As part of a regulatory oversight, Air New Zealand will be required by law to weigh passengers at Auckland International Airport in June, prior to boarding.
At the demand of New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority, the “passenger weight survey” takes place through July 2, 2023, and will gather data on weight load and distribution for the aircrafts, the airline said.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft — cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold,” said Air NZ’s load control improvement specialist, Alastair James. “For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”
Foreseeing passenger reluctance in disclosing what could be a sensitive factoid, the airline said it will make the data anonymous to protect privacy.
When passengers check in for their flights, they will be asked to stand on a digital scale. The weight of each traveler will be submitted to the survey but will not be visible to the agent.
For separate weighing, luggage will be placed on a different, identical scale.
“We know stepping on the scales can be daunting. We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere. No one can see your weight, not even us,” James said.
This isn’t the first time that air travelers have been asked to do a pre-board weigh in. Air New Zealand’s domestic passengers took part in a different weight survey in 2021, however, the pandemic delated the assessment for international travelers.
The survey will likely incorporate passengers who are traveling on the 17-hour direct flight to New York City’s JFK Airport from Auckland International.
Add comment