[Idyllchat] Fw: Flying British Air

[Sonny Culverhouse]

While this doesn't have much to do with the check-in procedures now, we 
were somewhat concerned about having to use BA when we went to the Bavarian 
Castle untour this June because of what we had previously found to be such 
tight seating (I'm 5'7") and seemingly aloof groups of attendants on 
previous flights.  We were pleasantly surprised with very friendly 
attendants and more comfortable seating this time, however, we did have a 
witch boarding us at Dulles, who very arrogantly announcing at the gate 
that no one would be permitted to carry aboard luggage weighing more than 
13.8 lbs (our numbers, not her's).  Well, I had read the limit on their web 
site, but when I called re our seating assignments, their rep said that she 
had just flown abroad round-trip BA and they didn't bother checking it, nor 
could she imagine one finding us in violation of an amount so small.  We 
had carry-on luggage that met all previous size requirements, but we 
weighed it and each of us had exactly 15lbs, counting the bag.  We held our 
breath at Dulles, for we knew that they automatically charging (at that 
time) $100 for any bag exceeding the limit, but the witch checked only two 
or three people and we slipped on.  On connecting with BA, returning via BA 
both flights, we encountered no such witch and actually never heard any re 
to the limit announced.  But that hasn't prevented us from looking for 
other carry-on bags, for we were warned earlier via idyll-chat by Vance Roy 
that Swiss Airlines had tightened mightily and that other European airlines 
were reportedly going to adopt these more stringent limits.  For the 
present, I continue reading that BA is recommending that passengers only 
bring on medication, only in the name of the passenger, and that it be in a 
transparent bag.  Based on this information and from what I've read on 
idyll-chat, I would personally be carrying a bag that fit the new limits 
that weighed no more than the limits and not worry about the transparency 
issue.  But that's just me.  Hope this helps, even if it causes you to 
remain confused, but maybe at a higher level!              ...........sonny 
in Virginia


At 02:04 PM 9/1/2006 -0500, Robert M. Smith wrote:
>Ellen,
>That was some very good information about how the size of the carry-ons 
>are checked.
>After passing the size test are the bags then emptied to check their 
>contents or how is the next step handled?
>Robert
>
>