Excess baggage fees are already a habit for air travelers. A suitcase above the permitted weight or a backpack slightly out of size may represent an additional cost. But what until now only applied to luggage is now starting to extend to those who carry it.
According to Executive Digest, a website specializing in economics and international news, several airlines are introducing passenger weighing before boarding. The practice, which can cause discomfort, has a technical justification: ensuring the plane’s balance and safety.
When weight influences flight
Cape Air, a regional company in the United States that operates small Cessna 402 planes with capacity for nine passengers, is one of those that already applies this measure. In these devices, every kilo makes a difference.
The total weight, which includes passengers, checked bags and carry-on luggage, determines the aircraft’s center of gravity and stability.
According to the same source, before boarding, passengers must declare their weight or step on the scale. The aim is not to constrain, but to allow the crew to correctly distribute the load.
If the weight is concentrated in the rear, for example, the plane may have difficulty taking off or maintaining stability during flight.
Former Cape Air pilots remember that “honesty can save lives”. The calculation is rigorous and even includes babies and small suitcases. An error of just a few kilos can alter the balance of the plane and compromise safety on board.
A different procedure in large companies
Passengers on international flights do not need to worry for now. Companies such as Finnair, Air New Zealand, Korean Air and Bangkok Airways also weigh passengers, but only anonymously and for statistical purposes.
According to , the data collected is used to adjust fuel and weight distribution calculations, without any direct impact on the customer. The goal is to increase efficiency and operational security, not charge more.
Still don’t charge
For now, low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Eurowings do not yet apply this method. Even so, there is a growing fear among some travelers that the “passenger burden” could, one day, become a new fee. After all, in modern aviation, every kilo counts and can also be heavy on your wallet.
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