Weighing luggage

We have a scale with a hook on it that we use to weigh our bags, works very well. A good travel store should have one. Check with your airline for weight limits on carryons and luggage so you don't get over charged. Also read their size qualifications for carryons and luggage and measure. One time going home from Cancun my carry on was put into luggage because they felt it exceeded the size limits, even though it was correct if you didn't count the wheels.

I also have a hand-held travel luggage scale that I find to be very useful. If you have more than one suitcase, you will have the option of re-packing if one of the suitcases is over the weight limit (assuming you have the time to do it). My husband had to do that a short while ago on a business trip when he found out on the return trip that the higher weight limit for the elite traveler status had been dropped! Which brings up the warning about always knowing what the latest policies are on luggage restrictions for your airline. Wheels do count in the dimensions (I've read this in the restrictions) - you can't leave the wheels hanging out of the overhead bin and still get the bin to shut.

Thank you Jon and Dina! I was looking at the Taylor Digital Luggage Scale and wonder if that works as good as the one with the hook. Do either of you know about this scale? Thanks,
Ruth

No need for buying something extra. You can always use your bathroom scale and the subtraction method. Step on your bathroom scale while holding a piece of your luggage. Note thedisplayed weight. Step off the scale and put down your luggage. Get back on the scale with no luggage. Subtract your displayed weight from the weight with the luggage and the result is the luggage weight.

Ron's method is ok in a pinch, but not doesn't necessarily give accurate results. I bought a handheld digital luggage scale at R.E.I. for about $20 that is accurate to about 1/10 of a pound. Take a look at the luggage scales on amazon.com and read the reviews. The cheaper ones often get poor reviews due to inaccuracy.

Ron's method is perfectly fine. I do that all the time when I travel. You don't need to-the-ounce accuracy. Why spend money for a special device? Buy some wine with your lunch instead.

There is absolutely no reason that Ron's method would not work. We have done that for years. You do not need accuracy to the tenth of a pound. A pound is fine. All scales can be off a bit so I would not pack to the last tenth.

even though it was correct if you didn't count the wheels ah, but the wheels are part of the size, and you do have to count them...

Yes, the bathroom scale method works - If you have a bathroom scale. I am yet to stay in a foreign rented apartment, B&B or less than 4star hotel that included a bathroom scale. Thus, an extra luggage scale is essential to make sure all those souvenirs you've acquired don't end up costing an extra fee at the airport.

You could head to your local market and ask them to weigh your suitcase. Most scales will go up to 30# and they often have floor scales that go higher. Or go to Office Depot to the UPS counter.

Using a bathroom scale, weigh yourself with luggage, then weigh yourself without luggage. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number. That's the weight of your luggage. That's what I do.