Our disgraceful National Airline

[pushthebutton]

so called said:

I remember getting a letter from BA advising me, as a member of their club, that they were simplifying their excess baggage charge to a fee per kg excess...
United, US Airways, Air Canada, charge a nominal $10,- or there abouts.
Its happened twice now due to not being able to choose an alternative airline to make a connection.
Due to the first charge and apart from the second occasion, I have avoided BA for the past 12 years and with over 150 intercontinental Business Class return trips in that time, I would guess it has cost BA far more in lost profits than the €746,- excess baggage charges.

So, Star Alliance it continues to be.

I think that things have changed a lot in the last 12 years:

Air Canada said:

Travel between the U.S.* and other international destinations:

Overweight/oversize items

A $100 CAD/USD fee applies (per direction) if your bag is overweight and/or oversized.
A single $100 CAD/USD fee (per direction) applies if your bag is both overweight and oversized.

Additional bags (over and above your free checked baggage allowance): $225 CAD/USD (per direction, per bag).
No overweight or oversize fees apply to additional bags for which the $225 fee is paid.

United Airlines said:

Checked bags weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) to 70 pounds (32 kg)
Maximum weight allowed may vary depending on cabin, status level, military status, itinerary and date of purchase.
From $100 USD/CAD to $200 USD/CAD per ba.

Checked bags weighing more than 70 pounds (32 kg) to 99.9 pounds (45 kg)
Maximum weight allowed may vary depending on cabin, status level, military status, itinerary and date of purchase.
Up to $400 USD/CAD per bag.

American Airlines said:

Transatlantic $100 up to 32kg. Over 32kg bags are not accepted.

That's quite a bit different to the figures you have in your head from 12(?) years ago. I totally understand how a bad experience from a long time ago can cause you to switch providers, but I still think it's worth re-visiting those decisions periodically. The decision to move away from BA will possibly have cost them some revenue but, equally, it may also be costing you if you haven't kept up to date with all of the competitors latest offerings (based on your baggage charge example).

A former Star Alliance regular may well have switched allegiance in the last 12 years and be enjoying benefits you aren't aware of and ultimately the carriers revenue hasn't changed.

That's all a bit tongue-in-cheek and applies to any A v B airline or business, but I'm sure you know that already.

[pushthebutton]

iphonedyou said:

Have used them long haul (economy) Gatwick to Calgary and they were well off the pace of competitors.

When was that? The scheduled Calgary flight has been out of Heathrow for the last few years I think. Was it a ski charter?

[so called]

pushthebutton said:

so called said:

I remember getting a letter from BA advising me, as a member of their club, that they were simplifying their excess baggage charge to a fee per kg excess...
United, US Airways, Air Canada, charge a nominal $10,- or there abouts.
Its happened twice now due to not being able to choose an alternative airline to make a connection.
Due to the first charge and apart from the second occasion, I have avoided BA for the past 12 years and with over 150 intercontinental Business Class return trips in that time, I would guess it has cost BA far more in lost profits than the €746,- excess baggage charges.

So, Star Alliance it continues to be.

I think that things have changed a lot in the last 12 years:

Air Canada said:

Travel between the U.S.* and other international destinations:

Overweight/oversize items

A $100 CAD/USD fee applies (per direction) if your bag is overweight and/or oversized.
A single $100 CAD/USD fee (per direction) applies if your bag is both overweight and oversized.

Additional bags (over and above your free checked baggage allowance): $225 CAD/USD (per direction, per bag).
No overweight or oversize fees apply to additional bags for which the $225 fee is paid.

United Airlines said:

Checked bags weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) to 70 pounds (32 kg)
Maximum weight allowed may vary depending on cabin, status level, military status, itinerary and date of purchase.
From $100 USD/CAD to $200 USD/CAD per ba.

Checked bags weighing more than 70 pounds (32 kg) to 99.9 pounds (45 kg)
Maximum weight allowed may vary depending on cabin, status level, military status, itinerary and date of purchase.
Up to $400 USD/CAD per bag.

American Airlines said:

Transatlantic $100 up to 32kg. Over 32kg bags are not accepted.

