An airline has introduced a rule of flying that might get in the way of your next holiday plans. But rules are there for a reason - to keep us safe.
There's something you might not have noticed about seating arrangements on planes.
Cabin crew don’t just randomly assign seats. They distribute passengers based on average weight to ensure the aircraft is balanced for takeoff and landing.
Some airlines like Air New Zealand and Korean Air do random, voluntary weight checks of passengers every five years to update their average weight data.
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Now, Finnair has rolled out a similar weighing system at Helsinki Airport and it's being deemed 'humiliating' and distressing.
According to aviation regulations, a plane isn’t allowed to take off if its total weight goes over the maximum limit set by the manufacturer. There are strict weight limits for takeoff, and every flight needs precise calculations for fuel, flight range, available cargo capacity and emergency planning.
With global average weights increasing, airlines need accurate data on passengers and their luggage to keep flights safe.
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That said, mandatory weigh-ins for all passengers wouldn’t be practical. So instead airlines use standard weight tables to determine a flight’s total mass, which Finnair’s voluntary survey helps update.
But remember this isn't a new practice.
In 2022, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency updated its passenger weight data based on volunteer weigh-ins.
Lufthansa Consulting surveyed over 4,000 passengers at six European airports and analysed nearly two million pieces of checked luggage.
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What they found was quite intriguing.
According to the survey, the average passenger weighed 75.6 kg (166.7 lbs), while carry-on bags averaged 7.6 kg (16.8 lbs).
Since the last survey in 2009, passenger weight increased by just 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs), but carry-on luggage saw a bigger jump of 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). Furthermore, checked baggage weight actually decreased slightly.
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But seasonal trends also played a role.
Both passengers and their luggage were recorded as heavier in winter than in summer, which makes sense if you think of more layers in winter.
On average, summer passengers weighed 74 kg (163.1 lbs), while in winter, they weighed 76.8 kg (169.3 lbs).
Finally, the study also investigated the difference in weight distribution by cabin class and travel purpose.
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Business class passengers weighed significantly more than those in economy - 90.9 kg (200.4 lbs) compared to 75.4 kg (166.2 lbs). This difference is likely due to a higher percentage of male travellers in premium cabins.