Passengers urged to double check airline baggage policies
Passengers are being urged to double-check airline baggage policies before travelling to BAA airports once new government baggage rules come into effect today (Monday).
The one carry on bag restriction will be lifted at six of BAA’s seven UK airports, with Gatwick following in “early 2008”.
But a number of airlines will continue to restrict the number of bags which can be carried in to the cabin, the airports operator said.
British Airways said passengers flying through and out of Heathrow will be able to take two pieces of free hand baggage on board from today (January 7) but the one bag limit is remains in place at Gatwick.
BA commercial director Robert Boyle said: “This is great news for our customers at Heathrow and it’s something we’ve been lobbying for over the last year.
“It was a serious inconvenience for passengers and didn’t make sense because the UK was the only country to impose the restrictions.
“Now we want to see the restrictions lifted at Gatwick in line with other major UK airports as quickly as possible.
“We are working closely with the BAA and the DfT towards lifting the one-bag restriction as soon as possibly.”
A BAA spokesman said: “We will be helping to advertise the changes in government baggage restrictions at our airports, but it is important that passengers check with their airline before travelling as carriers have different policies governing the number of items of hand baggage which may be taken in to the aircraft cabin.
“To help passengers further, we will also be asking airlines to ensure that passengers clearly understand airline baggage policies at the check-in points, before they pass through security.”
Significant engineering works are underway at Gatwick, which will allow the restriction to be lifted in the “near future”.
As part of a phased approach, from January 7, passengers on connecting flights through Gatwick’s South Terminal will be able to travel with more than one piece of hand baggage if their airline allows. This will also apply for passengers on connecting flights only via the North Terminal from February 11, BAA said.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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