New Hand Baggage policy for UC

in FC messages...

Upper Class passengers may take two pieces of hand baggage onboard. Individual dimensions not to exceed 23 x 36 x 56cm, (approx 9 x 14 x 22 inches) and 16kg (35lbs) in combined weight, with no bag weighing more than 12kg. This can include 1 garment bag, 20cm (8ins) thick when folded, not exceeding 12kg in weight

Very nice for those travelling in UC! When are VS going to stop being so stingy about other classes though? 6Kg in Economy is the lowest I can find among all the international long haul airlines flying out of LHR. Many allow 15-18Kg in Economy. Some allow members of higher tiers in frequently flyer programs a higher weight allowance. Strikes me this would be a good idea. If VS are searching for something to differentiate Silver from Red, then perhaps this could be that thing?

VS's tiny carry-on allowance does make travelling with hand baggage only quite a challenge! One I'm happy to rise to (haven't checked baggage on a long haul flight in more than 5 years) but one which could be made a lot easier with even 4 extra kilos!

Chris

[mitchja]

In reality though I've never yet had my hand luggage weighed by VS at check-in which ever class I've been travelling in.

As long it your carry-on bag doesn't look OTT, VS dont usually have any issues with it.

Regards

[Darren Wheeler]

Or do what BA do, 23kg as long as you can lift it unaided. Of course, the overheads have a weight capacity printed inside them so that might mean only one in each.

Hi Penny,

Is that for all UC flights regardless of the destination?

Ta[:)]

Originally posted by mitchja
In reality though I've never yet had my hand luggage weighed by VS at check-in which ever class I've been travelling in.

As long it your carry-on bag doesn't look OTT, VS dont usually have any issues with it.

Regards

Indeed. Most of the time, they don't weigh your bag or even look at it. I have had it queried and weighed when flying home from DEL though. Flying out of LHR, I had it weighed when flying to JNB once and they insisted I check it as it weighed about 10Kg. What made my really angry is that my bag was broken into on the flight on that occasion (and also on the way back, when I was also forced to check it after having it weighed).

Flying out these days, it is well worth checking in at home and printing a boarding pass. That way, you don't need to go near a checkin desk and they don't get a chance to weigh my bag.

The rules are a source of stress though as I live in fear of my bag being weighed and rejected. I travel with about 10-12Kg in a single carry-on (no additional item like a handbag or laptop etc) and I don't view this as excessive but it's still against the official VS rules.

Chris

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by cshore
Flying out these days, it is well worth checking in at home and printing a boarding pass. That way, you don't need to go near a checkin desk and they don't get a chance to weigh my bag.

The rules are a source of stress though as I live in fear of my bag being weighed and rejected. I travel with about 10-12Kg in a single carry-on (no additional item like a handbag or laptop etc) and I don't view this as excessive but it's still against the official VS rules.

Chris

http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/gb/faq/diycheckin.jsp

Item 10.

You still should present yourself at the bag drop...

Interesting as the email inviting you to do on line check in states 'if you just have hand baggage you can go straight to security' I also have a letter or 2 from Virgin customer relations confirming this as well. I have had issues around this before as you may be able to tell!!!

[Pete]

One of the main reasons you can take on more into Upper Class is because there's more space per person to store your bags.

The available overheads in Economy can barely cope on a full flight when everyone takes just one bag - it would be chaos if everyone were allowed two bags.

Pete

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by Pete
One of the main reasons you can take on more into Upper Class is because there's more space per person to store your bags.

The available overheads in Economy can barely cope on a full flight when everyone takes just one bag - it would be chaos if everyone were allowed two bags.

Pete

Yes. Witness the bedlam on any internal US flight where carry-on regs are a mere 'suggestion'.