When you check in, you can see how much your suitcase weighs.We always do this but before we check with the hand held scales that you can buy.It sounds a sorry story but if you are over baggage allowance then it's down to you. Nevermind what happened at check in on your way out if check in on your way back wish to make an issue of this, then you really do not have a leg to stand on.

Ian

You are completely wasting your time on this (and so are we ) you were hugely overweight on the way out you an see on your tickets how much allowance you have and you can see on the scales how much over you are. It isn't rocket science.

Trust me you will be wasting a stamp on top of the 100 quid you have already paid.

Thomas Cook haven't done anything wrong.

I'd have given you a tenner for the brandy!
50kg??? Thats more than most have in the first place!

You don't seem to be getting a lot of sympathy but I feel for you. After having a lovely holiday, it must have been upsetting for you. Do you mean that you all had 15 or 20 kilos allowance and on top of that you were 50 kilos over between you?
If that happened in Tenerife you would have been charged 500 euros!
It happens quite often - OK going out from the UK but over coming back (Tenerife!!!!!)
We always look at the scales and are so relieved when we are not charged at the UK airports but then worry about the return!
It is a shame because in 'the old days' you were encouraged to purchase souveniers etc but now because of the restrictions we don't enjoy window shopping because we can't buy anything due to excess baggage charges so in a way, the Countries we are visiting are missing out.
We meet lots people who feel the same as us and instead of bringing back presents, they buy in the UK before they go and give out the gifts on their return. (probably cheaper anyway!)
I would say that my only worries when going on holiday is the weight of our suitcases. We like to have an assortment of clothing etc because we don't go out much at home and like to make an effort when in hotels.
Next time you go on holiday, you won't have the same problems because you will be more aware.
Please don't let that experience spoil your memories of your holiday! x

SharonC
This sounds really strange.

If you were really 50kgs overweight between the 3 of you on your return journey and assuming that you had the standard package deal allowance of 15kg each, your cases would have been very heavy (in excess of 30kgs) and quite probably over the limit per case - for health and safety lifting purposes so I'm surprised that your cases were accepted at all - unless the H&S doesn't apply abroad.

When you checked in for your outbound flight, didn't you check what each case weighed?
There is a small electronic display on the check-in desk that tells you the weight of each case as you place it on the conveyor.

When you checked in for the return journey, were any other people who were in the same queue as you excessively overweight? I'm thinking about the scales not being calibrated correctly - although I'm sure that it wouldn't weigh 50kgs out.
Litre bottles of spirits wouldn't weigh much more than than 1.5 kgs each and beach towels less than 1kg so you're probably only talking about 5 or 6kgs more than you went out with.
I've not travelled with Thomas Cook from Glasgow but at Stansted on the same day as you flew, we checked in and 2 girls in front of us were 5kgs over and were charged £40, the standard £8 per kg.
I can't honestly see check-in staff letting anyone off with so much excess as you say you must have had on your outbound flight to be 50kg over on your return journey after just putting in 2 bottles of spirits, 3 beach towels, cigarettes and some perfume.

I don't think you stand a cat in hell's chance of getting anywhere with your overweight luggage issue, either with Thomas Cook or Glasgow airport.
The responsibility of packing within the stated limits of whichever airline you fly with is solely yours.

You say you won't be flying with Thomas cook ever again - in this instance I don't think they are to blame.

Why blame Thos Cook? (or any other carrier for that matter) You are the one who packs the case, being aware what the limits are.

Yes at times check in ignore the odd kilo but because they do is not to say it is right. Ten years ago my youngest flew to Munich to take up a job. His case was actually 42kg (don't ask about his hand luggage) and I expected to pay a large excess charge. The guy on check in said forget it. Most of the people on the plane were flying out to watch England and had no luggage. It was a totally different story when he came back three months later. It cost him dear.

fwh

why didn't you look at the weight reading on the check in desk when you were at Glasgow - it's there right in front of your eyes so you can see what your baggage weighs?

I think it's ridiculous that despite this being 100% your own fault you think you have a complaint? Take some responsibility for your own actions!

