Got 2 bags? It'll cost you at British Airways

On the eve of Valentine's Day, British Airways will institute changes in baggage procedures, but travelers won't be feeling the love.

On its Web site, the airline details a new, "simpler" policy aimed to creating "the best possible airport experience before you fly."

The changes?

British Airways will begin limiting some of its long haul passengers to a single bag per passenger — and charging them 120 pounds ($236) per flight for every extra piece of luggage each way, the company said Thursday.

The change applies to passengers flying economy class to destinations outside North America, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Brazil. While passengers to destinations such as Europe and Asia were previously allowed as many bags as they wished, they would now be limited to one bag — and charged for the excess.

Domestic passengers would be charged 30 pounds ($59) for every bag beyond the first, while the price for extra bags taken to Europe would rise to 60 pounds ($118).

“This whole thing is about simplifying the excess baggage charge system, which only two percent of people paid anyway,” British Airways spokesman Paul Marston said. Passengers were previously charged various rates per excess kilogram, and Marston said that many would actually end up paying less under the new system.

Those with special needs may have extra charges waived at the discretion of check-in staff, he said.

Club World, World Traveller, and first class passengers would still be allowed to check in more than one bag. BA said it would offer a 30 percent discount to customers who prepay online.

The changes don't come as a total surprise to industry experts.

Last August, Tripso columnist and MSNBC.com contributor Charlie Leocha wrote a story predicting a similar change.

Mr. Leocha wrote:

Some industry analysts say that domestic airlines handle as much in luggage weight as they do in passenger weight, and the Transportation Security Administration reports that more than 50 percent of its $6-something billion budget goes to baggage screening.

FREE VIDEO Flight delays rocket in 2006 Feb. 8: On-time arrivals take a plunge with more reports of mishandled baggage. MSNBC.com's Dara Brown reports. msnbc.com

Clearly, there’s money to be saved — and made — if the airlines can reduce checked baggage and charge extra for it at the same time. As “debundlings” go, luggage may prove more profitable than the late lamented in-flight meal.

Change is coming. The discussions are well along; in fact, luggage changes have been bandied about in boardrooms and revenue maximization meetings since the mid-1990s. The airline world is just waiting for the major airline with the most courage to take the first step. My guess is that all the legacy carriers will follow suit almost immediately, at least for domestic flights.

Air Canada, which moved more than 400,000 tons of checked baggage last year, is already testing online “Go Discount” fares, which offer added discounts to passengers who promise not to check their luggage or change their travel dates. Ryanair, in Europe, has been charging for checked luggage for years, and some passengers pay as much to bring their luggage as they do for their airline ticket.

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