Baggage Nightmare.

I had spent 7 great days in vegas it was time to leave for San Fran for a quick day trip to San Fran to catch my flight back to Australia.

I knew my luggage would weigh a ton after all those fantastic shopping outlets.I was tired and irritated after waiting in a long line to check in,finally I was greeted by a young male working for United,my case was weighed and he informed me that it was 5lb over.At first he stated that i%26#39;d have to throw away some of the contents OR pay the airline $100 dollars U.S,which to an Aussie is about $160 aus dollars,he then paused and suggested that we look after one another,by which he meant,pay me a tip and i will waiver both options.I was very tired and panic stricken so went with the third option,i gave him $ 20.00 and all was well.Can someone tell me if this is normal practice,i have contacted the airline and have been left in the dark!!.It was not a nice experience.

Baggage Nightmare.

As far as I know, all airlines have limits on number and weight of checked luggage and all of them charge extra for both.

Personaly, since you already indicated your bags were heavy and full of our great American deals, I%26#39;d say you did well.

So where are the great NSW deals? I like the exchange rate you mentioned!

Baggage Nightmare.

I don%26#39;t understand why you call your situation ';a nightmare';. You saved $80, I agree you did pretty well!

Baggage nightmare:

1. flying back from Ireland and bag of newly purchases woolens and other handmade Ireland items doesn%26#39;t make it back on the Atlanta plane.

2. flying to Sydney Australia to get married, groom to be%26#39;s luggage doesn%26#39;t make it for 3 days.

3. flying to Key West when pregnant for a 3 day birthday weekend and luggage never MADE it to Key West. Had only packed 1 bag for both of us, so we were both there with no clothes, swimsuits, undies, pajamas etc...

You were simply over the limit. I think the Vegas airlines check weight because of all the business conferences there and all the catalogs that get packed in suitcases to ship home. I have at least twice been over the limit while on a business trip and had to fork over the overlimit fee which was $50 at the time. If you got by with $20 you got a deal not a nightmare. Chicago is another city that weighs all bags and doesn%26#39;t mind accessing the overlimit fee. Simple fix: Pay up or repack.

You made out alright Goolagong - all U.S. airports weigh your luggage and have weight restrictions which you can find on each of the airline websites. If you ever think your bag is over the weight limit, you can lighten your bag by removing some of your stuff and carrying it ont he plane with you. Just something to keep in mind.

My recent trip to the U.S was one of three and this was the first time a situation like this has taken place.My luggage has been well over the limit numerous times while traveling within Aus and the U.K.Normally there is vever a problem,I guess this was a shock to my system.I will take all your advise on board...Thanks.

I think this is more of a matter of different expectations from different cultures. Vegas is the home of the $20 trick and endless gratuities from the time you arrive till the time you leave. Everyone has their handout expecting something. Sometimes the border between a tip and a bribe eliciting corrupt behaviour is a very grey and shady line indeed.

I don%26#39;t like it anymore than you do goolagong but unfortunately when in Rome do as the Romans do. Judging from the lack of sympathy of other forum members it looks like the system is too entrenched to expect change. Know the ';rules'; and work with in them.

Better luck next time.

I don%26#39;t see it as a difference in culture at all unless not knowing that additional weight in the aircraft costs the carrier more money for fuel is a difference in culture. If everyone just disregarded the guidlines and packed whatever they like, the hold would be full and the aircraft would be ';heavy';.

I must be missing something here if you don%26#39;t understand you pay much more for overweight luggage as a deterent.

I do agree the person who helped you was stealing from the carrier, but why didn%26#39;t you report that immediatly? Was it the $80 difference?

I agree with Dr Vegas.

If you didn%26#39;t feel it was right to pay the employee $20 why not just pay the $100 which is the normal charge of that particular airline? Then you wouldn%26#39;t feel ';panic stricken';. Other people have mentioned luggage mishaps which seem much more serious. I don%26#39;t think people in Vegas are any more desirous of tips than any other workers in other major cities. You were lucky.

My comment regarding differences in culture relates to the fact that in some countries the concept of tipping and gratuities is much more common place than in others. I%26#39;m not saying it is wrong but it is certainly less prevalent in a country such as Australia where the hospitality industry pays an adequate wage to employees and so there is less of a reliance on tips for mere survival.

Furthermore I believe there is a concept of discretion and goodwill. 5lbs is not a significant amount of weight over the limit when one wishes to maintain the loyalty and patronage of international passengers holidaying in the USA. If the weight had of been transferred to hand luggage as someone has suggested and I believe would of worked the plane would not have been any lighter or made any more money. So in essence the matter could have been handled differently by the attendant if he had of chose to.

By the sounds of things the opportunism of this one particular employee has left a sour taste in the travelling experience of goolagong and the lack of response from the airline itself indicates that this behaviour is condoned.

It is not always a matter of what was the better deal but sometimes there is a concept of what is morally right and wrong. Clearly such concepts are falling upon deaf ears.

robotman, thanks for your alternative view.

I do wish to clarify a few points regarding the ';over weight'; luggage incident:

1. I have absoloutely no problem paying a tip for service where I feel the service has warranted it.

2. The guy checking in my bags virtually told me I had to pay him a tip in order to ensure that my bags would be ';taken care of';. When I asked him to explain his exact words were ';you need to pay me a tip';

3. It was implied that if i chose any other option but to pay him his requested tip my bags would NOT be taken care of - I did not know if this was a flippant remark or if it was a threat. That is why i felt panic stricken. It was not the $80 difference but it was the fact that i was virtually blackmailed into paying.

4. I have contacted the airlines (United) on numerous occasions with full disclosure of the fact that I did pay $20.

5. Quite clearly I have touched a raw nerve and it was expected of me to just hush up with a wink and a nod.

Such a pity.

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