Weight restrictions on luggage?

[Minybear]

Has anyone heard about this? My husband told me he heard that if your luggage is over 70 lbs the airline will charge you $100 fee. Is this with all airlines or with a certain carrier? We always over pack and our suitcase is always heavy so I am a little concerned about this.

 

[bananiem]

I just checked Delta.com because my FIL mentioned seeing an article in the Wall St. Journal about size limits. I found quite a bit of info about size and weight restrictions for our flight. I would check on the website of your airline.

 

[SueM in MN]

I checked the websites of Northwest, Delta, Southwest, American and United. They all said the same thing:
Maximum weight of each checked piece: 70 lbs/32 kgs. Maximum size is 62 inches/158 cm, using linear measurement which is length plus height plus width.

Since they all say the same thing (and in the same language), I think it is either an FAA rule or an agreement between the airlines that they will all stick to this. Southwest and Delta had their excess weight charges posted; it was sort of a formula based on how many bags you had and how many were overweight. From Delta's website:
"We charge an excess baggage fee if you have more than two pieces of baggage, or if one or more of your bags exceeds the weight or size restrictions. For example, if you have an extra piece of baggage that exceeds the weight limitation and the size
limitation, then you will incur the excess charge 3 times - once for the extra piece, once for exceeding the size limitation and once for exceeding the weight limitation."
Their excess baggage fee was $40 for an extra bag, $80 for excess weight and $80 for excess size. So their example above (a 3rd piece of baggage that was overweight and size) would be $200.

I think this was one of those things that was always in place (I remember my parents weighing their bags before they left on trips when I was a teenager), but not really talked about much. Extra weight means the plane needs extra fuel, which someone has to pay for. I do know that we have had foreign exchange students who have paid an excess weight fee when they went back home because their bags were too heavy. After the first time that happened, we have always weighed our bags before we leave home.

 

[CarolA]

This has always been in place but rarely enforced before. However, airlines are now looking for revenue and they are enforcing these regulations. TOO much luggage may cost you dearly.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You would be amazed at what a sky cap will overlook if you curb check your luggage and tip well.

 

[whozit]

As CarolA said, these rules have always been there, but were rarely enforced. With the airlines in deep financial trouble, they are looking to raise revenue from any source possible. It was reported in one of the news magazines that some of the airlines are awarding bonuses to their employees that chalk up lots of extra fees for identifying oversized or overweight or excess bags. Think about it, some of the fares are so low ($110 RT) and if they have you at the airport counter on the morning of your flight with two overweight or oversized bags, they could generate and an extra $100-$150 in revenue (at that point in time, you don't have many options but to cough up the money.

And beware: the article also noted that many of the popular suitcases that people use actually measure up as oversized and just because you used them for years at not additional fee, doesn't mean you will have that luxury anymore. Check with your airline and then check your tape measure.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Gail, you are so right, yet once again.

 

[NotUrsula]

We prefer to use fewer and larger suitcases when traveling with children, as it cuts down on the number of bags we have to manage. However, we fly overseas quite often, and non-US airlines have always taken a harder line on luggage weight limits.

We use plastic bags inside the big bag to keep the contents sorted and in place. The advantage to this is that if your bag is overweight, you can just reach in and pull out one or two bags to reduce the weight. If you have an extra duffle inside on top, in a pinch, you can put those bags into the duffel and check it as another bag. An extra bag is almost always cheaper than an overweight bag, but we never have to pay an extra bag charge, as we never start with the max. number of bags.

 

[Lewisc]

Gail has sound advice.

An alternative is to rethink how much you really have to bring. Other than V&A all dress is casual. If circumstances cause you to be short on clothes (rain, heat/humidity) most hotels have coin operated washer/dryers. I don't like packing planning on needing to do wash but it's a good failsafe option.

A grocery/Walmart stop will enable you to pickup HBA, food, snacks, film... I don't normally do that but it's an alternative to heavy suitcases.

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that it is not just weight, but size also.
The skycaps probably are a good bet, but... I would be careful counting on that. If there is some problem (like a cancelled flight) that required you to go to the counter, you could be in trouble.

Also, I wonder how long it will be before the airlines start paying bonuses to the skycaps for finding overweight luggage. Also, for anyone flying internationally you can't skycap those bags!

My big thing is how are you going to lift a suitcase that big into the trunk of the car, up the stairs etc....

 

[Minybear]

Thanks everyone. My husband and myself tend to pack everything (including the kitchen sink it seems). With us going in January we tend to pack summer and winter clothes due to you really don't know what type of weather to pack for.

We have one oversized bag and then another and one a little smaller then that. Looks like we need to weight the baggage on our scales prior to leaving and to just double check to make sure its under (way under) 70lbs.

What we can do is carry an extra duffle bag with us and if I buy to much stuff at WDW/DCL we can put that in the duffle bag.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Minybear,
If you are staying at a DVC resort, you can cut a lot of the wardrobe out. The washer and dryer makes packing so much easier.

 

[Crichton]

Yes - with all the airlines we've used there are both size and weight limitations. This may have increased recently, given all the cutbacks the airlines are implementing, so it may be a wise decision to call ahead.

 

[Minybear]

GAIL HAYDEN

Good suggestion I will keep that in mind when I am packing to cut some of the wardward out. We will definately take advantage of the washer and dryer and the kitchen while at the DVC resort.

Crichton I will also get on American Airline web site and see what they say about luggage restrictions or just call them, but we have gotten misinformation everytime we call them.

I am also very worried about our new oversized luggage I am wondering if that is ok to take or is it to large.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Minybear,
Just check the website. Most of the problems occur when people want to take the "kitchen sink" on the plane to avoid having to go to luggage pickup. I have taken a piece of luggage (once only, Dee threated my life if I did it again, LOL) and it was big enough to put a body in, it weighed a ton, but the sky cap just pushed it on through. I am serious when I say, tip the skycap well and you will be amazed what will go through. (this advice is for domestic USA flights only).
You will love the kitchen, we save hundreds by just doing some dinners, all breakfasts and some lunches in the unit. Just gives us more to spend elsewhere.
Now, for some advice: sit back, relax, take a cleansing breath, and think very happy magical thoughts.
I hope you have a WONDERFUL time!!!!

 

[Minybear]

Thanks GAIL HAYDEN. I cannot wait for our trip. I wish it was tomorow . Thank you for your advise to really tip good for the Skycap. We will definately do that. If we have paper tickets can we still go through the Skycap?

 

[CarolA]

I copied this out of a trip report on www.mouseplanet.com

"The curbside baggage claim worker, Charles, lifted our suitcase and questioned our bags. I had just bought these suitcases off the Internet. They were huge but within the size limitations. However, the baggage handler said that the one weighed over 70 lbs, which would cost extra. We followed him helplessly through the maze of Southwest until we came to an empty scale. The bags weighed in at 66 and 61 pounds"

The writer went on to say the the skycap told her it would have cost $45 for each overweight bag. I thought this was interesting since it appears that some skycaps are enforcing the weight limit!