United Airlines is blocking three to six seats on winter flights on its Boeing 757s this year because the average passenger today weighs more than he or she did several years ago, a problem they may share with other airlines flying similar jetliners.
The Federal Aviation Administration calculates average passenger weights on a seasonal basis, and in winter, the weights rise by several pounds as people wear heavier clothing and pack more heavy clothes in their bags. As a result of new calculations made in 2019, a full passenger load now exceeds the safety limits for the plane, as configured by United. A 757 with fewer seats and more space might not have the issue.
United told the website Live and Let's Fly, which first noticed the blockouts (usually middle seats between rows 16 and 40) that “The temporary change is a result of the increased average customer winter weights as prescribed by the FAA. To be compliant with the current B757 weight and balance requirements, United will block specific seats between 1 November and 30 April, 2023.”
The FAA's numbers, which are for passenger, worn clothing and carry-on bags, are 200 pounds for men in summer/205 in winter and 179/184 for women. Numbers for both rose significantly in the 2019 circular; previously men were counted at 185 and women at 145. The same circular setting the averages, by the way, got significant publicity in 2019 because it also authorized airlines to weigh passengers if it chose to make the weight limits that way.
Another factor may actually be raising the averages even higher: Fees for checked bags, and fear of airport baggage chaos have recently pushed more travelers into carry-on-only status, adding to the weight.
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