Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

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Baggage scales used by at least two airlines at Tucson International Airport failed surprise inspections by state regulators today.

All of the 14 scales at the Delta Air lines and United Airlines counters at Tucson International Airport failed inspections by the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures.

A spokesman for Delta Air Lines confirmed that scales at the airline's TIA ticket counter were taken out of service after inspectors found them to be off by about a pound.

Delta spokesman Anthony Black said the Atlanta-based airline has contacted a service company to check and recalibrate the scales, which won't be put back into service until they are recertified as accurate by the state.

In the meantime, passengers won't have to pay extra for overweight bags, Black said.

The accuracy of airline scales has taken on new importance as many airlines have begun charging for extra and overweight baggage.

Delta charges extra for bags weighing over 50 pounds. For each bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds, passengers are charged $90 per bag; for bags weighing 71 to 100 pounds, the charge is $175, Black said. Bags weighing over 100 pounds are not allowed.

Black said that while technically, a scale registering slightly heavy could result in an extra charge for an overweight bag, ticket agents routinely tell passengers when a bag is just over the limit and give them the chance to remove items.

A United Airlines official said the airline was looking into the situation at TIA as it unfolded this afternoon but had no immediat comment.

United charges $125 per bag for bags weighing over 50 pounds, though the limit is 70 pounds for active-duty military members and some high-level frequent flier program members.