What is the British Airways Overnight Bag Drop Service?

Ever had an early morning flight and wished you could skip the stress of dragging your suitcase through the airport before the sun’s even up? British Airways Overnight Bag Drop is designed to make that happen. Some people love it, others don’t really see the point—but if you’re staying at an airport hotel, traveling with kids, or just want an easier morning, it’s definitely worth knowing about.

British Airways Departure Board

So, how does it work? Simple. You check in your luggage the night before your flight, meaning when you turn up at the airport the next day, all you have to do is head straight to security. It’s a win for both you and BA—passengers avoid the morning check-in chaos, and the airline spreads out demand for their desks. If you’re traveling with young kids, this could be a game-changer. One parent can handle bag drop while the other stays back at the hotel, avoiding the pain of keeping little ones entertained in a long queue first thing in the morning. And if you’re checking in for a group, no problem—as long as you have everyone’s passports and boarding passes, you can do it in one go.

Right now, ‘overnight bag drop’ is available at five terminals across four UK airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, and Edinburgh. 

If you’re flying from Heathrow Terminal 3, you can drop off your bags between 4pm and 9:30pm, as long as your flight is before 10am the next day. Heathrow Terminal 5 has the same morning cut-off time but lets you check in a little later, until 10pm. At Gatwick, you can use the service between 6pm and 9pm if your flight leaves before 1pm the next day. London City Airport offers bag drop from 4pm to 8:30pm for flights departing before 10am. While Edinburgh allows check-in from 4pm to 8pm for flights leaving before noon.

If your flight fits into these time slots, why not make your life easier? Instead of scrambling to get to the airport early and queuing with everyone else, you can roll in, go straight through security, and maybe even grab a coffee without feeling rushed. Sounds pretty good, right? Would you use ‘overnight bag drop,’ or do you prefer the usual check-in routine? Let us know!

Helena