Transport carriers impose strict limits on passenger luggage to manage vehicle weight and cargo space. When a traveler's bags exceed these predefined allowances in weight, dimensions, or total count, the carrier classifies them as over the limit. Passengers must pay supplementary fees to transport these items, or the carrier may refuse to load them entirely.
Heard on the job
We had to charge the group for excess baggage because every single one of their checked cases was over fifty pounds.
Insider tip
Gate agents often use excess baggage fees as a deterrent to keep turnaround times fast and prevent cargo holds from maxing out their weight limits before commercial freight is loaded.
Also heard as
- oversized baggage
- overweight baggage