Malaysia Airlines briefly bans checked bags to Europe

Malaysia Airlines blamed “strong head winds,” safety issues, and “a longer route to Europe” than usual for a brief checked baggage ban that began Tuesday on flights from Kuala Lumpur to London and then shifted to flights from Kuala Lumpur to both Paris and Amsterdam.

The carrier lifted the restrictions Wednesday morning, but when the ban was in place the airline would only allow economy passengers to take luggage weighing 7 kg (about 15 pounds) onboard the affected flights with them, while business- and first-class passengers could board with carry-on bags that weighed 14 kg (about 31 pounds).

Passengers were still allowed to check luggage, but were told that those bags would be shipped separately and arrive later.

Many passengers were confused about the ban. Others were irritated or irate.

Once the ban was lifted, Malaysia Airlines issued a statement about its actions, explaining that it “recently had to operate a longer route to Europe, which combined with strong head winds, limited the airlines' ability to carry baggage and cargo. The head winds over the last four days were in excess of 200 knots which can add up to 15% fuel burn on a B777-200 aircraft.”

Checked baggage could once again be accepted because “based on its current risk assessment, done on a daily basis, the airline is now able to take a shorter route on European flights. Malaysia Airlines maintains that safety is of utmost priority in its operations and will not hesitate to adjust its flight path based on its daily risk assessment.”

While now Malaysia Airlines must deal with the headaches of reuniting planeloads of passengers with their left-behind baggage, the airline’s cautious attitude is surely understood.

On March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing and the whereabouts of the passengers, crew and aircraft remains a mystery.

And in July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crashed after being shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing everyone onboard.

Harriet Baskas is a Seattle-based airports and aviation writer and Paste BN Travel's "At the Airport" columnist. She occasionally contributes to Ben Mutzabaugh's Today in the Sky blog. Follow her at twitter.com/hbaskas.