British Airways Baggage Allowance and Policy

If you’re planning to travel to or from the United States with British Airways, it’s important to be aware of the airline’s baggage policy. This is especially important with this particular airline as it does things a little differently compared to most other non-U.S. carriers.

This post will describe British Airways’ carry-on and checked baggage rules, allowances, and limits. We will also cover the baggage fees you should expect if you decide to buy extra bags. If you plan to travel with sports equipment or musical instruments, we’ll explain what you need to be aware of, to avoid any surprises when you arrive at the airport.

Carry On Baggage Policy

Let’s begin with British Airways’ carry-on baggage policy.

Carry On Baggage Allowance

British Airways allows one carry-on bag and one personal item. This carry-on baggage allowance is included with all cabin classes and ticket types.

Personal Item

Size Limit

Your personal item can be no larger than 16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 centimeters).

Weight Limit

Your personal item must weigh no more than 51 pounds (23 kilograms).

The personal item must be able to fit under the seat in front of you.

Typical personal items include:

• A handbag
• Laptop bag
• Small backpack

Your personal item is guaranteed to be able to stay with you in the cabin if it’s within the abovementioned size and weight limits. The reason why I mention this is because there is a chance that your carry-on bag may be gate checked. But more on that later.

Carry On Bag Allowance

Size Limit

Your carry-on bag can’t be any larger than 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 centimeters). It’s important to note that these dimensions include any handles, wheels, or straps on the bags.

Weight Limit

Your carry-on bag must weigh no more than 51 pounds (23 kilograms).

Your carry-on bag should be able to fit in the overhead bins. You should be able to lift it into the overhead bin unassisted.

Typical carry-on bags include:

• A small suitcase
• Duffel bag
• Large backpack

As mentioned earlier, there is a possibility that your carry-on bag could be gate checked. This is not surprising, given the generous carry-on baggage weight allowance of 51 pounds for each item. Many other non-U.S. carriers impose a carry-on weight limit of 15 pounds for the combined weight of your personal item and carry-on bag.

Also, if your carry-on bag or personal item exceeds the size and/or weight limits, the airline could require the piece of baggage to be checked as checked baggage. In this instance, you would be subject to a checked bag fee.

Hot Tip: You can plan for the possibility of your carry-on bag being checked by packing essential, valuable, and fragile items in your personal item. That way, you won’t have to quickly try to rearrange your belongings before giving up your carry-on bag.

Standard Checked Bags

Checked Bag Size Limit

Each standard checked bag can be up to 35 x 30 x 17 inches (90 x 75 x 43 centimeters) in size.

This differs to the baggage limit of most other airlines. Typically, airlines express the size limit of checked baggage in linear inches, which is the total of your bag’s length, width, and height. However, British Airways has taken a different approach. The airline imposes limits for each dimension (length, width, and height). This could exclude luggage which is not in a conventional rectangular shape.

Checked bags larger than this limit may be charged an oversized fee. British Airways won’t accept checked bags greater than 75 x 37.5 x 25.5 inches (190 x 95 x 65 centimeters).

Checked Bag Weight Limit

The maximum weight for each standard checked bag is 51 pounds (23 kilograms). If your bag weighs more than 51 pounds, it will be subject to an overweight fee. British Airways won’t accept checked bags weighing more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms).

Checked Baggage Allowance

Depending on the ticket bought, your fare may include checked bags:

Checked Baggage Fees

If your ticket doesn’t include checked baggage, or you want to purchase extra luggage, you can buy extra bags. The fee depends on your journey’s point of origin. You can save some cash by buying your bags online before you reach the airport.

The fees are charged in the currency of your trip’s point of origin.

The same currency applies for return flights. For example, if you’ve booked a return trip from the U.S. to the U.K., your checked bags will be charged in U.S. dollars for both flights.

Baggage Fees for Flights from the U.S.

Checked baggage fees for flights from the U.S. are charged in U.S. dollars.

Baggage Fees for Flights from U.K. to U.S.

Baggage fees for flights from U.K. to U.S. are charged in British pounds.

Baggage Fees for Flights from Europe to U.S.

Baggage fees for flights from Europe to U.S. are charged in euros.

Baggage Fees for Flights from Canada to U.S.

Baggage fees for flights from Canada to U.S. are charged in Canadian dollars.

Baggage Fees for All Other Destinations

If you’re flying from a country not covered by the tables above, you will be charged as per the U.K. fees, converted to the local currency.

Oversized Baggage Fees

If your checked bag is larger than 35 x 30 x 17 inches, British Airways requires that you check the item at the oversized bag counter at least 90 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure. The airline doesn’t specify if there will be an oversized bag fee payable.

The airline won’t accept oversized bags that exceed 75 x 37.5 x 25.5 inches (190 x 95 x 65 centimeters).

