euro traveller meaning british airways

Everything you need to know about British Airways’ fare classes

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information.

Have you ever heard someone say something along the lines of, "I'm flying in J" and wondered what on earth they could mean?

Or, have you checked your flight on ExpertFlyer and been surprised by the sea of letters showing for each British Airways flight when you know there are only four actual classes the airline flies — First , Club World / Club Suite (business), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy)?

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Why so many fare classes?

British Airways has 22 fare classes and four redemption classes. Revenue fare classes are bookable for cash whilst redemption fare classes are for Avios or mileage bookings.

Broadly speaking, the different fare classes within each cabin correlate both to the cost of the ticket as well as the flexibility of the fare offered. The lower classes usually sell first, so as a flight gets busier, the lower classes will fill up and BA will only sell higher, more expensive fare classes. Typically, the closer to your travel date, the higher the fare class — either because the plane has filled up anyway or because BA might only sell higher fare classes closer to the departure date, as it knows it can command higher prices for last-minute bookings.

BA's fare classes break down as follows:

• First: F (flexible) and A (discounted) as revenue fare classes and Z for reward redemptions;
• Club World (business class): J, C, D, R and I (with I being the cheapest) for revenue and U for reward bookings;
• World Traveller Plus (premium economy), W, E and T for revenue and P for reward bookings; and
• World Traveller (economy): Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G and P for revenue and X for reward bookings.

It's worth noting that based on which fare class you're booked in, the number of Avios you'll get in return will vary.

The table above shows the breakdown of Avios and Tier Points for BA's different fare classes. For example with the lowest economy classes (G, O and Q) you'll earn 25% of the miles flown and 25% of the Tier Points. A mid-range fare, such as this example roundtrip itinerary from Newark (EWR) to London (LHR), will earn you half of the miles flown. In this case, since it's an L class Basic Economy, you would earn 3,458 Avios.

If I book the same flight but choose a Premium Economy seat (a T class fare), I would earn 100% of the miles flown in Avios, which in this case would be 6,916.

It's also worth noting that G class, one of the most heavily discounted BA fare classes in economy, is reserved for travel agent bookings , including BA holidays. That's why it sometimes pays to add a car or hotel to your booking — that way, you might be able to book into G even if booking the flight on its own would only let you book into a higher fare class.

What the numbers mean

In the example above, the sea of 9s doesn't mean that there are only nine seats available in each class. Nine is the highest number that can be displayed for BA (for some airlines it's seven), and the fare classes are all related. For example, if you book nine seats in O class, it's highly likely that there won't be nine available in Q and that number goes down. That's why you might see BA offer four seats for sale on a flight when there's actually only one left .

Looking at a week-long trip to New York in February next year, a return ticket in Y, which is a fully flexible economy class, costs £2,291. The same ticket can be had for £301 if choosing the cheapest option, O class. The latter does not allow any bags or seat selection, and nor does it allow any changes, whilst the former is fully flexible, as the passenger can change the time, date and receive a full refund if it needs to be cancelled.

Despite the £2,000 price difference between the two tickets, the seat and food for those two tickets would be exactly the same. Of course, there are good and bad seats in each — our guides help you pick the best seats in any BA cabin .

The crazy thing about the fully flexible example economy price is that discounted premium economy can be had for £587, and even discounted business class can be had for £1,333 — a saving of £700 from that fully flexible economy seat. Now, that's a sale price (and a decent one from London ) and has no flexibility. In other words, you couldn't change dates nor get a refund.

Bottom line

Understanding fare classes and how you can use them in conjunction with ExpertFlyer can help you find cheaper flights. If the particular flight or day you are looking for doesn't have the price you were expecting or hoping for, it's worth having a browse on ExpertFlyer to find a date that has lower fare classes available. In addition to also helping you understand what you'll earn on the flight, you'll be able to impress your AvGeek friends at the next dinner party.

The Complete Guide to British Airways Fare Classes (a.k.a. Fare Buckets)

What are fare classes.

Fare classes are the different letters that represent a price of a ticket. You will see these represented in a variety of ways through different means, such as in Manage My Booking:

or in Expert Flyer.

or in Matrix.

Chances are if you are using Expert Flyer or Matrix though, you will probably already know about Fare Classes and just want to know how many Avios or Tier Points you will be earning. Feel free to skip ahead!

What is the difference between Fare Class and Travel Class?

“Travel class” is which cabin you are flying in. First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy or Economy Class.

“Fare class” is what specific price your ticket is purchased at, and the restrictions imposed on it, represented by the letters mentioned throughout this post.

What Fare Classes does British Airways have?

There are a myriad of fare classes, which can be confusing for those who do not (yet) know how British Airways prices their tickets.

As with most other airlines, usually the more expensive the ticket the more flexibility it buys in terms of advance purchase requirements, ability to change flights, refunds on cancellations, shorter minimum stays and longer maximum stays. And in the lower travel classes, you need to be buying more expensive fare classes in order to be able to upgrade

At the more extreme levels of pricing, you may sometimes find that fares in a higher travel class are actually cheaper than buying in a lower travel class. E.g. non-refundable business class cheaper than fully-flexible premium economy.

First Class :

From most to least expensive: F, A

Club World / Europe (business class) :

From most to least expensive: J, C, D, R, I

World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) ,

From most to least expensive: W, E, T

World/Euro Traveller (Economy) :

From most to least expensive: Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G – Note that G is specifically reserved for Travel Agents (including BA Flights and Holidays) or BA staff bookings.

Which Fare Classes do redemptions book into?

Avios or other partner airline redemptions book into the following fare classes

• First Class: Z
• Club World/Europe (business class): U 
• World Traveller Plus (premium economy): P
• World/Euro Traveller (economy): X

How Many Avios and Tier Points will I earn?

For slightly easier formatting, and to ensure up-to-date information, I advise going directly to one of the following:

• British Airways Avios and Tier Points Earnings Tables
• British Airways Avios and Tier Points Earning Calculator

The latter being good if you have a specific route in mind, and will also calculate the bonus Avios you get if you have Bronze, Silver or Gold British Airways Executive Club status.

But to make this a one-stop shop…

First Class:

• F – 300% Flown Distance. Minimum 1250 Avios, 100% Tier points
• A – 250% Flown Distance. Minimum 1250 Avios, 100% Tier points

Club World / Europe (Business Class):

• J – 250% Flown Distance. Minimum 1250 Avios, 100% Tier points
• C – 250% Flown Distance. Minimum 1250 Avios, 100% Tier points
• D – 250% Flown Distance. Minimum 1250 Avios, 100% Tier points
• R – 150% Flown Distance. Minimum 750 Avios, 100% Tier points
• I – 150% Flown Distance. Minimum 750 Avios, 100% Tier points

World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy):

• W – 150% Flown Distance. Minimum 750 Avios, 100% Tier points
• E – 100% Flown Distance. Minimum 500 Avios, 100% Tier points
• T – 100% Flown Distance. Minimum 500 Avios, 100% Tier points

World / Euro Traveller (Economy Class):

• Y – 100% Flown Distance. Minimum 500 Avios, 100% Tier points
• B – 100% Flown Distance. Minimum 500 Avios, 100% Tier points
• H – 100% Flown Distance. Minimum 500 Avios, 100% Tier points
• K – 50% Flown Distance. Minimum 250 Avios, 50% Tier points
• M – 50% Flown Distance. Minimum 250 Avios, 50% Tier points
• L – 50% Flown Distance. Minimum 250 Avios, 50% Tier points
• V – 50% Flown Distance. Minimum 250 Avios, 50% Tier points
• S – 50% Flown Distance. Minimum 250 Avios, 50% Tier points
• N – 50% Flown Distance. Minimum 250 Avios, 50% Tier points
• Q – 25% Flown Distance. Minimum 125 Avios, 25% Tier points
• O – 25% Flown Distance. Minimum 125 Avios, 25% Tier points
• G – 25% Flown Distance. Minimum 125 Avios, 25% Tier points

As with most airlines, redemptions do not earn any Avios. This includes V  fares which Gold members can sometimes book into as a reward fare.

