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Airlines investigated over baggage check-in failures
Airlines investigated over baggage check-in failures
...I'm innocent I tells ya...
From Times Online
May 14, 2008
Airlines investigated over baggage check-in failures
Passengers are paying for "excess" baggage despite report showing
widespread faulty weighing scale readings
BA Luggage Check In
Ginny McGrath
AIRLINES face a crackdown on faulty baggage scales which result in
passengers paying more to check-in luggage.
A survey by Trading Standards at Gatwick found that 62 of the
airport's 321 scales gave incorrect readings. One unnamed airline
registered 10 faulty scales among 18 used.
But research by Times Online also reveals widespread confusion among
airlines over recalibrating scales. EasyJet claims it can't, Ryanair
says it doesn't and BA only resets scales when opening check-in.
The issue is further clouded by revelations that some airlines,
including easyJet and Monarch, pay check-in staff bonuses to collect
excess baggage charges from passengers, a practice condemned by
Trading Standards.
Are airport bag scales accurate?
Andrew Godfrey says the Stansted Airport scales never measure the same
as his scales at home
Your Top 10 baggage questions
The Institute has received dozens of complaints from travellers,
including one who said her bag weighed 23kg at the airport and 18kg on
her home scales. In some cases this can be up to £7.50 per kg on short-
haul flights with low cost airlines, and up to £30 per kg on long-haul
flights.
Other travellers have contacted Times Online with similar stories. J
Fraser from Lytham St Annes was told by Ryanair at Liverpool that the
bag he weighed as 17kg at home recorded 23kg on check-in, while Jay
from London said a suitcase he took on a connecting flight registered
two different weights at the two check-in desks.
The issue is not limited to Gatwick, with problems also reported at
Stansted and other UK airports.
Bruce Treloar, Trading Standards Lead Officer for Holidays and Travel,
warned airlines they face a crackdown before the summer holiday season
begins. Those who don't comply will be named and shamed.
“We will go back to the airports and get the airlines or ground
handling companies to train staff to zero-ise the scales between each
customer,” he told Times Online.
Treloar says check-in staff should reset or “zero-ise” the scales
between weighings to ensure accuracy. While some of the faulty
readings at Gatwick were due to mechnical faults with the scales, he
says many were due to human error.
“Electronic scales can become inaccurate over time because of
intensive use… low cost airlines are reducing their luggage allowance
more and more, so the scales must be accurate.”
Gatwick operator BAA says all airlines can reset scales. A spokeswoman
said: “It’s a requirement after each weigh to reset the scales to zero
using a button of the sort you get on a telephone keypad. More than 90
per cent of our scales work this way.”
She added that scales need resetting after two or more bags have been
placed on them for a multiple weigh. This is done manually be pressing
a button labelled "CE/C*".
The reset theory is challenged by easyJet, saying check-in staff have
no control over weighing scales. “It is rubbish about scales needing
to be manually reset to zero whenever you lift a bag off – there’s no
manual re-set button,” an easyJet spokeswoman told Times Online.
She added: “After each passenger is checked in, the screen must be
cleared before the next passenger can be processed, there is no way to
check in another passenger without clearing this screen. This is not
related to the scales, however. It is impossible for a passenger to
accumulate excess baggage charges from a previous passenger.”
Ryanair, which operates out of Stansted, says its staff do not reset
scales between passengers. A spokesman said: "Airport check-in desks
belong to the airport. In every country we fly to, check in desk
weighing scales are independently tested and calibrated for the
airports by the relevant Government Department.
A Monarch spokeswoman said: "Our handling agent at Gatwick advises
that the weighing machine equipment used at check-in is automated so
the check-in staff do not manually re-set the scales to zero. If any
irregularities are detected this is reported and the equipment is re-
tested in line with the Weights and Measures legislation."
Conversely, BA says its staff are trained to re-set the scales as soon
as they open a check-in desk, but not between passengers.
Airlines also defended paying staff bonuses for penalising passengers
with excess luggage. A Monarch spokeswoman said: "As is standard
practice within the airline industry, Monarch does incentivise check-
in staff for the difficult task of enforcing the rules on weight
allowances and also for the sale of extras such as extra legroom
seats."
EasyJet says the incentive is there because otherwise staff would let
people fly with excess baggage, but the spokeswoman added: “There is
no way staff can fiddle the system because they can’t adjust the
scales.”
...I'm innocent I tells ya...