Overweight Baggage Fees

If your checked bag weighs more than 51 pounds (23 kilograms), it will be subject to an overweight charge. The fee payable depends on your journey’s point of origin:

All other countries are charged the U.K. fee converted to the local currency.

Sports Equipment

Sports Equipment in Carry On Baggage

You can bring sports equipment on board as part of your carry-on baggage allowance if it’s within the size and weight limits and not a restricted item. For example, golf clubs and baseball bats aren’t allowed as carry-on baggage as they can be used as improvised weapons.

Sports Equipment in Checked Baggage

In general, you can bring sports equipment as part of your checked baggage allowance if it’s not a restricted item. For example, electric scooters and hoverboards are not permitted as checked baggage.

British Airways requires that you provide notice of your intent to travel with certain types of sports equipment in checked baggage:

Bicycles in Checked Baggage

You are permitted to check a non-motorized bike as checked baggage as long as its no larger than 75 x 37.5 x 25.5 inches (190 x 95 x 65 centimeters). It will have to be packed in a protective bike bag, case, or box to be accepted at check-in.

British Airways requires that you inform them of your intent to bring a bike as checked baggage at least 72 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure. You will need to advise the airline of your packed bike’s size and, if possible, its weight.

Diving Equipment in Checked Baggage

If you are traveling with diving equipment, you need to ensure that cylinder tanks are empty and open, so that they can be inspected at check-in.

If you intend to bring a diving lamp, you’ll need to contact British Airways at least 24 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure.

Musical Instruments

British Airways accepts musical instruments as carry-on if it’s enclosed in a protective case. The airline recommends that you use a hard-sided case to provide adequate protection to your fragile instrument.

However, if you plan to check your musical instrument as checked baggage, it must be packed in a hard-sided case.

When taking measurements or weighing the musical instrument, it must be done when packed in its protective case.

Musical Instruments in Carry On Baggage

You can bring a musical instrument on board as your carry-on bag if its case is no larger than 31 x 18 x 10 inches (80 x 45 x 25 centimeters). You will also be allowed to bring a personal item into the cabin.

Buying a Seat for Your Musical Instrument

If your musical instrument is larger than 31 x 18 x 10 inches but no greater than 55 x 20 x 16 inches (140 x 50 x 40 centimeters), you can buy a seat to bring the item with you in the cabin.

Seats for musical instruments can’t be bought online. You will need to contact British Airways at least 24 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. Bear in mind that seats for this purpose are limited, so the airline recommends that you book as soon as possible.

Musical Instruments in Checked Baggage

As previously mentioned, British Airways will accept musical instruments as checked baggage only if it’s packed in a hard-sided case.

Musical instruments will be accepted as a standard checked bag if they are within the standard baggage size (35 x 30 x 17 inches) and weight (51 pounds) limits.

If your musical instrument exceeds these limits, you’ll have to contact British Airways to reserve a spot in the plane’s hold. If the instrument weighs more than 51 pounds, you may have to pay an overweight fee.

The airline can accommodate musical instruments weighing up to 99 pounds (45 kilograms).

Final Thoughts

As we mentioned throughout the post, British Airways does things a little differently with regards to its baggage policies.

Let’s begin with carry-on baggage. All tickets include a carry-on bag and personal item. Each item can weigh up to 51 pounds, which is much more than most non-U.S. carriers. However, given that you still need to adhere to the modest size limits for carry-on baggage, it could be difficult to take full advantage of the generous weight allowance. Not to mention, having to be able to lift your carry-on bag into the overhead bin unassisted.

Another barrier to taking advantage of the weight limit is if your trip includes flights with other airlines. A friend of mine had a flight from the Caribbean to the UK. on British Airways, and a connecting flight on Qatar outbound from the U.K., all on the one reservation. As the carry-on weight limit on Qatar Airways is only 15 pounds, she traveled with this amount of carry-on when boarding her British Airways flight, to avoid problems when boarding her connecting flight.

British Airways’ checked baggage allowance is also unconventional. The weight limit is standard at 51 pounds. However, the size limit is expressed as a specific limit for each dimension: 35 x 30 x 17 inches. Most other airlines have a size limit given in linear inches (usually 62 linear inches), where there is no explicit limit on any one dimension, but the total measurement can’t exceed a specific value.

If your checked bag is an unusual shape, it may be subject to an oversized fee or not accepted at all. If you aren’t sure if British Airways will accept your checked bag due to its unusual shape, I strongly advise that you contact the airline and, if approved, accept it in writing (an email). You can produce the email if there is an issue at check-in.

Remember to always check British Airways website or contact their customer service for the latest information on baggage allowances and fees.

Sources

• British Airways