As the average weight of the American traveller rises, United Airlines has been forced to block off seats on board its Boeing 757 aircraft to comply with overall weight limits.
“The temporary change is a result of the increased average customer winter weights as prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). To be compliant with the current B757 weight and balance requirements, United will block specific seats between November 1 and April 30, 2023,” reads a statement from United.
The airline is basing this on a circular from the FAA, which states:
- Airlines must increase the average weight of female passengers (which includes their carry-on items) from 145 pounds (66kg) to 179 pounds (81kg) in summer months, and from 150 pounds (68kg) to 184 pounds (83kg) in winter months.
- Airlines must increase the average weight of male passengers (which includes their carry-on items) from 185 pounds (84kg) to 200 pounds (91kg) in summer months, and from 190 pounds (86kg) to 205 pounds (93kg) in winter months.
Rather than weigh each passenger to determine whether seats must be blocked on a specific flight, United has chosen general blocks of up to six seats during the winter months on the Boeing 757, according to Live and Let’s Fly.
The following seats will be blocked from now until the end of April:
- Boeing 757-224 (75S): 24B, 27E, 30B, 24E, 37B, and 40B
- Boeing 757-224 (75B): 29B, 32E, and 36B
- Boeing 757-324 (75E): 16B, 19E, 27B, 30E, 36B, and 39E
