News
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Boac Pacific Jet
The weighty problem of baggage
Baggage has been a problem for avellers through the ages. And the ; .t Age is no exception. Most of us, ith good intentions of travelling ght, tend to take more than we leant to. BOAC tries to ease the roblem as much as possible, but mits are unavoidable.
TJ)® fr®e baggage allowance is J kg (44 lb) economy class and 3 kg (66 lb) first class. Hand bag tge taken into the cabin (other than small camera, binoculars, umbrella, fading material for the flight or an /ercoat) must be weighed in at the rminal.
All but four aircraft in the BOAC jet have enclosed overhead racks, he four exceptions are 7075, of hich one is now being converted id one will be by June; the other 'o are mainly used for cargo. For fety reasons a bag stowed in the iclosed overhead rack should not sigh more than 5 kg (11 lb).
There is a size limit on cases lowed m the cabin. For 7475, 707 s id VC 1 Os, it is 18 in. x 14 in. x in. for cases to slide under the at in front of the passenger. Note at phrase ‘the seat in front’; only ® f ® et of the passenger himself ould be inconvenienced if he wishes stow baggage in this way.
Frequent air travellers know that
there is a list of articles which are prohibited on aircraft; these include compressed gases, explosives, lighter fuels and matches. BOAC has no objection to passengers carrying one box of matches in the cabin, but asks that they be carried in a suit pocket, where they are less likely to be accidently ignited.
Excess baggage charges vary according to distance, but they are calculated at one per cent, of the first class one way fare. There is provision, however, for the businessman who likes his game of golf.
Providing that the weight of the golf clubs does not exceed 15 kg there is a charge applicable equal to only four kilos excess. The special rate is not used, of course, if it is cheaper to add the golf clubs to the passenger s luggage, and charge normal excess rates. There is also a special rate for skis, provided that only one set of equipment is used. In this case the weight of the skis is assessed as equivalent to two kilos excess, unless it is cheaper to add the skis to the passenger’s luggage.
BOAC offers another service for passengers who find that they have exceeded the free baggage allowance.
It has an unaccompanied baggage desk adjacent to the check-in area in the departure building at London
Heathrow, and is the only airline to offer this facility. The desk serves BOAC passengers (and the passengers of other airlines it handles) whose baggage is found to be overweight at the time of check-in for a flight, If a passenger does not wish to pay the excess charge he may select an item or items as unaccompanied baggage, which goes at a considerably reduced rate. This service is restricted to such things as clothing and toilet articles. Items outside this category may be submitted, but will be charged at the full cargo rate. This service is offered by BOAC world-wide, Any unaccompanied baggage or cargo submitted at the time of a passenger’s check-in will not be dis patched on the same flight as the passenger, but on the first service after where space is available, If a passenger knows in advance of reporting for check-in that his baggage is going to be overweight and wishes the excess unaccompanied baggage on the same flight, he may submit the selected portion to be presented at the cargo section. This must be at least four hours before estimated time of departure. Cargo section will try to get the unaccom panied baggage on the same flight as the passenger if space is available but no guarantees can be given.
Baggage is handled with speed, ease and efficiency at the new BOAC terminal at the John F. Kennedy Inter national Airport, New York.