From Times Online
May 14, 2008
Airlines investigated over baggage check-in failures
Passengers are paying for "excess" baggage despite report showing
widespread faulty weighing scale readings
BA Luggage Check In
Ginny McGrath
AIRLINES face a crackdown on faulty baggage scales which result in
passengers paying more to check-in luggage.
A survey by Trading Standards at Gatwick found that 62 of the
airport's 321 scales gave incorrect readings. One unnamed airline
registered 10 faulty scales among 18 used.
But research by Times Online also reveals widespread confusion among
airlines over recalibrating scales. EasyJet claims it can't, Ryanair
says it doesn't and BA only resets scales when opening check-in.
The issue is further clouded by revelations that some airlines,
including easyJet and Monarch, pay check-in staff bonuses to collect
excess baggage charges from passengers, a practice condemned by
Trading Standards.
Are airport bag scales accurate?
Andrew Godfrey says the Stansted Airport scales never measure the same
as his scales at home
Your Top 10 baggage questions
The Institute has received dozens of complaints from travellers,
including one who said her bag weighed 23kg at the airport and 18kg on
her home scales. In some cases this can be up to £7.50 per kg on short-
haul flights with low cost airlines, and up to £30 per kg on long-haul
flights.
Other travellers have contacted Times Online with similar stories. J
Fraser from Lytham St Annes was told by Ryanair at Liverpool that the
bag he weighed as 17kg at home recorded 23kg on check-in, while Jay
from London said a suitcase he took on a connecting flight registered
two different weights at the two check-in desks.
The issue is not limited to Gatwick, with problems also reported at
Stansted and other UK airports.
Bruce Treloar, Trading Standards Lead Officer for Holidays and Travel,
warned airlines they face a crackdown before the summer holiday season
begins. Those who don't comply will be named and shamed.
“We will go back to the airports and get the airlines or ground
handling companies to train staff to zero-ise the scales between each
customer,” he told Times Online.
Treloar says check-in staff should reset or “zero-ise” the scales
between weighings to ensure accuracy. While some of the faulty
readings at Gatwick were due to mechnical faults with the scales, he
says many were due to human error.
“Electronic scales can become inaccurate over time because of
intensive use… low cost airlines are reducing their luggage allowance
more and more, so the scales must be accurate.”
Gatwick operator BAA says all airlines can reset scales. A spokeswoman
said: “It’s a requirement after each weigh to reset the scales to zero
using a button of the sort you get on a telephone keypad. More than 90
per cent of our scales work this way.”
She added that scales need resetting after two or more bags have been
placed on them for a multiple weigh. This is done manually be pressing
a button labelled "CE/C*".
The reset theory is challenged by easyJet, saying check-in staff have
no control over weighing scales. “It is rubbish about scales needing
to be manually reset to zero whenever you lift a bag off – there’s no
manual re-set button,” an easyJet spokeswoman told Times Online.
She added: “After each passenger is checked in, the screen must be
cleared before the next passenger can be processed, there is no way to
check in another passenger without clearing this screen. This is not
related to the scales, however. It is impossible for a passenger to
accumulate excess baggage charges from a previous passenger.”
Ryanair, which operates out of Stansted, says its staff do not reset
scales between passengers. A spokesman said: "Airport check-in desks
belong to the airport. In every country we fly to, check in desk
weighing scales are independently tested and calibrated for the
airports by the relevant Government Department.
A Monarch spokeswoman said: "Our handling agent at Gatwick advises
that the weighing machine equipment used at check-in is automated so
the check-in staff do not manually re-set the scales to zero. If any
irregularities are detected this is reported and the equipment is re-
tested in line with the Weights and Measures legislation."
Conversely, BA says its staff are trained to re-set the scales as soon
as they open a check-in desk, but not between passengers.
Airlines also defended paying staff bonuses for penalising passengers
with excess luggage. A Monarch spokeswoman said: "As is standard
practice within the airline industry, Monarch does incentivise check-
in staff for the difficult task of enforcing the rules on weight
allowances and also for the sale of extras such as extra legroom
seats."
EasyJet says the incentive is there because otherwise staff would let
people fly with excess baggage, but the spokeswoman added: “There is
no way staff can fiddle the system because they can’t adjust the
scales.”
Warning just an attempt to send viruses
"Colonel Oliver North" <michaelnewport@yahoo,com > a écrit dans le message de
news:e2ef3c8e-2cf2-4fe2-be64-70946f1a0769@2g2000hsn.googlegroups,com ...