My misstake over typed wrong tottal on weight i was 20kg over weight and for all you saying that i should have checked the scales at glasgow when my cases were being checked in it was inpossable as the lady at the rest desk kept telling me to put on the next case. Was not getting the chance to see the weight and the same goes for my mum she was trying to see as well but the lady was just rushing them through so i thought becouse she did not say anything that i must have been wrong about being over the weight and i was just being a bit panicky about the weight . So yes i think that glasgow should have said do you know that you are over weight with your luggage and i would have done something about it there and then. And yes i did use digital hand scales befor heading to glasgow but one min they would say 14kg then a few hours later without touching the cases i would try again and they would say 16kg so the digital scales are not that reliable so wont be using them again as they are wrong and i just bought that a few weeks ago so they were a waste of money.

sharon c

Sorry but I totally agree with what others are saying here. We ALWAYS check our luggage before we leave the house. We don't have the special scales but what we do do is change our digital bathroom scales to metric, hubby stands on and weighs himself, hubby then stands on lifting a suitcase. It is always pretty much spot on.

I thought all the check in desks have the readers on the top so you can quite clearly see your weight? Cannot understand how you didn't have a chance to see it.

Sorry but I do not think you have a leg to stand on with your complaint. Your weight limit would have been on your tickets and it is up to you to make sure you are not over the limit.

If your own scales were reading 14 and 16kgs then you knew you were borderline for being at the maximum weight and yet you still added stuff to your luggage for the return journey.

luci

But the scales were changing without me adding in any extra item so the scales were not accurate if one day they stated 14kg and the next day stated 16kg without taking out or putting in the case so how can you trust scales that would chop and change from day to day without adding anymore
sharonc

Your tickets tell you what your allowance is. The fact that someone may not have done their job right does not matter.

The fact that your own scales may not be accurate does not matter. Weigh yourself first and then holding your case. The difference between the two figures is the weight of your luggage. Even if it is a couple of kilos out you will have a good idea if you are over the limit. I think your problem really is down to the extras you brought back and nothing to do with the weight going out. Not Thos cooks fault but yours.

fwh

I give up talking i know what i mean when i have said something i will sort this out myself thanks for you possitive and hegative help in this matter i wont bother you again

I think the point everyone has tried to make is that it's your responsibility to ensure you're luggage isn't overweight. If your digital scales were telling you a different story each time you used them I would personally have reverted back to the old tried and tested method of standing on bathroom scales with/without the suitcase which is what we've all done for many years before the arrival of the luggage scale. By your own admission, the scales you were using were unreliable so you were clearly taking a chance relying on them to tell you whether you were within weight or not.

To be 20kg overweight is huge really, a few kg over I can understand, we've all sailed a bit close to the wind at one point or another (usually the return leg) but 20kg - that's an extra suitcase worth!

You can try and take things up with Glasgow/Thomas Cook but to be absolutely honest I think you'd be wasting your time (and as someone else has said, the cost of a stamp) taking this any further. Personally, I'd chalk it up to experience and move on and take steps to minimise the risk of it ever happening to me again!.

When I check in at any Airport I always look at how much my baggage weighs I always leave all toiletries behind and in fact in the last few years I buy toothpaste lotions etc on holiday and leave it all. Much cheaper than paying the excess baggage.
I had a situation where I was flying to Miami with BA from Heathrow but doing the domestic flight from Leeds with BMI. Due to the way the flights were booked by the Cruise Company BMI would not honour the BA T/A allowances and I had to pay £48 excess. Returning the check in just put the case through which was a bit lighter and I did expect to pay again. However on this occasion I GOT AWAY with it. Lucky this time. I do have scales and always weigh my bags. Always know that I am willing to pay when I am over.

Sue

surely to goodness,you must know,if you are 50kgs over.there's not a chance,you wouldn't know!
that is more than double,what you are allowed.no one can make a mistake,with this amount! i don't believe,you were allowed to fly out,this much overweight,not a chance.
i also,always look,to see what my case weighs,at check in,at least you have some idea,if you don't have any luggage scales.
i would say,you have nothing to complain about,because it's a ridiculous amount,
tracy

just re read,where you say 20kgs.
still alot!

Yes, I think Sharon has moved on from this topic now, but she did clarfy that it was 20kgs overweight for the entire party, which comprised three passengers and three suitcases.

David