Did anyone ever have to pay more for overweight bags?

[castlegazer]

Our last trip to WDW we really screwed up - but did use skycaps and I thought I tipped well - and we were sent for bag weight check too. It was right after the new TSA rules of scanning the bags out in the check-in area. We were significantly over - I will never use those big hunking luggage bags again, too tempting to overpack - and we were charged $50 per bag which we did pay because we had little children with us who were really upset and we didn't have anywhere to put the stuff. It is embarrassing and I hope it ever happens again. They are very very strict. I didn't see that using skycaps would have prevented the problem. It was my fault and the bags were very obviously overweight which now that I know what danger that poses to the aircraft I will never ever do again. I am already packing and getting ready for our March trip in order to avoid this problem. That trip was my first long vacation with a baby in tow and I just brought plainly too much stuff.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by shelleyz
$400.00? Thats a lot of money for a heavy suitcase.

No kidding!!

They paid it...and got an "overweight" tag stuck on them, as well as a "heavy " one. There were three suitcases...sorry if I wasn't clear

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DVC-Don
A Southwest agent once tagged 2 of our large bags with a bright "Heavy" tag on a return from WDW, but did not charge us. They were big 33" bags and they were heavy that day, no idea what they weighed though. After that trip we downsized to 26" bags and have not had a problem.

Ah, the big bright HEAVY tags, I have had those too. Makes it easy to spot your luggage.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by castlegazer
Our last trip to WDW we really screwed up - but did use skycaps and I thought I tipped well - and we were sent for bag weight check too. It was right after the new TSA rules of scanning the bags out in the check-in area. We were significantly over - I will never use those big hunking luggage bags again, too tempting to overpack - and we were charged $50 per bag which we did pay because we had little children with us who were really upset and we didn't have anywhere to put the stuff. It is embarrassing and I hope it ever happens again. They are very very strict. I didn't see that using skycaps would have prevented the problem. It was my fault and the bags were very obviously overweight which now that I know what danger that poses to the aircraft I will never ever do again. I am already packing and getting ready for our March trip in order to avoid this problem. That trip was my first long vacation with a baby in tow and I just brought plainly too much stuff.

Overweight bags cause no danger to the aircraft. 70# in one bag and 70# between two bags is still 70#. What overweight bags does do is cause injuries to the baggage handlers.

SkyCaps can prevent charges most of the time (unless you are randomly selected for a weight check) because they take them from you and put them directly in the scanner, you dont get them weighed by the person at the counter. IMHO, well worth the tip and the lack of wait time in line at the counter.

 

[Niagara2]

Heavy Bag Queen Here - I always prided myself that I could fit so much in one suitcase. I have one of those e-z carts big guys and packed it so effciently, but now the weight rules come into play.
Southwest sky caps at MCO have allowed me to unpack as they graciously supplied me with a cardboard box for the excess - big tip. Once at home the guy kept weighing my suitcase it went from 69.15 oz to 70 pounds on the nose....I couldn't do that again if I tried. SW allows 70#. Got the heavy tag of course. I have finally bought new smaller suitcases and DH can't understand why I bring so many - it is because before weight rules I was such an effiicent packer!! Now I just have to remember to not pack any cameras, film, extra film and rolls that need to go to be developed - the nice agent last time reminded me that the Xray can hurt them and I thought I better open the suitcases and hunt for the film. Once I might travel with out opening luggage or getting the little note that security went through my bag.

 

[manning]

isn't that rediculous. It has been a while since I have flown so don't remember if you are allowed one or two checkin. Now if it is two and you have 60 in one and 40 in the other it would be logical to use the combined weights for the same passenger. Sure would speed things up if repacking is eliminated. And the airlines complain they can't keep a schedule.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by manning
isn't that rediculous. It has been a while since I have flown so don't remember if you are allowed one or two checkin. Now if it is two and you have 60 in one and 40 in the other it would be logical to use the combined weights for the same passenger. Sure would speed things up if repacking is eliminated. And the airlines complain they can't keep a schedule.

One of the reasons for weight restrictions per bag is for the workman's comp. claims. 70# in one and 30# in another may make it easy for you, but, not so good on the baggage handler's back.
It would speed things up if people were aware of the weight of their bags before they checked them.

 

[Teach]

Are the airlines now charging for things like golf clubs, tennis rackets, hockey sticks, etc?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Teach
Are the airlines now charging for things like golf clubs, tennis rackets, hockey sticks, etc?

That depends on the airlines and what you are bringing in addition to the sports equipment. check your airlines site or give them a call.
I can tell you they did not charge us for Dee's VERY large tennis bag, but, we were under the three items per person limit on SWA and it does not go over 70#.

 

[Lyndarella]

When Northwest had recently reduced the max weight from 70 pounds to 50 pounds. the other airlines had not. We have always taken one large suitcase each, as it's seemed easier. Of course, mine was overweight. They said I could pay extra ($25 maybe), OR purchase a cardboard box from them for $10, which I did. Unfortunatley, I put the heavy stuff in the box (I was embarrassed and hurrying) and ended up dragging it around the car rental lot, as there were no luggage carts available. Flying home, I still had my cardboard box (I was not going to buy more luggage when I had paid $10 for the box!) but the handles tore off... Again, there were no luggage carts available, and getting it on the plane, and to my house was a hassle. I should have just paid the overweight charge in the first place!

