Why are the new BA baggage rules "unfair to the elderly" ?

Question

It is claimed that the elderly may struggle with one heavier bag, rather than two lighter ones- but this is the same of anyone surely! If they're so frail, why be travelling on long haul flights in the first place? Same financially, if they can afford long haul flights,(on their meagre pensions they like to moan about so often) one must assume they can afford a fine as well! I am 21 years old and i stand no chance of getting on the property ladder, no chance whatsoever of a state pension and i will probably end up working for a least 20 years longer than current pensioners ever did. It makes my blood boil to read these poor poor old people stories!! The whole of society nowadays seem to be geared towards pandering to them, whilst slagging off the "youth of today"....

I have nothing against old people and never will. I just find all forms of positive discrimintation faintly ridiculous. Also GF- i am a medical student. I live off £12 a week. And Mummy and Daddy don't give me a penny, before you think it.

Answer 1

don't worry, the old buggers wont be getting charged for their colostomy bags........lol

Answer 2

We have an ageing population - they will soon be the majority! Of course the elderly get special treatment!
In airports they have those trolley things and the staff help people who are frail or disabled anyway.
I'm 26 and in my area I can't afford to rent anywhere on minimum wage. The rent on a bedsit will be about 70-80% of what I earn. I have to live with my parents or move so far away that although I will have cheap rent I can't see my family and friends as often.
Anyway don't worry about things if things keep going the way they are by the time you are 30 all the pensioners will be working 40 hour weeks again as the state pension is getting to the point of being pointless.

Answer 3

I think that the new luggage rules are unfair to everyone, especially families. It is just another way of screwing the public to recover their losses. It's as simple as that. For the record I am 66 and still working. Now someone is going to say I aught to retire and give a younger person a chance! As for society geared towards the old, what planet are you on? Have you not read the terrible stories of what is happening to the aged in hospitals and care homes. Read your news papers. I agree that it is very hard for the young today. However it wasn't that easy buying a house on £10 a week back in the early 60's every generation has a different set of problems. If you are a medical student you are going to have to learn more tolerance and a greater depth of understanding or you are not going to survive.

Answer 4

Even if you had a fair point your rudness, arrogance and ignorance are appalling However believe me one day (providing you live that long) you will live to chew your words. I am NOT of pension age and have a family in their twenties who were not exceptionally bright but studied hard, worked hard at part time jobs throughout their studies and will see the benefits. Yes it's difficult getting on the property ladder but are you starving? Are you unclothed? Did you have to leave school at 14 and be forced to work down the mines? Did you fight for your country? Were you a Prisoner of War? Are you disabled though a war injury? Have you ever not been able to visit your GP as you couldn't afford the fee? Have you l lived in a home with no toilet inside? Have you or would you ever through no choice go on a push bike 19 miles each way to work? Have you slept 6 to a bed? I could go on and on. Are you asking yourself how many centuries ago I am referring to? Let me tell you my father, just turned 88 yrs can answer honestly to every single one of these questions and more and is a victim of everyone of them. Proud of yourself? I think not. Yes life sucks but what you are going through today is no different from what working class people have suffered for generations, not saying it's correct but it happens. I also say Good Luck to those better off that afford life's luxuries if they have came by their good fortune honestly. These people probably do have a reasonable private pension but there are hundreds of thousands people like my dad, who worked all their life (except when fighting for their country) and with their oap and what's known as top up Pension Credits live on not much more than £100 per week. In my dad's case he has a small War Pension due to disablement but this is counted as income.To think you have the idosity to express an opinion of something you really no absolutely nothing about. Do you ever stop to think these old people going long haul flights may have family settled abroad who often have gifted them their flight? even if they haven't it's none of your business. The very fact you have noted this at the airports sounds like you can afford a holiday okay. Wonder if they could at your age? Oh I forgot they may have been in Egypt, France Germany even Japan fighting to give you a better life. Oh well suppose they saw the world!!! You say you may have to work for at least 20 yrs longer (bit OTT I think) for your pension. I think that's unfair too but least you are being well warned to attempt to provide, most of these old people had no start to life or any idea of what life was to hold for them. Now go and crawl in to the hole you came out of and don't return until you get the chip (sorry the ROCK) of your shoulder! PS Just saw your add on that you are actually a medical student. God help our country providing us with a doctory with as little empathy as you. Or are you going to reap the benefits of a British education and use your skills abroad?

Answer 5

You have a lot of growing up to do yet
Why should`nt they go on long haul flights they have worked very hard for their money
They should now enjoy themselves
They also had a job getting on the property ladder
i know i did and im only 51
The wages were really low those days so to be able to afford a mortgage was a daunting prospect.
With a bit of luck you will be elderly one day then you will think again

Answer 6

I am a pensioner and worked from age 16 to 65 with just some time off having four children. Although I saved for my retirement and have a decent pension it certainly does not permit me to have expensive long haul holidays. I hope when you are in your old age you will remember your bigoted, intolerant view of elderly people. Yes, it is much harder to carry one heavy bag than two lighter ones whether you are young or old. Elderly people on long haul flights are perfectly fit and have medical clearance to fly. Many get help for the fares from other members of family .I cannot see the relevance of the elderly carrying extra luggage with you trying to get on the property ladder - try saving your money instead of glugging it down your throat every weekend. I suggest you check your facts before sounding off on a subject you very obviously know nothing about.

Answer 7

Oh dear!...not to sympathetic towards the wrinklies!

I think the wider issue here is that BA, who are nororiously arrogant and a bit dim, have introduced this plan which is directly discriminatory in law towards the elderly and people with disablities. This is for the simple reason that the effect is disproportionate for these groups compared to the general population.

I hope there aren't too many people holding your views by the time you are drawing that tiny pension you are expecting. You may need some young people to fight your cause for you!!!!!!

Answer 8

rachy, you'll probably live 20 years longer than this lot, so why shouldn't you work longer?

I think your question explained why it was unfair: it disadvantages them and may cause needless inconvenience.

And it would be unfair to restrict elderly 'frail' from long haul flights. Someone may be travelling to get to a sister overseas who is dying. They should get there. And wherever else they want. Let them have their pleasures, they've probably worked hard to get where they are, like you are now, whilst studying.

Rules are often unfair, but if BA sees a commercial benefit in changing the rules it will very quickly do it.

Answer 9

I think your rage is misdirected - old people will normally need to carry less and balance the weight they do better - why should they have half their baggage allowance taken or be charged more? It is another stupid cost cutting measure by their half-wit of a chief executive Willie Walsh trying to micro-manage his way out of much larger problems. It reminds me of Bernie Ebbers going round turning off the light switches at Enron!

You should be raging about this awful government and its mismanagement of the country with its bloody silly regulations and interventions and tax that are wrecking the country. Try doing something positive! Pensioners aren't responsible for any of these things - Blair and Brown are.

Answer 10

Dear me. Is this what we've got to look forward to in our future medical practioners? You say you've got nothing against old people. After that rant?

The baggage tax which is about to be imposed by BA is applicable to all and I have not heard of old people being singled out for sympathy. The tax is iniquitous and so are your comments about the elderly.

Answer 11

they're not unfair to the elderly..BA are allowing people who can't carry a heavy suitcase to take extra baggage without the fine.
apparently you can fill a golf bag with clothes and put that through free as extra luggage