[fplusforairtran]

We all know that choosing air-tran for flights these days is truly about the purse strings. they go as far as to lure their customers with "WEB" specials. Well i found out today why they can afford to give these specials and its real simple, they cheat you once you arrive. most travelers are aware now that we now have to pay for our luggage, piece by piece and who travels without luggage right? They know this, so they allow you 5o lbs with standard sized luggage knowing that even if you make the weight you will not meet the measurement requirements because most of the new pieces of luggages have side pockets and compartments with extra zippers. these extra compartments will cause you to have to pay an extra 39.50 even when there empty. also they rig their scales, each scale has a different read for the same luggage. Here's my story:
I arrived at the curbside this morning afraid my luggage would be overweight.(on a strict budget can't afford the 2nd piece cost) sure enough it was. 72lbs to be exact, my fault of course`(this would have been a 79.00 fee) so i'm digging in the bag trying to remove things to make it lighter and put it in my carry on but still cannot make weight, still 14 lbs over (now 39.50).a nice sky cab suggest i go to the post office inside and mail some of the things to my second destination so i have no choice and do this. (only 15.00) I go back to the curb side counter and Herby (2nd sky cab) lifts saying its still to heavy but once he places it on the scale its exactly 49lbs BUT...it does not now meet the measurements. pockets are all empty. I have used this luggage for the last 2 years traveling with airtran and never a problem b4.( the last time being before the luggage fee was implemented Nov 08) i informed him of this and he refers me to his supervisor stating to me "he does not make the rules" I proceed to go over to Cheryl who does not give me her last name but writes down she is a specialist. I explain the details and she puts it on her scale which now says its 53 lbs but it measures fine. she says i hae to pay 39.50. I inform her that their scales are wrong, and advised her to call herby over. he comes over confirms what the weight was (49lbs) telling her what it measured for him which was not what she measured at. She chooses a 3rd scale. this time putting me at 51lbs and they still want the 39.50! stating i do apologize but you are still overweight and have to pay and she walks off. thinking what else i could remove i choose my make up bag which was not even 1lb but when its back on the 2nd scale and i'm now at 50.5 and another sky cab decides i can now be checked in. I wonder how many more people have had to pay the 39.50 because their scales are not correct or their pockets makes it a few inches off . First of all I am the customer why was I subjected to this inconsistency at 630am? Im glad that she did check all 3 scales because now i know there is nothing special about airtran.