Necro, I believe it would be free if you eat it first.
While I doubt that any bean counters in charge of scheduling rates will be inspired to reconsider that policy after getting a load of this thread, hopefully the answer to this question will not be resolved whilst weighting for your personal possessions to show up on the carosel at your destination or worse yet, when stumbling over each others luggage in an attempt to get off an aeroplane burning on the runway.