Would you get on board

[Miss Demeanour]

Passengers asked to balance plane

Dozens of holidaymakers returning to Newcastle refused to fly after they were asked to act as human ballast.A jammed hold door meant luggage could only be loaded into the front of the Thomas Cook plane at Mallorca airport.

Passengers were asked to move seats to distribute the weight, but 71 left the plane, fearing for their safety.Thomas Cook said it was standard procedure for airlines to ensure cargo and passengers were evenly distributed, and there was no safety risk.

Those who refused to fly on Saturday had to arrange alternative transport for themselves."They were saying it was not safe enough if we had to move about to balance the plane.
   
It is standard for all airlines to ensure cargo and passengers are evenly distributed on an aircraft .."The pilot came out to speak to us and told us it was perfectly safe."When someone asked if the hold door could open when we were in the air at 20,000ft, he couldn't understand and walked away."

Her group were among those who left the plane. They spent the night in the airport before catching another flight.

A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: "It is standard for all airlines to ensure cargo and passengers are evenly distributed on an aircraft and there will be times when passengers will be asked to move to the front or back of a plane. "This is a routine industry procedure and poses no safety issue."We are disappointed that despite reassurances from the captain and crew, a number of passengers decided not to travel."

Hardly surprising that after the recent Air France disaster people are a bit jittery about flying  ...this just seems to be a real breakdown in communication though.

I have never known a flight before though that has asked passengers to spread out a bit to 'balance' the load ..that I think would unnerve me completely 

[Snoopy]

You clearly never flew from RAF Lyneham when I was in charge of the loading then. 

Seriously, weight distribution, the load planning etc was and is an important part of pre-flight planning. I speak as one who is qualified to do the job on certain aircraft (No ~ a little later than the Sopwith Camel  )

[Miss Demeanour]

Doesn't the fact that human nature means that people will want to sit as far apart from one another as possible anyway  - therefore introducing a natural balancing system

However if the Pilot came out and started asking people to move around  - that I'm afraid would freak me and start the worry spiral whirring 

[Snoopy]

I once had to ask a very rotund Major travelling with his troops to either get on another aircraft or I would have to dump the kit of four of his men.
In those days we were flying soldiers to Canada where they were to go on exercises. The aircraft of the day for a non stop long haul (Lyneham to Goose Bay) was the four engined turbo prop Brittania. Held 7000 gallons of fuel and when fully laden used 3000 gallons to get off the deck.

Beautiful aircraft. Whispering Giants we used to call them.   

[Nick]

On each of my recent flights to Scotty Land on little prop planes we have been moved around the cabin to balance the weight and told not to change seats later 

[Miss Demeanour]

You see - now that would panic me......and I would be looking for signs of anyone moving that shouldn't and send them death stares if they even shuffled in their seat 

[Barman]

I'd be happy about balancing the plane by moving around - the centre of gravity is critical for take off and landing...

Cyprus airways made everybody sit at the back on a recent flight that LL was on because of it.

However, telling everybody that the luggage compartment door was jammed was a big mistake which would inevitably cause concern to some people (me included).

[Nick]

What, she sat at the front and everyone else had to sit at the back to balance her out like? Too many chips 

[Miss Demeanour]

What, she sat at the front and everyone else had to sit at the back to balance her out like? Too many chips  

It has been nice knowing you Nick  

[Barman]

What, she sat at the front and everyone else had to sit at the back to balance her out like? Too many chips 

Tsk, tsk... 

[Miss Demeanour]

However, telling everybody that the luggage compartment door was jammed was a big mistake which would inevitably cause concern to some people (me included).

Exactly .......it's like anything that's jammed - it will always become free just when you least expect it , least want it to or when someone else tries to open it - making you look pathetic 

[Nick]

Whatever happened to the Bra Clips thread?

[Barman]

Whatever happened to the Bra Clips thread?

That was in a previous life Nick... 

[Bar Wench]

I'd be happy about balancing the plane by moving around - the centre of gravity is critical for take off and landing...

Cyprus airways made everybody sit at the back on a recent flight that LL was on because of it.

However, telling everybody that the luggage compartment door was jammed was a big mistake which would inevitably cause concern to some people (me included).

Exactly! I've been on planes before where we've been moved for take off and landing but we've been free to sit where we want for the rest of the flight. Telling them the door was jammed was just idiotic.

[Barman]

I'd be happy about balancing the plane by moving around - the centre of gravity is critical for take off and landing...

Cyprus airways made everybody sit at the back on a recent flight that LL was on because of it.

However, telling everybody that the luggage compartment door was jammed was a big mistake which would inevitably cause concern to some people (me included).

Exactly! I've been on planes before where we've been moved for take off and landing but we've been free to sit where we want for the rest of the flight. Telling them the door was jammed was just idiotic.

Like I said like....