Air New Zealand to weigh passengers before flights, claims data will be confidential
Your checked luggage might not be the only thing getting weighed before boarding your flight.
For a limited time, travelers flying with Air New Zealand will be asked to jump on a scale while checking in. According to CNN, New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority is asking that the airline weigh passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport until July 2, 2023.
The program is optional, as Air New Zealand calls it a “passenger weight survey.” The outlet stated the airline uses the gathered data to analyze the weight load and distribution of planes. In 2021, Air New Zealand ran a similar survey weighing domestic flyers.
In a statement provided by the airline, Alastair James, the load control improvement specialist, stated it is standard procedure for them to “weigh everything that goes on the aircraft.” This includes “cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold.” James said the survey provides average weights “for customers, crew and cabin bags.”
While the airline assures the survey is optional, stepping on a scale for some flyers can ignite instant anxiety. To reassure travelers, the airline states the information provided is completely anonymous and isn’t viewable by anyone, including the gate agent.
CNN detailed the process. At check-in, travelers will be asked to stand on a digital scale. The information about their weight is then instantly submitted to the survey. The data is not viewable on the agent’s screen. Luggage will still be weighed on an identical scale separate from flyers.
“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.
Passengers traveling on the nonstop flight from Auckland to New York City’s JFK Airport may be some of the first asked to participate in the survey. The 17-hour flight is noted as one of the longest flights in the world.
Air New Zealand states they will ask more than 10,000 passengers to be weighed between May 29 and July 2 to complete their survey.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Air New Zealand to weigh passengers before flights, claims data will be confidential."