Weighing luggage at check in....

MarkyMarkD

Given that the weight of a plane at takeoff is critical for fueling purposes and that there are safety implications from making mistakes, I doubt that airport scales are as inaccurate as people seem to think.

claire16c

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Given that the weight of a plane at takeoff is critical for fueling purposes and that there are safety implications from making mistakes, I doubt that airport scales are as inaccurate as people seem to think.

But considering they dont weigh passengers, I dont see how a fraction of a kg would make any difference in total.

moonrakerz

Chimaera wrote: »

As other posters I too ensure that my luggage is lighter than the quoted baggage allowance in order to provide leeway just in case.

What is the problem then ?

hanwellmike

I am a frequent flyer and the hand luggage scales I bought a couple of years ago were a great buy. Takes the guesswork out of the equation. Well worth spending £10-15 on a decent set. As long as you don't go right up to the maximum (pack to say .5 kilo under the limit) then you are highly unlikely to have any problems. The weight according to my scales have always been very close to the check in scales.

Chimaera

moonrakerz wrote: »

What is the problem then ?

You are obviously on here to be argumentative rather than conduct objective discussion.

I am merely asking others for their experience and/or knowledge of whether regulation exists relating to the calibration, and whether airlines or airport operators should declare the tolerance (over or under read proportion).

SteveJW

Hanwellmike

Agree with you re the luggage scales

We bought a set from the £1 shop, at around 20kg they were within 0.5 of a kg at what the luggage weighed on the bathroom scales and within the same amount on the airport scales

Passenger weight, this crossed my mind when reading a previous post re passengers should pay by weight

I wonder if either at checkin, they log each passenger on a scale of say 1-5, 1 being slim 5 being obese, only needs a pre programed key on their computer
Or do we all walk across a weighpad somewhere, technology out there on UK roads weighing in motion is in use on motorways for HGVs travelling at normal speeds

SteveJW

Follow up

Talking to a Trading Standards Officer today

Weighing machines in UK airports are subject to the same regulations as shops etc. They must be calibrated annually and are subject to checks by Trading Standards, those abroard are subject to the relevant local legislation

Chimaera

SteveJW wrote: »

Follow up

Talking to a Trading Standards Officer today

Weighing machines in UK airports are subject to the same regulations as shops etc. They must be calibrated annually and are subject to checks by Trading Standards, those abroard are subject to the relevant local legislation

Really appreciate you taking the time to clarify that - now I know. Thank you! :T

Judging by some of the comments on this thread stating variances in baggage weights between different airport scales, maybe people would have recourse to Trading Standards then if they wished to pursue a claim for wrongful charging. Proving it of course would be another matter!

greenface

It doesnt matter if your bathroom scales are calibrated just weigh yourself Say (74.4 kg) then you and your bag together (88.1 Kg) The difference is your bag. Simples.............