In line with US airline companies, British Airways has announced a new allowance system for free checked baggage.

Under the system, to be introduced on 11 October, First Class, Club Class and World Traveller Plus passengers will be allowed to check in two 23kg bags free of charge.

World Traveller, Euro Traveller (Economy Class) and Domestic Flight passengers will be allowed to check in one free 23kg bag. That's up on the old limit of 20kg, but it must involve a single bag where, in the past, the limit could be split between different bags.

Economy Class passengers will also gain by being allowed one carry-on bag of any weight - as long as they can lift it unaided into an overhead locker.

But on routes to the USA, Canada, Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico, where passengers have previously been allowed two free bags, each of 32kg, the limit is now down to two 23kg bags - a loss of 18kg.

The same applies to journeys involving connecting flights where at least one of the airlines allows a two-piece limit.

Passengers will be able to carry "one piece of sporting equipment" free of charge in addition to their free checked baggage allowance.

It has not been confirmed whether diving gear counts as sporting equipment. In the past it has not done so - unlike, say, golfing and skiing equipment.

No weight for sporting equipment is specified. Presumably the allowance for any accepted sports bag will be 23kg, the maximum weight applicable to any checked-in bag under the new rules.

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