Bronze members get 25% extra Avios, Silver gets 50% extra Avios and Gold gets 100% extra Avios. This is calculated in addition to the Avios earned in the fare class calculations above.

Bottom Line

Understanding British Airways' fare classes is important for knowing how many Avios and Tier Points you will earn. If you are coming from Star Alliance or Skyteam you will also notice that the order of the letters is different, so take note!

Share this:

Hey Tim – booked and paid for Club World, and upgraded to First, but the class is now showing as Z. Seems that it doesn’t earn anything… thoughts?

You will get the original Tier Points and Avios for your original Club World booking!

Is there any way to get BA to send me something that shows the orig booking class? I want to have my backup incase I don’t get credit.

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British Airways Classes: The Guide

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If you’re considering flying with British Airways, why not fly in comfort? Flying economy can certainly get you to your destination, but not without its inconveniences. That's why understanding the British Airways' class differences can help you find the right ticket to fit your flight preferences and desired experience.

Read more to learn about how British Airways’ premium class options work, plus how to book an upgraded seat on your next flight.

British Airways' classes

British Airways currently has four travel class options: economy, premium economy, business and first class. Each travel class offers a different price point and travel experience.

If you dream of experiencing life beyond coach, think about upgrading your fare type to one of the following ticket tiers.

Premium economy

Photo courtesy of British Airways.

While British Airways' premium economy is not quite the same experience as flying in business or first class, it does offer some additional perks that aren’t available when choosing to fly on an economy ticket.

Premium economy travelers get to enjoy more comfortable seats as well as a variety of other perks, like:

Wider seats.

Additional legroom.

A separate premium economy cabin area.

Complimentary bar service along with signature drinks.

A personal entertainment system.

Noise-canceling headphones.

An amenity kit.

Additional free baggage allowance.

Priority boarding.

Premium economy tickets are available on World Traveller Plus routes.

Business class

British Airways’ business class offers more perks and comfort than premium economy; however, the included amenities vary depending on your specific flight journey. These packages are known as “clubs.”

Club Europe is available on flights headed to the U.K. and Europe, while Club World service is offered on all other business flights. There’s also an exclusive flight service from New York-JFK to London, called Club World London City .

Club Europe perks :

Contoured leather seats with in-seat power and fully moveable headrests.

Magazine storage.

Adjustable LED lighting.

Complimentary newspapers (available on most flights).

Food and drinks.

A dedicated cabin crew.

Additional baggage allowance.

Priority check-in and boarding.

Fast track security available at London airports.

Fast track arrivals at London-Heathrow (available for non-EU passport holders).

Club World perks :

A seat that converts to a fully flat bed.

Amenity kits and bedding.

Access to a private lounge and deluxe spa treatments.

Dedicated check-in and priority boarding desks.

Travelers can enjoy the newly remodeled Club Suite cabins on select Club World flights. Offerings include aisle access from every seat, a door for added privacy, a 79-inch fully flat bed, personal outlets for charging your electronics, high-resolution screens and extra storage space.

Club Suites are available on select services in New York-JFK, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bangalore and Toronto flights. British Airways continues to roll out Club Suite offerings on additional routes.

Club World London City perks :

Access to a plane with a total of only 32 seats.

A seat that converts into a fully flat bed measuring 6 feet.

Luxury bedding and amenity kit.

Personal iPad with entertainment offerings.

Mobile data connectivity.

U.K., EU and U.S. power sockets.

Pre-clearance through U.S. immigration on flights to New York.

Dedicated support team.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

First class

British Airways' first class is the highest level of ticket available on their flights. Travelers not only have access to their own personal suite while flying, but they can also enjoy many other amenities.

Here’s a look at what you will experience when flying first class on British Airways:

Access to a private, spacious suite with a fully flat bed.

A foam and microfibre mattress topper and 400-thread-count bedding.

Exclusively designed loungewear, amenity bag and slippers.

Luxury skin and body care collection.

Fine dining food and drinks.

Access to lounges and luxury spa treatments.

Exclusive and dedicated service.

Priority boarding via the exclusive First lounge.

When flying through London-Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5, first class travelers can enjoy the Arrivals lounge upon landing. They also have access to the Concorde Room, British Airways' most luxurious lounge, when flying through London-Heathrow Terminal 5 and New York-JFK Terminal 7.

How to book British Airways premium class tickets

If you’ve decided you'd like to fly in a premium class on your next British Airways flight, you have a few options for completing your booking — cash, Avios (points) or a combination of the two.

Pay full price: You can book British Airways premium class seats by paying full price at the time of booking.

Make a partial payment and use Avios: Log in to your British Airways Executive Club account and search for flights. You’ll be presented with options to use some of your Avios points to reduce the cash price of your premium class flight.

Book with Avios: If you have enough Avios saved up, you can easily redeem your points to book a premium class seat.

You can also treat yourself to a premium class ticket upgrade with Avios for both existing and new flights.

Rescheduling your flights

If you need to cancel or reschedule your British Airways flight, you have options, regardless of ticket type. Due to COVID-19, British Airways has made temporary changes to their normal terms to offer more flexibility .

Change fees are waived for flights booked from March 3, 2020, onward that are to be completed by Aug. 31, 2021. For flights booked prior to March 3, 2020, this promotion expires earlier, on Jan. 20, 2021. Keep in mind that you’re still responsible for any changes in fare price, but you will not incur change fees.

The bottom line

Three premium tier levels make up British Airways classes, each offering a unique set of perks and amenities that are reflected in the price tags.

But, the question remains: Are British Airways premium economy, business or first classes worth it? If you can afford the significant expense or have Avios points saved up, British Airways premium seats can be worth the cost — particularly on long-haul journeys, and the added privacy and comfort mean a more enjoyable flight experience.

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On a similar note...

Simple Flying

Flight review: british airways euro traveller - a320 cologne to gatwick.

Today I had the pleasure of joining British Airways for a flight after Christmas. After visiting my partner's family, we needed to get home. A range of options for flights was considered, however, when it transpired that it would be cheaper to get the bus to Cologne and then fly with British Airways to London than to fly with Ryanair from Frankfurt , my mind was made up.

