Finland’s national carrier Finnair began asking passengers to voluntarily step onto a scale with their hand luggage at the country’s main airport in Helsinki.

The weigh-in numbers remain anonymous as the airline looks to gather helpful data.

“We will need data for both winter season and for summer season — in winter season people typically have heavier clothing, which impacts weights,” Finnair spokeswoman Päivyt Tallqvist told The Associated Press.

Finland’s flagship airline Finnair has announced it has begun inviting passengers to hop on a scale with their bags before their flight.

The airline says the weight-in is voluntary and that the data will help the airline improve flight safety. https://t.co/91fwPp2rnY pic.twitter.com/j2rWQ23quI

— ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2024

The spokeswoman stressed that passengers won’t be “penalized for their weight,” and reassured those who may be concerned that “the numbers are kept discreet, away from prying eyes.”

Those who agree to be weighed receive a reflective baggage tag as a gift — so far, about 800 people have participated in the survey, according to Tallqvist.

A former USAF engineer told the Daily Mail the policy was “long overdue.”

“Airlines estimates of weight and weight distribution on aircraft are very important to flight safety. Weights are assumed based on [averages] from decades ago. The bottom line is that people are much larger and heavier than they were decades ago,” he said.

The engineer said is was “extremely dangerous” for overloaded planes to be “flying blind” without up-to-date information.

GB News host Darren Grimes asked online followers what their take was on airline passengers being weighed.

What do you make of this one then?

An airline has announced it will begin weighing passengers with their carry-on luggage in order to better estimate the plane’s weight before take-off.

The controversial move comes from Finnish carrier Finnair, who told media they began… pic.twitter.com/EqEyTQXROG

— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) February 7, 2024

Social media users saw no issue with making this a regular part of flying… here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from X:

Loganair used to do that at Kirkwall and shout the weights from the scales across to the desk.

— “Sir” David Kirkwood Reform UK Scotland (@dakppc) February 7, 2024

Smaller airlines is other countries have been doing this for decades. It’s reasonable and fair. You are cargo. Airplanes take fuel. Deal with it.

— parachutesBTC (@parachutesBTC) February 7, 2024

Brilliant. I get to pay extra be uase my case is 500g above the allotted amount. But Mr and Mrs fatty are allowed a combined weight of 20st compared to my 12st. Bout time it was addressed

— DeWolfen (@Tuckin65) February 7, 2024

It’s absolutely necessary especially for smaller aircraft… We have lots of small planes in our area and they readjust seating very often

— Lila Jones (@lilajns) February 7, 2024

Seems perfectly fair to me.

— Neal Asher (@nealasher) February 7, 2024

“Finnair”?? More like “Thin-air” amirite???

Anyone? https://t.co/3ansDNpx9z pic.twitter.com/EprCwGM3ZC

— Bryan (@BryanSpoon79) February 9, 2024

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Tom Tillison

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Tom@bizpacreview.com

The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.

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