British Airways Special Baggage
BA operate one of the fairest and most straight forward special baggage policies of any airlines. Special baggage include sports equipment such as bicycles, golf clubs, snow sports equipment, diving equipment, musical instruments etc. Customers can use their checked-in baggage allowance for special baggage provided that the item(s) does not weight more than your baggage allowance for your ticket type. Special baggage can be up to 190 x 75 x 65 cm (to allow for bicycles / skis etc), but must be within the 23 / 32kg weight limit. If you're ticket type has a maximum allowance of 23kg and your special baggage weight more, you will be charged the standard excess baggage fee of £65. Any special baggage weighing over 32kg cannot be carried and must be transported as cargo.
All special baggage must be suitably packaged as not to cause damage to the item, other items or parts of the aircraft and it is the customers responsibility to ensure this. Should BA (or the airport) consider your item to be innapropriately packaged they will refuse to carry it.
British Airways Infant Baggage Allowance
Whilst rarely the cheapest option, British Airways can certainly say they are very family friendly airline and if price isn't the primary concern, you could do a lot worse when it comes to travelling with infants that with BA. Adults travelling with infants under 2, whilst have to sit on the lap of the accompanying adult (standard airline policy), the adult can carry an additional baby change bag, equaly in size and weight to the full size adult hand luggage allowance. That's some 23kg in a case no larger than 56 x 45 x 25 cm, one of the most generous hand luggage allowances of any airlines. Children ages 2-11 also get a full hand luggage allowance and are permitted to carry 2 items from the following list, free of charge in the aircraft hold (pushchair can be collapsed and checked in at the aircraft steps - all other items to be checked in with hold luggage)
- Pushchair / buggy
- Car Seat
- Travel Cot
- Carry Harness / Rucksack
Trunki on British Airways Flights
No problems here, the UK's flag bearing carrier is more than happy for it's younger passengers to take their travel belongings in their favourite animal character suitcase. Like most airlines, British Airways had a family friednly policy when it comes to free carry-on luggage for children and they welcome the Trunki. Fact of the matter is that the Trunki is relatively small in size compared to most permitted hand luggage and will actually save the airlines valuable space in the cabin. Only Ryanair and Wizz Air charge children for carrying a Trunki in the cabin.