If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
BAA Press Release
27 April 2004 Do you struggle to lift your bulging holiday suitcase? Any idea how much it weighs? Passengers are being urged to check before leaving for Heathrow, as the world's busiest international airport is bringing in a 32kg limit on individual bags. From 1 June 2004, passengers traveling through Heathrow will only be able to check-in bags which weigh 32kg (70lbs) or less. The new safety measure, which will apply to all airlines and destinations from Heathrow, is being introduced by airport operator BAA to reduce strains and injuries amongst baggage handling staff. Mick Temple, Managing Director of BAA Heathrow Airport said: "We are committed to implementing safe working practices airport wide which is why we want to make sure that all our airlines adhere to the same guidelines to help lessen manual handling injuries amongst airport staff." 32kg around the weight of a six year-old child or 32 bags of sugar is fast becoming an internationally recognised limit which some airlines such as British Airways and Qantas already enforce. The maximum weight limit relates only to single items of luggage and does not affect passengers' overall baggage allowance or excess baggage charges, which are set down by each individual airline. Around 80 airlines operate from Heathrow and BAA is currently making sure that all staff and passengers are aware of the new weight limit between now and June. Mick Temple added: "We need to make sure that passengers are fully aware of the new weight limit to avoid any disruption to airport processes or disappointment to the passenger when they arrive at the airport terminal. Up to 32kg is still an ample sized holdall so the majority of passengers should not need to adjust the way they pack. We know our passengers would not want airport workers to be hurt by bags that are simply too heavy for anyone to lift without special arrangements." An average-sized suitcase weighs around 20kg, but sometimes baggage handlers will have to lift bags weighing up to 70kg in the tight confines of an aircraft hold. Passengers who exceed the weight limit after 1 June will be asked to repack their luggage into smaller units before they can check-in. BAA will be placing scales inside each terminal so that passengers can verify the weight of their luggage before they get to check-in. Bags will also be available for passengers who need to re-pack at excess baggage outlets in each terminal. Those who need to carry items which exceed the 32kg weight limit such as some sporting equipment, should make special arrangements with their airline in advance. Christine Barringer, of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is backing the new initiative said: "Manual handling injuries account for around 40% of total airport injuries reported to HSE. The majority of these are related to baggage handling activities, particularly airport staff handling heavy bags. HSE strongly supports the actions being taken by Heathrow Airport and we continue to work in partnership with the air industry to see if a further reduction in the maximum bag weight can be achieved. "HSE and industry are encouraged by the 17% reduction in reported injuries among baggage handlers by Heathrow based, British Airways who started operating this maximum single bag limit 12 months ago. This demonstrates that real improvements can be made in this area for the benefit of both airport workers and industry." The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is also developing a series of guidelines which includes a 32kg weight limit for any single bag, which it is hoped it will appear in the IATA Ground Handling Manual from the start of 2005. -- Lansbury www.uk-air.net FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
It is good to see that baggage weight regulations are being looked at
closely. I provide bus transfers between an International Terminal and Domestic Terminal where I live and handle a lot of passengers originating out of Africa, where in most of these countries there is no weight restriction on luggage. Loading bags weighing in excess of 70 kg is not uncommon. With some pax carrying five or more bags of similar weight you can imagine the pressure our drivers are under. "Lansbury" wrote in message ... BAA Press Release 27 April 2004 Do you struggle to lift your bulging holiday suitcase? Any idea how much it weighs? Passengers are being urged to check before leaving for Heathrow, as the world's busiest international airport is bringing in a 32kg limit on individual bags. From 1 June 2004, passengers traveling through Heathrow will only be able to check-in bags which weigh 32kg (70lbs) or less. The new safety measure, which will apply to all airlines and destinations from Heathrow, is being introduced by airport operator BAA to reduce strains and injuries amongst baggage handling staff. Mick Temple, Managing Director of BAA Heathrow Airport said: "We are committed to implementing safe working practices airport wide which is why we want to make sure that all our airlines adhere to the same guidelines to help lessen manual handling injuries amongst airport staff." 