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British Airways Baggage Allowance

British Airways is a UK-based airline which operates mostly across European countries. With the main hubs at Heathrow, British Airways is ranked second by passenger traffic in the United Kingdom and part of Oneworld and International Airlines Group.

The air carrier is well-known for high-class customer service and numerous loyalty programs that allow passengers to earn bonuses and benefits on miles. The air company is pretty loyal in matters of baggage carriage too. British Airways baggage allowance permits customers to take all the essentials they need to feel at ease on board. All classes envisage additional baggage allowance that enables a passenger to transport more baggage than standard BA baggage allowance establishes by default.

British Airways Hand Luggage

British Airways Hand Luggage
Each airline sets its own cabin luggage rules that determine the size, weight, and a number of bags permitted on a specific flight.

Hand Luggage Size

According to British Airways hand luggage norms, all domestic and international passengers have to stick with the following cabin luggage allowance that is applicable irrespective of a passenger’s class and ticket price.

Adult and minor passengers are permitted to have carry-on luggage limited to:

  • 1 handbag / laptop bag with a maximum weight of 23 kg / 51 pounds and maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 cm;
  • 1 extra carry-on bag with a maximum weight of 23 kg / 51 pounds with size limit of 56 x 45 x 25 см.

Children under the age of 2 are allowed to have the following:

  • 1 carry-on bag for items which can be necessary on board should be maximum weight of 23 kg and maximum dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25 cm.

Details

  • Your baggage must fit the size of the check-in counter with no handle, wheels, or pockets coming out.
  • Each piece of baggage must comply with the weight limit. You cannot have a few bags with a total weight of 23 kg.
  • British Airways hand luggage regulations require a passenger to be able to lift and place their bag in a corresponding compartment by themselves.
  • Handbags and laptop bags are normally allowed to carry on board.
  • When there are more passengers than expected, extra carry-on bags are not permitted to have on board, so you can be asked to check it as regular baggage. But in that case, see to it that your bag does not contain any valuable items and drugs.
  • All items purchased within the airport, including duty-free shops, are considered part of cabin baggage. In the event that you exceed the BA hand luggage limit, excess baggage must be checked.
  • If your cabin baggage is not compliant with BA hand luggage allowance, overweight baggage must be checked at the Bag Drop desk or the departure gate. Keep in mind that you must pay extra for each piece of overweight baggage.

British Airways hand baggage allowance

On-board Luggage Storage

Each piece of luggage has a bag tag. Whether a handbag or laptop bag, it gets a yellow baggage tag indicating that you can safely carry it with you. The location of cabin baggage depends on airline classes. Basically, you should place your hand luggage under the seat in front of you. However, if you are flying First Class, Club World, or Club World London City, hand luggage must be located in a compartment over your head. Likewise, you should do it when you have a bulkhead seat or a set next to the exit. Extra carry-on baggage must be also stored in a compartment overhead.

Which items to carry on board?

You should consider only those things that you are going to really need in flight. Nonetheless, there is a long set of restrictions on what passengers are allowed to store in their cabin luggage. You should be prepared that airport officials can check your bags at any time. They can also ask you to turn on your on-board devices like tablets, laptops, and phones to make sure they are not a threat to people on board.

Based on the BA baggage allowance rules, all items in hand luggage must not be packaged. This is why you should avoid travelling with gifts wrapped in paper. Airport officials will make you unwrap all presents to ensure that you have nothing dangerous in your bag.

British Airways Checked Baggage

British Airways Checked Baggage

British Airways carry on luggage standards vary depending on your status in airline loyalty programs. If you are not a frequent flyer, lots of bonuses and privileges remain unavailable to you. The simplest economy-class establishes the following limitations:

  • Passengers on a round-trip flight between London and Doha are allowed to carry on luggage with a maximum weight of 32 kg.
  • Passengers on a round-trip flight to Japan can have two suitcases, each weighing 23 kg.
  • Passengers on connecting flights from Saudi Arabia to the USA, Bermuda, Canada, and connecting flights from India to the USA, Bermuda, Canada are permitted to occupy 2 seats with 23 kg each.
  • Passengers on round-trip flights to Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Brazil, and the Republic of Sierra Leone are allowed to occupy 2 seats with 23 kg each.

Some airline fares like Basic allow carrying no baggage but hand luggage only. If you turn out to have some baggage on such a flight, you will have to pay for extra baggage. Besides, you can use the BA online calculator to know beforehand how much you will be charged at the airport.

Premium economy class allows taking 2 suitcases weighing 23 kg each.

Business and first-class envisage 2 seats with 23 kg each.

The BA cabin bag size is 90 x 75 x 43 cm.

Extra and overweight baggage

BA hold luggage allowance varies for all classes and airline fares, but if you exceed the limit of allowed luggage, you will be required to pay for excess baggage at a fixed rate.

Likewise, a passenger with overweight baggage will pay British Airways baggage fees. Overweight baggage between 23 and 32 kg (51 and 70 pounds) results in extra 65 GBP / 75 EUR / 100 USD / 100 CAD a traveller has to pay.

Items prohibited to transportation

British Airways items prohibited to transportation

British Airways baggage allowance forbids transporting all items that may undermine flight safety. The following items are normally prohibited to put into carry-on luggage.

  • Firearms and ammunition. This kind of stuff can be carried only in checked baggage on condition that a passenger has a corresponding license. However, a list of units that are permitted to carry in checked baggage without a permit. These are laser pistols, bows, crossbows, arrows, harpoons, spear guns, slingshots, and catapults.
  • Explosives and flammables are permitted under no circumstances.
  • Chemical, toxic, and aggressive substances are all forbidden to transport. If you accidentally forgot to take a bleach or insecticide out of your bag, you are unlikely to get on a plane.
  • Devices designed to stun or immobilize, like pepper sprays, are prohibited on board.
  • Sharp and blunt objects that can be used to inflict injuries can be transported only as part of checked baggage.
  • Other prohibited items include attaché cases, safes, cash boxes, and other bags that contain hazardous substances like galvanic cells or pyrotechnic materials.

Keep in mind that airport officials have the right to confiscate any object that looks suspicious and suited to be used as a tool for inflicting injuries on an individual or for threatening flight safety.

With regard to all of the above, you should plan carefully which things to pack in your baggage and which things to keep in hand luggage. The correct choice and storage of your belongings will help you pass security control quickly and painlessly.

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