Virgin - new checked in baggage allowances

[SueC]

It looks like Virgin are bringing all their classes of travel into line - as from 23 September the baggage weight allowance drops to 23 kgs per piece. Those lucky people who travelled in Upper Class used to get 30kg! Also for all those ladies who have gone overboard shopping and need to buy another suitcase -yes I've done it too the excess charge for any additional case over your free allowed number is £90 or $150. We'll have to leave the credit cards at home! :(

[Steve]

I believe they changed it last year or earlier to 23kg from 32kg for the economy passengers Sue. This is really bringing the upper class and PE into line with the rest of us. As far I know you will still be allowed 2 x 23kg. This is supposedly to do with health and safety for the baggage handlers. So PE will get the same allowance as economy but upper will still get 3 x 23kg. So you will still be able to shop but not too much. <:widegrin

[ellie]

Virgin have only allowed 23k per suitcase for quite a long time, but guess they will now be extra vigilant about how much suitcases weigh. At least its not as bad as BA who are only going to allow you ONE suitcase at 23k for transatlantic flights. That is a real problem - especially as we always take so much over for our villa.:(

[Shirls]

This is an interesting debate and I can understand why the airlines are changing things. Most people who travel do only have one bag.

Whilst BA is cutting their US economy allowance to one bag, they are still allowing the silver or gold tiers of their frequent flyer scheme and those in WTplus two bags, or three in Club. The rest of us will have to pay £32/$48 per extra bag online if we want to take more. I guess they are trying to make bigger benefits to those paying so much more.

I think like the reduction in baggage weight, this change will come in with a discretion period and at least there is no weight restriction on hand baggage weight, those things that suck the air out, will come in quite handy!

Virgin seem to be hitting their upper class and PE passengers, so maybe their priority is filling their planes with economy passengers, who knows, I do wonder if they will change to one piece if they see it working at BA and the US airlines who have already adopted this policy.

[ellie]

There will be little to distinguish BA from the likes of Ryanair soon. I would suggest that the real reason behind this is simply to make more money out of their passengers.

Virgin Upper Class passengers are actually allowed 3 x 23k which seems reasonable, plus they are also continuing to allow people to bring surfboards, skis, golf bags or other sports equipment free.

[Shirls]

It is funny when you read posts on the forums. We all have our likes and dislikes, especially with airlines <:wink

[ellie]

It is funny when you read posts on the forums. We all have our likes and dislikes, especially with airlines <:wink

I can't say that I really have a preference for any particular airline. As long as they get me there safely then that is my main priority. We have flown with most of the American carriers as well as the British ones and to be honest, they are all much of a muchness.

All I know is that when I sit in the seat (even if it is a bit squashed, and the child behind me has already started kicking the back of my seat!) I get an enormous rush of excitement thinking about going to Florida! <:widegrin

Whatever it takes to get me across the pond and into my villa is OK by me! I think that all the airlines will eventually come into line with luggage requirements as its a way of making an easy buck - most of us can't travel without any so we don't really have a choice.

Bearing in mind that I had a huge phobia about flying until I was in my mid 40's it is amazing that I love flying so much!

Bring it on! <:clap

[JAF]

I do have my likes and dislikes with the different airlines and if flying indirect the hub airports but my main aim is to get across the pond as quickly and cheaply as possible.

[Shirls]

Looks like Virgin have jumped in already

NEW BAGGAGE POLICY CHANGE - EFFECTIVE 25 NOVEMBER 2009
Virgin Atlantic will be changing it's check-in baggage policy to a 'Piece System' across the entire network for all tickets booked from 25 November 2009. This replaces the change originally intended for launch on the 23rd September and now includes a revised allowance for passengers travelling Economy.

The changes are being made to allow us to simplify our policy, save costs, and lower our charges for passengers wishing to take additional bags. In the majority of cases, passengers who wish to fly with excess baggage in addition to their free allowances will pay less than they do now.

Our Gold card holders will also be able to take one additional bag on top of the free allowance, irrespective of the cabin flown.

We will continue to offer one of the most generous allowances in the industry for passengers wishing to take sporting goods.




New Allowances from 25 November 2009*
Number of Bags - 23kg Each:
Route: Upper Class: Premium Economy: Economy: Infants:
USA 3 2 1 1
Caribbean 3 2 1 1




EXCEPTIONS:
- Passengers travelling in Economy between the USA and India - one additional bag at 23 kilos.