That's quite a bit different to the figures you have in your head from 12(?) years ago. I totally understand how a bad experience from a long time ago can cause you to switch providers, but I still think it's worth re-visiting those decisions periodically. The decision to move away from BA will possibly have cost them some revenue but, equally, it may also be costing you if you haven't kept up to date with all of the competitors latest offerings (based on your baggage charge example).

A former Star Alliance regular may well have switched allegiance in the last 12 years and be enjoying benefits you aren't aware of and ultimately the carriers revenue hasn't changed.

That's all a bit tongue-in-cheek and applies to any A v B airline or business, but I'm sure you know that already.

I fully accept your research but I regularly find otherwise at the check in desk.
Because of the original €373,- charge and leaving BA, I very quickly gained Senator status with Lufthansa.
With that I have a good baggage allowance.
I noticed that United changed their policy about 18 months ago and that sometimes I would only have a 1 bag allowance but that due to the number of flights on my schedule, the check in staff were allowed to use their discretion as to charging or not and I don't recall as high as $100,- in the last year.

In the BA case, they correctly informed me that I only had a one bag allowance and weighed my second bag (10kg) When she then insisted on weighing my brief case and declaring that 2kg over its allowance I not impressed at all.
Still she was only following orders I suppose.

[GT03ROB]

so called said:

I fully accept your research but I regularly find otherwise at the check in desk.
Because of the original €373,- charge and leaving BA, I very quickly gained Senator status with Lufthansa.
With that I have a good baggage allowance.
I noticed that United changed their policy about 18 months ago and that sometimes I would only have a 1 bag allowance but that due to the number of flights on my schedule, the check in staff were allowed to use their discretion as to charging or not and I don't recall as high as $100,- in the last year.

In the BA case, they correctly informed me that I only had a one bag allowance and weighed my second bag (10kg) When she then insisted on weighing my brief case and declaring that 2kg over its allowance I not impressed at all.
Still she was only following orders I suppose.

Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance. Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.... but then again BA are a disgrace....

[pushthebutton]

Kenty said:

Update, we went to check in and changed seats without a murmur, three seats between the two of us on a half full plane.

I've just seen this; so, effectively, if you want to change seats ahead of time on a HBO fare there's a fee, but the check-in agents have the discretion to sit you together on the day if there's availability?

Seems like a massive win to me given the convenience of the flight; almost two extra days on holiday; the cheaper cost of getting to Heathrow for the OP and free drinks/snacks on board; plus seating together if possible. All of this at a overall revenue to BA less than their competitors would have received.

I most definitely accept that people will have many many genuine examples where they have been let down, over-charged, disappointed etc., but this isn't one.

It's obvious by now that BA is my employer, but I don't think any of the above is incorrect. In this one example the thread title now seems just a little on the strong side.

@verybritishproblems

[so called]

My gripe with BA is with their excess baggage charging policy which I think is absolutely bonkers.
Plenty of people love BA and I regularly hear good comments about them from colleagues.
Non of them are perfect, some have better food, nicer seats etc.

[pushthebutton]

so called said:

My gripe with BA is with their excess baggage charging policy which I think is absolutely bonkers.
Plenty of people love BA and I regularly hear good comments about them from colleagues.
Non of them are perfect, some have better food, nicer seats etc.

This one:

British Airways said:

Overweight Baggage Fees

Bags between 51-70lbs (23-32kgs) departing from the US: $60
Bags between 51-70lbs (23-32kgs) departing from all other locations: £40 or local equivalent at check-in

Any single bag weighing over 70 lbs/32 kg will not be accepted and must be shipped separately as freight or cargo.

[GT03ROB]

so called said:

My gripe with BA is with their excess baggage charging policy which I think is absolutely bonkers.

so called said:

I have avoided BA for the past 12 years and with over 150 intercontinental Business Class return trips in that time. So, Star Alliance it continues to be.

GT03ROB said:

Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance.

Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.

???? What am I missing ????

[docter fox]

pushthebutton said:

It's obvious by now that BA is my employer

Do you have a silver SLK with a PH sticker on the back?

[pushthebutton]

docter fox said:

Do you have a silver SLK with a PH sticker on the back?

No.

No stickers for me. It helps protect against reprisals

[//j17]

iphonedyou said:

The final straw was a weekend flight home that saw a five to six hour delay due to a runway emergency brake that necessitated a tyre inspection

The bds! How dare they take the time to make sure the aircraft was safe for you to fly in, rather than just getting you to your destination on time, just maybe dead due to a blow-out on touchdown.

