Originally Posted by
WillCAD
...How do you measure the passenger's weight? Take his word for it, or force every passenger to weigh in at check-in as we do with checked luggage? How about those who travel with only carry-ons to speed their check-in; they'd have to stand in long lines at the scales. And will the weigh in include your carry-on bags? Will passengers begin stripping down to shorts in order to lighten themselves enough to make weight, like a high school wrestler?
...
Why would passengers be stripping down? Their coats and shoes and pants and socks and luggage will all be getting on the plane.
Passengers should be given a total weight allotment - self+luggage (carry-on or checked). The plane doesn't know the difference between shoes on your feet, shoes in your carry-on, or shoes in your checked luggage.
I agree it would probably be be discriminatory but the program can be structured to only penalize the upper extremes and possibly some incentives for the light packers? This would leave the overwhelming majority of travelers unaffected and prevent penalizing everyone from chipping in for those pax that weigh as much as (or pack for) three people.