MSE News: British Airways: We'll cut hand luggage-only fares

"British Airways says it plans to eventually include all short-haul flights from Gatwick in the hand luggage-only scheme..."
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British Airways: We'll cut hand luggage-only fares


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  • aerostar
    aerostar Posts: 1,736
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    Your a bit late Helen, I already posted this earlier !

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4456923
  • Mr_Wang
    Mr_Wang Posts: 1,302 Forumite
    aerostar wrote: »
    Your a bit late Helen, I already posted this earlier !

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4456923

    How ironic actually. BA are late in getting on the hand luggage bandwagon too :D
  • Pincher
    Pincher Posts: 6,552
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    I don't see what saving BA can make if you don't have check-in luggage.

    1. They still have to have luggage handlers for those that do check-in luggage.

    2. The weight is now shifted to hand luggage, which are not weighed, which just means they under-fuel the plane, which makes it more dangerous.

    3. They still have to pay the Air Passenger Duty, which doesn't reduce because you have no luggage.

    What they should do is to charge by WEIGHT!

    E.g. From London to New York return, you pay

    £200 for Tax
    £180 for one seat and 100kg.

    On check-in, you and all your luggage (carry-on and check-in)
    are weighed. Any excess are charged at the relevant rate for the route.

    You can look at this in terms of promoting weight loss and health, or in terms of chubby bashing. If there are more skinny people than chubby people, it's will be popular.
  • callum9999
    callum9999 Posts: 4,389
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    Pincher wrote: »
    I don't see what saving BA can make if you don't have check-in luggage.

    1. They still have to have luggage handlers for those that do check-in luggage.

    2. The weight is now shifted to hand luggage, which are not weighed, which just means they under-fuel the plane, which makes it more dangerous.

    3. They still have to pay the Air Passenger Duty, which doesn't reduce because you have no luggage.

    What they should do is to charge by WEIGHT!

    E.g. From London to New York return, you pay

    £200 for Tax
    £180 for one seat and 100kg.

    On check-in, you and all your luggage (carry-on and check-in)
    are weighed. Any excess are charged at the relevant rate for the route.

    You can look at this in terms of promoting weight loss and health, or in terms of chubby bashing. If there are more skinny people than chubby people, it's will be popular.

    1. So do all the other budget airlines who do this.

    2. Some of the weight is shifted, not necessarily as much as would be in the hold.

    3. Relevance?

    Though BA aren't taking £9 off the price because you cost them £9 less, it's just to make their fares look more attractive against the likes of Ryanair etc. I'll probably be more likely to fly with BA now as although having a hold bag is nice, I just go for the cheapest fare - bag or no bag. And judging by the number of passengers Ryanair/Easyjet etc. fly, I'd imagine quite a few others do as well!
  • tripled
    tripled Posts: 2,879
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    edited 21 February 2013 at 8:05PM
    Of course they can save money. With less luggage being put in the hold, they need less desks and less baggage handlers. As they also offer online/self-service check-in, more people will save themselves time checking-in themselves and further reduce pressure on the desks. There is a limit to the size of hand luggage so people will often carry less, saving weight and therefore fuel. There will be less complaints and compensation costs for damaged/missing baggage. Delays will also be reduced - if you get "lost" in a bar and you haven't checked any bags in, the plane will just go without you, they don't need to find your luggage. Even if you have and they do, the reduced amount of luggage to search through will mean they can offload you more quickly.

    By reducing the fare by a few pounds those who travel light may see BA as a more competetive option, increasing load factors and thereby making flights more profitable.

    So it may not save as much as £9 but there is definitely a few quid in it for them.
  • Of course it saves money - less ckin hosts - they pay per bag loaded so cost of load and unload bag taken out - plus they can turn flights around much quicker - less time on jetty less cost to airline. I think this is an excellent idea brings them in line with budget airlines - without lowering their standard - well done BA!!
  • Interesting headline - what's the betting if it was Ryanair MSE would be reporting "Price hike for those taking hold luggage"?
  • scotnan
    scotnan Posts: 636 Forumite
    They probably make a saving not having to employ all those people who have to go looking for all the luggage they manage to lose :rotfl:
  • poppy10_2
    poppy10_2 Posts: 6,574
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    It never works out this way. There will be a price hike for those taking hold luggage. This is pure spin.
    poppy10
  • callum9999
    callum9999 Posts: 4,389
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    poppy10 wrote: »
    It never works out this way. There will be a price hike for those taking hold luggage. This is pure spin.

    Whereas your post is pure conjecture...

    They might put up prices in the future, but they haven't done now. Not that there would have been anything stopping them raising prices in the future regardless of this change.
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