Austrian Airlines simplifies baggage rules

Austrian Airlines is simplifying the baggage allowance conditions for tickets bought from 1 June 2011 onwards.

The new ‘baggage item concept’ has already been in use on flights to the USA and Canada for some time, where it has been proven to be successful. Under the baggage item concept, the passenger can check in a concrete, specified number of baggage items free of charge as their baggage allowance. This number is defined by their flight class. In future, therefore, passengers will be able to take more baggage on flights within Europe and long-haul routes to Asia and the Middle East with them.

Economy Class passengers will be able to pack three kilograms more into their cases, and take one item of baggage weighing up to 23 kilograms with them onto the flight. Until now, these passengers have been able to take as many items of luggage as they wanted adding up to a total weight of 20 kilograms with them.

Business Class passengers will be able to take two items of baggage, even if each weighs up to 32 kilograms, or a total weight of up to 64 kilograms with them. Until now, the weight of their baggage has been restricted to up to 30 kilograms.

For small children under the age of two who do not have their own seat, parents will also be able to pack one item of baggage weighing up to 23 kilograms and a foldaway pram in future.

For excess baggage, Austrian Airlines has also simplified its cost structure and will distinguish between European and Intercontinental flights in future. The Austrian carrier will calculate a package price depending on the weight of the excess luggage.

For instance, a item of baggage weighing between 23 and 32 kilograms in Economy Class carried within Europe costs 50 Euro per leg and on long-haul flights 100 Euro. This means excess baggage will be more reasonably priced for passengers in many cases.

The rules governing how much hand luggage may be taken on board are to remain unchanged: as before, Economy Class passengers are allowed to take one item of hand luggage on board with them, measuring 55 x 40 x 23 centimetres and weighing up to eight kilos. Passengers in Business Class are allowed to carry up to two items of hand luggage during the flight – the first weighing up to eight kilos, and the second up to four kilos.

For tickets bought before 1 June 2011, however, the excess baggage conditions described on the ticket and the former excess baggage rules remain valid.

For more information visit: Austrian.com