Booking the flight was actually a relatively painless procedure. Compared to the complexity of a Ryanair booking, with British Airways I had three simple options. This included basic economy, economy plus, and business. We opted for economy plus as we needed the additional luggage. All in all, we were able to check two suitcases each weighing 23kg, in addition to a standard cabin bag each. We paid a total of €67.76 for two tickets from Cologne to Gatwick. Booking Score: ✈︎✈︎✈︎✈︎

[ege_cards_related id="7"]

Check-in was one of the only major things that let us down overall. We decided not to pay to reserve seats as the website informed me that upon checking in at T-24 hours, the choice would be free. Imagine my horror when I discovered that online check-in was not available for my booking.

We arrived at the airport around three hours before the flight with check-in opening around two hours before. Despite being at the check-in desk when it opened, we still had to queue for 30 minutes to reach the desk. It seems as though online check-in wasn't available for anybody on the flight. At the desk, the check-in agent didn't greet me, instead just taking our passports and swiping them. It should be noted that the check-in agent wasn't a British Airways employee. I asked for a fragile sticker as I had a couple of bottles in my suitcase, but was told that they didn't have any. I was given a priority luggage tag instead. Thankfully, despite not being able to choose a seat, my partner and I were allocated 5E and 5F, at the very front of the economy cabin (more on that later). Check-in Score: ✈︎✈︎

Overall, boarding the aircraft was relatively painless, although there were a few hiccups. Due to the layout of the airport, the A320 was located away from the terminal. As such, it was necessary to take a bus to the aircraft. There was some confusion over which gate would be used. This was initially advertised as gate 22, down a staircase, but when it became clear that another flight was using the gate for too long, this was changed to gate 20, back up the stairs. There were two buses provided to the aircraft, both a significant time apart. Once we reached the aircraft we boarded and we directed to our seats by the friendly cabin crew. Boarding Score: ✈︎✈︎✈︎✈︎

All in all, I was very impressed with the seat provided by British Airways. The aircraft has an advertised pitch of 30 inches. As a 6ft 3in man, I had no problem with legroom. In fact, I had room to spare. I didn't notice any discomfort with the seat at all.

The only slight complaint regarding the seat was due to its location. Being the first seat in economy, there was a black curtain directly in front of me. As such, I had nowhere to look for the majority of the flight. Additionally, due to the curtain, I had no access to an air vent. This was mildly uncomfortable, as the early portion of the flight seemed quite stuffy and it would've been appreciated. Seat Score: ✈︎✈︎✈︎

In-Flight Service

The in-flight service is potentially where this flight scored highest. I'm consistently blown away by the friendliness and professionalism of British Airways staff. Upon boarding, we were greeted with a smile and welcomed to the aircraft.

We were aware that food is no longer complimentary on British Airways flights to Heathrow and Gatwick. As such, I had had a browse of the M&S menu prior to boarding the flight. One thing stood out to me, the Emmental and Mushroom toastie. I was disappointed to see a symbol that said this option was not available on shorter flights, however, on asking the cabin crew I was told this was on offer. My order was placed, and I was advised that it would take 10 minutes to heat. I wasn't disappointed. Despite not being as mushroomy as the picture suggested (I only had 4 or 5 big slices of mushroom), the toastie was delicious. I'm not usually one to pay for food on a plane, but any time I fly British Airways I would now buy this.

The toastie was accompanied by a Kenco Latte, and a packet of "Globetrotting Percy Pig". My partner ordered the porridge, which was a little too runny for her, but enjoyable none the less. The latte was initially way too hot for me, somebody who usually orders their drinks "kids temperature". I decided to leave it to cool until after my toastie had arrived, and in the end, was still drinking it while we taxied to the gate. As such, I had to hold it during the descent and landing. I didn't get a chance to open the Percy Pigs on the flight, as by the time I finished the toastie, we were beginning our descent. All in all, the food cost a total of £10.75. Service Score: ✈︎✈︎✈︎✈︎✈︎

The Flight Overall

[ege_cards_related id="15"]

Overall the flight was mostly pleasant and problem free. We didn't experience any turbulence, and the pilot kept us up to date throughout the flight. Despite departing 14 minutes late, we arrived at the gate only 3 minutes late. The initial problems encountered with check-in were more than cancelled out by the flight itself. I would fly this flight again. Final Score: ✈︎✈︎✈︎✈︎

Have you flown British Airways Euro Traveller? Let us know what you thought in the comments down below!

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British Airways Boarding Groups & Process — Everything You Need To Know

Jeff Brownson

Former Content Contributor

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Editor-in-Chief

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British Airways Boarding Groups

Pre-boarding, priority group 1, priority group 2, priority group 3, groups 4 through 9, hand baggage only fares, how to build up your british airways avios balance, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

With primary operations based at both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, British Airways has a massive presence in both the trans-Atlantic and European airline markets.

In addition, it flies long-haul flights from these London hubs to multiple cities in pretty much every region of the world .

Even if you don’t live in England, chances are you’ll find yourself on a British Airways flight at some point. BA often has plenty of award availability if you are trying to get to Europe with miles, and it is an excellent choice for hopping around to other countries once there.

If you fly with British Airways, it makes sense for you to learn a bit about how it boards its planes. It’s always nice to know how the process works ahead of time instead of trying to figure things out once you get to the boarding gate!

To make things easier on you when it comes time for your next British Airways flight, let’s go through all of the details of how its boarding process works . That way, you can be sure you are ready to go.

British Airways does things a little differently than most airlines when it comes to boarding.

Yes, it has pre-boarding for certain passengers, and then it uses 9 numbered boarding groups . That may sound somewhat familiar.

What it does differently is change which passengers are eligible to board with each of the numbered groups, depending on whether you’re boarding a short-haul or a long-haul flight .

British Airways doesn’t have a first class or premium economy cabins on its shorter flights. As a result, those passenger categories are not in the short-haul boarding groups.

Since business class passengers are the top-tier passengers on the short-hauls, it moves them up to Group 1 for boarding those flights.

Other than that, the 2 boarding procedures are pretty much the same no matter where you are flying.

You may notice that with both types of flights, economy class passengers do not board until the last 2 groups.

Since this is by far the largest section of the plane, you should expect long lines when it comes time to board groups after Group 4.

BA Short-haul Flights

• Families with infants under 2 or young children in strollers
• Customers requiring disability or mobility assistance
• Business (Club Europe) class passengers
• Executive Club Gold members
• Oneworld Emerald members
• Executive Club Silver members
• Oneworld Sapphire members
• Executive Club Bronze members
• Oneworld Ruby members
• Economy (Euro Traveller) passengers

BA Long-haul Flights

• First class passengers
• Business (Club World) class passengers
• Premium economy (World Traveller Plus) passengers
• Economy (World Traveller) class passengers

Boarding Notes

Passengers traveling together on British Airways may be assigned to different boarding groups, but they have the option of seeing the gate agent to board together.

British Airways does not explicitly say in its official procedures which group you will end up boarding with, so it’s likely up to the discretion of the gate agents.

Families traveling with young children are asked to get to the gate 50 minutes before the flight so that British Airways has plenty of time to board them and stow any strollers or car seats in the cargo hold.

Passengers with disabilities or those who need extra assistance with boarding are asked to contact British Airways at least 48 hours before their flight so that the proper preparations can be made.

Hand Baggage Only fares on British Airways are most often the least expensive option and, as such, have fewer benefits for passengers.

Although you do not get a checked bag with these fares, you can still bring a full-size carry-on and a personal item on board with you.