Another time, I was scolded soundly that my (small) bag was overweight, and threatened to be fined if I didn't remove part of the contents. I was just starting to transfer into my friend's suitcase, and had only taken out a few postcards, when the attendant said, "that's good enough!" I put them in my purse, and we were on our way, after she'd given us such a long lecture!

 

[mom_rules]

I felt very sorry for an elderly lady in front of us in October. She was flying solo had one bag-no carryon and was 4 lbs over. They gave her the option of trying to remove the 4 lbs but she had no where to put it (not even a plastic bag was offerred). She was forced to pay the extra $50. This was America West coming from Anaheim to Phoenix (a 1 hour flight).

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

Never paid extra. Delta ignores my overweight and Northwest and AA allowed me to transfer stuff from bag to bag. On United, it was my last suitcase( the others had gone through) so they gave me a box and tape.

I've learned that if you are polite and ask what they recommend you do, they will help you, if you are a jerk- forget it.

 

[CarolA]

While Gail and others are big fans of the "tip the skycap" and you can take overweight bags I think this is risky.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed you may have to go inside and stand in line. Now your overweight luggage is going on those scales. This has happened a lot when there are storms in the NE during the winter.

Also, be prepared to hear some nasty comments from people behind you in line if you "repack" at the counter. I have not had to deal with it, but I heard some one time in line for DL. (I was in the First Class line, so I was not delayed but the people watching the family re-pack were getting very vocal.)

The film is great. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people trying to rummage thru their suitcase to dig out thier film.

Also, DO NOT under any circumstances check valuables. Jewerly and electronics should be carried on!

When you buy new luggage, DO NOT believe the salesperson about the allowable sizes Check your airlines in advance.

 

[NotUrsula]

One thing to add to CarolA's post, which I totally agree with, BTW.

If you are going to take the risk to pack overweight, use internal ziploc bags or packing cubes in the suitcase, and make sure to put the heaviest things, like shoes or books, near the top (where they should be for search purposes, anyway) along with a flat-folded spare duffel. If you have to transfer things, this will make it MUCH easier to do it quickly and effectively. Also, when you put that duffel inside your big case, make sure it has a luggage tag already on it, just in case.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by CarolA
When you buy new luggage, DO NOT believe the salesperson about the allowable sizes Check your airlines in advance.

particularly with the expandable luggage. The luggage may be go over size when you open the expansion zippers.

 

[perdidobay]

Coming home from MCO last week, DD had a bag 4 lbs over the limit ( 50lb at NWA ). She offered to take out a few things, but the agent said, don't worry, just don't overpack anymore.

 

[mom_rules]

Yipee for Air Canada-2 bags each (2 carryons too)
weight for checked luggage 70 lbs each max.
(not that I would ever get close but it's good to know-
most charters are 44 lbs, America West is 50 lbs).
Maybe we should start a list?

 

[disneychick05]

On a recent trip to Tampa I decided to pack DS's things in both my and DH's suitcases in order to not have to lug three suitcases around. Flying out of Philly we were told our bags were probably too heavy but it was just a warning. We were rushed on our way back home flying out of Tampa and forgot about the weight issue. Sure enough were charged $50, $25 for each bag. I was very upset about this. So if we would have put DS's stuff in his own suitcase it would have been fine. I'd like to know how were suppossed to manage with DS (2) in a stroller, 3 suitcases and 3 carry on's. I asked the US Air woman who was checking us in that same question and she was very rude and didn't really care. It's funny how the guy before was a VIP that got to check in and get in front of the whole line....she was super flirty and super nice to him. I was shocked when her attitude became so rotten when we appeared with our 58 pound bag. Anyway, I was not too happy about the whole experience.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd like to know how were suppossed to manage with DS (2) in a stroller, 3 suitcases and 3 carry on's.

That's why I go with the duffel, especially on European trips b/c cars are very small. I also want to minimize the pieces I have to manage, so I pack the big case [62"] with the knowledge that I will have to break it apart just before checking it. I pack w/ space bags, then when I get in line, I open the big case and put 2-3 of the space bags in the duffle. When we arrive I take 5 minutes to reverse the process at baggage claim.

We also have rule that we don't do more carryons than we have people who can carry them. DS gets one now that he can pull a bag, but when he was little, we didn't allow him a separate carryon.

 

[wdwnutze]

For our trip in Nov out of Boston, I packed 1 suitcase for myself and 2dd's. Never thought about the weight issue. We checked in and the suitcase was 12lbs over the limit. They gave me the choice of trying to rearrange the contents into other bags or pay the overlimit fee. I chose to pay the $25. There was no way I was going to stand in Logan Airport and shuffle my belongings around. I thought it was just easier to pay (my opinion). We did make sure to spread things out a little more on our trip home and we weren't over the limit then. This was on Delta Song.