New British Airways Check Baggage Policy

Checked baggage updates straight from British Airways; changes affect those flying to destinations in Africa from the USA. Visit our Safari Shop for our top recommendations on bags to take on safari--remember to pack light as most camps and lodges have laundry services available!

New Policy:
"British Airways will make changes to its free checked baggage allowances and baggage charges, effective October 7, 2009.

Checked baggage allowance changes:
Customers travelling in the World Traveller economy cabin to and from the USA, Canada, Bermuda, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean will now have a one bag free allowance of 51lbs.(23kgs).

The changes will affect customers booking from October 7, 2009 for travel from this date. Customers with existing bookings or new bookings up to and including October 6, 2009, for travel anytime, will be unaffected and the current two-piece free allowance and existing charges will remain.

Customers travelling in First, Club World, Club Europe, and World Traveller Plus, in addition to Gold and Silver Executive Club members travelling in World Traveller, will retain their existing cabin allowance.

Sporting equipment allowance changes:
For new bookings made from July 31, 2009 for travel from October 7, 2009 British Airways will no longer accept sporting equipment free of charge in addition to the free allowance. This applies to customers in all cabins. Customers with existing bookings made and ticketed before July 31, 2009 for travel after October 7, 2009 will be able to check in one item of sporting equipment in addition to their free cabin allowance if they present their original receipt when they check in at the airport.

For full details including a chart highlighting the changes and new baggage charges please visit batraveltrade.com/baggage

We are making these changes to align the allowances for the USA, Canada, Bermuda, Argentina, Mexico and the Caribbean to the rest of the world where we are currently allowing one free bag of up to 51lbs. (23kgs). We have carefully monitored customer trends on these flights and the vast majority choose to travel with one checked bag. Maintaining the two-bag allowance on flights to and from Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and connecting journeys between India and the USA, Canada and Bermuda reflects customer behavior on these routes as well as local regulatory requirements.

We still provide a very generous hand baggage allowance, and in addition we are offering significant savings for excess baggage fees purchased online.

The changes to the baggage allowances are part of a package of measures we are implementing to address the economic downturn and to better reflect changing customer trends. The changes also bring additional benefits as the reduced aircraft weight allows us to save fuel and lessen our impact on the environment."