If you want to select your own seat location with these fares, you will have to pay an additional fee. Otherwise, British Airways will assign a seat to you before your flight.

Families traveling on Hand Baggage Only fares will be assigned seats together if possible, though they may be in different rows or across aisles. Children under 12 will be seated with a parent .

Hot Tip: Read our article on British Airways’ baggage fees for more information and how to actually cover those expenses!

British Airways initially launched Hand Baggage Only fares on just its short-haul flights. Since that went well, it has now started selling the fares on its long-haul flights as well.

Since these 2 boarding procedures mirror each other in most aspects, we can expect that those lower Hand Baggage Only fares will be in the last boarding group on the long-hauls just like they are with the short-haul flights.

This may be a problem on long-haul flights because passengers who purchase these fares are traveling without a checked bag and will likely need to place a larger carry-on bag in the overhead bin.

As the last passengers to board, there may be limited overhead bin space left , and some Hand Baggage Only passengers might have to gate-check their bags.

Interestingly, along with saving a few dollars (or pounds), checking a bag was probably one of the things these specific passengers were trying to avoid.

The British Airways Executive Club program uses Avios as its mileage currency. Although this is the same currency used by both Iberia , Aer Lingus , and Qatar Airways , the British Airways Executive Club is a separate loyalty program from the other 3 airlines.

It has its own award charts and its own ways of earning lots and lots of Avios .

One of the easier ways to earn a massive number of Avios very quickly is by taking advantage of Chase’s co-branded British Airways Visa Signature ® Card . This card often has a sign-up bonus of up to 100,000 Avios , although the minimum spend required to get the full bonus can be pretty high.

If you haven’t earned enough Avios with your credit card, you can also transfer all 4 of the main flexible bank points to your Executive Club Account.

British Airways is an American Express transfer partner , Capital One transfer partner , Chase transfer partner , and Citi transfer partner , and all transfer quite quickly. There are often even transfer bonuses as high as 30% or 40% that you can take advantage of with one or more of these programs (make this process easy with our transfer partner calculator !).

When planning to use Avios, it’s essential to know that you will often find high fuel surcharges if you book flights on British Airways metal.

This is especially true on long-haul flights that depart out of London — and the charges get even higher for travel in premium cabins.

If you want to avoid these surcharges , some great ways to use your Avios are shorter flights on British Airways and partner airlines worldwide.

Hot Tip: Since it is a member of the Oneworld Alliance , British Airways Avios can be used to fly on many different carriers. One of the best uses of Avios for U.S.-based customers is booking short-haul American Airlines flights. Many flights that American wants 12,500 miles to book will only cost you 7,500 Avios if you book them through British Airways.

Even though the fuel surcharges for some routes can border on ridiculous when booking British Airways flights with miles, plenty of other flights can be an excellent deal.

Whether booking with Avios, with your American Airlines miles, or buying a cash ticket to Europe — you are bound to find yourself at a British Airways boarding gate at some point as you travel the world.

We hope we have helped clear up the British Airways boarding procedures with what we have presented above.

Remember that boarding can be a little different depending on the length of your flight. Just pay attention to your assigned group, and you should be ready to board without worry.

Get on board, get comfortable, and let British Airways whisk you away to the next destination on your list. Maybe you’ll even find a member of the Upgraded Points team hanging around the gate next time you’re in London !

Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding groups are there on british airways.

British Airways uses 9 numbered groups for its boarding process. Prior to these groups, families with infants under 2 or with young children in strollers and customers requiring disability or mobility assistance are allowed to pre-board.

Are British Airways flights assigned seating?

Yes, British Airways uses assigned seating for all of its flights. In most cases, passengers can select their seats ahead of time. If premium seats are selected, payment may be required.

Who has pre-boarding on British Airways?

Families with infants under 2 or with young children in strollers and customers requiring disability or mobility assistance are allowed to pre-board on British Airways flights.

When can families board on British Airways?

Families with infants under 2 or with young children in strollers are allowed to pre-board on British Airways flights. Families are asked to be at the gate 50 minutes prior to the flight so that there is plenty of time to stow any strollers or car seats in the cargo hold.

Who is in Group 1 on British Airways?

For short-haul flights, Priority Group 1 on British Airways includes business class (Club Europe) passengers, Executive Club Gold members, and Oneworld Emerald members. For long-haul flights, Priority Group 1 includes first class passengers, Executive Club Gold members, and Oneworld Emerald members.

Who is in Group 2 on British Airways?

For short-haul flights, Priority Group 2 on British Airways includes Executive Club Silver members and Oneworld Sapphire members. For long-haul flights, Priority Group 2 includes business class (Club World) passengers, Executive Club Silver members, and Oneworld Sapphire members.

Who is in Group 3 on British Airways?

For short-haul flights, Priority Group 3 on British Airways includes Executive Club Bronze members and Oneworld Ruby members. For long-haul flights, Priority Group 3 includes premium economy (World Traveller Plus), Executive Club Bronze members, and Oneworld Ruby members.

Who is in Groups 4-9 on British Airways?

For short-haul flights, Groups 4 through 9 on British Airways includes economy (Euro Traveller) passengers. For long-haul flights, Groups 4 through 9 include economy (World Traveller) class passengers.

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Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.

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Review: British Airways A320 Euro Traveller Basic – BCN to LHR

Posted by Family Flys Free | Jan 22, 2020 | Flight Reviews , Reviews and Reports | 2

It’s rare that I get excited about a short-haul flight, but I did have a bit of anticipation for my British Airways itinerary heading home from a whirlwind couple days in Barcelona. I’d opted to fly the return

I actually booked this ticket as an open-jaw, with a return to another European city in a few months. There wasn’t a decent option for a one-way return south of about $270 (Norwegian and LEVEL to the Bay Area were more expensive than expected), so I decided that I’d book a round-trip for a bit more and hope to come back to Europe, if plans allow.

The total fare was $381.50, which cost me 25,433 Ultimate Rewards points. I booked using my Chase Sapphire Reserve at 1.5 cents per point before downgrading my card soon thereafter .

Pre-Flight and Transit to BCN

I received a notification via email from British Airways alerting me that check-in was open; however, I could not check in online. This was problematic, as I did not have a seat assignment, and I really didn’t want to be stuck in the middle. I considered calling them, but decided against it, wanting to spend as much time out and about as possible. 

The other notification ahead of the flight was regarding the catering. I’m glad they alerted us to the issue, as I would make sure I ate in the lounge before the flight. It appears that the A320 is stocked with food in London for both the outbound and return flights. Great way to start a long travel day.

The most logical option for my return to BCN airport from the city was the Renfe train, as it was the closest easy option to the Alexandra Barcelona Hotel . This is one of the cheaper options between the city and Barcelona Airport , and while not the most convenient, I found it a fine option if you’re staying in the Eixample neighborhood.

The downside is that you have to catch an inter-terminal bus after a bit of a walk to Terminal 2. My flight was out of Terminal 1. Luckily, the buses run frequently, and I was soon queuing up to check-in.

This was the first time I found myself needing to check-in at the airport in a while in economy. I’d previously minimized the benefit of having airline or alliance status when it comes to check-in, but it was much appreciated for this British Airways A320 Euro Traveller basic flight. The economy line was quite long.

