BA's new luggage policy- no bags over 50 lbs accepted

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bgpolicy/public/en_gb

Basically, as of 13 February 2007 any checked luggage on a British Airways flight cannot weigh more than 50 lbs.  There are no overweight charges anymore....they simply won't accept the bag.

If you have more than your allotted number of bags (2 if you're traveling to/from the US), then the price per extra bag is £120 for a long-haul flight 

Just FYI...BA might not be a good choice for moving over if you're looking to save some money on shipping and bring stuff over as excess baggage.

Ouch! I am glad I don't fly them anymore. Continental is still the best in my opinion when it comes to baggage and excess. They are pretty reasonable and allow more than most

I knew this was coming - I just wasn't sure when. What a drag. I always struggled to make the weight limit as it was. I stand no chance now! Now I wish I had an AmEx connected to Virgin rather than to BA. 

I knew this was coming - I just wasn't sure when. What a drag. I always struggled to make the weight limit as it was. I stand no chance now! Now I wish I had an AmEx connected to Virgin rather than to BA. 

Amex are pretty good about switching. I switched one of mine with no issues last year.

Amex are pretty good about switching. I switched one of mine with no issues last year.

You did?? Mine even has the BA logo on the card itself.... I'd seriously switch if possible 'cause we've had a couple of bad flights with BA recently anyway.

Yeah...switch if you can!  I had a bag over 50 lb and not an eye was batted (it wasn't over by much, but it was over)...and if you go over (up to a certain amount) then it's only 35 quid per bag, which is not bad (and I'm counting on it for my wedding!).

You did?? Mine even has the BA logo on the card itself.... I'd seriously switch if possible 'cause we've had a couple of bad flights with BA recently anyway.

They issued a new card, but yes. It was very easy.

Liane~ This is a new policy going into effect 13 Feb. Did you already book with BA?

Welp - I'm flying back on Virgin and my bags are definitely over 
(they have this policy now - 23k/50lbs. and 32k/70lbs for Upper Class - which I am NOT flying, sadly!)... so if you're in economy/premium economy and the bag weighs between those two numbers, they charge you GBP20/USD35 per bag... looks like I might be paying $70 today
Let's hope that's the worst of it.

BA wanted to change to the new 50lb policy back in the early autumn but delayed it due to the terror threat and all the upheaval it caused.

I am bummed about it because we always come back to the UK with 4 pieces of luggage at the old max of 70lbs. I am fed up with BA (you don't even get air miles when flying coach (well do you but something like only 900 miles for a return, its a pointless amount). Unfortunately I just went onto travel search site and no other airline flies directly into my home city so it looks like we have to stick with them because I can not do a connecting flight since 8 hrs (sitting in economy) to the east coast is already enough for me. A possible layover and another leg on the trip would put me over the edge.

Im so bummed about this too since I also come home with max weight/bags.  I do love BA however, and I refuse to fly Virgin again.  And like you Jules, no way can I do a connecting flight!  Ten hours to SF is bad enough! 

... looks like I might be paying $70 today
Let's hope that's the worst of it.

My biggest suitcase weighs 15 lbs before I put anything in it. 

Yeah Jennredd, I really like BA too....just aggravated!  

Another reason for this is because when we were flying back recently I check us in online and when we got to the airport I asked for emergency row seats...the woman checking us in did it for us but she said starting that next Monday that they were taking away the check in folks ability to move people to different seats if they had already checked in online. So I thought gosh, do we just take our chances and not check in before we get to the airport because I want a chance to get a better seat!  

My biggest suitcase weighs 15 lbs before I put anything in it. 

Mine's really heavy, too. I think it's because of the metal bars that form the wheeling mechanism. They weigh a ton!

Well, fingers crossed... one bag is over, the other is not... and I'm going early to see if they'll give me an exit/emergency row seat (please god!).

I had a roll-on once that weighed 15 lbs. empty that I thought I could take onboard - fortunately the guy took pity on me after I tried re-packing it three times and didn't charge me to check it as an extra bag.

See ya on the other side!

DH and I came back on Wednesday with cases that weighed exactly 50lbs, I frankly can't imagine taking anymore back they were so heavy. 100lbs is quite a lot and I'd suggest getting a duffle bag (a simple one from REI that weighs mere ounces) and a really lightweight case. We invested in a pair of light weight, hard sided Samsonite cases that I found on sale for $70 each online. Another thing to consider would be using a sturdy cardboard box, or even a plastic one that you can tape up.