The scales at the airport....adding a couple of pounds???
 

Hello to all,
A few months ago I had an issue with the TSA and the weight of my baggage, which I posted in the Safety forum. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000070.html

Since then, I have been pretty careful about weighing my bags anytime I have to check something, just to avoid the problem with the “50 lbs” rule.
So I’m traveling this week BWI to ORD, on UA(I know, I should really stay out of ORD at this point). At home, bag weighs 42 lbs. At BWI, bag goes on scale, weighs 41 lbs. When leaving ORD four days later, I weigh the bag at hotel before leaving, 44 lbs. I get to airport, weigh bag at UA, 53 lbs. and an over weight fee. I ask to have a different scale used, and they move the bag to the next one over, 51 lbs. I ask for a third scale, because I know nothing was added, and with a sigh the agent hauls my bag to the next gate over and weighs, 48 lbs., sorry for the confusion, no fee necessary.
So here are my questions for comment.
1) Does anyone have a similar story where they know their bags were under the set weight limits but the scales at the airport read them as high?
2) Do we want to give any thought or credence to the possibility that the scales have been set to become “baggage revenue enhancers?”
3) Does anyone know if the scales at the airport used at the gate are subject to state or federal regulation for their accuracy?

Thanks for your comments.

[This message has been edited by gerryallen (edited 06-10-2003).]

There was a thread on the United forum that had a link to an article where several airlines scales were out of compliance in Wisconsin. Can't remember the thread, but you could do a search. One of the things it mentioned is that if they say it's overweight (by a small amount, not an obvious 25lbs over where too much was packed), to ask to see the weights & measure certificate certifying that it's in compliance - or something like that. Hope this helps.

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Sharon

I think it may depend on the state. There are states that require all scales used for commercial purposes to be checked and have a sticker on them. I checked for Texas, and there is such a requirement, but I have never seen it enforced at the airports. I guess it is just waiting for someone to take the first step and report an airline.

Very often as well, they don't zero out - i.e. when nothing is on them they are still showing a reading. I've never been done for overweight bags, but always check this before I load in case there is an issue.

If you are really concerned about going over, pay a skycap $5 to take your bags for you. It saves you the hassle of standing in line, and for $5 he'll look the other way.

I checked in 2 80-pound bags via a skycap, and told him to "be careful... they're a bit heavy."

That and a fiver took care of my troubles. Works every time.

Far more disturbing than fees is the potential weight/balance miscalculation that the crew makes prior to departure.

Couple hundred bags all weighed to be 5 pounds more or less than they actually are will result in a thousand pound error in the cargo holds.

I'm not positive about this, but I think the weight is based on an average bag, not actual weights.

I believe it depends on if the bags are just put in the cargo hold or if they're in a bin.

Anyway, you're generally right though, I believe, with the exception of bags marked "heavy."

In GA, scales used for retail sales must be certified yearly by the Dept. of Agriculture and display a decal. Perhaps a phone call would be in order. A letter to the newspaper would be even better. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif