shipped separately.
For the latest rules and regulations regarding your ticket fare with British Airways regarding the free checked baggage allowance, you must read the baggage policies associated with your British Airways business class, economy class and first-class tickets.