But the business class line was short. With only a few months remaining as an American Airlines Gold which provides Oneworld ruby status, I was able to use the Club Europe business class queue when I arrived at 9:50 AM. It never even occurred to me that I would need to use this perk. It only hit me when I saw the Oneworld priority displayed on the sign.

I thought I might need to prove I was actually an AA elite, so I pulled up my AAdvantage card in the AA app while I waited. The couple at the front of the business class check in took ages . It was maybe 10-12 full minutes, but in line that feels like forever. They spent so long bickering with the agent about their seat selection. With only one desk serving business/priority, it took a while. Surely faster than the economy line, but still annoying. 

The agent asked if I was checking a bag. This was a no, as I only had a backpack. Plus, it would have cost extra since I’d booked Euro Traveller basic. Once I had my boarding pass in hand, I saw I was assigned seat 22D. Glad I wouldn’t be riding in a middle seat all the way to London!

Airport Experience

From check-in it was smooth sailing through security and immigration before heading to the lounge. One comment I have on the queues at Barcelona: they don’t adjust them. You have to weave through the entire thing, even if there is hardly anyone in line. The whole thing just seemed ridiculous watching people wind back and forth upward of a dozen times just to get to the entrance. 

Overall, things went quickly. I was through security and passport control by 10:25 AM, just 35 minutes after arriving at the check-in desk. Considering the amount of time I spent there, this was quite quick for an international flight, in my opinion. I spent about 40 minutes in the Sala VIP Miro Priority Pass lounge before heading to Gate D15 just after boarding had commenced.

I wasn’t aware that Oneworld Ruby status provided priority boarding, but based on the sign, British Airways board that group along with their own elites. I walked to the now empty priority queue, scanned my boarding pass, and headed onto the plane. 

Except I didn’t exactly. Priority boarding backfires a bit when you have to be bussed to a remote stand. I’ve been getting used to this lately in Europe, as my recent Finnair flight and short-haul Alitalia flights both used remote stands. And we would land at a remote stand at Heathrow. Is this really this common of an experience abroad? It’s highly annoying on the tail end of a flight. 

We were dropped off at the British Airways A320. You could board at either the front or the rear, and I chose the tail end, as it is the far better choice for getting to row 22.

Plus, there were far fewer people. I was nice to avoid the traffic jam at the front of the plane.

Instead, I waited for just a few people in front of me, stowed my bag, and got settled. The flight attendants greeting everyone were warm and friendly. 

Boarding actually went quite quickly, especially considering everyone had to be bussed to the plane. Until the end. It’s frustrating watching people bring multiple bags onboard and proceed to stuff all of them into the overhead bins, including the smaller bags. In this case, two ladies each had three bags, and both refused to stow their small bags at their feet at the request of the flight attendant. Instead of pushing back, the FA did her best to accommodate them. 

I watched as the jigsaw puzzle of bags had to be rearranged, with some folks moved and condensed into one bin to open up space in another. All said and done, they had to stow 6 bags in 5 different spots, as the two ladies were nearly the last to board and quite literally the last to take their seats. Two, if not three, of the items could have fit underneath the seat in front of each of them.

Once boarding was completed, the captain announced the estimated departure time and arrival time. The flight was already slightly delayed, even though no announcement was made. I’d received a second email regarding potential air traffic disruption at Heathrow. My biggest worry was that I’d miss my connection to San Francisco. Our slot into LHR was approximately 1:30 PM. This meant we would only be delayed 20 minutes although we would be leaving BCN 40-50 minutes late. While I’ve experienced ATC delays at congested airports like SFO during inclement weather, the fierce slot control that happens at Heathrow is truly unlike any other airport in the world. Slots sell for millions of pounds. 

British Airways A320 Euro Traveller Seat

British Airways A320 economy seats offer 30 inches of pitch, which is on the cramped side, but not at all atypical for short-haul flights within Europe. The seats were in good condition and seemed on the newer side. 

I was seated in seat 22D, an aisle seat. Typically, I’ll pick a window for a short-haul flight. But with the requirement for the shades to be up at takeoff and landing and the crappy weather in England that limited any real view, I was fine with what British Airways assigned me. Even if I wasn’t flying Euro Traveller basic, I would have had to pay for a seat. British Airways charges all non-elites for seat selection.

For seats with just 30 inches of pitch, the legroom seemed just fine. It is a bit tighter than the Comfort+ I typically get into these days flying in the U.S., but I have only ever met one economy product where me knees basically touched the seat in front of me.

As expected, there was no at-seat power or in-flight entertainment screens. There wouldn’t even be M&S on board on this particular flight, per the card in front of me. 

The British Airways safety video scored serious points, as it features Michael Cain and other celebrities (he’s just the best one). It’s a bit of a comedy and actually quite engaging. I’m not sure there is another I’ve enjoyed more. 

We finally took off at 12:25 PM, definitely behind schedule, but hopefully with enough time for me to transfer from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 at Heathrow and make my connection to San Francisco. 

Service and Amenities

Once we were climbing and near cruising altitude, the flight attendants provided a water service. This was all we were going to get. There was nothing else to be offered, neither snacks nor  beverages.

With a bit of a charge left on my laptop, I wrote until it died. I did purchase 1-hour of WiFi access to use through my phone, and the speed was decent. I b rowsed the web and tried to contact BA on twitter to change my seat on the next flight. The latter proved unsuccessful.

The crew were pleasant and friendly through the whole flight. I’d not flown British Airways in over a decade, but even with the other shortcomings, I’ve really appreciated their staff, both other the phone and on this flight. 

Arrival into Heathrow

We descended through the fog and rain into Heathrow, landing and then heading to yet another remote stand (did I mention I’m getting tired of this?). The bus service on this end was a mess. Apparently one bus left with too few passengers, causing ours to be crammed with extra passengers. It was supposed to be the last bus. But even after stuffing on as many as they could, they’d need to call for a final bus for the remaining dozen. 

From there is was a mad dash through the airport. Transiting between terminals at Heathrow is no easy feat. You have to go through security again at Terminal 5, which is annoying. But I made it to my gate in time and had just enough left to grab a sandwich.

BA Euro Traveller Basic: The Verdict

Overall, the Euro Traveller Basic restrictions aren’t anything to worry about versus other economy fare types. The lack of a checked bag is no problem travelling light, which is pretty much the only substantial difference . I guess typical Euro Traveller also gets free same-day changes on some itineraries. You still earn tier points and Avios (or other frequent flyer credit) and unless you buy a flex fare, the ticket is nonrefundable.

For my particular flight, it was a less than stellar experience overall, but with some highlights. The seating is fine, even with narrow pitch, and the crew were friendly. I was glad to put my Oneworld Ruby benefits to use to avoid the long queues. However, the lack of catering was annoying. As was needing to be bussed to and from the plane on either end of the flight. I’m not sure I’ll ever book a connection this tight through Heathrow again connecting between and intercontinental flight and a Europe flight!

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After igniting his passion for award travel while planning his honeymoon, Ian now enjoys using points and miles to see the world with his wife and three internationally adopted kiddos. He loves dissecting loyalty programs to find maximum value. His goal is to demonstrate that extraordinary travel is possible for the ordinary family. When he's not chronicling his latest adventures with his kids, you might catch him musing over the ever-changing travel industry or complaining about the woes of regional flights.

