BA to charge £240 for checking in more than one bag

From Tuesday most passengers will be able to stow only one item weighing no more than 23kg in the aircraft's hold.

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In some cases it will be cheaper to buy an extra seat - and the baggage allowance that goes with it - than to pay the surcharge.

The £240 fee applies to those checking in extra bags or exceeding the weight limit on long-haul economy flights. The levy for European flights is £120 and for UK routes £60.

Critics accused the airline of cashing in by stealth because most customers would become aware of the new rules only at the check-in desk.

A BA spokesman said the system would be simpler and that most passengers would gain.

"In the vast majority of instances, the new policy will be cheaper or comparable for customers who wish to fly with excess baggage on top of their free allowances," he added.

A passenger with too much baggage can avoid the excess charge only by passing items to a fellow traveller or taking them on board as hand luggage.

The main effect of the change is to restrict the amount of bags that can be checked in for economy class.

The 23kg weight allowance is unchanged for economy fliers except for domestic routes where it has been cut from 32kg.

Passengers with first class, club class or world traveller plus tickets will generally see their weight restrictions raised but their bag check in one bag for an infant plus a collapsible buggy and a car seat free of charge in all classes on all routes.

Passengers will be able to carry one piece of sporting equipment on to the plane as well stowing one bag in the hold.

Experts say travellers might be able to bypass the rules by putting their excess luggage in a golf bag.

The rule change does not apply to flights to the U.S., Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico. Passengers will still be able to check in two bags weighing 23kg each.

Those in first or club world will be able to check in three bags.

Charities attacked the charges yesterday. A Help the Aged spokesman said: "This raises serious issues for older travellers.

"For many older people it is important that they can travel independently-But many will not be able to manage one bag."

A BA 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."

He said the airline's allowances were among the most generous in the aviation industry.

Sales staff were told not to volunteer the information to customers booking tickets unless they were specifically asked about baggage policy.

To give passengers time to get used to the changes, the 32kg limit will remain in place until September 30.