Weighting for the backlash

[quisensoucie]

Weighing aeroplane passengers is not a new phenomenon, so the 'fat-shaming' trope is rather misplaced
'In the early days of air travel, Airlines frequently weighed passengers and even crew to properly balance the smaller, less sophisticated aircraft, according to the Smithsonian.

Passenger weight can have an impact on another aspect of flying: seat size.'
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/then-amp-now-a-weighty-matter-46320857/&ved=2ahUKEwi8--2O452EAxU2a0EAHa-9B8sQFnoECCsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw36nIvu41LW3mTW1jC32O9v

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airlines-weigh-passengers-check-in-baggage-cargo-balance-a8860071.html

This is a safety issue, not about making larger people pay more. But again, the science and physics are dismissed because 'feelings'

I must have missed the bit where commercial airliners are crashing because they aren’t weighing people…

YANBU. People are too sensitive about their weight.

Everyone can see you! If this bothers you, put some effort into losing the weight.

There are many, many reasons that people are overweight.

Including trauma, hormonal imbalance, genetics, disabilities, finances, pregnancies... The list goes on.

Humiliating people is not the answer.

We have been flying around just fine without this, it doesn't need to come back.

It is a dangerous path to go down with ozempic making the rounds and people going back to the "heroin chic" of a few decades ago.

Assigning seats depending on weight is trickier though - parents need to sit with children, people want specific seats, travellers in a group don't want to split up and allocated to different parts of the plane to balance it. I think that part feels less workable than weighing people discreetly at check-in - the pressure pad system sounded like a good way of doing it.

I have just read the rationale and it makes total sense (disclaimer, not anything to with airlines!).
It’s literally about knowing the total weight they are carrying and loading on the right amount of fuel, rather than too much which is environmentally and financially costly. It’s not a safety issue and it’s not about denying passengers boarding.

I can’t see anywhere where it’s being dismissed because of “feelings”?

Where in the news has there been planes crashing or not being safe to fly due to people’s weight?

It’s not about the feelings if passengers it’s about the money it would cost to implement a system that weighs passengers preflight, then allocates seats accordingly, and the extra time that would take for boarding planes if there’s a system glitch in anyway, and the loss of revenue for charging passengers in advance for choosing seating… why would any airline take on the cost?

when safety isn’t an issue? The only time people are weighed is for very small aircraft when it’s necessary to be accurate for safety reasons.

I like the idea of everyone having an allowance, which includes weight of person + baggage, and anything over and above = charge.

I also think that if you don't fit comfortably in one seat without impinging on anyone else's space then you need to pay for an extra seat - it might not be your fault you that take up extra space but neither is it the fault of the person who is allocated the seat next to you. Ideally these extra seats would be at a supplement rate as opposed to whole seat rate, however that might increase the overall seat price for everyone so that the airline is still making the same money per seat!

oh don’t be daft.

Aeroplanes have limited weight capacity

Op must have woken up in a bit of a goady mood this morning, there’s no suggestion that not weighting passengers is about feelings, it’s about £££.
Perhaps in the future that will evolve but most people wouldn’t care about standing on a pressure pad while checking in and having their weight details added anonymously, if that’s what they needed to do to fly.

I do think some sort of rules need to be brought in regarding seating, where people who do take up more space than their seat really need to pay for an extra seat - while it might not be their fault they are large, it also isn't the fault of the person who happens to be squashed in next to them. Their right to comfort isn't more than anyone else's.

it’s not about “people’s weight”

it is about the weight capability of the aeroplane

does anyone feel its is entirely unnecessary to weigh luggage? nope, didn’t think so

@Wasbedeudetetdas why in earth do you like that idea? Literally the only benefit would be to upset someone who is fat? It wouldn’t benefit anyone in any way, it wouldn’t increase safety or efficiency? It would just be saying “you’re fat you need to pay more” when the fat person gains no benefit, a bit like highway robbery?

‘I must have missed the bit where commercial airliners are crashing because they aren’t weighing people…
oh don’t be daft.

Aeroplanes have limited weight capacity’

yes, and yet 1,000s of flights are safely in the air right now full of people that haven’t been weighed? How? Nobody knows! It must just be sheer chance and every flight is a roll of the dice…

There’s definitely a few here who haven’t read the article…..

yes.

but people are getting… fatter!!

So it is being introduced now because airlines are becoming increasingly aware that despite cargo limits not increasing…. their maximum weight cap is becoming ever closer as the years pass (and obesity grows)

‘I do think some sort of rules need to be brought in regarding seating, where people who do take up more space than their seat really need to pay for an extra seat ‘

Theres been all sorts of articles about this recently, the main draw back appears to be that airlines often fill that extra seat even if someone has paid for it and give them a refund.
So the person who’s bought a ‘comfort’ seat doesn’t know til they check in if they will get one or two seats.

this is a thread where before posting it would be interesting for each poster to post their height and weight 😂

I am not sure whether you are referring to my total allowance suggestion or my suggestion of larger people paying for an extra seat - if you want to clarify which one I will happily answer that specific point.

@bestmoment OMFG
No they aren’t!

That has literally nothing to do with the suggestion that’s being made!!!!

Read the bloody link!

Or are you in such a state of feverish excitement at the idea of a bit of faux concerned fat bashing that you’ve just started slapping away at the keyboard? Without having any idea of what the suggestion is actually about? Surely not?

From USA -

https://time.com/6547874/airline-policies-obese-travelers-extra-seats-southwest-free/

Oh, give over. Not goady, raising a point.
But clearly hit a button with you

It might also be interesting to see how lightly they pack when going away, because the ones taking 10 pairs of shoes and 15 different dresses for 2 days probably care more about baggage allowance......weighing the person would put a stop to all these 'wear all your outfits on top of each other to travel' stupid instagram posts!

pretty much! 😂

For those asking about mention of feelings, in Daily M today