- Gold card holders - one additional bag at 23 kilos, irrespective of the cabin flown.

- Sporting allowance - 1 additional bag up to 23 kilos, irrespective of the cabin flown. (Sporting Equipment allowance).

*Any passenger holding a ticket, booked and ticketed before 25 November 2009, will be entitled to Virgin Atlantic's existing baggage allowance.


Excess Charges from 25 November 2009:

Online**: Airport:
1st Extra Bag GBP32/USD48 GBP40/USD60
2nd & Subsequent Bags GBP32/USD48 GBP90/USD140
Overweight (23-32kg) Not available GBP30/USD50
The above fees will be converted into the local currency where applicable.


- Any bags weighing over 32 kilos will not be accepted.

**Online payments will be available from 25th November 2009.

[ellie]

I did wonder how long it would be before Virgin jumped on the bandwagon. But as all the others have brought this in it was only a matter of time before they followed suit. Personally I think it is just another price rise by the back door.

It now makes flying scheduled very little different from flying charter.

A retrograde step I feel. <:angry

[Steve]

This is so annoying!!! This from a company whose chairman is asking the population to sign a petition complaining to the UK gov about the stealth taxes being added to flights and then they "Tax" us for taking two bags. grrr.... <:firing<:firing

[ellie]

I quite agree, Steve. It is a price increase by the back door. There is no doubt that despite their claims of 'simplifying costs' etc., reducing the weight carried by the aeroplane must reduce the airlines running costs, and if you look at some of the Virgin prices for flights next year they certainly aren't reducing their prices - far from it!

Whilst many people may only take one suitcase, there are occassions when two are necessary - when going on a cruise for instance.

But guess we long suffering passengers will just have to lump it or like it - after all we can't swim across the Atlantic, can we?

However, there are times, should you not be restricted by the necessity to get there quickly, when you could cruise across the Atlantic on one of the Cunard ships for very little more than the price of an airfare - and you get several days of food and entertainment in luxury thrown in - a bit different from 9 hours or so in a cramped and often dirty aeroplane.

[Shirls]

United have announced they will now charge for a second bag...is there anyone left who allows two bags in economy?

[disneymanor]

I received an email from Charter travel yesterday saying that Virgin have changed the limit to 1 bag at 23kg , BUT its not tickets booked from 25th Nov its from Now regardless of when you booked your tickets, so even though we booked 5 months ago to go in Dec we still only get 1 case, not fair I think .....

[Steve]

yes that is annoying Angela, also a bit unlike Virgin as in the past when they make changes and you booked prior to them, then you can still have what it was when you booked. I am sure I spoke to someone about this and they rang Virgin and they were told they could have the old allowance. Might be worth a quick call to Virgin. <:wink

[Shirls]

Angela, that is not the case (excuse the pun) if you have paid for your ticket. They have to abide by the terms under which they sold it to you.

Sometimes agents take a deposit to hold a seat from their allocation, but don't pay the airline until you have paid in full. If you pay in full and are ticketed by 24th November then the old rules do apply. I would contact Charter travel, it is very clear on the Virgin website

[ellie]

This now seems to have been clarified and it appears that if you booked before the deadline your baggage allowance would be honoured. As Shirls so rightly says, they cannot change the terms once you have booked.<:clap

[disneymanor]

yES you are right guys just had another email from Charter Travel after I complained about the first email . We can have 2 x23kg bags BUT wait for this, because we are flying from Glasgow going through Gatwick we are only being allowed 1 bag as BA only allow 1 bag.
So its a now a catch 22 situation, We booked to go to Florida with Virgin from Glasgow via London ON 1 ticket , but have been told we cant have 2 bags on the first leg unless we pay 50.00 because its a internal flight.
How stupid is that <:angry

[ellie]

That sounds absolutely disgraceful, Angela. If you were booked for the internal flight with the 2 bag allowance then I don't think it is reasonable for them to change the rules. I would speak to Virgin direct if I was you and push it up a notch.
<:angry

[Shirls]

Angela, again I would get back to Charter Travel. If your flight is booked as a through flight in one reservation, then the main baggage allowance should apply to the whole trip. The only time this can't happen is with point to point carriers such as EasyJet, so there is no reason why it shouldn't have been booked like this