Bag Weight BS in Denver
May 14, 2018, 3:33 pm
#46
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A few thoughts :
1. If we can't weight them accurately then surely the onus is on US to build in a buffer. I use a simple hand held scale...but would try very hard to avoid having a bag weigh 50 lbs on MY scale.....because Id be concerned about exactly what happened to you.
2. I note they gave you options other than paying.
3. WN gives 2x 50 lb bags for free.... how much would the bags have cost to check on any other airline?
I too dislike the cattle call boarding... but given the baggage allowance offered, the suitability of their network for my US Domestic travels, AND (a bit specialised I know), the very straightforward and sensible gun/ammo carriage regulations they have..I can overlook that!
1. If we can't weight them accurately then surely the onus is on US to build in a buffer. I use a simple hand held scale...but would try very hard to avoid having a bag weigh 50 lbs on MY scale.....because Id be concerned about exactly what happened to you.
2. I note they gave you options other than paying.
3. WN gives 2x 50 lb bags for free.... how much would the bags have cost to check on any other airline?
I too dislike the cattle call boarding... but given the baggage allowance offered, the suitability of their network for my US Domestic travels, AND (a bit specialised I know), the very straightforward and sensible gun/ammo carriage regulations they have..I can overlook that!
2. True. an I'd obviously re-pack, rather than pay the fee. It was just frustrating to see the agent not give an inch over a pound.
3. This wouldn't be true for everyone, of course, but for me it'd have been $0, due to credit card benefits. Frankly, that's how a lot of folks avoid fees on legacy carriers these days.
May 14, 2018, 3:35 pm
#47
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May 14, 2018, 3:36 pm
#48
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This exact thing just happened to me last week at the doctor's office.
Me: I weighed myself before I left the house. Came in at 138.
Nurse: Nope, I have 140.
Me: My scale says otherwise. I 3x checked it.
**frantic and frustrated kicking off my shoes ensues**
Nurse: I have 138.
Me: ... that's where I was before. Check your scales.
Nurse: *stares blankly* while looking at shoes. um, ok
Personally, this whole thing was pretty much the last straw for me and that doctor's office.
Me: I weighed myself before I left the house. Came in at 138.
Nurse: Nope, I have 140.
Me: My scale says otherwise. I 3x checked it.
**frantic and frustrated kicking off my shoes ensues**
Nurse: I have 138.
Me: ... that's where I was before. Check your scales.
Nurse: *stares blankly* while looking at shoes. um, ok
Personally, this whole thing was pretty much the last straw for me and that doctor's office.
May 14, 2018, 3:38 pm
#49
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May 14, 2018, 3:44 pm
#50
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You should have checked the weight on the next counter's scale. Or maybe 2 others. They may not be calibrated and inspected often. Even if multiple scales are a little over 50 lbs, if they are not exactly the same weight, you have a pretty good argument for the scales being inaccurate, and thus SWA should allow a little leeway.
May 14, 2018, 4:18 pm
#51
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May 14, 2018, 5:01 pm
#52
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Despite what you read here I would bet that most of us have been called out at least once for an overweight bag.
May 14, 2018, 5:27 pm
#53
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May 14, 2018, 5:42 pm
#54
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Curbside is another story, of course. These are not Southwest employees.
May 14, 2018, 5:48 pm
#55
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1.Oh, I agree. And If my bags had been over 49 on my scale, I'd have adjusted ahead of time. But I've had this scale for years, and it's never been off by as much as the SWA scale said it was. But I'd still like to see a scale on the market that offered the rest of the accuracy that the airport scales have.
If so, as I mentioned earlier, "49lbs" could actually be "49lbs 15ozs."
May 14, 2018, 6:46 pm
#56
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Specific to Southwest, I disagree. I've never known a Southwest agent to allow a bag that was over 50lbs. There may be the "luck of the draw" as to the accuracy of the scale, but not with the agent. If it's over, it's over. You can repack or pay.
Curbside is another story, of course. These are not Southwest employees.
Curbside is another story, of course. These are not Southwest employees.
To be clear, OP and his spouse had 200 pounds of luggage for a short cruise and a day or two in Spain.
May 14, 2018, 6:56 pm
#57
Join Date: Mar 2011
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There is no reason for WN to allow more than 50 pounds. The allowance is 2 bags = 100 pounds. It's pretty hard to top that in standard usage and if one bag goes over, one can just exchange lighter for heavier between the two bags.
To be clear, OP and his spouse had 200 pounds of luggage for a short cruise and a day or two in Spain.
To be clear, OP and his spouse had 200 pounds of luggage for a short cruise and a day or two in Spain.
To be actually clear, the OP and his spouse had 100 lbs of luggage, not 200.
May 14, 2018, 7:46 pm
#58
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WN at least allows two 50 pound bags per person included with their ticket. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people at the AA counter re-arranging their bags. Same for Spirit, who has a 40 pound limit.
May 15, 2018, 7:02 am
#59
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No, it can do decimals. I rounded down for purposes of typing, but iirc, the bags were 49.1 and 49.3, respectively.
May 15, 2018, 7:05 am
#60
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I suppose I just needed to let off some steam, lol. But, it seems there's at least a bit of a discussion going now around how we (and airlines) handle scales and weight issues, so that's at least something. xD