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BA are the only oneworld airline that offer priority boarding for Ruby, as far as I know. It’s otherwise limited to Sapphire and Emerald. Nice report there!

Interesting, and thanks! I really was surprised (but thankful) to see it offered as a perk. Helped during the subsequent A380 boarding as well, that flight review pending.

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Flight Review: Euro Traveller Economy On British Airways In Europe

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In this trip report, I review short-haul Euro Traveller or Economy seats and cabin on my flight within Europe on an Airbus A320 from London Heathrow to Nice. British Airways offers a fairly consistent Economy offering throughout Europe, meaning that whatever your destination within Europe is if you are traveling in Euro Traveller, your experience will be similar to the below.

The seating in BA Economy on their Airbus A320 is pretty tightly packed in a 3×3 arrangement behind the BA Club Europe Business Class which we’ve also reviewed.

At 5’7”, even I find the economy seating cramped. If you are bigger, I recommend selecting an aisle seat where you can at least stretch your legs out during your flight, except for when the trolley passes by. The BA Business class seats at the front of the plane are no different, except that the middle seat is converted into an extra table, so by angling yourself, you have much more leg room as well as room for your laptop and papers.

I have reviewed the British Airways M&S food and drink menu that you can buy on board, which is fine but not noteworthy.

In my opinion, the best seats in the Economy cabin are the ones directly behind the Business Class as you can exit the plane more quickly on arrival. Also, if you are in an aisle seat, your seat is less likely to be knocked about by passing traffic than it is by the curtain. This becomes an issue as you get closer to the toilet at the back, particularly if you are trying to sleep.

The two exit rows have more space (legroom) than the other seats in the cabin, so they are a good choice. I prefer window seats, but you are boxed in by 2 other passengers if you choose a window seat. Aisle seats are the best choice for larger passengers, and everyone should avoid the middle seats. These are the worth seats in the BA European Economy cabin with no view and no space.

I like flying British Airways because the pilots keep you up-to-date with conditions throughout the flight, and the air hosts and hostesses tend to be good (particularly in Business, where they make the time for a chat). The Euro Traveller experience is not noteworthy, although I always choose it over rock-bottom competitors like Easyjet.

We have also reviewed a number of British Airways First Class flights and British Airways Business Class flights . British Airways also features in our 5 best airlines to fly to Europe in Business Class .

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Review: British Airways Club Europe vs Euro Traveller – Boeing 767 (LHR-LCA-LHR)

On a recent trip to Cyprus I had the chance to compare the British Airways Club Europe (business class) offering and their Euro Traveller (economy class) offering on the same plane – a Boeing 767.

Ordinarily I’d never book myself into a premium cabin for anything shorter than a trans-Atlantic flight – I just don’t see the value – but on this occasion laziness got the better of me.

Unlike most of my trips (which are generally booked a long time in advance) this Cyprus trip was booked fairly close-in – so prices were sky high and award seats scarce. To avoid paying a truly ridiculous fare I elected to book my outward journey with Avios and then return on a cash ticket (there was no Avios availability on the return) – it was still expensive but it was better than the alternative.

The problem was that the only economy awards available were for the early BA flight out of Heathrow (BA664 at 7:10am) and that meant a 4am start from home (ugh!):

The bigger problem was the “2 reward seats left” for Club Europe staring me in the face on the later flight – it was very tempting. Do I pay 17,000 Avios and $40 in taxes, have a lie-in and fly in Club Europe or do I save 8,500 Avios and $12.50, get up at an un-godly hour of the night and fly in Euro traveller? (Let’s be clear – 4am is not morning, it’s the middle of the night!)

It wasn’t even close. I went for comfort.

Boarding Experience:

Heathrow Terminal 5 (Club Europe) :

Historically BA have been nothing short of appalling when it comes to “priority boarding” – they used to call Club Europe, all British Airways Elites (Gold, Silver & Bronze) and All OneWorld Elites (Emerald, Sapphire & Ruby) all at the same time…..which often equated to 4/5ths of the plane. It was carnage.

Earlier this year BA sent out an email promising that they’d start doing priority boarding properly but my experiences, up until now, have been that nothing had changed (I know others have had different experiences).

This time things were different.

The gate agent called Club Europe, British Airways Gold and OneWorld Emerald to board and, as I waited for the inevitable call for everyone else to board as well, there was silence. Beautiful silence. Boarding was ordered and polite and the most civilised experience I’ve ever had while boarding a BA flight. Hallelujah!

Larnaca Airport (Euro Traveller) :

Ok, this isn’t really a fair comparison because, even though I was travelling in Euro Traveller, my OneWorld Emerald status gets me priority boarding – so this isn’t representative of a true Euro Traveller (with no status) experience. Nevertheless it’s worth mentioning that miracles clearly do happen…..because priority boarding was carried out properly AGAIN! That’s twice in just 3 days!

Club Europe

The Club Europe Cabin in British Airways’ 767’s features a 2-3-2 seat layout where the middle seat in the centre section isn’t a true seat and is blocked off (which essentially makes it a 2-2-2 layout).

Had I actually engaged my brain when reserving my seat I would have chosen a seat in the centre section (more room) but, instead, I gave my brain a vacation that day and I picked an aisle seat on the port side of the aircraft.

Still, it wasn’t exactly terrible.

The leg-room was adequate if not spacious….

….and the shoulder room and width of the seat were ok too – although nothing to get excited about.

Euro Traveller

With my OneWorld status I can select my seats at the time of booking on British Airways and this is invaluable when booking economy class flights. As an added bonus my status also allows me to book the exit row…which is what I did for this flight. Seat 27J to be precise.

The Euro Traveller Cabin in British Airways’ 767’s features a 2-3-2 seat layout just like Club Europe…..only in this instance the seats are narrower and the middle seat in the centre section isn’t blocked off.

The exit row is great (if you’re not carrying too much weight – the seats aren’t the widest!)…..

….and the leg room blows Club Europe out of the water:

Even the leg room in the non-exit row seat looked reasonable:

Connectivity/Entertainment

This particular 767 aircraft had definitely seen better days – it was looking quite worn around the edges – so it wasn’t too much of a surprise when the cabin crew announced that the entertainment system wasn’t working. They attempted to re-boot it but to no avail. Not a big issue for me as I’ve long given up on relying on any airline’s IFE so I carry plenty of my own entertainment – still, not exactly impressive.

Even if the entertainment system had been working it wouldn’t have been anything to write home about – there were no personal screens (you’ve got no choice of what to watch) so it would have been like flying on some of the US legacy airlines where you’re either squinting at a screen in the distance or craning your neck back at an uncomfortable angle just to see what’s going on.

Not only was there no working IFE there also weren’t any power ports to be found around my seat – so make sure you charge all your electronics before you fly on one of these planes.

The IFE was working on this flight but, short of taking a couple of photos, I didn’t really pay much attention to it. The main “feature” appeared to be a children’s animation which was followed by a series of US sit-coms.

The screens appeared identical to the ones in Club Europe…..

…and, just like Club Europe, there wasn’t a power port in sight.

Food/Drinks

Shortly after boarding the cabin crew came around with the customary hot towels and, shortly after that, the drinks service began.

