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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BA boss defiant over bag charges | BA boss defiant over bag charges |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has said he will not back down over plans to bring in charges for people wanting to check in extra bags. | British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has said he will not back down over plans to bring in charges for people wanting to check in extra bags. |
| The airline has caused controversy by deciding to introduce charges of up to £240 for a second piece of luggage on a long-haul return flight. | The airline has caused controversy by deciding to introduce charges of up to £240 for a second piece of luggage on a long-haul return flight. |
| Mr Walsh said the move would affect 2% of British Airways (BA) passengers. | Mr Walsh said the move would affect 2% of British Airways (BA) passengers. |
| Help the Aged has said the charges would hit elderly passengers who are unable to carry one large bag. | Help the Aged has said the charges would hit elderly passengers who are unable to carry one large bag. |
| Customers have previously been allowed to check in more than one bag as long as they did not exceed weight restrictions. | Customers have previously been allowed to check in more than one bag as long as they did not exceed weight restrictions. |
| 'Not a big issue' | 'Not a big issue' |
| In an interview for BBC Radio 4's The Bottom Line, to be broadcast at 1730 GMT on Saturday, Mr Walsh said: "A policy of charging for excess baggage has existed in the airline industry since the Wright brothers, and we're not changing that. | In an interview for BBC Radio 4's The Bottom Line, to be broadcast at 1730 GMT on Saturday, Mr Walsh said: "A policy of charging for excess baggage has existed in the airline industry since the Wright brothers, and we're not changing that. |
| "All we're changing is the approach. We reckon this will apply to less than 2% of the people flying with us. So it's not as big an issue as people are making it out to be." | "All we're changing is the approach. We reckon this will apply to less than 2% of the people flying with us. So it's not as big an issue as people are making it out to be." |
| From Tuesday, 13 February, fees will be imposed even if the combined weight of a passenger's bags is below the allowance. | From Tuesday, 13 February, fees will be imposed even if the combined weight of a passenger's bags is below the allowance. |
| Those wanting to check-in an extra bag for a short return international flight face a charge of £120 and those on domestic journeys, £60. | Those wanting to check-in an extra bag for a short return international flight face a charge of £120 and those on domestic journeys, £60. |
| Passengers will be able to carry one piece of sporting equipment free of charge in addition to their baggage allowance. | |
| Exemptions | Exemptions |
| From 30 September, the maximum weight of a bag that can be checked-in free of charge will be 23kg. | |
| First and Club World class passengers will be allowed to check-in three bags up to 23kg each for free. Club Europe and World Traveller Plus passengers will be allowed two. | |
| The new charges have provoked outrage at Help the Aged which said the fees raised "serious issues" for older travellers. | The new charges have provoked outrage at Help the Aged which said the fees raised "serious issues" for older travellers. |
| A spokesman told the Daily Telegraph: "For many older people, it is important that they can travel independently. But many will not be able to manage one bag." | A spokesman told the Daily Telegraph: "For many older people, it is important that they can travel independently. But many will not be able to manage one bag." |
| BA has said passengers unable to carry one bag would be exempt from the fees but it did not say how people would be assessed. | BA has said passengers unable to carry one bag would be exempt from the fees but it did not say how people would be assessed. |
| "Where it is clear that a passenger cannot manage one bag, we will let them check in an additional bag, or more, provided the total weight is within the 23kg limit," a spokesman said. | "Where it is clear that a passenger cannot manage one bag, we will let them check in an additional bag, or more, provided the total weight is within the 23kg limit," a spokesman said. |