United, Delta Scales Found Not To Be In Compliance
State inspectors removed over
a dozen scales used by two airlines from service this week at
Tucson International Airport, after the discovery the devices gave
false readings.
The Arizona Daily Star reports every scale used by United
Airlines and Delta Air Lines at the airport was removed from
service Tuesday, after failing tests conducted by the Arizona
Department of Weights and Measures. United's scales reportedly
lacked security seals, while those used by Delta were improperly
set up on pliable surfaces like foam or wood.
Several read higher than they should have, while at least one
showed lighter weights. Airlines use the scales to weigh checked
luggage... and, to charge for overweight bags. Delta charges $90
for each bag weighing between 51-90 pounds, and $175 for bags
between 71 and 100 pounds. United charges a staggering $125 for
bags that are even a pound greater than the 50-lb cutoff.
To pass inspection, the scales must be properly installed and
show weights within a 1/2 pound of actual. All eight scales used by
Delta, and six used by United, failed to meet state standards. In
addition to the hassle of taking the scales off-line, the carriers
face a fine of at least $300 for each scale found to be not in
compliance.
Admittedly, the inspection process is imperfect. Weights and
Measures spokesman Steve Meissner said the scales in Tucson were
last inspected in 2004, far longer than the once-a-year schedule in
place at Phoenix Sky Harbor. There are over 30 inspectors statewide
who, in addition to checking airport scales, also certify the
accuracy of gas pumps, and truck scales... but Meissner says only
four of them are based in the southern part of the state.
The scales will be out of service until they are repaired by
state-approved technicians and the agency can recheck them...
leaving both carriers to find alternate ways of measuring luggage
weights.
United said this week it would suspend weighing checked bags for
the short-term. "Customers won't be charged for overweight bags
until we recertify the scales," said spokesman Jeff Kovick. "Over
the summer our scales were certified (by private technicians) and
then checked again more recently. We'll fully investigate why they
didn't pass inspection."
Delta appears to be taking a more proactive approach, hiring
their own contractors to check and recalibrate the scales... which
will then need to be certified by state officials. In the meantime,
Delta will use scales belonging to other airlines.
Anthony Black, spokesman for the Atlanta-based carrier, tried to
downplay any whisper of impropriety on the part of his employer.
While technically the inaccurate scales could have been used to
fraudulently charge passengers overweight fees, he said the
airline's own checks only showed them to be off by about a pound...
within the threshold where ticket agents either ask passengers to
remove items from their luggage, or simply look the other way.
United's Kovick said he didn't have any information about how
many passengers had asked for refunds on overweight fees due to the
mess.
Incidentally, we can probably all expect to read more stories
like this one, too... as such testing has piqued the public's
interest following last month's shuttering of 14 percent of the
scales used by airlines at New York's LaGuardia and JFK
International Airports, due to -- you guessed it -- inaccurate
readings.
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