I was under the impression that some of you here are familiar with operations just as much as with the sub-par availability of water in C.

And so maybe some of you can help me with a question more concerned with the jet’s needs than my own: I have wondered for a long time what exactly would be the impact on fuel burn of one additional passenger.

Now, I am aware that there will be an infinite number of answers to the question as worded above. So let’s assume tomorrow’s LH 400 FRA-JFK is booked at 85%. For all other factors (cargo, traffic, winds, weather at origin/destination,...), let’s take average conditions for granted. Now, if I get onto that flight very last minute tomorrow morning (75 kgs incl. cabin luggage, no checked baggage), how much more fuel will that 747* burn?

Thanks for your input!

no-show


* or the 330 or the 346 or... whatever aircraft you may have insight about.

This does not seem to be a LH specific question, so moving the thread to travel buzz.


Kiwi Flyer
M&M moderator

If the 747 is 75% full, the gas mileage is about 50 miles/gallon for each passenger, increasing to maybe 100 miles/gallon for each passenger if the plane carries 500 passengers.