BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 Nov 07

[Mal]

British Airways - Sporting Equipment

Sporting equipment we do not carry (effective from 6 November 2007)

Due to the large size and handling complexities, some sporting equipment cannot be accommodated through the airport baggage system or within the aircraft hold. Therefore we no longer accept the following equipment at check-in as part of your sporting equipment allowance.

* hang gliders
* windsurfing boards and sails
* surfboards
* kayaks or canoes
* pole vaults
* javelins

Please contact your local freight company to arrange carriage for any items that exceed the permitted weight and size.

 

[pauly7]

First LCC style baggage weight restrictions now this (being an avid surfer im glad I don't fly BA anyway!)... next BA will no longer carry passengers!

 

[Dave Noble]

First LCC style baggage weight restrictions now this (being an avid surfer im glad I don't fly BA anyway!)... next BA will no longer carry passengers!

Umm, what LCC style baggag restrictions; BA's luggage allowance is > than QFs

Dave

 

[BlacKnox]

First LCC style baggage weight restrictions now this (being an avid surfer im glad I don't fly BA anyway!)... next BA will no longer carry passengers!

Irrespective of the confusion, this comment still generates a .

 

[Gazza]

Dont fly BA (for recreation) but this blows.

They need to get their heads around the fact that not all high value flyers are into more sedate sports (such as golf).

Gazza

 

[NYCguy]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

Dont fly BA (for recreation) but this blows.

They need to get their heads around the fact that not all high value flyers are into more sedate sports (such as golf).

Gazza

They probably considered that anyone who can afford to park themselves in Club World or First to go on a surfing/hang-gliding/base-jumping trip wouldn't bat an eyelid at the cost of forwarding their equipment via a freight carrier.

Then there is the added convenience of having your equipment delivered to your lodging, rather than having to line up at the "oversized" window to collect it in the arrivals hall.

 

[Gazza]

I think you are kinda missing the point.

The days when everyone in F/J was called Nigel, went to Eaton, loves golf are history.

As well as people who have a background (from younger better looking days)in adventure sports (such as surfing) and have moved up the corporate ladder (and thus justify J/F flights) a whole lot of Nigels are trying new sports.

Apologies to anyone called Nigel.

Gazza

 

[simongr]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

I think NYC guy does get the point - and his point is that if you canafford to fly F/J then you can afford to forward this sort of gear. There is a big diference between a surfboard and a set of golf club and the javellinsmay be an OHS issue?

 

[Gazza]

What I am talking about here is say you are travelling to Thailand on Business (in Business) but tapping on a couple of days to go wind-surfing.

BA will now miss out because I would just go with another airline that allows me to check in all of my gear rather than the half I need for business.

If they are going to ditch the surfboards and kayaks they will (if everyone accepts it) ditch the golf clubs and snow boards

Gazza

 

[Dave Noble]

I suspect that BA has done an analysis of the number of these items being taken and by which class et al before making this decision

Assumedly, BA has figured that the problem of the bulkiness of these items exceeds the loss of revenue from some passengers going to another carrier

There are plenty of airlines in the world

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Apart from surfboards I wouldn't expect the other sporting equipment no longer carried to affect a significant amount of passengers.

At least they still carry golf equipment, for now anyway.

 

[Mal]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

Apart from surfboards I wouldn't expect the other sporting equipment no longer carried to affect a significant amount of passengers.

Yeah Surfboards are the big one out of those goods mentioned.

Although, they may introduce charges for Golf Bags, Dive Gear, Tennis racquets and who knows what other sporting items!

 

[littl_flier]

Umm, what LCC style baggag restrictions; BA's luggage allowance is > than QFs

Dave

The only exception to this is on USA flights (and they don't compete on these) where QF allows 2 x 32kg's whereas BA offer 2 x 23kg's. For all other flights BA is better than QF, particularly Europe flights where the J & F allowance is significantly greater than QF. Even in whY on European flights, it's an extra 3kgs, can be handy!

(so essentially on a LONE4, it's 2 x 32kg with QF and 2 x 23 with BA)

pauly7, there is some more info here: British Airways - Checked baggage

 

[JG1]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

I think I must be the only thrilled with this news.

The more the airlines continue to alienate their loyal passengers with perpetually increasing luggage restrictions the more luggage delivery services start to become a popular alternative.

It is always, without fail, BA to get the ball rolling. Now I do not expect them to restrict golf clubs, but they will become more expensive to transport. And it won't be long before the other airlines to follow suit. They generally let BA take all negative press and flak and then quitely implement exactly the same policies.

 

[Dave Noble]

The only exception to this is on USA flights (and they don't compete on these) where QF allows 2 x 32kg's whereas BA offer 2 x 23kg's. For all other flights BA is better than QF, particularly Europe flights where the J & F allowance is significantly greater than QF. Even in whY on European flights, it's an extra 3kgs, can be handy!

(so essentially on a LONE4, it's 2 x 32kg with QF and 2 x 23 with BA)

pauly7, there is some more info here: British Airways - Checked baggage

Actually BA is still taking 2x32Kg and will be until November 2008 at which point they will be introducing a GBP25 fee for 23-32Kg

Dave

 

[NM]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

BA's biggest markets are UK people travelling abroad and people visiting the UK. OK, they do carry through the UK to/from other origins and destinations as well.

How many egglish people actually know how to surf and own a surfboard?

How many serious surfers who want to travel with their own boards will actually find suitable surf in the UK?

 

[simongr]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

Umm a little disrespectful there NM - there are a few surfers in the UK - forced due to the god awful weather conditions to potentially be a little more hard core and determined than Oz surfers popping out when it is 27 degrees...

Surf-uk,Surf Forecasts, Reports and Surfcams for the uk & IrelandAlso tide & weather

The British Surfing Association Official Website - International Surfing Centre Fistral Beach Newquay Cornwall

The UK Surf Index - since 1996

I agree that this will probably not going to impact that many UK people - but if that is the case then can it really be costing BA that much....

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

I agree that this will probably not going to impact that many UK people - but if that is the case then can it really be costing BA that much....

It isn't just surf boards ( which seems to be where people seem to be focusing on) but also other items which are also large sizes such as canoes and windsurfers

There may be only a smallish number, but perhaps the handling of these odd/large shaped items is difficult and they want to minimise manual handling as they start playing musical terminals and moving to T5 at LHR

Dave

 

[NM]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

Umm a little disrespectful there NM - there are a few surfers in the UK - forced due to the god awful weather conditions to potentially be a little more hard core and determined than Oz surfers popping out when it is 27 degrees...

The important word has been highlighted by me

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: BA to no longer carry surfboards (and certain other sporting equipment)after 6 No

The important word has been highlighted by me

Eggland has a lot more people than Oz so may have a reasonable number of serious surfers compared to Oz

Dave