update:
my luggage was 20lbs, which is under their 22lb weight limit so not worried there.
my backpack was 15lbs (includes laptop and accessories) which was waaay over their 4lb weight limit for personal item.

as someone said above, i didnt see any scales at jfk gate.
but it was a mad house.
for some reason they boarded 30 min late.

i was group 2 (of 3).
they called the vip's then childrens/military/handicapped.
then group 1.
2 min later they called group 2 when there was still a line for group 1.
then 30 sec later, they called group 3 when group 1 was still boarding!

w t f chaos?
we still left the gate 10 min late