Finnair Requests Passengers to Step on the Scale Prior to Flight Boarding

From the heart of COPENHAGEN, Denmark — It’s a well-known fact that everything that boards a commercial aircraft — from fuel and checked-in luggage to cargo and meals — is meticulously weighed. However, when it comes to passengers and their cabin bags, airlines typically rely on average data.

But this week, Finnair, Finland’s national airline, has taken a different approach. They have begun asking passengers to voluntarily and anonymously step onto a scale with their hand luggage at Helsinki, the country’s primary airport. The objective? To gather their own unique set of data.

“We require data for both the winter and summer seasons. During winter, people tend to wear heavier clothing, which can significantly impact weights,” explained Finnair spokeswoman Päivyt Tallqvist to the Associated Press. She added that this survey would continue until May.

Passengers boarding European and long-haul flights need not worry about being “penalized for their weight,” and “the numbers are kept discreet, away from prying eyes,” she assured.

So far, the survey has seen participation from about 800 people. Those who agree to participate are rewarded with a small token of appreciation — a reflective baggage tag, according to Tallqvist.

Airlines have the option to either use official data provided by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency or conduct their own standard weights measurements. Finnair has opted for the latter, but safety authorities mandate that the survey is renewed every five years. The last time Finnair conducted a passenger weight survey was in 2018.

In a similar move, New Zealand’s national airline also weighed passengers before boarding in June.

The weight data collected will be submitted to the Finnish transport and communications agency later this year. It will be used for balancing aircraft and loading calculations for the period running from 2025 until 2030.

“We hope to have a good sample of volunteers, both business and leisure travelers this time, so that we can gather the most accurate information possible for crucial balance calculations,” stated Satu Munnukka, head of ground processes at Finnair.