Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyFifteen luggage scales in Tucson’s airport were temporarily shut down after failing tests by the Arizona Weights and Measures Department.
So are the scales at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport accurate?
Right now the airport is empty compared to how it will look over the holidays as travelers head in and out of the Valley. Every bag those travelers check will be put onto scales, scales that aren’t always accurate according to Steve Meissner with the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures.
“We frequently found scales that had to be red tagged, taken out of service, could not be put back into service until operating properly,” said Meissner.
Just last week, inspectors found 25 scale violations at Sky Harbor. Airlines charge fees for bags weighing more than 50 pounds.
“If you have three, four, five bags those $125 charges add up pretty fast,” said Meissner.
When the ABC 15 Investigators accompanied inspectors last summer, they found one scale shorting consumers by 2 pounds and removed it from service. Meissner says the scales take a lot of abuse and doesn't blame the airlines.
Look out for your bags. Before putting them on the scale take a look and make sure the scale reads zero.
“You should look for a seal right next to the read out on the scale, telling you we inspected the scale recently,” said Meissner.
If you believe the scale is not accurate for any reason, file a complaint with the airline and the Department of Weights and Measures. They investigate every complaint.
A simple way to steer clear of those overweight charges is to bring a partially filled carry-on bag. This way if your bag reads overweight, you can remove some belongings and put them in your carry on luggage. This will help you avoid the fees altogether.