If I weighed 9 stone and my bag was 10 kg over the limit, they charge me. But a guy weighing 15 stone with a bag up to the limit doesn't pay more, yet he would 'cost' more to fly in terms of fuel use.
2006-10-14 19:02:48 · 13 answers · asked by StuartB 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Airlines work on an average human weight of about 14 -16 stones in the UK. That means that all the Kylie Minogues balance out all the Pavarottis. If a really fat person comes along wanting a flight the airlines in the UK used to make them pay for 2 seats. I don't know whether they gave them two lunches or just a bucket.
Weight isn't just a problem in staying up in the sky. The aircraft has to overcome it's own inertia both to taxi to the runway and to get up to take-off speed. Once it's done that and climbed to height there's only air resistance to worry about and the engines can be set to most econonomical cruising, whereby the fuel used is the least to get the greatest speed, as the lift under the aerofoil counteracts the effect of gravity. Coming down the trick is to keep the lift just slightly under the weight, and this is where a lot of fuel gets used too. Once you've hit the deck again you have to taxi to the terminal and you've got the weight of the passengers, crew, luggage and aircraft to overcome.
In a cargo plane you have a loadmaster putting the cargo on and he's been up all night with a cargo plan to ensure the weight is evenly distributed as if not it'll upset the trim and the pilot will have to work harder and use more fuel, but in a passenger aircraft it tends to average itself. I suppose you'd get problems if "The Really Fat B******s Club" went on a world pie-eating tour but the system's been used for years and it seems to work. It doesn't seem fair but it stops people taking fifty suitcases on the plane unless they're Joan Collins.
Which leads us to the other problem in luggage, which is cubic capacity. The weight corresponds to the average size, unless you like to wear lead, and the aeroplane's hold is limited. If you take too many cases, not only do you add to weight, but you decrease available space for the other passengers. if a jumbo is full, that's nearly 500, and they all need luggage. There's been cases where too many people have brought too much luggage and it's had to follow on in a cargo plane, and that's when it gets lost or is delayed.
So, all in all, yes, the fifteen stone bloke may be dragging on more weight than you but he's averaged out by the 8 stone model. Your luggage space isn't, so you have to pay extra.
2006-10-14 20:20:21 · answer #1 · answered by prakdrive 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
during the mass and balance calcs the ICAO standards that airlines have to follow are as such, they assume dependent on aircraft size, that the there is an average weight for passengers.
It is assumed that the average weight for a man on a 30+ seat aircraft is 84KG, and as such the at nine stone they should give you a refund, but then they would have to charge the fatties the extra. the baggage is weighed for one reason only, it is then loaded to ensure the the aircraft centre of gravity is balanced, so given the figures for the passengers, the baggage is weighed to make sure the aircraft is able to take off within the acceptable limits of the design of the aircraft.
2006-10-14 21:22:03 · answer #2 · answered by JD417 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Airlines use an average weight program to calculate weight and balance. The FAA recognizes that Americans are becoming more "portly" as time goes by; as such, they require airlines to update their standard passenger and baggage weights periodically.
Nothing is more dangerous than an improperly loaded aircraft.
2006-10-15 04:53:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like an elevator. An average is taken and calculated as a static load factor. In an elevator you will see a plate which says "13 Persons or 1000kg" They average the weight of a passenger at 75kg.Airlines do exactly the same....Average for the number of seats. it evens itself out with heavy and light people. baggage weight is calculated as an extra. Additional to the calculated average.
2006-10-14 19:20:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A/C are designated to hold only so much baggage. In the winter months the weight is increased, and at times the Captain has to make a decision to either lighten the load by less baggage or less passengers. That also has to compensate the weight of fuel and final destination.
2016-05-22 03:16:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a really good question. They must assume each person weighs an average weight and just calculate the baggage?
2006-10-14 19:13:46 · answer #6 · answered by jeeps 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess its just about being diplomatic about how they extract money from you.. Much easier to consider the average weight of a person and charge for excess luggage.
1, Im sorry sir, but your bag is overweight....
2, Im sorry sir, but youre the size of a small whale!...lol..
:)
2006-10-14 20:06:20 · answer #7 · answered by no-one special 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isles of Scilly Skybus weigh all passengers at check in, though that is more for Balance in their small aircraft
2006-10-14 19:15:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the u.s, airlines like american assume all passegers weigh 250 lbs and you r bagage is 50lbs. At check in- if you look like you weigh more than 250 they make you buy an exrtra seat, if your luggage weighs more than 50, they make you pay accordingly.
2006-10-15 05:04:21 · answer #9 · answered by jimmyluger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they also have a kid count to make it legal and all check in bags have been weighed for the last year and half the FAA been watching
2006-10-14 20:45:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