Had to laugh as I was leaving LAS on Saturday...went to check my bags (was out there for a WSOP Circuit event) and there was some PBA guy in front of me at the counter whining about being hit with overweight bag fees.  He was trying to check a three-ball roller and kept complaining to the desk operator about how they had positioned the bag on the scale.  PBA dude had tried to manipulate the bag in a manner to shave a few pounds from the scale and get it to being 'just over' the 50 pound limit. 

How in the hell does someone actually believe that their three-ball roller ISN'T going to be over 50 pounds at that level?  Even 15lb equipment plus the other accoutrements that get stuffed in a bag (especially to check luggage) is going to be over 50lbs. 

Won't name the airline and won't name the company that dude appears to be repping (have no idea if he was a staffer, although it becomes even more appalling to have watched the behavior if he WAS a staffer). 

It really was the combination of the Millenial 'entitlement' mentality and the PBA "do you know who I AM" mentality colliding full force with an airline employee who was having none of it...

If your crap is over 50lbs, just pony up and pay the extra fee...quit being so damned cheap.  In the meantime, the laugh we got from it was NOT worth the extra wait before another employee came to deal with the back-up being created.
 

They must have nailed you for dimensional weight. I hate when that happens...

I take a 3 ball and keep it under 50 lbs, barely, but I weigh it ahead of time and usually have at least 1 14 lb.... If you're going to overpack, don't act surprised or special....Another entitlement mentality on full display....

Had to laugh as I was leaving LAS on Saturday...went to check my bags (was out there for a WSOP Circuit event) and there was some PBA guy in front of me at the counter whining about being hit with overweight bag fees.  He was trying to check a three-ball roller and kept complaining to the desk operator about how they had positioned the bag on the scale.  PBA dude had tried to manipulate the bag in a manner to shave a few pounds from the scale and get it to being 'just over' the 50 pound limit. 

How in the hell does someone actually believe that their three-ball roller ISN'T going to be over 50 pounds at that level?  Even 15lb equipment plus the other accoutrements that get stuffed in a bag (especially to check luggage) is going to be over 50lbs. 

Won't name the airline and won't name the company that dude appears to be repping (have no idea if he was a staffer, although it becomes even more appalling to have watched the behavior if he WAS a staffer). 

It really was the combination of the Millenial 'entitlement' mentality and the PBA "do you know who I AM" mentality colliding full force with an airline employee who was having none of it...

If your crap is over 50lbs, just pony up and pay the extra fee...quit being so damned cheap.  In the meantime, the laugh we got from it was NOT worth the extra wait before another employee came to deal with the back-up being created.

The 50 pound limit basically gave the airline away.

But I have to agree with you and laugh about this, because 2nd and 3rd graders taking math could even figure out that this wasn't going to work! If a 3-ball roller has all 3 balls in there, max that the balls are going to weigh is 48 pounds (assuming 16lb balls). Add in the weight of the roller itself and shoes, then you're easily exceeding 50 pounds! No manipulation or playing entitlement is going to beat math.

When I fly with my gear, and I use a 4-ball roller that can be separated, each back is roughly 35 pounds, because you have to take into account the shoes adding a pound, plus the weight of the bag itself.

You have to admit that it is rather funny that a bowler who can figure out applied physics like entry angles, break points, PAPs, VALs, etc,. can't figure out simple math for weights.

BL.

Quote from: michelle on February 27, 2017, 01:06:27 PM

Had to laugh as I was leaving LAS on Saturday...went to check my bags (was out there for a WSOP Circuit event) and there was some PBA guy in front of me at the counter whining about being hit with overweight bag fees.  He was trying to check a three-ball roller and kept complaining to the desk operator about how they had positioned the bag on the scale.  PBA dude had tried to manipulate the bag in a manner to shave a few pounds from the scale and get it to being 'just over' the 50 pound limit. 

How in the hell does someone actually believe that their three-ball roller ISN'T going to be over 50 pounds at that level?  Even 15lb equipment plus the other accoutrements that get stuffed in a bag (especially to check luggage) is going to be over 50lbs. 

