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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Airlines to weigh passengers before boarding

303 replies

B3ck89 · 05/09/2019 08:41

www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8895844/airlines-weigh-passengers-save-fuel/?utm_campaign=sunmainfacebook040919&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1567623178

Spotted this in the sun.

Many allow 88kg (13.8 stone) for men, 70kg (11 stone) for women and 35kg (5.5 stone) for children

This bit confused me a little bit, is that their estimate they use for calculating fuel consumption? My partner and children weigh more than that estimate

I wonder what their weight limit will be? 🤔
And I can see shit will hit the fan when/if this does come into force, and passengers are excluded from the flight

OP posts:
jennymanara · 05/09/2019 09:55

I agree that the article does not say this, but I am a bit taken aback at the amount of people who think fat people should be charged more. There is a lot of people who hate fat people.

kaytee87 · 05/09/2019 09:56

@Boredisboring they currently allow an average of 13.8 for men and 11 for women to calculate fuel required. This would be a more accurate way of calculating fuel

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 05/09/2019 09:56

I always say they should do this - I'm 50kg, my DH is 100kg yet we're allowed the same baggage. I think they should weigh you and your bag together.

Ravenblack · 05/09/2019 09:58

Hmmm, I see their point that it's not really fair that thinner, lighter people have to pay extra for additional weight in their luggage, but very heavy people get to travel with their extra 30 to 40 kg (or more,) of weight on their body, and pay nothing extra

However, this is a ridiculous thing to do, to set the weight like this, without taking into account a person's height. So if I was 5 foot 10 and weigh 75 kg and my friend is 5 foot 2 and weighs 69 kg, I would have to pay extra and she wouldn't, even though she is technically more overweight than me!!!

Also, when stories like THIS circulate, with less than five people, (and in some cases only ONE person,) on a flight; then making people pay extra for being what THEY class as 'overweight' is a piss-take.

www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/empty-flight-delta-aspen-colorado-jfk-new-york-private-jet-a9055816.html

www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/746886/british-airways-private-jet-experience

Also, most people in this country will weigh more than what they state in their 'criteria.' Plus, there is something of a fat-shaming tone to the whole thing. As has been said, some people cannot HELP being overweight.

It's pretty daft IMO.

Oulidae · 05/09/2019 09:58

The Sun is full of shit, yabu for reading anything from that filthy rag.

kaytee87 · 05/09/2019 09:59

Fucking hell. I give up.

prh47bridge · 05/09/2019 10:00

This bit confused me a little bit, is that their estimate they use for calculating fuel consumption

An aircraft needs to carry enough fuel to reach its destination plus a safety margin. It is uneconomic to carry more than that as it adds to the weight of the plane so you end up burning more fuel. An average airliner weighs around 41 tonnes and carries up to 18 tonnes of fuel, so the weight of fuel is significant. As fuel is a major cost for an airline, they want to keep their fuel bill as low as they can. So they use the passenger load to estimate the weight of passengers they are carrying, add that to the weight of luggage in the hold and an estimate of hand luggage. That then gives them the overall weight of the load they are carrying, allowing them to calculate how much fuel they will need to get to the destination. If passengers actually weigh more than the estimate they will have less safety margin than intended. On the other hand, if passengers weigh less than the estimate they will take more fuel than they need, increasing the airline's costs.

Finnair have been weighing passengers in Helsinki for the last 2 years for this reason. They won't refuse to allow passengers to fly because of their weight. They will simply use the data to make sure they get the right amount of fuel on board.

Obviously bollocks. It's in the Sun fgs

As I say, Finnair have been doing this in Helsinki for a couple of years. Hawaiian airlines also weigh passengers travelling to or from American Samoa. Many in the industry believe other airlines will follow.

Clearly the sun has never heard of the Equality Act

Weight is not a protected characteristic. Even if it was, weighing people to determine how much fuel you need isn't remotely a breach of the Act.

EmeraldShamrock · 05/09/2019 10:00

but I am a bit taken aback at the amount of people who think fat people should be charged more. There is a lot of people who hate fat people
I don't think it is hate for people more hate sharing half on their seat and hopes the person beside them can fit in a single seat.
I wonder can you combine weight, I am 3 under the limit DP is easily 3 stone over the limit.

prh47bridge · 05/09/2019 10:01

I don't think airlines would use the data to charge heavy passengers more, but I wouldn't put it past Ryanair to try.

