Various airlines are hiring Certis Cisco staff to pick out travellers who they suspect are carrying overweight carry-on bags on board flights, The Straits Times reported on Feb. 23.

It is unknown if this trend of policing is picking up and more airlines will follow suit but Certis Cisco has offered the baggage checking service to pick out overweight bags since September 2011. They have about 30 bag checkers.

At least four airlines are using their services.

One reason for stricter inspections is because budget airlines, in particular, rely on charging for additional services.

Checking in bags for economy passengers is one such ancillary service, besides selling food on board flights or paying to pick seats. Passengers paying to check in bags can earn airlines up to 20 percent more revenue.

However, budget airlines Jetstar and Tigerair have insisted the weight checks are for safety reasons, citing narrow-body aircraft and limited stowage space in overhead compartments.

Smaller bags will thus ensure a smoother boarding process.

The Tigerair spokesperson even said revenue collected from excess baggage payments is negligible.

But the more astute among us will note that hiring Certis Cisco guards just to ensure bags comply with the given weight for safety reasons seems a little far-fetched? Surely airlines want to recoup the money used to pay for Certis Cisco's services?

Various airlines charge different rates for checking in.

AirAsia charges a flat fee of $45 for checking in.

Tigerair charges $20 to $30 per kg depending on destination.

Jetstar charges two different rates for passengers with or without check-in bags.

Those with checked-in bags will pay $20 every kg for any excess they need to check in while on intra-Asian flights.

Those without check-in bags pay $60 for up to 15 kg.

Top photo from here

Find Mothership.SG on Facebook and Twitter.