[so called]

GT03ROB said:

so called said:

My gripe with BA is with their excess baggage charging policy which I think is absolutely bonkers.

so called said:

I have avoided BA for the past 12 years and with over 150 intercontinental Business Class return trips in that time. So, Star Alliance it continues to be.

GT03ROB said:

Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance.

Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.

???? What am I missing ????

OK, I had been flying short hall regularly with BA on economy. after years of flights, I was still 'Blue'.
When the €373,- excess charge hit me, I was just starting the job I do now which involves copious amounts of Business class travel to North America and India.
So at that time I " stuff BA" and started using Lufthansa and Air France/KLM. I very quickly got Gold with both and so it was better for any of my private flights to my status airlines.
Several years later I had to use BA again to make a connection and got hit with the exact same charge of €373,-
It just reminded me that my earlier decision was the right one.

Yes, if I had started the business class flights with BA I would have quickly made gold but I had already soured to them and it was too late.

Hope that makes it clear.

[docter fox]

pushthebutton said:

No stickers for me. It helps protect against reprisals

Good move, there must be another one lurking here somewhere, it's often in the waterside car park...

[Welshbeef]

GT03ROB said:

Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance. Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.... but then again BA are a disgrace....

Even Euro club you get 2x 23kg and even then go above that within reason they don't bat an eyelid.



How do you get 50kg of luggage into a vehicle?

[NailedOn]

Welshbeef said:

GT03ROB said:

Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance. Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.... but then again BA are a disgrace....

Even Euro club you get 2x 23kg and even then go above that within reason they don't bat an eyelid.



How do you get 50kg of luggage into a vehicle?

He is, of course, a powerfully built company director with a massive V8 shooting brake!

[so called]

Welshbeef said:

Even Euro club you get 2x 23kg and even then go above that within reason they don't bat an eyelid.



How do you get 50kg of luggage into a vehicle?

Two cases, open the boot, bobs your uncle.

[pushthebutton]

so called said:

OK, I had been flying short hall regularly with BA on economy. after years of flights, I was still 'Blue'.
When the €373,- excess charge hit me, I was just starting the job I do now which involves copious amounts of Business class travel to North America and India.
So at that time I " stuff BA" and started using Lufthansa and Air France/KLM. I very quickly got Gold with both and so it was better for any of my private flights to my status airlines.
Several years later I had to use BA again to make a connection and got hit with the exact same charge of €373,-
It just reminded me that my earlier decision was the right one.

BA's change from £/kg to a flat fee occurred on 13th February 2007 as far as I can tell. Your "several years later" must have been before this date so I guess we're talking early 2000s when you started the job you do now and sometime before 2007 when you last checked.

To make Bronze now you'd need 300 tier points or 25 BA flight per year: a quick Google suggest about 40 tier points for a SH return to Paris or Amsterdam in World Traveler (Economy). On that basis you'd Bronze after 8 SH return flights in a year. I accept that I could be wrong on those figures as I know there have been changes to the Executive Club recently.

You'll note that I have some time on my hands today so apologies for my persistence, but I think that the situation has moved on quite a bit since you last checked. That said, I totally respect your decision to stay with Star Alliance.

[pushthebutton]

swerni said:

pushthebutton said:

docter fox said:

Do you have a silver SLK with a PH sticker on the back?

No.

No stickers for me. It helps protect against reprisals

Can I have a another free upgrade please?

Yes and thank you for your repeat custom

[iphonedyou]

pushthebutton said:

When was that? The scheduled Calgary flight has been out of Heathrow for the last few years I think. Was it a ski charter?

Would have been about seven years ago now. It was for skiing, though it wasn't a charter - a whole other story there, regarding the Ethiopian pilgrim flight that connected in with us.

To be fair it's possible it was Heathrow, I don't fully recall.

[iphonedyou]

//j17 said:

The bds! How dare they take the time to make sure the aircraft was safe for you to fly in, rather than just getting you to your destination on time, just maybe dead due to a blow-out on touchdown.

And yet, in the very next sentence you failed to quote, I said it wasn't their fault. Then, in the following sentence, I stated the issue was their lackadaisical apology for a litany of flight issues we had with them.

But that's less fun than having a go. Probably.