Finnair - Weighing Passengers

MissInterpreted

I totally agree with you, Cossy. Yes, some overweight and obese people are that way because they eat too much, but it's not always as simple as that. Certain medications can cause weight gain - quite considerable weight gain, in some cases - my friend put on several stones in weight (and became seriously depressed as a result) because of the medication she has to take for a lifelong kidney condition. However, there can be many other causes too. It's all too easy for some people to point fingers and say a person is overweight because they are lazy and stuff their faces!

I hope people on here won't say those things. Many of us are on drugs that can cause weight gain, I am so tbh I'm finding it harder to stay within my ideal weight. I'm recovering from an accident and despite hardly eating anything for the two weeks I was an inpatient I came home 10kg heavier. All of it was fluid caused by trauma but anyone who didn't know me would have thought I had massively fat legs and a very mis-shapen body. This thread isn't about being judgemental but I think it's not unreasonable to discuss how an increasingly obese population affects us all and it does. It costs the NHS £6.5 billion and is the second most preventable cause of cancer.

maddyone’s suggestion is a good one. Declare weight (and height) at the time of booking. Then the airline can plan its seat configuration accordingly as well as make the other calculations it has to do about fuel, total weight and load distribution.

Any system planner knows that you have to plan for what is or what can reasonably be predicted, not what there would be in an ideal homogenized society.

You cannot tell people to stop having children because it adds to the housing crisis or adds to the pressure for school places. You train builders and teachers and build more houses and schools.

You cannot tell people not to get sick because the NHS is in crisis. You train more doctors and nurses and build more hospitals.

You cannot tell people they are too fat and must pay extra for the space they need. You can tackle the reasons for obesity, insofar as obesity can be avoided but, at the same time, adapt services to meet the needs of people who need a bit more space, just as we have done for people who have disabilities and need better access. Nobody would dream of charging a person for needing the larger accessible toilet or a wider parking space.

GrannyGravy13

MissInterpreted

Let the fat shaming begin...

It’s nothing to do with fat shaming

Aircraft’s safety relies on weight to fuel ratio along with the weight capacity of the aircraft itself.

Sorry safety of all onboard should always be uppermost.

Spot on GrannyGravy13. There was an air crash in the US some years ago that highlighted weight. A small commuter turboprop plane crashed on take-off killing all on board. Air Crash investigators found that out dated information had been used to calculate the collective weight of the passengers. In the decades since that data had been distributed to airlines, people had become heavier. When they worked out the true weight of the passengers on board that flight, the plane was heavily overloaded. Safety before anything else, surely.

foxie48

MissInterpreted

Let the fat shaming begin...

Well I, for one, hope that we are a mature empathetic group of people, who will not do that but the above comment is often used to close down conversation. I like to see people who struggle with their weight get much more help and support via the NHS. It's one area of primary health care that would make a huge difference to people's lives and offer a return on the investment. I'd also like to see the govt take a more pro-active role in ensuring the food for sale in our supermarkets isn't contributing to the problem.

I completely agree that overweight people need more support. It is easy to be judgmental blaming those who are over weight but it’s not so simple. I don’t believe people willingly damage their health by risking disease and early death by over eating.

The rates of obesity are markedly higher in the most deprived areas of the U.K. for example, and many cheaper “fast” foods are carb, sugar and fat laden. As Maizie says there is strong resistance and lobbying by the food industry at any attempt by the government to modify marketing or manufacture of unhealthy drinks and foods.

I also believe think obesity should be addressed in a more holistic way, not just focussing on diet but lifestyle, exercise and psychological support.

My GP believes that obesity is one of the biggest challenges to the NHS, particularly in the future as more children are overweight.

I think it’s inevitable in the future as increasing numbers of obese people travel, that airlines will insist on very large customers purchasing an additional seat. Will necessitate weight notification on booking.

If you go skiing, and do not take your our own skis the hire shops weigh you, to ensure the appropriate skis for your weight and ability are hired to you.

Seems logical to do the same for flying.

I totally agree with you, Cossy. Yes, some overweight and obese people are that way because they eat too much, but it's not always as simple as that. Certain medications can cause weight gain - quite considerable weight gain, in some cases - my friend put on several stones in weight (and became seriously depressed as a result) because of the medication she has to take for a lifelong kidney condition. However, there can be many other causes too. It's all too easy for some people to point fingers and say a person is overweight because they are lazy and stuff their faces!

I think in the early days of commercial flight both passengers ( and crew) and baggage were weighed and placed so the plane would balance and there was enough fuel for the total weight. I think later an average per person weight was used for the fuel/loading calculations so perhaps research will show if different figures are more appropriate. Back in the early days (post war) most people would have been a bit undernourished.
It might be better to get passengers to voluntarily declare their weight when booking or filling in other forms. Just booking two seats for a passenger who requires a larger space may not be very safe or comfortable as the metal support between the seats would be in the wrong place if sitting over two seats.

Galaxy

You know when we laugh at the times when people used to say smoking was good for you.
In the future my guess is people will look at the way we pussyfoot around obesity in the same way.

The massive difference between being a smoker, or indeed a drug taker or heavy drinker, is that this is a CHOICE.

It’s not always down to greed and laziness that people are overweight nor even down to poor food choices.

I’m very overweight, but my husband and children, and my parents are/were never obese. We all ate the same food.

I didn’t have a serious problem til late thirties, I’ve struggled ever since along with a multitude of medical issues and a ton of meds and mobility issues.

