Weight limits strict on Southwest?

[lazydazy8]

Help! I leave in 2.5 hours for the airport and I am having real trouble keeping under the 50lb limit per bag! My large suitcases way over 20lbs alone.

I am wondering if Southwest is being really strict about the 50lbs weight limit per bag... (Specifically, out of Manchester, NH, if anyone has that information.)

It looks like I will have to carry on an extra bag with some clothes in it, b/c the Magical Express only supplied 4 tags!

 

[Lewisc]

SW will generally let you slide if your bag weights 51 pounds but if they wouldn't have changed the limits if they were going to let your 70 pound bag. Passengers have posted being charged at 52 and I don't think anyone has gotten away with 53.

DME would have sent you extra tags if you asked.

Help! I leave in 2.5 hours for the airport and I am having real trouble keeping under the 50lb limit per bag! My large suitcases way over 20lbs alone.

I am wondering if Southwest is being really strict about the 50lbs weight limit per bag... (Specifically, out of Manchester, NH, if anyone has that information.)

It looks like I will have to carry on an extra bag with some clothes in it, b/c the Magical Express only supplied 4 tags!

 

[lazydazy8]

I didn't think I'd have a problem. I've been packing for two months, now, that's one detail I messed up.

I wish I did ask for more ME tags....

Thanks for your help!

 

[Twende]

SW in MCO was very strict last year. I was only a bit over and I had to take things out of my case and put them in other cases that were lighter.

I had placed all our dirty laundry in one bag and I guess it was heavier dirty than clean. I was so embarrassed at the check in desk when I had to pull out dirty clothes and bathroom items! From now I weigh things at home and again at the resort before we leave!

I would find a way to take your heavy items on carry on with you, if that is possible.

The fees for being over weight are pretty hefty.

 

[Lewisc]

I didn't think I'd have a problem. I've been packing for two months, now, that's one detail I messed up.

I wish I did ask for more ME tags....

Thanks for your help!

Some of the older suitcases weight up to 20 pounds empty. You might see if you have a light suitcase.

DME will pick up an untagged bag at the carousel. You just need to describe the bag and let the CM copy your baggage claim sticker.

You have at least 2 people travelling. Four bags at 50 pounds lets you bring a lot of stuff.

 

[NotUrsula]

Put a tagged cloth duffel in on top of your bag in case it goes over. Then you can just pull out some shoes or such and take the weight down. Obviously, you don't want to plan on using the full limit in number of bags, so that an extra won't be a problem.

At the airport, you can check the weight before you get in line if you go up to an empty customer service position. The scales are always turned on, even if no one is working at that particular check-in desk.

 

[lazydazy8]

Does anyone know if the front desk at the resorts have a scale?

Two of my suitcases are from 8 years ago and they are heavy! The other two are commuter size. I wanted two of them to be smaller so the kids could pull them.

I packed a duffle to be one of our carry-on's. I put all our jeans and some sweatshirts in it, along with the empty backpacks for the trip home (souvenirs). I am at 50lb's for both the big suitcases. Going home, I won't worry about an extra duffle checked, since I won't be worrying about ME finding it.

Thank you all! I'll think of my Dis friends tomorrow as I stroll down Main Street!

 

[CarolA]

The front desks don't have scales, but folks have reported that the folks at the remote luggage check will let you use thier scales even if you don't check your luggage there.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We were 1lb over at MCO in Oct and the agent made a big deal out of it. When I traveled for paintball we always ran the limits with our gear so I got use to always having a small bag (DVC tote) to put a few pairs of shoes or something to get the weight down. When i stsed thats what I would do she changed her mind and let me go. She really wanted to charge me for it I could tell.

I think the 50lb from 70lb change was made due to emplotees claiming back problems and customer bags ripping open from being to stuffed.

Keep rearrainging the 4 bags you have to get the weight more evenly distibuted.

Good luck I had to pay right after 9/11 as I didn't want to open my bags with my paintball markers right on top .

 

[*love*2*shop]

Just wanted to chime in...At the BEACH CLUB YES they *DID* have a Scale...and YES Southwest IN NH is VERY STRICT< they made the lady in front of us choose to PAY$$$ or try to take stuff out and shift around or carry it on.....In my Expreriences SOUTWEST is VERY STrcit with the 50lbs..with our trip 3 weeks agao to and from , they weighed EVERY bag each time, in NH and on way home in Orlando...

 

[simzac]

I didn't think I'd have a problem. I've been packing for two months, now, that's one detail I messed up.

I wish I did ask for more ME tags....

Thanks for your help!