Won't name the airline and won't name the company that dude appears to be repping (have no idea if he was a staffer, although it becomes even more appalling to have watched the behavior if he WAS a staffer). 

It really was the combination of the Millenial 'entitlement' mentality and the PBA "do you know who I AM" mentality colliding full force with an airline employee who was having none of it...

If your crap is over 50lbs, just pony up and pay the extra fee...quit being so damned cheap.  In the meantime, the laugh we got from it was NOT worth the extra wait before another employee came to deal with the back-up being created.

The 50 pound limit basically gave the airline away.

But I have to agree with you and laugh about this, because 2nd and 3rd graders taking math could even figure out that this wasn't going to work! If a 3-ball roller has all 3 balls in there, max that the balls are going to weigh is 48 pounds (assuming 16lb balls). Add in the weight of the roller itself and shoes, then you're easily exceeding 50 pounds! No manipulation or playing entitlement is going to beat math.

When I fly with my gear, and I use a 4-ball roller that can be separated, each back is roughly 35 pounds, because you have to take into account the shoes adding a pound, plus the weight of the bag itself.

You have to admit that it is rather funny that a bowler who can figure out applied physics like entry angles, break points, PAPs, VALs, etc,. can't figure out simple math for weights.

BL.

assuming he is a regular at PBA events and travels frequently with bowling balls he should know a triple tote with 3 15lb balls in it and nothing else comes in at roughly 48.5lbs. if he was dumb enough to put shoes or even small accesories that could easily fall out i have no sympathy. i would assume with his experience he knew better and assume he did not have any extras in there which in that case he has a right to be upset. someone messed up. but i wasnt there so who knows.

I also fly with two 3 ball totes, each weighing about 49-49.5 pounds.

But what would I know, I'm just an entitled millennial.

When I fly to the Open Championships, I fly Southwest so that my bowling balls can travel for free. I check two 3-ball totes, and they come on just about 50 pounds on the dot, and that's without any shoes or extras in there. I remove the shoe case from the top of the bag, cram it with tape, extra soles/heels, and whatever other accessories I'll need, and place that in my carry on. I always weigh my stuff out ahead of time, and, as stated, it's always right at the edge of 50.

Now, one thing to always be aware of is that the scale was zeroed out before your stuff is placed on it. I had that happen to me last year or the year before. My stuff weighed in at something like 53.5lbs when it was weighing in at 50.0 or just under at home. It turned out the scale wasn't zeroed out from the previous passenger, so it started out more at 3+ pounds before I even put my stuff on there. Thankfully, I was polite, and the attendant noticed it, and everything worked out fine.

Like so many things in life, if you are polite and don't act like an entitled d-bag, they're often quite nice about those things. As soon as you start acting like a moron, you'd better have your credit card ready so you can be charged for the extra! lol

I fly to the nationals and other events every year.  I had a 3-ball tournament roller by Vice.  Three 15lb balls and the bag were 49.2 to 49.5.  I bought 2 Storm 3-ball tournament rollers.  They have a little longer straps and slightly sturdier.  With three 15lb balls, the weight is just over 50lb.  About 50.5  Shoes and accessories go into my suitcase.  I bought a 14lb spare ball to keep the weight below 50lb.  Shipping from Florida to Las Vegas is $45 for 2 balls each way.  Shipping 4 balls for $180 round trip, is more than I want to pay.  I stick with the 3-ball tournament roller and fly Southwest, so it doesn't cost me any extra.  Not a Pro, just want to bowl.  BTW If your bags are 50.5 or you carry a 3rd bag, it is still $75 for each direction you fly.

Or... Be smart, check your 3 ball totes with the sky cap, have your tip visible (usually $5 or so depending on the number of bags you have) and place all of your bags on the scale at the same time. They will go through their routine, smile, ask you your destination and for your drivers license and such. Tag your bags, smile again as they take your tip. Remember they don't work for the airlines but are subcontracted services. Be nice to them and they will be nice to you. They are trying to make a living not increase the airlines profitability, but their own profits!