Is the baggage content and its weight/dimensions checked during self-check-in at airports?

score:8

Accepted answer

check the baggage contents and measure its weight and dimensions

To generate a tag for your bag you will need to place your bag(s) on a scale which weighs it and checks against your ticket and airline restrictions. So overweight bags will be flagged there and then and you might be redirected to the manual check in.

Bags are put through an x-ray after the bags have been checked in inside the baggage terminals hidden from your view. So if anything is flagged you will know about it before you board and the flight takes off, when the security and the airline personnel will come searching for you.

A checked bag does need a tag to ensure it gets to the correct planes/destination.  And to get that tag, you need to go to a clerk or machine with a scale.  A carry-on may or may not be measured and weighed—depends on the airline and/or the attitudes of the gate people.

Upvote:-3

OP, the basic misconception is this:

If I understand correctly, at the self-check-in kiosks one just needs to print the boarding pass and the bag tags (and attach it to their bags)

Even if you just "leave it on a machine", there will be a human there to eyeball each bag for ridiculous dimensions, obvious problems etc.

Upvote:2

This really depends on the machine as they are a relatively new development. I have heard of some that do measure size but never seen one. All of them measure weight and they will show the weight as the baggage is placed on the platform. You also scan you boarding pass to activate the platform which makes is possible to check against your baggage allowance.

In fact, if you scan your boarding pass with more pieces the machine shows an error and does not carry away the luggage. This can happen accidentally when travelling with a family when at a check-in counter, they often label all pieces with one passenger's name but the machine requires each one to use their allowance.

The one time my luggage exceeded the weight limit, the machine printed me a sticker instead of the usual tag. I had to bring it to the check-in, pay the excess fee and get back to the machine that printed the tag and labelled it as excess weight, perhaps to warn baggage handlers.

Upvote:3

The machines have a scale built in and the bar limits the size of the bag.

Special baggages (overweight, oversize, special items) need to be handled at the staffed counter.

In China specifically (the photo you linked), you would need to wait for a few minutes for the security pre-check. If it passes, you will get the baggage tag (the small one for your use at destination). If not, you will be called to the security office for a manual check of the baggage.

As the warning on the screen indicates, if it contains harmful material and it is found out later (after the pre-check, there can be a more detailed check), the security may removed the relevant items (and you will be responsible for any consequent delay or costs).

Other countries may be different (you may get your receipt immediate but later be called by the announcement to the security).

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