Airlines Could Soon Begin Weighing Passengers Before They Board Flights

Editor

May 17, 2021

Airlines could soon start checking passengers’ weight before they board their flights, according to a new report.

News of the possibility was first reported by the airline blog View from the Wing, citing a circular advisory published in 2019 by the Federal Aviation Administration. The public comment period on the advisory ended last spring.

According to the pending requirements, airlines would be ordered to take surveys to set “standard average passenger weights” for crew members, baggage, and passengers through random sampling of participating customers.

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“Regardless of the sampling method used, an operator has the option of surveying each passenger and bag aboard the aircraft and should give a passenger the right to decline to participate in any passenger or bag survey,” the guidance states. “If a passenger declines to participate, the operator should select the next passenger based on the operator’s random selection method rather than select the next passenger in line.”

It goes on to state operators “should not attempt to estimate” a passenger’s weight.

The FAA circular goes on to instruct any operator who chooses to weigh passengers to be careful to “protect the privacy of passengers.”

“The scale readout should remain hidden from public view,” it states. “An operator should ensure that any passenger weight data collected remains confidential.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the obesity rate in the country is at 42.4 percent, according to data from 2017-2018. In order to be considered obese, one’s body mass index has to be 30.0 or higher.

According to AirInsightGroup, this is what the new circular could mean:

The new FAA standards will increase an average adult passenger and carry-on bag weight to 190 pounds in the summer and 195 pounds in the winter. Up 12% from 170 pounds and 175 pounds, respectively. This includes an extra ten pounds for winter and five pounds for summer. This also includes 16 pounds for personal items, up from ten. Airlines must increase the average weight of female passengers and their carry-ons from 145 pounds to 179 pounds in summer, and from 150 pounds to 184 pounds in winter. The average weight for males with carry-ons is increased from 185 pounds in summer to 200 pounds, and from 190 pounds to 205 pounds in winter.

The FAA guidance states that such calculations should take place every three years. The federal agency did not specify when Americans should expect to be asked to step on the scale.

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