‘Embarrassed’ Female Plane Passenger Weighed On Baggage Scale To Confirm Weight Sparks Online Discussion

Jun 21, 2023

A woman preparing to board a flight for her long-awaited summer vacation found herself facing an uncomfortable and humiliating situation after she was asked to step on a scale and be weighed like baggage. 

While passengers typically expect their luggage to be weighed to ensure they haven't exceeded the standard limits, this particular airline took things a step further by asking the female traveler to step on the very scales used for weighing bags. The incident took place at an undisclosed airport in the United States, and it quickly became the center of attention when a clip capturing the ordeal was shared on TikTok.

The now-deleted video, originally posted by user Lillian Wessel on May 2023, showed the passenger reluctantly standing on the baggage scale while an airport employee checked her weight. Wessel recounted that the woman claimed she was 130 pounds, thus, she was asked to get on the scale.

The footage quickly went viral, fetching over 1.6 million views before the uploader removed the video, per the Independent. However, the incident sparked concerns and debates about whether airlines are discriminating against plus-size passengers.

Numerous social media users rallied behind the woman, expressing their outrage at the airline's actions. Many argued that she should not have been subjected to such humiliation in front of other passengers. 

Some travelers even shared their own experiences, recalling similar incidents where they felt embarrassed and violated because they were heavy. The comment section of the TikTok video became a platform for people to voice their opinions, with one person questioning the need for the passenger's weight and whether this was a common practice in the United States.

“Flying home from the Philippines and they weighed me… I have never been so embarrassed in my life,” one person wrote.

However, Wessel later clarified the reason behind the airline's need to weigh the traveler. Apparently, the plane the woman was on was a small aircraft that required precise weight distribution for safety reasons. As a result, passengers' weights were necessary to ensure proper balance, as the smaller plane couldn't accommodate weight differences as easily as a larger aircraft. 

“Weight and balance are really important on small aircraft!!” one person said. “I mean, they have to make sure the weight is balanced if it’s a smaller plane.”

“They weigh my purse on Cape Air," another commenter revealed. "It’s not personal...it’s life or death." 

While this explanation sheds light on the airline's perspective, it didn't completely alleviate the concerns raised by those who've seen the video. The issue of passenger weight is not entirely new, as airlines strive to update their data on average passenger weights to better reflect the country's obesity rates.

This incident came on the heels when another airline, Air New Zealand, requested passengers to voluntarily step on scales as part of a survey. Although this caused some controversy, airline representatives assured customers that their weights would remain confidential and wouldn't be publicly displayed. 

The internet remains divided on the matter. While some sympathize with the passenger, questioning the necessity of such measures and the potential for discrimination, others defend the airline, emphasizing the importance of weight and balance in smaller aircraft. 

As discussions surrounding passenger weight continue, airlines are facing increased scrutiny over their policies and practices. The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between ensuring safety and maintaining passengers' dignity.

Does weighing the passengers of small planes make sense to you? What do you think would be the better way to handle this situation? Do you know someone who has experienced something similar? Pass along this story, as they might want to read it!