Was this hypothetical check-in agent in Emirates Uniform?
EK uniform = Employee
Random Uniform = Contract Staff ( Outsourced services )

<sarcasm> Either way, you should tell us what airport that happened at so we can take advantage of the savings. Hopefully its someplace that offers great shopping deals so we can buy tons of crap and take it with us</sarcasm>

Kudos to you for doing the right thing and taking your friends bags rather than letting them slip through.

The excess baggage charges vary based on how far the bags need to fly. The numbers below are for DXB>LHR or DXB>HKG both of which are ~7h flights



Based on the hypothetical amount of USD 1000 , your buddy had quite a load