I’m not really one for drinking in the air and, added to that, I was driving at the other end so I’m not in much of a position to comment on the quality of the offerings. Still, I can tell you that the Champagne was Monopole, there appeared to be a choice of red and white wines and the beers on offer were Heineken and Tiger.

There were a good number of soft drinks to choose from (I really pushed the boat out with a glass of water) and a snack was served as well:

As is to be expected in a business class cabin, all the drinks were free.

After the drinks service was over the crew handed out menus for lunch:

I opted for the pulled beef when the person sitting next to me ordered the chicken – I’d normally have gone for the chicken but I was interested to see what the choices looked like.

This is what turned up:

It doesn’t look particularly appetising but it tasted ok. The meat was indeed “pulled”, the vegetables had texture and the dish had flavor….although the “herbed gremolata” was a bit pointless. The worst thing about the meal was the salad….which was tasteless, made almost entirely of arugula/rocket and an affront to salads everywhere. Whoever decided that arugula/rocket should be used in salads should be forced to eat it all day every day for year!

The passenger next to me, after seeing me photographing my food (he must have thought I was a lunatic!) asked what it was all about….and when he found out it was for a blog he promptly photographed his own food for me to use as a comparison. See? TFM is already bringing me closer to my fellow passengers 🙂

Here’s what the chicken dish looked like:

I’m told that it was “quite tasty” despite the “just out of a microwave” look.

Lastly, desert – I had the Bitter Chocolate with Raspberry….which wasn’t bad at all.

The drinks cart came around shortly after take off but, once again, I wasn’t drinking alcohol so I didn’t pay particular attention to the offerings. Importantly, however, they were serving alcoholic drinks free of charge….something which legacy US airlines definitely do not do in Coach on their equivalent routes.

The food was free but there was no choice (presumably unless you’d pre-ordered a special meal) so you get what you’re given and if you don’t like it – tough. That’s still better than the legacy US airlines who have the gall to charge you for some truly appalling sandwiches/snacks on their equivalent routes – there’s no hot food on offer.

The main course was chicken in an unidentifiable sauce with overcooked carrots, broccoli and potato wedges (of a kind):

To tell the truth it tasted ok but it definitely didn’t look appetizing.

The chocolate brownie/fondant thing was ok but the star of the show was the salad. It was the best salad I’ve had on any plane anywhere.

The ingredients were fresh, there wasn’t a shred of arugula/rocket to be seen and the olives and olive oil dressing were very nice indeed. And this brings me to a question: I they can serve this on flights out of Larnaca (in Euro Traveller!) why on earth do the serve that utter garbage (in Club Europe!) on flights out of Heathrow?

I’d rant a bit more about this but this blog is dragging on as it is!

Service/Other

I’ve got to hand it to this cabin crew because they were great – and that’s coming from someone who really doesn’t think too highly of British Airways. The Cabin Services Director was smiley and friendly and, probably most importantly, extremely supportive of a fellow crew member whom, I suspect, was new to the route and/or aircraft.It makes a big difference to a flight when you get a happy/positive crew and, on this flight, they were certainly that.

There were two issues on this leg of my trip and neither were crew related or specific to Club Europe:

• The IFE didn’t work and that’s unimpressive on a flight of over 4 hours
• The Heathrow T5 baggage system went into meltdown and 60 people on our flight discovered their bags weren’t on the flight when they landed in Cyprus. The fact that Heathrow doesn’t have an appropriate backup plan in place for when things like this go wrong reflects very badly on them and, unfortunately, on British Airways – it is their terminal after all.

The service was efficient and perfectly ok but was definitely short of the very high standard set by the crew on the way out. There really isn’t that much more to report because there wasn’t anything  that stood out….good or bad.

This trip reinforced my long-held belief that there really isn’t any true value (to me) to be had out of Club Europe. Yes, the food was marginally better and yes you get offered a mediocre Champagne but if you can book an exit row and you’re not too portly then that’s a perfectly good option – especially for the taller passenger. For an Avios redemption that gets me out of a very early start Club Europe is ok (just)…. but I can’t imagine parting with cold hard cash just for an improved meal and some alcoholic beverages I don’t really need.

My OneWorld status gets me lounge access and allows me to choose my seats in advance so I have a definite advantage over the less-frequent traveller – and that is certainly affecting my opinion. But even if you have no status at all I’m struggling to see the value in the Club Europe product when you consider the often enormous price differential over Euro Traveller.

What stands out most for me from this comparison is that if I can’t see the value in Club Europe on a 4.5 hour flight, I’m definitely not going to see the values in most other Club Europe flights. which tend to be shorter.

Have you flown Club Europe recently? Do you think it’s worth it? Let me know in the comments.

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Find all the information you need for your baggage needs, including the weight, size and content allowance of your bags, as well as restricted and oversized items. Your packing, made easy.

Your baggage weight allowance

Our standard checked baggage allowance is 23kg per bag. How many checked bags you’re allowed will depend on your booking, cabin class and Executive Club Tier status. All tickets on British Airways, BA Cityflyer and BA Euroflyer include a cabin bag and hand bag.

You can check in more bags than your ticket permits when you pay to increase your baggage allowance.

If you are travelling on our hand baggage only (Economy Basic) fare, you are charged extra to put any bags into the hold as these fares do not include checked baggage.

The cost of each additional hold bag depends on your destination and how many more bags you want to check in over your hold allowance.

See your baggage allowance and cost of extra bags  using the calculator. More bags can only be paid for and carried when space is available, and excess baggage is permitted, on your flight. In some destinations, additional local taxes may also apply for additional bags carried in excess of your ticketed allowance.

The best price for adding to your checked baggage allowance is found through your  Manage My Booking  before you get to the airport. You can pay by card, Avios from your Executive Club account or a combination of the two. Charges for extra bags checked in at the airport are not discounted and must be paid by card.

If you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they’re  over the permitted size , your larger bags may have to go into the hold as checked bags. Each one counts towards your total hold baggage allowance and could be charged as excess baggage if you already have bags checked in.

Label all your checked bags inside and out with your name, mobile number and/or email address.

Booked through a travel agency/online travel website? The option to pay for additional bags will only be available once the booking has been finalised by the agent. Contact them directly if you cannot access Manage My Booking.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, the number of checked bags allowed per customer may be different. Check before you fly.

British Airways will refund any pre-payment of the extra baggage charge that is cancelled online before check-in. British Airways is unable to accept any refund claim, or any changes to the pre-payment of extra baggage, once the flight has departed. Unless otherwise stated, British Airways will only make a refund to the credit card used to pre-pay the extra baggage charge. Delayed, lost or damaged extra baggage will be dealt with in accordance with the  General Conditions of Carriage , clauses 15 and 16.

If you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they’re over the permitted size , you may have to put your larger bags into the hold as checked baggage.

When you’ve used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay to put any extra bags into the hold. Check your baggage allowance using the calculator below. Please note, the carriage of excess baggage is subject to availability. In some destinations, additional local taxes may also apply.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their allowances may be different. Please check before you fly.

If your checked baggage weighs more than your allowance, you may have to pay a heavy bag charge. Check your baggage allowance in the calculator.

We charge 65 GBP / 75 EUR / 100 USD / 100 CAD per overweight bag and one-way journey. If you’re flying from a country that uses a different local currency, the GBP amount will be converted to the local currency. In some destinations, additional local taxes may also apply.