...I'm innocent I tells ya...
From Times Online
May 14, 2008
Airlines investigated over baggage check-in failures
Passengers are paying for "excess" baggage despite report showing
widespread faulty weighing scale readings
BA Luggage Check In
Ginny McGrath
AIRLINES face a crackdown on faulty baggage scales which result in
passengers paying more to check-in luggage.
A survey by Trading Standards at Gatwick found that 62 of the
airport's 321 scales gave incorrect readings. One unnamed airline
registered 10 faulty scales among 18 used.
But research by Times Online also reveals widespread confusion among
airlines over recalibrating scales. EasyJet claims it can't, Ryanair
says it doesn't and BA only resets scales when opening check-in.
The issue is further clouded by revelations that some airlines,
including easyJet and Monarch, pay check-in staff bonuses to collect
excess baggage charges from passengers, a practice condemned by
Trading Standards.
Are airport bag scales accurate?
Andrew Godfrey says the Stansted Airport scales never measure the same
as his scales at home
Your Top 10 baggage questions
The Institute has received dozens of complaints from travellers,
including one who said her bag weighed 23kg at the airport and 18kg on
her home scales. In some cases this can be up to £7.50 per kg on short-
haul flights with low cost airlines, and up to £30 per kg on long-haul
flights.
Other travellers have contacted Times Online with similar stories. J
Fraser from Lytham St Annes was told by Ryanair at Liverpool that the
bag he weighed as 17kg at home recorded 23kg on check-in, while Jay
from London said a suitcase he took on a connecting flight registered
two different weights at the two check-in desks.
The issue is not limited to Gatwick, with problems also reported at
Stansted and other UK airports.
Bruce Treloar, Trading Standards Lead Officer for Holidays and Travel,
warned airlines they face a crackdown before the summer holiday season
begins. Those who don't comply will be named and shamed.
“We will go back to the airports and get the airlines or ground
handling companies to train staff to zero-ise the scales between each
customer,” he told Times Online.
Treloar says check-in staff should reset or “zero-ise” the scales
between weighings to ensure accuracy. While some of the faulty
readings at Gatwick were due to mechnical faults with the scales, he
says many were due to human error.
“Electronic scales can become inaccurate over time because of
intensive use… low cost airlines are reducing their luggage allowance
more and more, so the scales must be accurate.”
Gatwick operator BAA says all airlines can reset scales. A spokeswoman
said: “It’s a requirement after each weigh to reset the scales to zero
using a button of the sort you get on a telephone keypad. More than 90
per cent of our scales work this way.”
She added that scales need resetting after two or more bags have been
placed on them for a multiple weigh. This is done manually be pressing
a button labelled "CE/C*".
The reset theory is challenged by easyJet, saying check-in staff have
no control over weighing scales. “It is rubbish about scales needing
to be manually reset to zero whenever you lift a bag off – there’s no
manual re-set button,” an easyJet spokeswoman told Times Online.
She added: “After each passenger is checked in, the screen must be
cleared before the next passenger can be processed, there is no way to
check in another passenger without clearing this screen. This is not
related to the scales, however. It is impossible for a passenger to
accumulate excess baggage charges from a previous passenger.”
Ryanair, which operates out of Stansted, says its staff do not reset
scales between passengers. A spokesman said: "Airport check-in desks
belong to the airport. In every country we fly to, check in desk
weighing scales are independently tested and calibrated for the
airports by the relevant Government Department.
A Monarch spokeswoman said: "Our handling agent at Gatwick advises
that the weighing machine equipment used at check-in is automated so
the check-in staff do not manually re-set the scales to zero. If any
irregularities are detected this is reported and the equipment is re-
tested in line with the Weights and Measures legislation."
Conversely, BA says its staff are trained to re-set the scales as soon
as they open a check-in desk, but not between passengers.
Airlines also defended paying staff bonuses for penalising passengers
with excess luggage. A Monarch spokeswoman said: "As is standard
practice within the airline industry, Monarch does incentivise check-
in staff for the difficult task of enforcing the rules on weight
allowances and also for the sale of extras such as extra legroom
seats."
EasyJet says the incentive is there because otherwise staff would let
people fly with excess baggage, but the spokeswoman added: “There is
no way staff can fiddle the system because they can’t adjust the
scales.”
