It is no secret that almost all airlines are making big bucks on fees that are charged for checked luggage. These bag fees are here to stay and they will certainly be getting more expensive before we see any reductions. Beyond the standard checked bag fees there are also extra fees for bags that are over 50 pounds or items that are oversized. You can expect to pay several times the price of a standard bag is you have a large or heavy item.
So why is 50 pounds the magic number? The FAA requires airlines to mark any bag that weighs more than 50 pounds. All standard bags under 50 pounds are considered to be the same weight for weight and balance purposes, the actual weight of each bag is not calculated. Once the 50 pound mark is exceeded the entire weight of that item is accounted for since it is much heavier than the average bag weight.
Since the airlines must add a heavy bag indicator to an overweight bag, they have determined that they can charge the passenger lots of money for that bag. Typically the overweight bag fee is at least 4 times the cost of your standard bag. There are several things that you can do to avoid adding a big fee to your trip.
If you want to save some money and avoid these exorbitant overweight bag fees then you should closely monitor the weight of your luggage when you are packing. try to spread the weight evenly between all of your bags and weigh them at home if you can. If you find yourself with some extra heavy luggage then think about removing some items that you don't absolutely need while traveling. Lighter bags are always better while on the move anyway.
When you get to the airport you will want to assess your bags quickly and make sure they are not overweight. Most airlines provide scales and repacking areas if you need to move some stuff around. Airlines are very strict about collecting overweight bag fees, you will get charged if your bag is only 1 pound overweight, so it is important to be prepared before checking in.
I have seen passengers attempt to get around overweight fees, bargain with airline staff, and try to hurriedly repack bags right in the check-in lobby. All of these things are just wasting your time. If your bag is overweight when you check it, then you will be paying the extra fee. I have seen many passengers miss flight s due to baggage issues and attempting to avoid extra fees. Never worth it.
Make sure your bags are properly packed and underweight before you get to the airport and you won't have to deal with extra fees or repacking before your flight.