Weight and Balance
Mar 8, 23, 6:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: Previously top-tier everything, now a happy free agent
Posts: 944
Weight and Balance
Just hopped on an AS (operated by QX) E75 SEA to BOI. Looks like a completely full flight, door closed on time, then re-opens 10 mins later.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Mar 8, 23, 7:14 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,183
Just hopped on an AS (operated by QX) E75 SEA to BOI. Looks like a completely full flight, door closed on time, then re-opens 10 mins later.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Last year I was flying an AA flight connecting in Chicago……this was an odd one…..it was a normal jet (737/320)…it had 120+ capacity. They offered incentives for people to change flights for the next morning and offered $1000 …I woukd have done it if I didn’t have something important for work the next day…the flight wasn’t oversold. It was carrying some cargo I think they limited their load to around 80 pax. Thst left sbout 27 or so thst couldn’t board so they want with the first 80 can board, the rest could not. I don’t think this was a fuel thing because it was ORD-DCA an AA has a DCA hub so they should have a decent fuel supply there. I think they were carrying so top secret govt/military cargo.
Mar 8, 23, 9:18 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 885
Just hopped on an AS (operated by QX) E75 SEA to BOI. Looks like a completely full flight, door closed on time, then re-opens 10 mins later.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Mar 8, 23, 11:25 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AS 100K and AS 1MM
Posts: 65
FYI, some good resources if anyone is interested in getting into the details of W&B calculations.
Sounds simple, but really not. The recent tail strikes at SeaTac are one example of how fragile these calculations can be.
https://safetyfirst.airbus.com/under...t-and-balance/
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli..._phak_ch10.pdf
Sounds simple, but really not. The recent tail strikes at SeaTac are one example of how fragile these calculations can be.
https://safetyfirst.airbus.com/under...t-and-balance/
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli..._phak_ch10.pdf
Mar 9, 23, 11:37 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA 1MM, AS MVPG, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 14,943
I've been on a regional flight (don't recall the airline) where, after boarding, they made an announcement that they had to remove two people for weight reasons and were looking for volunteers . Funny money was offered, but given the next flight would have been a day or so later, there were no volunteers despite multiple requests. Then they switched tactics and said they would choose the persons who checked in last. They called two names, and no one came forward. 
(yeah, I wondered, too, why they didn't go talk to them at their assigned seats?!). After a couple of rounds of that, they said they would have to involve airport security (this was before the UAX vs. Dao dragging incident). That caused the one selected passenger to speak up and tell the FAs that he was the companion of the blind passenger next to him, and if he was removed, the blind person was not going to be able to travel. I think at that point some other passengers nearby volunteered, earned a cert and applause, and we finally took off.
(yeah, I wondered, too, why they didn't go talk to them at their assigned seats?!). After a couple of rounds of that, they said they would have to involve airport security (this was before the UAX vs. Dao dragging incident). That caused the one selected passenger to speak up and tell the FAs that he was the companion of the blind passenger next to him, and if he was removed, the blind person was not going to be able to travel. I think at that point some other passengers nearby volunteered, earned a cert and applause, and we finally took off.
Mar 9, 23, 11:55 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,513
Just hopped on an AS (operated by QX) E75 SEA to BOI. Looks like a completely full flight, door closed on time, then re-opens 10 mins later.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Weight and balance issue apparently (“we’re too heavy to fly”) so they had to offload 3 non-revs (bummer).
I know these things happen all the time but curious if anyone has any other experiences to share or knowledge of how it happens (e.g., weather? fuel? too many passengers checking heavy ski bags like me?)?
Only a 30 min delay while they sorted it out, but wondering if others have experienced the same / if it tends to happen on certain AC / during certain seasons / to certain stations.
Mar 9, 23, 1:42 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,632
Mar 9, 23, 2:12 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,183
I fly this route (BOI-SEA) on a regular basis, both on 737s and on regional jets operated by SkyWest or Horizon. Sometimes the flights are full and sometimes they are less than full. I have never experienced this issue. If it was to happen I would expect it to be on a very hot day, when planes have less lift, but I've never seen it personally.
Mar 9, 23, 2:20 pm
#10
formerly Sleepy_Sentry
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 596
How does the pilot know the exact number of passengers to be removed in these sorts of situations? I know there are standard weights, but what if only very light people volunteer? Or are there situations where a passenger of size could take the place of two passengers?
Mar 9, 23, 3:16 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 885
How does the pilot know the exact number of passengers to be removed in these sorts of situations? I know there are standard weights, but what if only very light people volunteer? Or are there situations where a passenger of size could take the place of two passengers?
Mar 9, 23, 3:42 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 79
How does the pilot know the exact number of passengers to be removed in these sorts of situations? I know there are standard weights, but what if only very light people volunteer? Or are there situations where a passenger of size could take the place of two passengers?
Mar 9, 23, 9:44 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: AS 100K and AS 1MM
Posts: 65
And yet...
They have computer programs that do all the calculations. Airlines use standard weights for people (which, fun fact, are higher in the winter). It's not like being a few pounds over will automatically make a plane fall out of the sky, there's obviously a margin for safety also, so it's usually just about getting a ballpark weight.
https://mentourpilot.com/how-alaska-...-tail-strikes/
