Trumpetfish wrote:

>Delta checked almost every time last year, got me twice overweight, and 
wanted to tack on a charge (I have one "extra large" bag).  Fortunately 
I could remove enough to make a 2nd carry-on and got away with it.  Once 
was at the express checkin between Reagan and the Metro.  Even their 
local connectors (e.g. ASA) check.  Come to think of it, it was only 
when I took the big bag they [appeared to] check.<

Europeans have never enjoyed IATA Area 1 rules. Unless travelling to the
US.

Which means 20 kg total. My dive gear bags usually weigh 32 kg. That
includes a canister light and a steel backplate. Yes, I could travel with
an aluminum backplate. But I don't.

I have never, ever, paid for excess luggage. On several 100s of flights
with dive gear. On long haul flights from the EU I usually register dive
gear. But even if I don't I've never paid anything. 

But I've been asked to pay on several occasions. 

"Mr. Doelle, do you know that your bags are 15kg overweight?"  
"Yes, Madam, I know that"
"Mr. Doelle, I think we will have to charge you for 10 kg excess"
"OK, here's my credit card"
"Oh, Mr. Doelle, never mind"

My personal theory is that you only get charged if you throw a fit when
they first ask you to pay for excess luggage. But I have obviously not
tested this on all airlines, just a limited number between EU and Asia and
intra Asia

Oh, wait, I take that back, Air Asia charged me 15 bucks once for being 15
kg over between Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. Which was a lot for a flight
that cost 30 bucks total.

m