HandsReachingOut · 05/09/2019 10:01

Tbf those weights seem very low if you're above average height. It sounds like a budget airline RA trick to squeeze more money out of people. It evens out unless every single person on the plane is overweight (very unlikely).

duffyluth · 05/09/2019 10:06

The sun have lifted and twisted this from an old article elsewhere. Ignore.

Ahardknocklife · 05/09/2019 10:07

So a man who is 5ft.6 and 13st 8lb (would be deemed morbidly obese and can fly ok. But I'm 5.8 and 11st 11lb and will have to pay penalties... Yes that works! Hmm

Stressedout10 · 05/09/2019 10:10

It's not just about the fuel it's about the overall weight of the plane. All planes have a maximum take off weight.
The average weights given are higher than they were in the 80s when 2 different planes crashed on take off killing all onboard due to being to heavy.
Due to people being heavier than they were this average again needs to be reassessed.
Or they just weigh everyone and all their luggage, yes this may mean that they have to bump some people from the plane (not necessarily the overweight) but I'd rather be bumped than risk crashing to save someone's feelings

Brittany2019 · 05/09/2019 10:14

I weigh more than 70kg and my BMI is just under 22. I presume the posters referring to obese people in this thread are all shortarses? Wink

toiletseat · 05/09/2019 10:17

Some comments on weight-related threads on mumsnet lead me to conclude that some people would be shocked to learn that there are women in the world who are taller than 5’5

Ravenblack · 05/09/2019 10:18

@Ahardknocklife

A man of 5 ft 6 who is 13 stone 8 pounds, is NOT 'morbidly obese.' Overweight yes, but not morbidly obese.

FFS. Hmm

prh47bridge · 05/09/2019 10:18

All planes have a maximum take off weight

Yes, that is important too. However, the OP said she was confused about using the estimate for calculating fuel consumption, so I tried to explain that.

yes this may mean that they have to bump some people from the plane (not necessarily the overweight) but I'd rather be bumped than risk crashing to save someone's feelings

I think they are more likely to leave some of the luggage behind rather than bump a passenger. If airlines do go down this route we'll find out.

LochJessMonster · 05/09/2019 10:19

I have always said this should happen, as I said it should be a personal allowance including your body.
I could take loads more bags and shoes.
I didn't actually think it would ever be a serious consideration 😂😂

Same!

TheTeenageYears · 05/09/2019 10:26

By using averages to determine fuel load airlines must have to massively over estimate the fuel needed which costs more, in turn being passed on to the passengers through fare increases and has a bigger environmental impact as planes can only land with a minimum of fuel so have to dump if they have too much to land. I'm not sure how they could discretely and accurately weigh the total load but it certainly seems probable for the future.

Ahardknocklife · 05/09/2019 10:28

@Ravenblack a slight exaggeration by myself but not too far off if you take the lower end of the BMI scale (115lbs for a man of 5ft 6) and the 13st.8 (190lb). I think you can see my point.

According to the NHS a man of 5ft 6 should have a health every of approx 140lb.

Original poster
B3ck89 · 05/09/2019 10:29

Uzbekistan Airways announced in 2015 that it would weigh passengers and exclude some overweight people from busy flights or smaller planes if a weight limit was exceeded

This is what it says at the bottom of the article, for those who said people wouldn’t be refused. Never heard of the airline and unsure what other airlines will follow suit.

OP posts:
jennymanara · 05/09/2019 10:33

Uzbekistan airways website says nothing about that. I would take that with a large pinch of salt.

BizzzzyBee · 05/09/2019 10:33

I’ve said for years there should be a total weight limit per ticket, including body and luggage. It seems unfair that I pay for luggage when a large person brings more than that on their body. And there should be a size limit for seats, if you measure bigger you have to buy two seats.

ChickenyChick · 05/09/2019 10:34

I am 6ft1 and weigh well over 70kg, am not overweight

Why should I get penalised for my height?!

Wtf?!