Donna M. Airoldi

The 12 days of Christmas have arrived a little early this year.

Hyatt Hotel’s and Resorts first-ever global sale — You’re More Than Welcome — offers 21 percent savings at nearly 350 properties around the globe. The sale went into effect Dec. 1 and lasts just 12 days in some locations, so act fast. Now you can afford that splurge at a luxe Park Hyatt property, or pocket even more savings when visiting relatives this season by staying at the family-friendly Summerfield Suites.



Photo: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa

U.S., Canadian and Caribbean Bookings

For participating properties in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, reservations must be made by Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 for stays through Feb. 1, 2009. Most of the company’s brands and properties are participating in the sale, including the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa, so snowbirds can still take advantage of the savings. All other Park Hyatt properties in the United States, Canada and Caribbean are not offering the discount.

Other Global Reservations

Remaining Park Hyatt hotels around the world and Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency hotels in 38 countries outside of the United States, Canada and the Caribbean are making the 21 percent discount available for reservations booked at least seven days in advance of arrival for stays through Feb. 1, 2009.

How To Save

Make your Hyatt reservation online and be sure to use the offer code LTP107 or call 800-233-1234.

Happy savings!

As if travelers didn’t have enough to deal with when traveling by air, add luggage weight to the mix. Sure, we all know that overweight bags are going to cost us extra, but just whether or not a bag is accurately over the limit is at issue.

New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs recently led an investigation which found that of 102 scales of 810 total—14 percent of the scales at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and 4 percent of those at LaGuardia Airport (LGA)—overestimated the weight of bags by a pound or more, according to the New York Daily News.

With some airlines charging up to $100 per overweight bag, that’s a lot of dough for a few innocent pounds.

The worst offender appears to be American Airlines, with 28 scales off balance, according to the New York Post.

The city warned the airlines to correct the scales, and on a follow-up inspection most of the imbalanced machines had been recalibrated, except for 10 American Airlines scales, which were still off and have been marked with red “condemned” stickers, so passengers should try to avoid using lanes with those scales. The airline was fined $1,500.

American charges $15 for the first checked bag under 50 pounds and $25 for the second bag. Bags between 51 and 70 pounds cost $50; those weighing more than 70 pounds cost $100. In some cases, it would be cheaper to check a second bag than pay the fine on an overweight piece of luggage.

My question is, what if this is happening at more airports across the country, or even globally? While a majority of the scales used by airlines are accurate, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. On a recent trip, one of my bags weighed in at exactly 50 pounds; I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized I hadn’t tipped the scales to a higher fee. And you can be certain I’ll weighing my bag at home before catching my flight on American next week, just to be safe.

Have any TravelMusings readers been suspicious of overweight baggage charges during their travels?