Narrative:

Since our airline has been charging for checked baggage I have noticed that very few bags are being checked and that customers are being allowed much more than their allowed carry on bag allowance. With 168 passengers we had only 58 bags including 18 that were forced to be gate checked because the over head bins were completely full. The bins were full prior to the boarding of the final 30 passengers. I questioned the gate agent about the low bag count and he assured me that it was correct. Upon reaching cruise altitude I began the process of comparing our dispatch release planned weight and the weight that we calculated at take off. There was more than a 2;000 pound weight difference. I then checked the weight that the aircraft uses for all of its calculated speeds and configurations. At top of climb after burning 5;500 pounds of fuel using the weight and balance calculation we should have weighed 148;400 pounds. The aircraft facility [flight augmentation computer] calculated weight (both facility 1 and 2) however was substantially higher showing a calculated weight of 152;680 pounds; a difference of 4;280 pounds.the discrepancy was determined at top of climb using the aircraft aids facility [aircraft integrated data system; flight augmentation computer] calculations. This situation occurred because our airline began charging for checked bags but does not enforce the passenger carry on bag policy; allowing the passengers to carry on much more than their personal limit. The flight was en route and there is no way to identify this problem while on the ground.our staff must be trained correctly on carry on baggage allowance; size and restrictions. They need to be trained that no baggage that does not meet these requirements shall be brought onto the aircraft. The company cabin crew members would require the same training.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A320 Captain noted the gross weight of the aircraft based on company supplied weight and balance figures is routinely substantially less than that calculated by the aircraft's on board data computer system. Reporter believes the discrepancy is the result of the airline's policy of charging for checked bags which has resulted in very few being checked and most being brought on board as 'carry on' luggage by the passengers. Such bags are often much heavier than the standard allowance for a passenger and his/her carry on luggage as established by the FAA.

Narrative: Since our airline has been charging for checked baggage I have noticed that very few bags are being checked and that customers are being allowed much more than their allowed carry on bag allowance. With 168 passengers we had only 58 bags including 18 that were forced to be gate checked because the over head bins were completely full. The bins were full prior to the boarding of the final 30 passengers. I questioned the gate agent about the low bag count and he assured me that it was correct. Upon reaching cruise altitude I began the process of comparing our dispatch release planned weight and the weight that we calculated at take off. There was more than a 2;000 LB weight difference. I then checked the weight that the aircraft uses for all of its calculated speeds and configurations. At top of climb after burning 5;500 LBS of fuel using the weight and balance calculation we should have weighed 148;400 LBS. The aircraft FAC [Flight Augmentation Computer] calculated weight (both FAC 1 and 2) however was substantially higher showing a calculated weight of 152;680 LBS; a difference of 4;280 LBS.The discrepancy was determined at top of climb using the aircraft AIDS FAC [Aircraft Integrated Data System; Flight Augmentation Computer] calculations. This situation occurred because our airline began charging for checked bags but does not enforce the passenger carry on bag policy; allowing the passengers to carry on much more than their personal limit. The flight was en route and there is no way to identify this problem while on the ground.Our staff must be trained correctly on carry on baggage allowance; size and restrictions. They need to be trained that NO baggage that does not meet these requirements shall be brought onto the aircraft. The company cabin crew members would require the same training.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.