World News
Airline Now Weighing Passengers Before Boarding
Clear Facts:
- Korean Air has initiated a new policy where passengers, along with their carry-ons, will be weighed before boarding for flight safety.
- The weight data, collected anonymously, aids in updating the “Aircraft Weight and Balance Management Standards” by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.
- This move follows a similar trend by airlines globally, like Air New Zealand, aiming to improve fuel efficiency by understanding aircraft weight better.
In a move that might surprise some flyers, Korea’s premier airline has decided to ask passengers their weight before they board.
Yet, passengers carrying a few extra pounds can breathe easy. They’re not being grounded.
For the purpose of flight safety, “Korean Air will be measuring the average weight of passengers alongside their carry-on items,” says the official statement on the airline’s website. This initiative aligns with local regulations.
In a bid to collect this data, passengers will be weighed for domestic flights departing from Seoul’s Gimpo Airport between Aug. 28 and Sept. 6, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. This practice will be extended to the Incheon International Airport from Sept. 8 to 19.
Korean Air’s data collection aims to support the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) as they endeavor to refine their “Aircraft Weight and Balance Management Standards.”
The practice of measuring standard passenger weights every five years assists airlines in optimizing weight distribution on aircraft.
While some might be alarmed at the thought of stepping on a scale before boarding, rest assured, the procedure allegedly ensures anonymity.
“The data compiled will be anonymous and strictly for surveying reasons. It does not insinuate that those who weigh more will be subjected to additional charges,” clarified an airline official in a statement on Monday.
Moreover, passengers uncomfortable with the procedure have the option to decline.
Details about Korean Air’s baggage weight allowances for both domestic and international flights are readily available on their website.
Other airlines implementing scales
Mirroring a trend that seems to be picking up globally, Korean Air’s decision comes on the heels of a similar initiative by Air New Zealand.
In their recent international flights survey, which concluded last month, passengers were asked for their weight.
This action, the airline mentioned, is “crucial for the secure and effective management of the aircraft,” as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The idea behind these surveys is simple: the lighter an airplane, the less fuel it consumes, allowing it to travel longer distances, explains the National Air and Space Museum.
We want to know what you think! Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Bl
August 29, 2023 at 6:43 pm
As for an airline to ask or even demand my weight. Forget it. Ill drive. And s. Korea wants more tourists. Lets start charging them for our soldiers or military to be there. By the pound, including tanks. And ships. Yes I know they have a military but they dont need my business.
Peter E Brock
August 29, 2023 at 6:53 pm
Good idea…especially overweight carry on baggage Over 250 lbs. total pay $1.00 / lb
Mia Miller White
August 29, 2023 at 7:40 pm
Personally I do not care. However, that being said, make the morbidly obese pay for two seats.
It is awful flying with a grossly obese individual partially in your seat.
The Rebel
August 29, 2023 at 8:02 pm
Had to fly 4 hours between two fat obese broads and it seemed like a 24 hour flight. If you are FAT, OBESE, OVERWEIGHT, and look like 2 people——then you should be charged for 2 seats on a flight—————ALSO——-take a shower and use deodorant !!!
Richard Stow
August 29, 2023 at 8:15 pm
Weight costs fuel needed to fly it. The reason they want to know the EXACT weight, is so they can match the fuel load needed for the flight to destination; plus alternate airfield should the original destination be unsafe to land; plus 15 minutes reserve. Right now they use an “average weight” per passenger…if I were flying I would want the average to be on the high side. The old saying is: “the most useless thing in the world is the fuel you don’t have.”
russell styles
August 29, 2023 at 10:21 pm
There was an airplane that crashed because they did not weigh passengers or baggage. Was a small plane to be sure, but it did happen.
palguss
August 30, 2023 at 1:09 am
I was an airline cabin crew for 35 years, and I can say that several times we took off exceeding take off weight.This was attributed to passenger total weight and carry on baggage.
Henry lesieur
August 30, 2023 at 2:17 am
Fill it up. What you don’t use will make it easier the next time to fill
Paul Castle
September 22, 2023 at 8:48 am
Of course it makes sense ,so many Americans are obese and weigh double what an average person does.
Thomas Myers Sr
September 22, 2023 at 11:23 am
what is the penalty over their weight limitation.
Jose Jiminez
September 26, 2023 at 11:37 am
Just another way to gather more data about individuals. After a large enough data base is established, the over weight, by our communist government standards, will be either charged an exorbitant extra fee for their health insurance or even denied coverage because the added cost of caring for these people is “unfair” to the non-fat people. As if the lying, thieving, insurance industry doesn’t make money at the same rate the government prints it.
As soon as they have the “fat” people cataloged, then it will be the aged, mentally and physically handicapped, folks above or below a certain income range, the list goes on and on, who will be “punished”, one way or another. They will target EVERYONE, sooner or later. Ultimately the government will control EVERY facet of EVERYONE’S lives. But what the heck, maybe being a slave isn’t so bad after all, at least that is what seems to be the mind set of a great many people. Otherwise carp like this would not be tolerated.