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Where does British Airways offer ‘overnight bag drop’?

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‘Overnight bag drop’ is one of those features which some travellers appreciate and others turn their nose up and say ‘What’s the point?’.

A reader mentioned this to me the other day. I realised we’d never done a full article on where British Airways offers it, so I thought it was worth a look.

It is currently available at five terminals across four UK airports. You can’t access the service outside the UK.

British Airways overnight bag drop

What is ‘overnight bag drop’?

At selected airports, British Airways allows you to check in your luggage the day before your flight.

In theory, it’s a benefit for both parties:

  • by moving some passengers from the busy morning peak to the quieter afternoon period, the airline can spread out demand for check-in desks
  • by checking their baggage the day before, the passenger can have a less stressful start to their trip the following day

The vast majority of users of ‘overnight bag drop’ will be passengers staying at airport hotels the night before their flight. Those with young children may appreciate the ability for one passenger to pop over to the terminal with the luggage whilst the children stay in the hotel. No-one wants their children stuck in a long queue first thing in the morning.

One person can check in bags on behalf of multiple people as long as all passports and boarding passes or tickets can be shown. The official rules on ba.com are here.

British Airways overnight bag drop

Where does BA offer ‘overnight bag drop’?

‘Overnight bag drop’ is currently available at these airports:

London Heathrow Terminal 3

  • Drop off between 4pm and 9.30pm
  • Cut-off for departures: 10am the following day

London Heathrow Terminal 5

  • Drop off between 4pm and 10pm
  • Cut-off for departures: 10am the following day

London Gatwick

  • Drop off between 6pm and 9pm
  • Cut-off for departures: 1pm the following day

London City Airport

  • Drop off between 4pm and 8.30pm
  • Cut-off for departures: 10am the following day

Edinburgh

  • Drop off between 4pm and 8pm
  • Cut-off for departures: 12 noon the following day

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Comments (76)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Alan says:
    20 Mar20 March 05:21

    Somewhat limited when flights only to 10am.

    Before the days of liquids I did use it but now it creates additional headaches.

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
      20 Mar20 March 05:58

      Limit is down to storage space for the bags.

      At LCY BA won’t accept bags before 2 hours before scheduled departure because of storage llimitations.

      • Alan says:
        20 Mar20 March 06:18

        Sure I get that.

      • LittleNick says:
        20 Mar20 March 11:06

        At LCY the aim is always to get there as late as possible without missing the cut off for bag-drop/security, otherwise you’re doing it wrong! This is coming from someone that likes to get to airports 3/4 hours before!

        • Kowalski says:
          20 Mar20 March 12:51

          I’ve pushed that to the line and beyond at LCY. Arrived 25min before a flight and managed to talk them into taking my checked bag!

  • sigma421 says:
    20 Mar20 March 05:43

    I don’t think the point about multiple passengers being present for multiple allowances being used is correct? BA.com simply says you need to have their documents with you and the EDI Airport website says the same https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/checking-in-and-boarding/checking-in

    • lcylocal says:
      20 Mar20 March 08:49

      My guess is that there has been a change in the rules. The policy Rob has outlined was definitely previously the case and I had it enforced at Gatwick c.4 years ago.

  • Ian Booth says:
    20 Mar20 March 06:11

    Dropped my golf clubs and case off at LGW when flying to PFO last year, stayed at the Hilton, much easier walk to the hotel and then the terminal the following morning with just hand luggage

  • Kathy M says:
    20 Mar20 March 06:14

    The Gatwick service s wonderful for morning holiday flights when using an overnight hotel. We arrive at Gatwick by rail at around 18.00 hours- leave luggage at a totally empty check in desk- then hotel.
    Incidentally the Thames-link rail service now means that for those of us who live in quite a wide area North of London, Gatwick is now the most accessible airport even although it is further away than many others, and Luton is practicable for many south of London..

    • Rich says:
      20 Mar20 March 08:24

      Simple change at Farringdon for the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow makes there more accessible for you too.

      • Inman says:
        20 Mar20 March 10:24

        I live between West Hampstead and Paddington and still prefer Gatwick over Heathrow 🙂
        Its one of the very few things in life my better half and I agree on.
        Lizzie is unreliable, takes longer and expensive (more expensive than an advance ticket on HEx – which doesn’t go to T4).

  • pauldb says:
    20 Mar20 March 07:13

    If you use the automated Y bag drop at LGW, can you really be caught out by the bags=passengers requirement.
    Check in there was indeed a zoo the Saturday of half term, the first time we decided not to bother to make liquids easier! 🙁

  • WW says:
    20 Mar20 March 07:17

    Had very early LPA flight from LGW. Checked in a bag the night before. The check-in area was empty and quiet. The Check-In agent said that this was a good idea; as it is always a crowded ‘zoo’ at the check-in area, in the mornings. Took the shuttle-train to Gatwick North, then walked to the Sofitel. My bag was one of the first to appear after arrival at LPA.

  • Charlotte says:
    20 Mar20 March 07:19

    I was able to drop off all our cases, using more than my individual allowance, by just showing our family travel documents at Edinburgh last year. (So not sure if the ‘more than 1 person must be present rule’ is always applied in practice).

    • Ryan says:
      20 Mar20 March 07:22

      I was typing the exact same thing Charlotte

      From EDI website:

      The lead booker* must be present when bags are being dropped off, and they can drop off up to six bags on behalf of others they are travelling with (as long as they are on the same booking). It’s important to note they’ll need to bring everyone’s passports and boarding passes with them.

      • Andy says:
        20 Mar20 March 08:03

        This was my experience at Gatwick as well – dropped off luggage for 4 people with just the lead booker present (with all documents) to undertake check in.

    • Shirley says:
      20 Mar20 March 07:43

      As long as the passenger presents all passports they can check in bags for everyone on the same booking and the bags will be pooled under one name

    • sun7 says:
      20 Mar20 March 19:02

      In Edinburgh, should we pre book the long stay car park for 1 hour free parking?

  • Phil G says:
    20 Mar20 March 07:37

    Great if you don’t want to change clothes the morning you fly

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