The physical altercation that broke out between an Indian army officer and four personnel of the low-cost carrier SpiceJet has opened a can of worms, as discrepancies in luggage weights are a widespread problem than imagined. A new survey by the citizen engagement platform LocalCircles claims that six in ten airline passengers have reported, at least once, that their luggage weighed more on the airline’s weighing scale than on their scale at home.

The survey, which collected more than 36,000 responses across 289 districts, found that the issue affects both check-in and carry-on luggage. 8% of the respondents said that they had experienced the discrepancy in luggage more than 10 times in the last three years, whereas 42% of the respondents said that they had faced the issue between three and ten times over the previous three years. Only 19% of respondents said that they have never faced such an issue, whereas 21% of the respondents did not give a clear answer. 68% respondents were men, while 32% respondents were women. 45% of respondents were from tier 1, 30% from tier 2, and 25% from tiers 3, 4, 5, and rural districts.

Recent social media posts have amplified the debate, sparking concerns over accuracy, transparency, and potentially overcharging customers. On August 5, Ratan Dhillon, a passenger on IndiGo, levelled allegations that three different weighing machines were used for his bag — 18 kg, 16 kg, and 15 kg. Despite the lowest reading matching the scale in his hotel, IndiGo staff insisted on charging him for the highest reading, resulting in an ₹11,900 bill for excess baggage, including ₹1,500 for carrying an umbrella.

Another incident shared by a passenger claimed that the scales of IndiGo showed a higher reading than Air India’s for the same luggage, leading to an unnecessary excess baggage fee. Similar complaints emerged earlier this year, including an incident in Chandigarh where two adjacent airport scales differed by 2.3 kg for the same suitcase.

While IndiGo has promised to investigate such cases, airport authorities have previously attributed discrepancies to technical faults, adding that scales undergo regular calibration and certification. Given the financial implications — airlines globally charge substantial fees for overweight luggage — LocalCircles has urged authorities to mandate that all commercial weighing scales at airports carry valid calibration records from NABL-accredited labs, with visible stickers showing certification details.