Some of you come across as quite judgemental!

I've been weighed several times for small planes so that they can distribute the weight evenly. I seem to remember just a weighing scale in the floor in front of the desk and you didn't even realise you were being weighed. It seems fair to me.

A few years back, on a flight to The Isles of Scilly, we were all weighed before boarding the small planes. Presumably we were then distributed to keep a balance. Seemed sensible to me.

I do know we are all responsible for what we put in our mouths every day, so it’s no good blaming anyone else.

People are indeed responsible for what they put in their mouths each day, but they also unlikely to be fully aware of what is in what they put in their mouths.

Any moves to restrict obesity causing content are strongly resisted by those who supply the content and produce the foods and are equally resisted by those who cry 'nanny state' and 'personal responsibility'.

If the tall passenger refused a request from the passenger behind then the cabin crew should intervene. A letter of complaint should be sent if the cabin crew refuse.

A UTI or DVT could result from this situation and is serious on Health and Safety grounds on a long flight.

On a long haul trip to USA last year a very large person sat beside me. She shuffled around non-stop and I did feel a bit sorry for her because she was just too large for the seat. The trouble was the flight was for 10 hours plus and I was hating my journey. Hubby did offer to change seats and I wish I had taken him up on it. Her midriff flowed over the arm of the seat and I could feel the heat of her body. Then her hair, which was extremely long was lay across my arm. I was very tolerant but I know people who wouldn’t have been. It did spoil the start of my holiday. I think it is an excellent idea if there is a weight limit and if they go over that they should pay extra and sit somewhere else.

BigBertha1

On a flight back from South Africa I had a very tall and large male passenger in front of me who tipped his seat back and I couldn't get out to the loo. The crew wouldn't speak to him to move his seat forward. Longest flight of my life so yes please can airlines take account of the growing size of people.

Well, to me, the cabin crew were at fault for not insisting he move his seat to let you out. Were they frightened of him?

And I would have written a formal complaint to the airline company.

The fact that this airline has felt the need to do this is just another example of the many problems associated with the high levels of obesity, common in many countries including of course the UK.

I’m sure a lot of people have had that heart sinking feeling when a hugely overweight person has lumbered down the aisle of a plane and sat down next to them.

Then there’s the huge impact on the NHS with the many diseases which arise from obesity.

What’s the answer? I don’t know but I do know we are all responsible for what we put in our mouths every day, so it’s no good blaming anyone else.

We flew Ryan Air (against my better judgement) in January, their seats are now fixed in an upright position the same as EasyJet.

I was rather paranoid about the size and weight of our carryon luggage (we did not check in any to the hold). Then once seated watched passenger after passenger with oversized cases, backpacks along with overweight humans who could barely squeeze down the aisle.

The population is getting heavier, the airlines must do what they have to do for all of our safety, and if that includes weighing everything and everyone who boards the aircraft I am all for it.

BigBertha did you ask the tall man in front of you to move his seat forward to let you out? And did he refuse??

I think in that situation we must take our courage in both hands. If he refused me I hope I would say in a loud voice please move your seat and let me out.
Or as in the film My Fair Lady "move your blooming arse".
Being old has an advantage in not caring.

Well done Galaxy you must feel great. I hope that you keep the weight down and stay healthy. It won't have been easy I imagine but perhaps you'll be able to advise others how to achieve a healthy weight too?

I have just lost 3 stone, I was fat, you can use any words you like to describe that situation but I was fat. The difference it has made to my health and just level of physical fitness is is beyond words. I actually find it quite frightening.

I accept that there are sometimes those options GG but not always.
In NZ where I am currently, have a lot of small domestic flights and many very large passengers. There are no separate classes.
Perhaps we shouldn't be so coy and be prepared to refuse to fly extra wide, heavy or long people?

I'm travelling home in a week and this thread is making me nervous 😶

I wasn't fat shaming at all, just pointing out the anomaly between two slim parents with two thin children being made to repack and discard some of their luggage because it was a couple of three kilos overweight yet another very large passenger (about 20 stone I would estimate) was fine and went through check-in without a problem.

The parents looked very harassed and quite embarrassed having to repack in front of all the other passengers.

Aga….its not just trolleys for medical patients. All equipment used has weight limits, it should always be factored in. Obesity is a serious issue.

Grammaretto

I was on a plane once when a petite lady was asked/told to give up her front of the block seat with extra legroom. The reason was that a giant of a man, not fat but tall, could not fit his legs into the space provided.
When I looked at these two people it occurred to me the absurdity of having standard size seats. Who is normal?
Surely if people are getting bigger and airlines still want to keep flying, they should supply bigger seats!

We all have different size feet and heads and buy shoes and hats accordingly so why not seats in planes?

That’s why they have different classes , extra leg room seats, premium economy, business class and of course first class.

You get what you pay for when travelling by air, just as in all walks of life.

Galaxy

You know when we laugh at the times when people used to say smoking was good for you.
In the future my guess is people will look at the way we pussyfoot around obesity in the same way.

Difference is - no-one HAS to smoke, but everyone has to eat!

I was on a plane once when a petite lady was asked/told to give up her front of the block seat with extra legroom. The reason was that a giant of a man, not fat but tall, could not fit his legs into the space provided.
When I looked at these two people it occurred to me the absurdity of having standard size seats. Who is normal?
Surely if people are getting bigger and airlines still want to keep flying, they should supply bigger seats!

We all have different size feet and heads and buy shoes and hats accordingly so why not seats in planes?