excess weight

Meaning

Weight that is more than the allowed or permitted amount. In travel, it refers to luggage that exceeds the airline's free weight limit, usually resulting in an extra fee.

Examples

• I had to pay a heavy fee for the excess weight of my suitcase.

  I had to pay a heavy fee for the excess weight of my suitcase.

• To avoid paying for excess weight, she moved some books to her carry-on.

  To avoid paying for excess weight, she moved some books to her carry-on.

• The airline has strict rules and charges fifty dollars for any excess weight.

  The airline has strict rules and charges fifty dollars for any excess weight.

• We weighed our bags at home to make sure we didn't have any excess weight.

  We weighed our bags at home to make sure we didn't have any excess weight.

• The gate agent warned us that excess weight is charged per kilogram.

  The gate agent warned us that excess weight is charged per kilogram.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I had to pay for my over weight luggage.

  ✓ I had to pay for my excess weight luggage.

  'Overweight' is an adjective (e.g., 'my suitcase is overweight'), whereas 'excess weight' is the noun phrase used to talk about the extra mass itself.

• ✗ The airline charged me for extra weight of my bag.

  ✓ The airline charged me for the excess weight of my bag.

  While 'extra weight' is understandable, airlines and travel documents officially use the term 'excess weight' or 'excess baggage'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If your suitcase is over 23kg, you will have to pay for the ___.

  💡 The amount of weight that goes over the limit.

  Show answer

  excess weight

• We packed light to prevent any unexpected charges for ___.

  💡 Weight beyond the allowed baggage limit.

  Show answer

  excess weight