British Airways slashes excess baggage charges

British Airways has apparently decided that its excess baggage fees were, well, excessive – so it is sharply reducing them effective November 7. On transatlantic routes, checking a bag beyond your free limit currently incurs a cost of 120 U.K. pounds (about $240), or $168 if you pay online. After November 7, that fee will drop to $150 (or $120 online). For short-haul flights, e.g. intra-Europe, the excess bag fee drops from $120 per bag ($84 online) to $60 ($48 online). The free checked baggage allowance on BA depends on your class of service. Economy and premium economy travelers get two checked bags free; for business and first class passengers, the allowance is three bags free.