Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jst]

Do carry-on bags for flights typically get weighed to make sure they aren't over the weight limit?

[mattdsoares]

Only if you make it obvious that you have a bag that is too big. Be non-chalant about it. Also when you're checking in if your carry on is too big put it at your feet in front of the counter where the airline rep can't see it. Also when boarding the plane if it's a duffel bag or backpack wear it on your back rather than carry it as will often appear bigger or heavier this way.

It also depends on the airlines. US companies and budget airlines tend to be much more strict than the nicer airlines. You'd likely encounter more trouble flying Air Asia, Continental, or United than you would Korean Air, Asiana, or Cathay Pacific.

In most cases if you get past check in without them saying anything you'll be fine. When you get to the gate if someone notices it and they say it is too big they will gate check it for you. They will literally take the bag from you on the jetbridge and hand it to the ground crew who put in on the plane right then and there. When you get off of the plane they will give you the bag back in the jetbridge. Technically some airlines are supposed to charge for this but most won't.

[jst]

Thank you mattdsoares. Much appreciated.

[ttompatz]

[Kimchifart]

It depends on the airline.

if you take aeroflot they might, but it doesn't matter because you will almost certainly die anyway and have no need for the hand luggage.

[Illysook]

When I came here, I had 2 big carry-ons and a cat. The cost to bring a pet on KAL is twice the extra baggage fee. She wasn't big enough that she should have cost so much, so why not fill my carry-on's to capacity?

[poppydaisy]

i've traveled a bit but i've never had my carry-on luggage weighed until my last trip home in december. the airline didn't ask to weigh my bag but it was the guy at the international gate where you go after checking in your checked baggage that asked to weigh my bag. he said the limit was 10kg and mine weighed 2 over and he just gave a warning. he logged it for some purpose but i saw that there were many other passengers with overweight carry-on baggages. hope this helps!

[interestedinhanguk]

I got pulled aside for it once. On my first time coming over to KOrea I flew domestically on United. I had called them earlier and told me the overweight checked bag fee was only like $50, so I was willing to pay it if I went over. I get to the airport, I'm over, and they tell me it costs $150. They then tell me I can just shove the extra few kilos into my carry-on. I do and this makes my carry-on very heavy.

I transfer in San Francisco. Near the gate for my Singapore Airlines flight to ICN, one of the Singapore staff pulls me aside and asks to see if my bag is too heavy (I was struggling with it). It was way too heavy by their standards. I tell them what happened with United. They still had to check it but didn't charge me.

United bad.
Singapore good.

[GTG09]

When I flew to Korea my carry on bag weighed a lot. The checked bags could only be 50lbs so I called the airline and asked if they weighed the carry on, and they don't, at least the one I flew with. My carry on weighed 75lbs. I packed it with a ton of stuff including a lot of my school textbooks. Had no problems because it was regulation size.

[jst]

[GTG09]

I flew with Delta the whole way. I took a jumper flight from Detroit to Chicago where they load your carry on under the plane and give it back to you in the tunnel and when they brought mine up the guy almost hurt himself. They were just throwing peoples bags in front of people and he grabbed mine and tried to throw it and he got surprised. He said "what you got in this thing?" Which made me laugh because the way they handle peoples stuff especially right in front of us. Also when I went through customs the first time the NSA guy tried to pick it up and made me open it up cause it was heavy but then saw the books and it wasn't a problem. I handled it the rest of the way myself. I suggest just call the airlines and ask them ahead of time.

[pyeongtaekcody2]

Yea, I just recently flew Delta from Detroit to Incheon. There was one average sized man with a super heavy carry on. I have no idea what he had it in it. Anyways, he had to have help getting the bag into and out of the overhead bin, each time doing so...obviously annoying many passengers because of the time it took to get an attendant there to help. (I guess everyone in immediate proximity was too pissed to help.) For good reason too...If I would have known Delta didn't check the weight of my carry on, I could have brought some more essentials.

[darkjedidave]

For the last year, each time I go to Incheon, the passport checkers (before the screening) always ask to hold my bag to see if it's too heavy. Its about 20-25lbs but I show them its photography gear and they let me go. Now way I'm checking that in

[sadguy]

my gf went to the UK last month and when i took her to the airport, before she could even get to the security line, they weighed her carry on. it's crap. i think they are getting more strict about it.

[brento1138]

I just went on a few flights and had on a medium sized backpack. They never checked the weight. The flights were with United, Bangkok airways and Thai. United can be annoying, but I flew to Japan recently and they never checked my bag's weight. I say, just go, and just don't really talk to them about bag weight or anything. Try to appear as if the bag isn't heavy, even if it is a bit of acting