Weight Question for Flight to Beef?

Like most women I do not want to verbally announce my weight in front of everyone when boarding the Seaborne flight into Beef. How is this handled?

Thanks in advance.

Every flight planner and pilot needs to know the accurate total of the payload and the weight of each piece of cargo to balance the load. If you must come prepared with your truthful weight clearly written on more than one card and hand that card to whoever on the crew asks. Be prepared to be asked more than once as both the total load is calculated and the balance is determined. Each plane, cargo load, fuel load, and current temperature will add variables. Some days they may just look and guess using a chart, other days the numbers may require much closer inspection either with an oral question and answer or actual scale weighing with each passenger and carry on. Yes, your 20 pound purse counts...

Thank you so much Stormjib. I will most definitely tell them my exact weight, just was curious how it was handled. I didn't know they might ask several times and will use your great suggestion of writing it on a few cards.

Thanks again for your help!

On the smaller aircraft like the Cessna's used by Cape Air they will ask for a actual weight. On larger aircraft at some point they switch to using a assumed weight for each passenger. I don't recall where the break on that is size wise.
G

I was just on Fly BVI and they were more concerned about the volume of bags we had than the weight. Apparently the limiting factor depends on the type of plane you are on. We were on a Cessna 404 which I guess handles weight pretty well.

It depends how much fuel is onboard and where the plane is going. With full fuel the total weight of bags and people cannot exceed 701 lbs. The exact formulas and variables are far greater than anyone can count. With no fuel on a good day with a long runway that same plane could get off the ground with more than 2,500lbs packed aboard.

I just flew seaborne SJU-EIS round trip. I was never asked my weight. ( whew!)

That's funny and great news.lol No matter a woman's size she doesn't want her weight known.

Just curious...why not? As a woman I have no problem with people knowing how much I weigh. We (him and me) have always been happy to tell the Puddle Jumpers' check-in staff our actual weight, to ensure aircraft balance/safety etc.

It is the only question I will not answer if someone asks me. You can literally ask me anything else, use your imagination. Just my personal choice.

HOWEVER, I would never fib if the airline asked due to safety. My question was how they ask you. On paper, in a room full of people, yelling from a megaphone?

I love your Woof woof! signature. I'm a major dog lover!!!

3 years ago my wife and I were in SJU on line for the Cape Air check in. The woman in front of us(who was a bit broad in the beam) was asked her weight. She replied "On a BAD day, 119". My wife turns to me and whispers "Today must be an absolute nightmare for her". <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

As a large woman I do not like to tell my weight but when they have asked it has been face to face at the counter and discrete. Once out on the tarmac the pilot will assign seats to everyone to balance the load from side to side and front to back. He does this by eye. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

We have flown many small planes, both regional and private charters and the staff was always discreet. (I learned to get over the embarrassment....) I suspect they probably know when someone isn't "accurate" in their own weight estimate. And yes, the pilots due visually evaluate people sometimes, other times we were told to sit wherever we wanted.

I have a pretty good understanding as I am a pilot (private plane) and also a bariatric surgeon. Weight and balance is critical for flying and experience allows you to just know (from many previous calculations), that weight and balance is not an issue. Other times needs more distribution by moving largest passengers forward/backward. It is important to be discreet and explain safety aspect of proper loading. I ask my passengers (wife included) "weight including your carry on bags".

As a bariatric surgeon, I can typically estimate weight very closely, especially larger people. I also know how often my patients report being hurt by insenitive comments, especially in public.

As a sailor, we face the same weight/balance issues , usually when getting into dingy... however this is evident to all and passenger tend to distribute themselves to balance the "ship" without much instruction.

That's just hilarious!

Yes, that is very helpful!

That is so interesting. I'm so glad I asked the question. I'm sure people appreciate you considering their feelings. I also like how you ask people their weight, including their carry on bags.

Our group of 6 is a funny group. No one is majorly overweight. Two of the 3 men are very short for men, like 5' and 5'3. This should be very interesting.LOL

My husband and I have traveled a lot but have never been on a plane this tiny. First time for everything. Seven weeks and counting!!!!!

I've been a pilot most of my life. On larger planes with more people, an assumed average weight is used. That number can change for certain occasions. For example, when we flew a pro football team the number was much higher than a normal passenger flight. On small planes, in addition to the total weight, the center of gravity (cg) is important and must be within certain limits. Also, I have learned to judge weight by eye because some people will lie to you. If things are really close, the answer is to use a scale.
Lew