32kg around the weight of a six year-old child or 32 bags of sugar is fast becoming an internationally recognised limit which some airlines such as British Airways and Qantas already enforce. The maximum weight limit relates only to single items of luggage and does not affect passengers' overall baggage allowance or excess baggage charges, which are set down by each individual airline. Around 80 airlines operate from Heathrow and BAA is currently making sure that all staff and passengers are aware of the new weight limit between now and June. Mick Temple added: "We need to make sure that passengers are fully aware of the new weight limit to avoid any disruption to airport processes or disappointment to the passenger when they arrive at the airport terminal. Up to 32kg is still an ample sized holdall so the majority of passengers should not need to adjust the way they pack. We know our passengers would not want airport workers to be hurt by bags that are simply too heavy for anyone to lift without special arrangements." An average-sized suitcase weighs around 20kg, but sometimes baggage handlers will have to lift bags weighing up to 70kg in the tight confines of an aircraft hold. Passengers who exceed the weight limit after 1 June will be asked to repack their luggage into smaller units before they can check-in. BAA will be placing scales inside each terminal so that passengers can verify the weight of their luggage before they get to check-in. Bags will also be available for passengers who need to re-pack at excess baggage outlets in each terminal. Those who need to carry items which exceed the 32kg weight limit such as some sporting equipment, should make special arrangements with their airline in advance. Christine Barringer, of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is backing the new initiative said: "Manual handling injuries account for around 40% of total airport injuries reported to HSE. The majority of these are related to baggage handling activities, particularly airport staff handling heavy bags. HSE strongly supports the actions being taken by Heathrow Airport and we continue to work in partnership with the air industry to see if a further reduction in the maximum bag weight can be achieved. "HSE and industry are encouraged by the 17% reduction in reported injuries among baggage handlers by Heathrow based, British Airways who started operating this maximum single bag limit 12 months ago. This demonstrates that real improvements can be made in this area for the benefit of both airport workers and industry." The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is also developing a series of guidelines which includes a 32kg weight limit for any single bag, which it is hoped it will appear in the IATA Ground Handling Manual from the start of 2005. -- Lansbury www.uk-air.net FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 10:52:02 +0100 Lansbury wrote:
:BAA Press Release :27 April 2004 :Do you struggle to lift your bulging holiday suitcase? Any idea how much :it weighs? Passengers are being urged to check before leaving for :Heathrow, as the world's busiest international airport is bringing in a :32kg limit on individual bags. Were you able, in the past, to have bags more than 32kg without a huge fee? On which airlines? -- Binyamin Dissen http://www.dissensoftware.com |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 19:21:47 +0300, Binyamin Dissen
wrote: :Do you struggle to lift your bulging holiday suitcase? Any idea how much :it weighs? Passengers are being urged to check before leaving for :Heathrow, as the world's busiest international airport is bringing in a :32kg limit on individual bags. Were you able, in the past, to have bags more than 32kg without a huge fee? On which airlines? I guess it is aimed at business and 1st class passengers in the main. Most flights departing LHR have a baggage limit of 20Kg or 23Kg for economy passengers already, only transatlantic flights differ. Bets me who would what to carry a bag to and from the airport that weighed over 32Kg anyway. -- Lansbury www.uk-air.net FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 17:57:17 +0100, Lansbury
wrote: On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 19:21:47 +0300, Binyamin Dissen wrote: :Do you struggle to lift your bulging holiday suitcase? Any idea how much :it weighs? Passengers are being urged to check before leaving for :Heathrow, as the world's busiest international airport is bringing in a :32kg limit on individual bags. Were you able, in the past, to have bags more than 32kg without a huge fee? On which airlines? I guess it is aimed at business and 1st class passengers in the main. Most flights departing LHR have a baggage limit of 20Kg or 23Kg for economy passengers already, only transatlantic flights differ. Bets me who would what to carry a bag to and from the airport that weighed over 32Kg anyway. The problem was they started doing dimenson size at check in, irrespective of weight. That in itself was an anomnoly on loading , as the Captain needs to know extactly his weght of passengers, freight, and his crew and catering load, to calculate his take off weight and rotate. As a dispatcher of past, these reqirements are still needed. So a report of check in 82bags 56in hand mean nothing, 82 bags in the days of old were calculated at 20kgs max (many less than that) 56 i;n hand was calculated at 5kgs( many now in excess of that) and that gave the dispatcher the departure mode of the aircraft, centre of gravity and lift off. How times are changing!!!!!!!!!!! |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
In message , Lansbury
writes Bets me who would what to carry a bag to and from the airport that weighed over 32Kg anyway. Business and First Class passengers will have "a man" who does that for them. Not sure why these bags need to be squirreled away in dark and distant corners of the hold, though (in the way that BA alleges causes constant injury); surely they will be near the doors so they can get off first and speed their lucrative, economy class subsidising [oops, wrong thread], passengers on their way... -- Roland Perry |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
About time they - the airlines - upped the allowances, particularly in