At many airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and in North America, you can only pay using a credit or debit card. Cash is not accepted and Avios cannot be used for this payment. 

British Airways’ 23kg baggage weight limit applies to each bag and can’t be split between multiple bags. Bags over 32kg won’t be accepted as checked baggage.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their baggage allowances may be different. Please check before you fly .

Your baggage size allowance

• Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in)
• Up to 23kg (51lb)
• Essentials like medication, mobile phones, other electronic devices and passports
• To be placed under the seat
• Guaranteed in the cabin

• Up to 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) - includes wheels and handles
• No valuables, electronics or essential medicines
• May need to go in the hold

Checked baggage

• Up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35 x 30 x 17in)
• Up to 23kg (51lb) in Economy and Premium Economy
• Up to 32kg (70lb) in First and Business
• Checked in to the hold

Your baggage contents allowance

You can travel with all the things that are important to you, including musical instruments and sports equipment.

Sports equipment

Musical instruments

Restricted items

Check your baggage allowance by destination.

Whether you’ve booked a flight with us yet or not, you can enter your details in our search tool below and find out how much baggage you’re allowed to take on your flight, plus more detailed baggage information.

Sorry, we don't fly from ### to ###

Doorstep bag check-in

Have your baggage collected from your doorstep, securely transported to the airport, and checked-in for your flight, allowing you to travel to the airport luggage-free and head straight to security when you get there. Available for flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick, Geneva, Zurich and Vienna.

Baggage FAQ

The maximum dimensions for an oversize bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm.

Bags larger than the standard size but within these maximum dimensions are known as out-of-gauge bags. They're accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance, but must be checked in at the out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight to ensure they travel with you.

You don't need to let us know in advance that you’re bringing a larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in.

You cannot pool, share or combine your checked baggage allowance with another traveller, even someone in your travel party.

For security reasons, you must only check in bags that you've packed yourself. You are responsible for any bag that is linked to your name in the booking.

For any single bag that is over the maximum weight or number allowed on your ticket, you may be charged a heavy bag or extra bag charge.

On journeys with connecting flights that use a single booking reference, even if it includes other airline codes, your baggage allowance is generally determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary.

You can usually check in your bags to arrive at your final destination if:

• All your flights are under a single booking reference and ticket number, or
• Your flights are with one world airlines under a single booking reference, even if you have separate ticket numbers.
• Check in your bags for your first flight.
• Collect your bags when you land – you may need to go through customs.
• Go to Departures and check your bags in again for your domestic flight.
• Collect your bags at your final destination.

If you’ve booked separate flights with different booking references to get to your final destination each flight is considered a separate journey. This applies even if all your flights are with British Airways, BA Cityflyer and BA Euroflyer.

You’ll need to check your bags in for each separate flight. Make sure to leave enough time between each flight to do this and get to your departure gate for the next leg of your journey. Simply follow these steps:

• Collect your bags when you land - you may need to go through customs.
• Go to departures and check your bags in again for your next flight.

Please be aware that on journeys with separate tickets and different booking references, your bags will not be transferred on to your next flight as it is considered a separate journey.

In case of delay, cancellation or other disruption to your initial flight, when you hold a separate booking on a different reference for your next flight, airlines are limited in the assistance they can give you for your onward journey/subsequent flight, just as they have no obligation to automatically check your baggage through to your next flight as each booking is considered a separate contract.

British Airways, BA Cityflyer or BA Euroflyer infant baggage allowance for a baby under 24 months without a seat, regardless of cabin, includes a 23kg bag checked into the hold. No extra baggage allowance can be purchased on a ticket for an infant without a seat.

There is no checked baggage allowance for you or your infant if you are both travelling on a hand baggage only (Basic) fare, and any additional hold baggage allowance cannot be bought for your infant.

Children, and infants with a seat, have the same free baggage allowance as adults.  Find out what other items you can check in for your family.

The above allowances apply to British Airways, BA Cityflyer or BA Euroflyer flights only.

You, as the Executive Club Member, must be travelling on the booking for those on your booking to get these benefits.

These allowances are not available on group bookings or to infants travelling without their own seat. Infants get one 23kg checked bag, no matter their cabin of travel.

Travel packages for students holding study visas, or similar official identification, may be available on some of our routes. You should search for student fares from the local ba.com website of the country where you will start your journey.

If no student travel offer is currently available for your journey, your ticket will still have our baggage allowance relevant to your route, so long as it is not an economy basic fare where there is no checked baggage allowance .

We don’t offer any extra free baggage allowance specifically for students on any other fares, but we do have discounted online rates for extra bags if you need to take more baggage on your flight: check our extra bag charge calculator .

If you are travelling on any specialist student fare, you must have your current official international student identification with you when you travel, or you could be refused carriage.

Duty-free purchases count towards your hand baggage allowance, so please store them inside your bag before boarding your flight. If your gifts or duty-free bags take you over the hand baggage allowance, your extra bags may be checked into the hold. If you’ve already used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay for extra bags in the hold. If you pack wrapped gifts or presents in your bags, either those checked into the hold or in the cabin, they may need to be opened by airport security to check their contents.

You must be able to turn on any electronic items you want to take into the cabin, so please ensure all your devices are charged before you leave home.

Items that aren’t charged will need to be packed into your checked baggage and travel in the hold. You can put laptops in your checked baggage, however any spare device batteries and power packs must be carried in your hand baggage in the cabin.

You can also  purchase Wi-Fi  on board to stream your favourite TV shows or catch up on work while you travel.

If you need to take regular medication, it’s important to pack enough for your personal use during your flight into your smaller item of hand baggage. It’s guaranteed to travel with you in the cabin. Avoid packing it in your larger cabin bag as you may be asked to put it into the hold on busy flights. Additional medication for personal use at your destination can be packed in your checked baggage.

We recommend you carry a copy of the prescription for your medication to avoid delays at security or customs.

If you need to take essential medical supplies for your own use on your journey, like dialysis fluid, colostomy bags or liquid food, you can pack these into bags to be checked into the hold.

These items are in addition to your free baggage allowance, and you won’t be charged so long as:

• Any additional bag only contains your medical supplies, and
• You can show a letter from a medical professional confirming your need of these items

Please see our information on travelling with health conditions for the number of bags you can travel with and further advice.

There aren’t any limits to the weight or number of items of medical equipment you can carry with you for your journey, though they may need our permission to be brought on board . We recommend that you always carry a letter from a medical professional stating that you need the medical equipment on board or at your destination. This includes equipment like a CPAP machine, nebulisers, insulin pumps or a portable oxygen concentrator (POC),

If your journey includes a flight with another airline , their policies may be different. Please check before you fly.  

It’s free to take wheelchairs, mobility aids, assistive devices and related equipment if they’re for your personal use and within size limits. Find out more .

Travelling on partner airlines

If your flight number begins with anything other than ‘BA’ (e.g. AA123456X), you’re flying with one of our partners and your baggage allowances may be different.

If a journey with connecting flights includes ‘BA’ and other airline codes, your baggage allowance is generally determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary.

SUN-AIR: You can take 1 checked bag up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16in) and 23kg (51lb). American Airlines Finnair Iberia Japan Airlines Qatar China Southern