New Dalaman Airport a let down (Dalaman Airport, Turkey (DLM))

Member Name: Sammie22

Product:	Dalaman Airport, Turkey (DLM)
Date:	05/08/08 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very tight security, good saftey measures.

Disadvantages: Rude, arrogant staff male and female

I have been flying to Dalaman airport for about 12 years now and the place seems to be getting worse, in my experience.
We had the worst experience this year.....The new larger airport opened I think it was last year and this seems to be when the changes have come into effect.
The trip into Dalaman was fine. We were warned this year that if our suitcases where slightly over the allowed weight we would get charged. This however is something we have been warned year after year and not once have we been charged.
We noticed on the way in that we were slightly over but we had a four year old with us with the same luggage allowance, and so felt that because she had a little case, they had allowed us some of her weight.

Great holiday then the fun began. We qued for 1 hour at check in and noticed that every other person (literally) in front of us seemed to be getting called away to another desk by an official. We finally got to the front and feeling quite confident that all we were returning with where clothes, that we would be ok seen as we had only been slightly over coming in (by about 2 kilo's each) that we would be fine.
The lady on the check in desk sent 2 of our cases through (there where 4 of us including a 4 year old with an empty case) then weighed 2 more and decided that in total we where 20 kilos over. And said we would have to pay £120
We couldn't believe it and told them we would not pay. An official (with a gun may I add) came over and the lady on the check in explained to him and he just said "PAY, PAY NOW" and walked off.
And by this point the child with us was extremely upset.

We asked for the suitcases back although we could only retrieve 2 so we could take some items out, but we could not find anything that weighed so much.
The official came over again and said "pay it is a saftey regulation you cannot be over your weight".
We again refused and asked if they could weigh it on another scale. The official got really angry and said ok forget it. (meaning we didn't have to pay) we where releaved but shocked.
Then the official noticed my friend had her purse in her hand. He took it off her, took the little amount of money she did have in it, put it in his pocket and said this will be ok and walked off.
So if you are going to Dalaman don't be scared to argue your point, we believed that the scales may have been faulty or they fixed them if that is at all possible. There was absolutely no way our cases weighed over 20 kilos coming back when they only weighed over aprox 8 kilos.
Overall the security is brilliant at the airport, and we understand in this day and age that there are major changes to the airports that have been made for our safety and we will abide by them time and time again. Just this instance we felt that what had happened was completely unjust.

Just to also add to our experience. Dalaman is also extremely expensive and we have been charged £3 for a can of pop and £30 for 3 Burger king meals. So do buy anything you will require at the airport in the resort before you leave.

Summary: Good airport but let down by the staff that work there.