How heavy can checked luggage be?

[PammyPoppins]

Hi!'I know I read this here before but now I can't find it. How heavy can each person's check luggage bag be? We are going on Southwest airlines.
Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

 

[princessmomma]

50 lbs on most airlines, but I haven't flown SW.

 

[megan4777]

It was 50lbs on southwest last oct. Flying back from Orlando, 1 of our bags exceeded this and we had to re-pack quickly....

 

[Lisa_M]

50lbs on airtran June 2006

 

[missymagic]

I have flown several airline and they were all 50lbs. Once we were over and they were really nice and let me swap shoes around to even out the weight.

 

[Chicago526]

Most airlines are around 50 pounds per piece, BUT the best thing to do is check with the airline you are flying on. You can look it up on the airline's website or just give them a call. If you know you'll be overweight no matter what, you can also find out what their overweight bag fee is, usually it's around $25.

It used to be if you were only a pound or two over they'd let it slide, but I've heard they are much more strict these days about enforcing it, so be careful what and how you pack if you are determined to avoid the fee.

 

[PammyPoppins]

Thanks for the great replies.
PammyPoppins

 

[mimif1]

Per Southwest's website: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html

Baggage Allowance: For each ticketed Customer, Southwest allows three (3) checked pieces with size limitations for each individual piece.

Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective March 1, 2005, overweight items from 51 to 70 pounds will be accepted for a charge of $25.00 per item. Items weighing from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge of $50.00 per item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the FAA or FAA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For all Cargo inquires please call the Cargo Sales and Service Center at 1-800-533-1222

I always pack a small duffel that can be folded down really small and put it in my luggage because I always come home with more than I left with.

 

[nbodyhome]

Just for anyone who is interested, Rick Steves has a great site for packing light (I just got back again from Europe, and it's much easier when you do that - no matter where you are going). My main bag was about 15 pounds going out, but more coming in (then I had a few things in a carry-on like magazines). I need to do better next time.

Better than lugging a lot of stuff around!

 

[goofyforlife]

SWA is really picky about that 50.......

WEIGH ahead of time and try to be a few lbs under...

 

[SmileMom]

Hi!'I know I read this here before but now I can't find it. How heavy can each person's check luggage bag be? We are going on Southwest airlines.
Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

If you're flying out of PHL, be careful. They are very lax on weighing baggage at curbside check-in, but they are VERY strict at MCO for the flight home. If you're planning on doing a lot of shopping, you may need to pack (or buy) an extra suitcase or duffel bag to get home...or pay the extra $25.

 

[robinb]

If one of your bags is over 50lbs and another is under they will allow you to move items from the heavier one to the lighter one as long as both end up under 50lbs. Don't expect them to remind you that you can move stuff, though. My sister didn't know that and paid the $25 fee because the agent didn't tell her. I was with my mom when she checked her luggage. One was overweight, so I hauled the heavy bag off and started to move things around .

 

[d'Isigny]

BTW...yes, most check in agents are willing to allow you time to move items so your bags are under 50#....please understand the passangers behind you might not be so kind. DW and I were in Seattle last week and noticed our wait almost doubled as people were swapping items between suitcases to avoid any fees. Some looked pretty embarrassed opening up their bags for everyone to see.

Personally...we really did'nt mind...but persons behind us were not so kind. We over heard some pretty nasty comments.

Just a suggestion to avoid this. We noticed some carriers have a scale outside of the check in line...why not weight your suitcase and swap items around...prior to getting in line.

 

[pbnjrockette]

We usually pack a very light-weight collapsible suitcase in one of our bags. Then if we are over the weight limit we can put shoes and stuff in there. We often use it for dirty clothes on our return trip. Many overseas carriers are strict with weight limits so carrying 3 bags instead of 2 spreads the weight around.

Sure could use a Rick Steve's refresher on packing light!

 

[nbodyhome]

We usually pack a very light-weight collapsible suitcase in one of our bags. Then if we are over the weight limit we can put shoes and stuff in there. We often use it for dirty clothes on our return trip. Many overseas carriers are strict with weight limits so carrying 3 bags instead of 2 spreads the weight around.

Sure could use a Rick Steve's refresher on packing light!

Here it is! http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlist.htm

We were in Europe for 2 1/2 weeks (got back a week ago), and my checked luggage was 15 pounds or so going - it was just over 20 or so coming back.

It's amazing to think how much I used to carry - and I still feel I can do better. I'd like to keep it to maybe 12 going. A family of 4 with 50 pounds each would be 200 pounds! There was one woman that people were sort of laughing at (not meanly) on the Paris Roissybus from the airport - she was saying how she'd never take that much again, she had a HUGE suitcase. It looked like she was moving to Paris!

 

[CarolA]

I am a Rick Steves packing fan.

I did a trip to Europe with the Girl Scouts for 3 weeks in a 22" carry on. (And Rick doesn't have to take a Girl Scout Uniform which I got in there!)

 

[NotUrsula]

If you're a pack-heavy sort of person, here's a tip: empty customer-service positions at the airport checkin counter almost always still have the scales turned on.

If you think you might be over by a lb. or two, just go up to an open counter where no one is working and check the weight before you get into line.

 

[Tiki Room Fan]

We flew SW a few weeks ago and found out at MCO that the Disney souveneirs added an extra few pounds so my "big red" ended up weighing out at 51 lbs. The SW employee tagged it as being a 50-100 lb. bag, but let the extra pound slide and sent us on our way.