baggage scale

Meaning

A baggage scale is a machine used at airports to weigh suitcases and bags. It helps ensure that your luggage does not exceed the airline's weight limit. You can find them at check-in counters or sometimes free-standing in the lobby.

Examples

• Please place your suitcase on the baggage scale so we can check the weight.

  Please place your suitcase on the baggage scale so we can check the weight.

• I always weigh my bags at home because I don't want any surprises on the airport baggage scale.

  I always weigh my bags at home because I don't want any surprises on the airport baggage scale.

• The baggage scale showed that my suitcase was two kilograms overweight.

  The baggage scale showed that my suitcase was two kilograms overweight.

• Is there a public baggage scale we can use before we go to the check-in desk?

  Is there a public baggage scale we can use before we go to the check-in desk?

• The airline agent asked me to lift my heavy backpack onto the baggage scale.

  The airline agent asked me to lift my heavy backpack onto the baggage scale.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Put your bag on the baggage balance.

  ✓ Put your bag on the baggage scale.

  While 'balance' can mean a weighing device in some languages, 'scale' (or 'scales') is the standard term in English airports.

• ✗ I need to weigh my suitcase on the baggage weight.

  ✓ I need to weigh my suitcase on the baggage scale.

  'Weight' is the measurement (noun), while 'scale' is the actual machine used to measure it.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Please put your suitcase on the ___.

  💡 The machine that weighs your bags.

  Show answer

  baggage scale

• I hope the ___ doesn't show that my bag is too heavy.

  💡 It measures how heavy your luggage is.

  Show answer

  baggage scale