Another reason to avoid flying with British Airways

[eebs]

If they aren't on strike, they'll fleece you for your baggage...

British Airways risks incurring the wrath of its passengers by adding £240 to the cost of a long-haul return flight if a passenger puts two bags in the aircraft's hold.

From Tuesday, BA passengers will also pay an extra £120 on short-haul return flights and £60 on domestic return flights if they take two bags on to the plane.

Many of the airline's passengers are only expected to learn of the new charges when they check in at airports next week.

The rule means that customers will be able to put a bag with a maximum weight of 32kg in the hold - reducing to 23kg from September 30.

They will have to pay the extra charges even if the combined weight of the two bags is below the limit.

BA's website said the new charging system aimed to introduce a "single allowance system based on the number of bags that can be checked in".

It said: "Our vision for London Heathrow Terminal 5 is to create the best possible airport experience before you fly.

"With this in mind we have announced a new simpler checked and excess baggage policy, which will come into effect on 13 February 2007."

According to the Daily Telegraph, BA confirmed that its sales staff were instructed not to tell customers in advance when they booked their tickets.

A BA spokesman told the paper: "They will tell people if they ask about baggage policy. But it is on our website."

[James]

from the BA website...

*World Traveller customers travelling / connecting to or from the US, Canada, Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico will continue to be allowed two checked bags in line with the local government regulations.

[monet2u]

I don't like BA anyway. For my misery, I'd rather fly United.

[Dogatron]

I prefer the BA direct flight from Gatwick to DFW over the 1 stop United flights from Heathrow. A. Heathrow sucks B. the in-flight entertainment on the United flight was just 1 big screen showing 1 movie whereas on BA you have about 12 channels to choose from and C. I was in a row to myself flying United but the arm rests didn't go up and dug into my sides when I tried to sleep. Sleeping straight up with your head on your tray is comfortable for 0 seconds. And also the BA crew seemed a lot more helpful. The only better airline I've been on is Southwest.

[eebs]

I've flown a few times with American Airlines to Dallas and no problems at all, the one time with BA wasn't impressed with the service, broken tv screen and staff attitude.

[James]

Normally, I would sing BA's praises to high heaven because, on every overseas flgiht I've taken across Lake Atlantic, they've been easily the best in every category.

However, this last trip, I've started to change my mind a bit. The food, for the first time, was H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E!!! And normally, it's really good, but I didn't finish any of the meals in either direction, which is a first because food is a rarity on those flights (unless you take it yourself).

BA still has the best seats and I find it easier to sleep on their flights than any other (especially next to the window). But, next time I go, I might consider American if there's a significant difference in price. BA is no longer the choice airline to me.

Continental and Delta between US and UK are teh Sux0r5

[zenmomma]

We flew US Airways to North Carolina. I was really impressed with them. Our inflight entertainment was awesome. It was all video on demand, so you could watch whatever you wanted whenever you wanted.

[sam]

If inflight entertainment is your thing, you've got to check out what should be coming from Virgin America.

[mere1975]

We flew US Airways to North Carolina. I was really impressed with them. Our inflight entertainment was awesome. It was all video on demand, so you could watch whatever you wanted whenever you wanted.

Frontier airlines is also great like that, but I think they only fly in the western US.

- Mere "and you can follow the plane's progress along the route" 1975