British Airways has stepped up its price battle with Easyjet by introducing a two-tier fare structure on all its Gatwick short-haul flights, giving a discount to passengers without hold baggage.
Passengers on all 32 routes now have the option of paying the headline fare, which includes only a hand luggage allowance, or adding £9-£15 to the base price in order to put a bag in the hold. Easyjet levies a £24 charge per bag per flight that is not included in the headline price.
BA’s tactic, which was introduced last month on five routes including Amsterdam and Turin, has met with little resistance from passengers and encouraged the carrier to spread it further. It will allow BA to compete better with Easyjet, which in recent years has ousted BA to become Gatwick’s largest carrier. The new rates apply immediately for travel from April 2.
“The prices have not gone up, it is a discounted rate if you don’t want to take a bag,” said a BA spokeswoman, who claimed passengers had been “delighted” by the change.
BA also has a more generous hand luggage allowance than Easyjet. BA allows two pieces of hand luggage, a handbag or laptop bag plus another up to 56 x 45 x 25cm, the same dimensions as Easyjet. BA also provides a free snack and drink or, on morning flights, a more substantial breakfast plus frequent flier points.
It will not be drawn on whether the scheme will be extended to flights from Heathrow or to Gatwick’s long-haul services.
“At the moment, it is just for short-haul at Gatwick,” she said.