at the IAH PC in E: Rant on - sorry for the length:

Flying BWI - MEX in Y today with 3 bags to check (need the bags for bringing my fiancee and son home from Mexico). As Elite I know that I get two bags at 70lbs ea. My three bags altogether weighed 79 lbs and in fact one was completely empty - another had empty bags in it. I was hoping as a Gold Elite they would let the empty bag slide (as others Elites have experienced) but was expecting to pay a fee for a third bag. I thought the fee would be the same as the second bag fee.

At checkin the counter I show my Gold Elite card and ask if they can accommodate an elite with an empty bag. Nope, and, oh, btw, the fee is $100. Holy S, thats alot - maybe a supv. can do something? Supv shows up and after much back and forth including "well, lets treat him as Skyteam Elite for a Day" the Supv concludes: "Nope, $100 it is, and no accommodations even for elites, especially in these times." So, I agree to pay because there seems to be no option other than leaving the bag. Supv goes back to more important things and Original agent begins to process my credit card.

Only now she says "Cant do it", she says, "you are only allowed one bag at 50lbs." "No," I say, "clearly as an Elite I get two bags at 70lbs each and if I get upgraded (first on the list per PDA.com) I will get three - where are you coming up with only one bag?" She says the computer wont let her do it.

Several other agents try but end up with the same result. They are adamant that I only get one bag. I call the Elite Desk thinking maybe they can help. Elite Desk says they cannot do anything, it is up to the agents at the airport. ED does say, almost simultaneously as the counter agents, that there is an embargo.

Who makes the embargo? I ask. The counter agents say its the government.
I dont believe that - How can that be? If there is a govt embargo how come I get 3 @ 70 in F (pd or upgraded) but but in Y I get only one at 50? And if I get upgraded, likely, then I get three? This must be CO policy - not a govt policy. Which means someone at CO can make a decision. But no budging on counter staff. They agree I would get 3 if upgraded, but since the UG is not confirmed I only get one. OP Desk says its a CO policy, not govt, but says there is nothing more she can do, its up to the airport staff.

Eventually everyone agrees I get two bags at 70 but because of the embargo I cannot check a third.

OP Desk says BWI has lockers and suggests that since I will be returning on Sat maybe I can put the extra bag in a locker and pick it up in two days. We hang up. I ask the counter agents about this and they say no lockers since 9/11. I ask if they will send it back home for me. No. They did agree to hold it for me at baggage claim office until my return and so finally I complete check-in and go to the gate.

During all of this the counter staff were helpful and mostly patient as they worked with me ( I have to admit I got impatient when I was certain they were giving me wrong information) and I really appreciate that the counter staff agreed to hold my bag for two days instead of having to abandon an expensive bag.

Of course, I am in the PC at E because I got the UG and now should have my three bags at 210 lbs but only have two at 58lbs.

My question is this: how am I supposed to know there is a baggage embargo?

It was not in my ticket details, it was not emailed to me in TripNotes, it was not highlighted at time of purchase, there is no advance notice at online checkin.

Also, the embargo is 100% a CO policy - but it is massively unfair to have "secret" policies. Had I know I would not have brought this bag, it is very stress inducing to think I was going to have to abandon an expensive piece of luggage, plus I have to buy a new bag in Mexico now since I cant bring this one. CO.com baggage policy page does mention baggage embargoes, but it doesnt say about when they are or even what they are. It also does not say what the policy is during embargo periods.

More frustrating is that I am in free F will be in paid F on my return and I thought there might be a little consideration given for that fact.

How should I have proceeded with this before the trip to prevent this?

thanks