United Airlines blocking off seats because Americans are getting heavier

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The air up there is getting thick.

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United Airlines has been forced to block rows of seats on their Boeing 757 series of aircraft this winter because the average weight of their customers have increased, and they need to “be compliant with the current weight and balance requirements.”

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“The temporary change is a result of the increased average customer winter weights as prescribed by the FAA,” the airline told the Live and Let’s Fly blog.

The specified seats are currently blocked until the end of April.

In 2019, the FAA updated its average weight requirements and United considered weighing each passenger to determine whether seats needed to be blocked on specific flights.

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Instead, the airline opted to choose general blocks of up to six seats on 757 flights during the winter months, the blog reported.

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While passengers are becoming increasingly heavier, travelling during winter months tends to include heavier items like winter coats and other cold-weather gear.

Also, the FAA has calculated that more travellers are bringing on more items and heavier items in carry-ons, which are not weighed in the U.S., likely so as not to have to check in any bags.

The blocked-off seats, which happened last winter as well, feature a red sleeve over the zip-tied seatbelt that reads, “Seat inoperative – Do not occupy.”

Flight attendants have been instructed to “monitor” the seats “throughout all phases of flight to ensure they remain unoccupied,” according to a memo.

A passenger can request one of the seats, but will be referred to a member of ground staff.