I've never packed more than 1 day before any trip. Just curious how do you pack for over 2 months?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

These days, airlines are struggling to operate without filing for bankruptcy. The more a plane weighs fully loaded, the more fuel it takes to fly the same distance. Levying a fee for overweight baggage helps to 1) discourage overpacking and 2) defray the cost of the excess fuel and pay increasing workman's comp premiums for baggage handlers that do become injured. The majority of airlines are fairly strict about the limit nowadays, their livelihoods depend on it.

If your luggage is old and heavy you may want to invest in newer lightweight pieces. A 26 inch suitcase will run just about 45 pounds when packed, give or take 5 pounds in either direction. I personally wouldn't buy anything larger.

 

[heathrow42]

Doesn't help the OP now, because I'm sure she's already there.. but SW let's you check up to ** 3 ** bags per person @ 50lb each - and you can take a wopping 150 lbs of stuff per person + your carryon.

I'm with the person who said they never pack more than 24 hours in advance.. You can really build up a lot of stuff packing for 2.5 months.. unless you are going to wdw for 3 months, you've been packing longer than your trip is!

We are getting married @ WDW in 2 weeks, and have A LOT of stuff to take and our solution is to ship all the stuff down to the hotel. Why pack it? The extra bags would be unmanageable and most of it is stuff we won't be brining home, so we'd be coming home with empty suitcases.

--h

 

[CarolA]

I have to say I have often stood at the baggage claim area at MCO and wondered if those folks were MOVING to Orlando......

 

[Hannathy]

Carol I have to agree with you! How do they get their bags so heavy? Coming home this year my DS bought one of the wooden guns from Pirates that was too long to fit into the suitcase so with tape and cardboard from POP's store I fashioned it's own box to check but this meant I had to put one of the other suitcases inside my larger one and pack all the clothes together. Even doing this I was under 50 pounds and it was the heaviest suitcase I had ever packed!

I never pack until the day before either. I may set aside some things that week as I'm doing laundry so I'm not washing at midnight but never pack till the night before.

 

[Starr W.]

I've never packed more than 1 day before any trip. Just curious how do you pack for over 2 months?

too. Even in this weather, when you have to dig out the shorts. I wouldn't want to look at a suitcase for that long. Northwest was strict too about bag weights. At the self check in, the family ahead of us had 2 bags overweight and they just paid the fine.

Now I make a list of things, how many socks underpants, etc. It took me less than 2 hours to pack for 4 for a 5 night WDW trip. One big suitcase, one small and 2 carry-ons.

Not to sound like a smarty pants, but I travelled a lot when I worked and learned how to pack smart. 2 week trip to Germany, one garment bag and a carry-on.

 

[bavaria]

How do they get their bags so heavy?

Too many pairs of shoes and jeans. Not planning to do laundry (or wash out items in the sink). Not planning to wear any item more than once on a trip. Full size bottles of toiletries. Not realizing that items can be bought at the destination if need be. Packing 'just in case' Lots of ways people go overweight.

I just bought a 25 inch Samsonite which weighs 10 lbs to replace my old 28 inch one. Now I sit here looking at it, full with work items - paper mostly, which weights a lot, plus a lot of required electronics. I carry a small totes duffle which has all my clothes in it for this trip - I've been gone a month and that will include work trip and vacation as well, but I've put all my clothes in that small duffle.

I hate having a heavy suitcase, and years of travel have taught me how to travel light.

 

[CarolA]

Here's my suggestion

If you are a heavy packer, on your next trip write down ALL the stuff you unpack when you get home that you didn't USE. Next time LEAVE that stuff at home.

You are not going to a Third World Country. You can get stuff there and even at Disney prices it's probably cheaper then the overweight charge and/or the hernia operations!

 

[bavaria]

I also recommend that people reevaluate their luggage. Anything 28 inches or larger will get very heavy very quickly. Also as noted, older luggage can be very heavy empty.

It's possible to get lightweight luggage ie 10 pounds which is also durable for a reasonable price these days - they come in a range of sizes and quality levels, for the occaissional to the frequent traveller.

 

[lazydazy8]

I've never packed more than 1 day before any trip. Just curious how do you pack for over 2 months?

Here in Maine, we have very dramatic changes in seasons. When I was putting our summer things away, I simply zip lock bagged outfits and put them in a suitcase. That way, I was also able to keep the big secret (the trip) under wraps... they never saw me pack (they thought I was putting summer things away in luggage for storage).

I have family in Central IN, so I know you guys DO get some snow, but once December hits, it's often a weekly occurence!