"Colonel Oliver North" <michaelnewport@yahoo,com > a écrit dans le message de
news:e2ef3c8e-2cf2-4fe2-be64-70946f1a0769@2g2000hsn.googlegroups,com ...
...I'm innocent I tells ya...
From Times Online
May 14, 2008
Airlines investigated over baggage check-in failures
Passengers are paying for "excess" baggage despite report showing
widespread faulty weighing scale readings
BA Luggage Check In
Ginny McGrath
AIRLINES face a crackdown on faulty baggage scales which result in
passengers paying more to check-in luggage.
A survey by Trading Standards at Gatwick found that 62 of the
airport's 321 scales gave incorrect readings. One unnamed airline
registered 10 faulty scales among 18 used.
But research by Times Online also reveals widespread confusion among
airlines over recalibrating scales. EasyJet claims it can't, Ryanair
says it doesn't and BA only resets scales when opening check-in.
The issue is further clouded by revelations that some airlines,
including easyJet and Monarch, pay check-in staff bonuses to collect
excess baggage charges from passengers, a practice condemned by
Trading Standards.
Are airport bag scales accurate?
Andrew Godfrey says the Stansted Airport scales never measure the same
as his scales at home
Your Top 10 baggage questions
The Institute has received dozens of complaints from travellers,
including one who said her bag weighed 23kg at the airport and 18kg on
her home scales. In some cases this can be up to £7.50 per kg on short-
haul flights with low cost airlines, and up to £30 per kg on long-haul
flights.
Other travellers have contacted Times Online with similar stories. J
Fraser from Lytham St Annes was told by Ryanair at Liverpool that the
bag he weighed as 17kg at home recorded 23kg on check-in, while Jay
from London said a suitcase he took on a connecting flight registered
two different weights at the two check-in desks.
The issue is not limited to Gatwick, with problems also reported at
Stansted and other UK airports.
Bruce Treloar, Trading Standards Lead Officer for Holidays and Travel,
warned airlines they face a crackdown before the summer holiday season
begins. Those who don't comply will be named and shamed.
“We will go back to the airports and get the airlines or ground
handling companies to train staff to zero-ise the scales between each
customer,” he told Times Online.
Treloar says check-in staff should reset or “zero-ise” the scales
between weighings to ensure accuracy. While some of the faulty
readings at Gatwick were due to mechnical faults with the scales, he
says many were due to human error.
“Electronic scales can become inaccurate over time because of
intensive use… low cost airlines are reducing their luggage allowance
more and more, so the scales must be accurate.”
Gatwick operator BAA says all airlines can reset scales. A spokeswoman
said: “It’s a requirement after each weigh to reset the scales to zero
using a button of the sort you get on a telephone keypad. More than 90
per cent of our scales work this way.”
She added that scales need resetting after two or more bags have been
placed on them for a multiple weigh. This is done manually be pressing
a button labelled "CE/C*".
The reset theory is challenged by easyJet, saying check-in staff have
no control over weighing scales. “It is rubbish about scales needing
to be manually reset to zero whenever you lift a bag off – there’s no
manual re-set button,” an easyJet spokeswoman told Times Online.
She added: “After each passenger is checked in, the screen must be
cleared before the next passenger can be processed, there is no way to
check in another passenger without clearing this screen. This is not
related to the scales, however. It is impossible for a passenger to
accumulate excess baggage charges from a previous passenger.”
Ryanair, which operates out of Stansted, says its staff do not reset
scales between passengers. A spokesman said: "Airport check-in desks
belong to the airport. In every country we fly to, check in desk
weighing scales are independently tested and calibrated for the
airports by the relevant Government Department.
A Monarch spokeswoman said: "Our handling agent at Gatwick advises
that the weighing machine equipment used at check-in is automated so
the check-in staff do not manually re-set the scales to zero. If any
irregularities are detected this is reported and the equipment is re-
tested in line with the Weights and Measures legislation."
Conversely, BA says its staff are trained to re-set the scales as soon
as they open a check-in desk, but not between passengers.
Airlines also defended paying staff bonuses for penalising passengers
with excess luggage. A Monarch spokeswoman said: "As is standard
practice within the airline industry, Monarch does incentivise check-
in staff for the difficult task of enforcing the rules on weight
allowances and also for the sale of extras such as extra legroom
seats."
EasyJet says the incentive is there because otherwise staff would let
people fly with excess baggage, but the spokeswoman added: “There is
no way staff can fiddle the system because they can’t adjust the
scales.”
