Digital Luggage Scale
Luggage scales are portable hand-held devices travellers use to weigh their baggage prior to arrival at the airport to avoid exceeding airline luggage weight restrictions. Airlines charge excess baggage fees ranging from £7.50 per kg to £30 per kg on longer flights. Retailing for £19.99 and under, a scale can potentially pay for itself with just one use. Travelling companions are able to distribute belongings among cases to keep all of bags within the weight limits and use all available case space effectively. These durable and compact units can tucked easily inside luggage, perfect for rechecking baggage weight before the return flight.
The newer models of digital luggage scale feature an integrated heavy duty strap that attaches the scale to the baggage handle for weighing. Older models have smooth metal hooks that slip under the handle. The strap feature makes other uses of the scale possible, such as weighing parcels, backpacks, or even fish. Checked luggage is subject to weight restrictions which vary by airline and travel destination. The maximum allowable weight but can be as small as 20kg for certain passengers or as large as 40kg for others. Checked luggage is also subject to size restrictions whereas hand luggage is restricted by size only.
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Most digital luggage scales on the market today are digital (requiring batteries) and can display weights up to 40kg or more with varying warrantees and degrees of accuracy between 50g and 100g. The Automatic Hold Function of the scales keeps the weight displayed after the luggage has been weighed to make it easier for the user to read. Travellers can choose to have the weight displayed in kg or lbs which is important for travel to/from the US. Holiday travellers are likely to bring home more than they left with, so the portability of these scales is extremely useful to them.
To weigh baggage, the traveller attaches the scale to the individual piece of luggage using either the strap or the hook. As soon as the unit is turned on and ready, the user lifts the scale with the luggage attached smoothly off the ground so that all the weight is applied to the scale. In just 2-3 seconds most luggage scales will beep to indicate the weight is ready to be read. The traveller places the case back on the ground and checks the LCD reading. Once any necessary adjustments are made, the process is repeated until the user is confident the luggage weight is within guidelines.