economy. Colin. -- Remove the 'old' to reply to me. Watashi no tsuma wa nihon-jin desu! Watashi no tsuma wa kawaii desu! "Lansbury" wrote in message ... BAA Press Release 27 April 2004 Do you struggle to lift your bulging holiday suitcase? Any idea how much it weighs? Passengers are being urged to check before leaving for Heathrow, as the world's busiest international airport is bringing in a 32kg limit on individual bags. From 1 June 2004, passengers traveling through Heathrow will only be able to check-in bags which weigh 32kg (70lbs) or less. The new safety measure, which will apply to all airlines and destinations from Heathrow, is being introduced by airport operator BAA to reduce strains and injuries amongst baggage handling staff. Mick Temple, Managing Director of BAA Heathrow Airport said: "We are committed to implementing safe working practices airport wide which is why we want to make sure that all our airlines adhere to the same guidelines to help lessen manual handling injuries amongst airport staff." 32kg around the weight of a six year-old child or 32 bags of sugar is fast becoming an internationally recognised limit which some airlines such as British Airways and Qantas already enforce. The maximum weight limit relates only to single items of luggage and does not affect passengers' overall baggage allowance or excess baggage charges, which are set down by each individual airline. Around 80 airlines operate from Heathrow and BAA is currently making sure that all staff and passengers are aware of the new weight limit between now and June. Mick Temple added: "We need to make sure that passengers are fully aware of the new weight limit to avoid any disruption to airport processes or disappointment to the passenger when they arrive at the airport terminal. Up to 32kg is still an ample sized holdall so the majority of passengers should not need to adjust the way they pack. We know our passengers would not want airport workers to be hurt by bags that are simply too heavy for anyone to lift without special arrangements." An average-sized suitcase weighs around 20kg, but sometimes baggage handlers will have to lift bags weighing up to 70kg in the tight confines of an aircraft hold. Passengers who exceed the weight limit after 1 June will be asked to repack their luggage into smaller units before they can check-in. BAA will be placing scales inside each terminal so that passengers can verify the weight of their luggage before they get to check-in. Bags will also be available for passengers who need to re-pack at excess baggage outlets in each terminal. Those who need to carry items which exceed the 32kg weight limit such as some sporting equipment, should make special arrangements with their airline in advance. Christine Barringer, of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is backing the new initiative said: "Manual handling injuries account for around 40% of total airport injuries reported to HSE. The majority of these are related to baggage handling activities, particularly airport staff handling heavy bags. HSE strongly supports the actions being taken by Heathrow Airport and we continue to work in partnership with the air industry to see if a further reduction in the maximum bag weight can be achieved. "HSE and industry are encouraged by the 17% reduction in reported injuries among baggage handlers by Heathrow based, British Airways who started operating this maximum single bag limit 12 months ago. This demonstrates that real improvements can be made in this area for the benefit of both airport workers and industry." The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is also developing a series of guidelines which includes a 32kg weight limit for any single bag, which it is hoped it will appear in the IATA Ground Handling Manual from the start of 2005. -- Lansbury www.uk-air.net FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 19:19:54 +0100, "Col"
wrote: About time they - the airlines - upped the allowances, particularly in economy. Colin. ???? It seems to me that many passengers have no clue about what's sensible to take on a trip, and pack far too much, in too many bags. *Lowering* the allowance would seem more sensible, esp. if that resulted in faster processing of checked bags. All too often I seem to have to wait for 30-40 minutes for bags to arrive at the carousels in MAN, and then watch while parties of Mum+Dad+2 kids struggle to retrieve six huge suitcases plus sundry other bags ... what *do* these people take with them? -- Julian Fowler julian (at) bellevue-barn (dot) org (dot) uk |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
In message , Julian Fowler
writes All too often I seem to have to wait for 30-40 minutes for bags to arrive at the carousels in MAN, and then watch while parties of Mum+Dad+2 kids struggle to retrieve six huge suitcases plus sundry other bags ... what *do* these people take with them? Probably enough clothes for 2 weeks holiday, bearing in mind that cheap places to stay probably won't have any useful laundry or dry cleaning facilities. For kids under about 5, you can double the volume of miscellaneous clothes and other things you need. -- Roland Perry |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Heathrow to introduce new maximum weight for individual bags
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 19:42:18 +0100, Julian Fowler wrote:
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 19:19:54 +0100, "Col" wrote: About time they - the airlines - upped the allowances, particularly in economy. Colin. ???? It seems to me that many passengers have no clue about what's sensible to take on a trip, and pack far too much, in too many bags. *Lowering* the allowance would seem more sensible, esp. if that resulted in faster processing of checked bags. All too often I seem to have to wait for 30-40 minutes for bags to arrive at the carousels in MAN, and then watch while parties of Mum+Dad+2 kids struggle to retrieve six huge suitcases plus sundry other bags ... what *do* these people take with them? Beats the heck out of me. The last time my wife and I traveled with a toddler and baby on a 10-day trip, we managed it with one standard-size suitcase and a small duffle that were checked, and two schoolkid-sized backpacks for carry-ons. Plus the car seats for the plane, of course. And we managed quite well with that. I guess some people aren't aware that other countries have laundry facilities that can be used by visitors. ;-) - Rich |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Starting today, you can lock your bags again (maybe) - news story | The Bill Mattocks | Air travel | 30 | November 14th, 2003 08:28 AM |
Trip Report NCL-LHR-IAD-SEA-IAD-LHR-NCL (long) | Mark Hewitt | Air travel | 7 | September 23rd, 2003 09:15 PM |