We all understand the routine of having our luggage scrutinized at the airport check-in counter. Many of us have experienced the awkward shuffle to lighten our load when faced with the dreaded news that our bag is just ounces over the limit.
Now, however, some courageous airline passengers are agreeing to undergo a weigh-in before boarding the plane.
Finnair, a European carrier based at Helsinki Airport, has initiated a project where volunteers are being weighed at the departure gate. This is aimed at improving the accuracy of weight estimates for aircraft before they take off.
In an unusual twist for anyone who has ever tried to discreetly board with an overweight carry-on bag, passengers are being weighed along with their hand luggage.
Thankfully, these weigh-ins are anonymous, as Päivyt Tallqvist, Finnair’s senior vice president of communications, emphasized. Only the gate staff see the weights, ensuring privacy for all participants.
The trial commenced recently and has already seen enthusiastic participation, with 800 volunteers joining by Thursday morning, Tallqvist noted. Finnair plans to involve 1,200 passengers during the winter season, with further plans for the summer.
According to Tallqvist, this initiative aims to gather data on average passenger weights and the weight of their carry-on items. This data is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of flights by accurately calculating aircraft balance and performance.
Airlines typically calculate the total weight of passengers, baggage, cargo, and other onboard items before each flight to determine seating arrangements, passenger capacity, and luggage allocation. Finnair has been using its own weight averages since 2018, which are periodically updated to maintain accuracy.
Finnair’s initiative mirrors similar efforts by other airlines, such as Korean Air and Air New Zealand, which have conducted their own passenger weight surveys.
The data collected by Finnair will be compiled and verified by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, and will be utilized for loading calculations starting from 2025.
Despite potential concerns about privacy, Satu Munnukka, Finnair’s head of ground processes, reassured passengers that the collected data is strictly anonymous and not linked to personal information.
Participants can rest assured that their privacy is maintained throughout the study, as only the service agent handling the measurements has access to the total weights.
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