New baggage rules which are effective from 25 March, require that irregular bags be checked before they can be allowed on a flight at OR Tambo International Airport.
Passengers who may have the irregular bags will be given an option to have their baggage wrapped with one flat side at airport-approved baggage wrapping stations.
The rule is said to be aimed at preventing blockages and breakdowns in the baggage handling system caused by bags that do not have any flat surfaces or that have long straps or grips as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines.
“Bags that are round or do not have a flat surface of any kind are the largest source of jams in the baggage handling system. These jams can shut down sections of the baggage handling system, delay baggage delivery to aircraft and inconvenience passengers and airlines,” read the statement released by corporate affairs specialist for OR Tambo International Airport, Samukelo Khambule.
The new baggage rules are:
1. Only regular-shaped bags will be allowed at check-in counters
2. This means that the bags must have at least one flat surface to be accepted on the check-in system
3. Round or irregular-shaped bags will not be allowed at check-in counters
4. Bags with longs straps will not be allowed at check-in counters.
“We very much appreciate that these new baggage rules will potentially create inconvenience or additional cost for some passengers, so this is not a step we have taken lightly,” said Kris Reddy, assistant general manager of operations services.
“A small proportion of irregular bags that cause breakdowns in the baggage handling system creates far greater inconvenience for the majority of passengers. We have investigated this matter over about a year and considered a variety of alternatives.
“It is our view, and airlines and other stakeholders now agree, that changing rules for irregular bags will improve the overall level of service to all passengers.”
