Hawaiian Airlines is under investigation for weighting passengers before flights and assigning new seats to ensure that the weight is distributed evenly. Two passengers flying from Honolulu have filed complaints of discrimination. Airlines and aircraft manufacturers have been trying to find a solution to dealing with passengers' growing weights. The flight was a part of a survey in which Hawaiian Airlines weighted each passenger travelling between Hawaii and Pago Pago, the American Samoan capital.
Hawaiian communications director Alison Croyle informed : "This action resulted from the recognition that over time our fuel burn on Pago Pago flights was consistently much higher than projected, indicating that our weight assumptions were inaccurate. We review weights on any flight within our route network that demonstrates such a discrepancy." Hawaiian Airlines says that they have conducted the survey on other routes too.
How would you feel if you would be weighted before a flight and your seat would be changed according to your weight?
Do you think the Hawaiian Airlines have the right to do this? Why/why not?
My opinion:
I would feel humiliated. I've flown a lot before so I would be surprised by the weighting. I would wonder why they're doing that and with what proof. People pay extra for a seat they want and suddenly they can't sit there because the weight of the plane isn't evenly distributed? It feels so unnecessary to me. Hawaiian Airlines have the right to do surveys but the way they are exciting this survey is a little questionable. I think Hawaiian Airlines just wants to solve a problem and eventually do better with the data from this survey.
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Replies
Great job Emilia!
If you pay for a certain seat, you should get that seat. What if they split up families? Since the planes are so big, it shouldn't matter how the weight is distributed, if it were a smaller plane, then I could understand. why the weigh-in process is needed.
It doesn't really matter if they weigh you. They should keep it private and maybe make it computerized so people don't feel so discriminated. They should have the right to do it because they are selling a service if you don't like the way they do it you can go somewhere else.
I wouldn't care to much, as long as you get from point A to B. And I think they can do whatever they need to be sure of the safety of the passengers.
I wouldn't really care if that happens and I think it's not that bad of an idea. I mean it's just a fact that overweight people often take more than just one seat and that is fine by me but i think its simply unfair if people, who take up two seats pay the same amount as people in one seat. Imagine if you were given a seat next to an overweight person, who is kind of sitting on your seat; that would not be very comfortable, I suggest. Secondly the airline needs to have accurate weight assumptions to calculate how much gas etc. they need. That is really important and I don't really get why people feel offended, it's not that the airline makes those personal information public; they simply need it for their calculations and their passengers comfort, safety and well being
I would feel terrible and completely embarrassed. This is honestly a good idea though. If they manage to include asking what the passengers weigh as they purchase the ticket, it would cause a lot less stress. Growing weight is a problem and I do believe that the airlines have a good idea. Because the weight of people is so high, it could cause an effect on airplanes. I think that the airline has the safety for their passengers in mind and not to make fun of them.
I can see both sides of the story here. I think that many people are self conscious when it comes to their weight, so publicizing that lowers their self esteem and worsens their traveling experience. On the other hand, I think that it is important to be safe when flying and that Hawaiian Airline workers are doing this to ensure the safety of their passengers. Whether it keeps passengers safer or not, I don't necessarily think that the airline has a right to do this because it is personal, private information.
If I was being weighed for safety reasons I don't think I would mind unless I was moved out of my seat to a bad seat or location. If everything went smoothly during the process I think it would be fine, but I can see how some people would be against it. If it is for the passengers safety then I think they have the right to. I don't think they are doing it to humiliate their passengers.
I personally wouldn't mind being weighed before a flight but if I was moved away from the people I was traveling with, then I would be upset. I paid for the ticket and I want the seat I paid for, not the seat I am assigned. I don't think Hawaiian Airlines have any right to do this because the weight of their passengers has nothing to do with them. If anything they will lose business because of this.
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