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.

FMI: www.delta.com, www.united.com, www.tucsonairport.org