Feds: Hawaiian Airlines weighing passengers 'not discriminatory'

Hawaiian Airlines said the US DoT deemed the airline's discontinuation of preselecting seats "not discriminatory" following complaints from two passengers boarding a flight to Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa. According to a report by Radio New Zealand, two businessmen from the US territory in the South Pacific filed complaints with USDOT over a new policy of the Honolulu-based airline prohibiting passengers from preselecting seats on its Pago Pago flights due to improper weight distribution. Research by the airline showed an increase in average passenger weight, and without proper weight distribution, safety issues arise. After a six-month study period, Hawaiian Airlines found that passengers on the route weighed 15 kilograms, or about 33 pounds, more than the FAA average. COO Jon Snook told RNZ that the airline will no longer weigh passengers. Instead, it will ensure that there will be either a child or an empty seat in each passenger row through discontinuing passenger preselection of seats on certain flights.<br/>