Weighing passengers before boarding: Why this airline initiative raises questions

At Finnair, we don’t just weigh luggage… passengers have to weigh the scales too. An original initiative but not without reason. The Finnish company is actually conducting a three-month study at Helsinki Airport, according to our colleagues Figaro. Since the initiative started on Monday February 5, 600 volunteers have been weighed so far.

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Finnair reassures travelers about their concerns: these weights will be “voluntary and anonymous” and only check-in agents will have access to this data. Passengers are weighed with their luggage.

According to The Guardian, the company insists that passengers are not penalized for their weight. “Only the customer service agent working at the measurement point can see the total weight, so you can participate in the study with complete peace of mind,” the company assures. Those who agree to participate are thanked with a small gift: a reflective luggage tag.

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Controlled weight, safe takeoff

Another piece of data that will allow the company’s pilots to take off safely. Typically, this includes the weight of the plane, fuel, cargo, on-board catering, water tanks, baggage and of course, passengers.

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But the weight of the passengers was estimated based on the average weight. This study will make it possible to obtain more accurate information regarding the balance calculations of the device.