Weight limits on airlines

[ianess]

Why is so much fuss made about excess baggage weight when there are so many overweight passengers as well.? Planes must have a maximum safe weight at takeoff and by burning fuel must lose tons of weight in flight.

[veebee]

this is true, but I think the main problem is about where in the plane the weight is stored. I think it causes a 'stress' on the structure of the plane. As more fuel in the wing tanks is burned up, the weight in the body of the plane causes the wings to 'flex' upwards, This causes unwanted stress on the wings themseves and could potentially cause damage to the plane in the long run. But hey, I'm not an expert!

[Sylday]

As I've said elsewhere in answer to a recent question, airline authorities are looking at this issue, because of a couple of mysterious air disasters in the US, where overweight passengers may have been a factor.

[AllYourBase]

On a related issue, why is it that you get stung terribly for excess baggage, even just a kilo over. However you can walk into the shopping area and buy litre bottles of booze (must weigh a kilo!) and all manner of perfumes, clothes, pop, hardback books etc etc to take on board. The weight of these seems to be OK. Am I being cynical when I suspect that it is all a tool for the airports and airlines to make money?

[GillR]

You think thats bad enough, but myself and partner decided to take one bag that weighed 10KGs less than our combined weight allowance and we were told this was not allowed and had to buy another bag and split the weight! Bizarre!

[nana1]

I dont really have an answer but I do have a question. I am a person of size and I would like to know what is the allowable weight before they make you purchase 2 tickets to get on an airplane . Since I have never flown I would like to know what is acceptable.