Originally Posted by
NonSmokingWindow
In the Americas the policy is 23kg, but there is a two kilo tolerance to account for slight differences in scales. So, if a bag weighs 24kg, that's fine but the agent will caution the passenger that the policy is 23kg. If the bag is 26kg, then that one kg needs to be removed or paid for.
Dunno how the rest of the planet operates!
Last time I went through the US, they were very strict on the 23kgs. Have also had colleagues who were asked to reduce their bag which was 25kgs or pay.
As for taking 1kg out, the policy is 23kgs and anything over is either removed or paid for. As sunrisegirl stated, once the 24kg mark is hit, then it that is the choice that the customer will face.
As for the scales in T5, unlike T4, I can honestly say that I have yet to see one that has not been accurately set (haven't worked on all desks, so not saying it isn't possible). I do know that the guys who look after the system appear to make regular checks. I did have one belt that kept going between 0 and 0.1 after a particularly heavy bag was pushed on and then pulled off the belt and within minutes one of the guys was there to reset it (I had already hit the reset button as the customer was leaving).