Excess baggage...Does anyone care??
 

A story this morning showing a woman coming in from Nigeria with 16st of snails.
Don't know which airline it was but surely causes some concern with TOW.
Seem to remember when based in Kuwait and Oman of a story of a 747 having to abort a take off in Dubai(?) which when more closely examined was 50T over MTOW..could have been rumour.But must admit have seen a lot more loaded on flights from the Middle East and Sub continent that must have been over the individuals allowance.
Is it only a matter of time before an accident happens?

Much less likely from a UK airport. Have a look at checkin and you'll see all the bags being weighed. Handbaggage can be a mega problem on some flights - I recall finding a Peugeot short engine in hand baggage in my time in Pax Seach many years ago. That got sent back to checkin but the protest that the owner was unlikely to be repatriated with it at the other end gave me a little more understanding of the very different culture in other parts of the world. Likewise the pax who had 6 new tyres.
'Why 6'
'Well, 4 are for me and the other 2 are for the 'dash' I'll have to give the other end to get them through'.

There was a lovely tongue-in-cheek thread onpprune a little while ago examining other aspects of this culture.

At least the a/c won't be overweight arriving here, having burned off the fuel!

Cheers,
TheOddOne

Beech 1900 out of Charlotte, crashed on take-off February 04. this wasn't the only factor (elevator problem too), but the full load of large businessmen and all their gear caused NTSB to recommend re-evaluating average weights of pax and carry-ons.

I have questioned this aswell. Working for a handling agent at LGW over the summer, the majority of the charter flights we checked in were 'pieces only'. (i.e. when entering pax details into the system, only the number of checked in bags is entered) The bag weight, I believe as told by the dispatchers, is based on an average weight, which i cant remember exactly what is is. Therefore, total number of pieces on flight x av. weight of bag = total baggage weight.

Some airlines however, do a 'pieces and weight' system where both the total number of bags and total weight of these is included in the system per passenger.

Which method is used is the airlines choice.

As for hand lugguage, this is the biggest problem as people seem to want to take those small wheely suitcases on board. Some of these weigh 5kg+ just empty. Why people check in suitcases then want to take all that stuff on board is beyond me.

When doing the gate for a Ghana Airways flight (747-200) we collected an extra 800kg of bags from pax arriving at the gate when told at check in they can only take 1 bag onboard.

MonarchA330

As previously stated, the reason people want to take a lot of handbaggae on board is down to two or three reasons (I'm talking mostly shorthaul here).

1. They don't want to wait for baggage to come up on the carousel at the destination

2. Some destinantions are so bad on baggage handling you might just as well throw your luggage into the bin before you leave

3. People are just going for the day and may have documents and files with them only for the outbound or return journey.

On longhaul flights I quite agree that cabin baggage is often excessive and there's no excuse for tractor tyres and washing machines but consider this:

In addition to the cabin baggage allowed into the cabin, personal articles such as lady's handbag, an overcoat or a wrap or a blanket, an umbrella or walking stick, a small camera, binoculars, reasonable amount of reading materials for the flight, infant's food for consumption in-flight are also allowed in addition to the cabin baggage. If you pack this into a bag as well, it's a pretty big bag.

:)

Dylsexlic,
I do understand that, which is why I said, 'Why people check in suitcases then want to take all that stuff on board'.

For those people who I could see just want to get on and then off without waiting I would let a little extra go, of course. But it is when people checked a suitcase in aswell. They obviously can't argue the 'dont want to wait at the other end' case.

Documents and files are obviously fine as these can be carried in a folder or briefcase.

I agree with you regards all the other stuff they can take on board, but what my point is, do they need a reinforced suitcase which weighs their total hand baggage allowance when it is empty, on board the A/C?

MonarchA330

Couldn't agree more about the empty weight of some of these so-called 'carry-on' bags. Mrs TOO bought herself one of these, complete with telescopic handle & wheels. Far too heavy in my opinion. I'm always nearly tripping over the blasted things in the Terminal building (another good reason for keeping out of the place).

Personally, I use a lightweight 'stuff' bag that'll fit in the overhead. If it's a nightstop 1 or 2 nights it's entirely adequate.

Re charter weights - I think the Summer Med flights are probably pretty near the mark. It's the ski traffic that's problematic but depending on a/c type, they bulk out before they max out on weight (mass!). Longhaul is another matter - usually more freight involved, too.

I see Monarch are doing the odd Accra...

Cheers,
TOO