Passengers shocked as Jetstar crew makes unusual pre-takeoff announcement
- Replies 3
When we think of flying, we often imagine the thrill of take-off, the excitement of reaching new destinations, and the convenience of soaring above the clouds.
However, for passengers aboard a recent Jetstar flight from Brisbane to Perth, the pre-flight routine included a rather unexpected twist that left many scratching their heads in bewilderment.
Annie, a passenger on the April 23 flight, recounted her experience when, just moments before take-off, the cabin crew made an unusual announcement.
The staff requested that six passengers—specifically three women and three men—volunteer to move to the back of the aircraft.
The reason? To ‘balance out’ the plane for the critical phase of take-off.
Annie recounted, ‘The plane was pretty much full as we were sat not far from the back of the plane.’
‘Then on the speakers, they announced they needed three women and three men to volunteer to move seats to balance out the plane just for take-off…Then they would be able to move back once in the air.'
‘It was a bit random because I’d understand if the plane was full at the front and empty at the back but almost every seat was taken on this flight,’ she added.
Puzzled, she posted a video on the experience on social media and asked if anyone had experienced anything similar as she thought it was the ‘weirdest thing’.
This peculiar request may seem a bit confusing to most, but it's grounded in the serious business of flight safety.
A Jetstar spokesperson confirmed the necessity of the request, emphasising the importance of such measures for the safe operation of all flights.
They said, ‘Ensuring the optimum weight and balance configuration for take-off is critical to the safe operation of all flights.’
'We thank customers for their understanding,' they added.
But why is this balancing act necessary? According to aviation experts at Simple Flying, every aircraft has a maximum take-off weight, which includes passengers, luggage, cargo, and fuel.
Surprisingly, most aircraft cannot carry a full cabin of passengers, a full cargo hold, and full fuel tanks without exceeding this limit.
Therefore, airlines must employ various strategies to ensure the weight is distributed correctly.
While most of the balancing is done through careful planning of fuel loads and luggage placement in the cargo hold, occasionally, the solution is as simple as asking passengers to switch seats.
This quick fix can prevent delays that would occur if the ground crew had to rearrange cargo.
It's important to note that these requests are not personal. Simple Flying said, ‘Note that if you are asked to move for weight and balance reasons, it is not anything personal.’
You can watch Annie’s video here.
Source: TikTok / @londonerinsydney
Responses to Annie's social media post about the incident were mixed.
Some, including Jetstar employees, reassured her that it's a standard procedure, albeit not commonly known to the public. 'I work for Jetstar, it's totally normal,' one viewer explained.
Another said, ‘Sometimes the cargo is put in the wrong place and it’s a quick fix for takeoff instead of having to get the ground crew back & open it up.’
Another user shared their own experiences of being asked to move for balance reasons, highlighting the significance of this safety precaution.
However, not all passengers were as understanding. One called the situation ‘absolutely ridiculous’, reflecting the surprise and inconvenience some might feel when faced with such an unexpected request.
This isn’t the only time passengers have expressed their frustration over Jetstar’s policies.
This one Aussie man was left disgruntled as Jetstar refused to accommodate his simple request.
Read more about his story here.
Have you ever been asked to move seats on a flight for balance reasons? How did you react to the request? Let us know in the comments below!
However, for passengers aboard a recent Jetstar flight from Brisbane to Perth, the pre-flight routine included a rather unexpected twist that left many scratching their heads in bewilderment.
Annie, a passenger on the April 23 flight, recounted her experience when, just moments before take-off, the cabin crew made an unusual announcement.
The staff requested that six passengers—specifically three women and three men—volunteer to move to the back of the aircraft.
The reason? To ‘balance out’ the plane for the critical phase of take-off.
Passengers on a Jetstar flight were left puzzled when the crew asked for volunteers to sit in the back of the aircraft during takeoff. Image Source: Pexels / Pixabay
Annie recounted, ‘The plane was pretty much full as we were sat not far from the back of the plane.’
‘Then on the speakers, they announced they needed three women and three men to volunteer to move seats to balance out the plane just for take-off…Then they would be able to move back once in the air.'
‘It was a bit random because I’d understand if the plane was full at the front and empty at the back but almost every seat was taken on this flight,’ she added.
Puzzled, she posted a video on the experience on social media and asked if anyone had experienced anything similar as she thought it was the ‘weirdest thing’.
This peculiar request may seem a bit confusing to most, but it's grounded in the serious business of flight safety.
A Jetstar spokesperson confirmed the necessity of the request, emphasising the importance of such measures for the safe operation of all flights.
They said, ‘Ensuring the optimum weight and balance configuration for take-off is critical to the safe operation of all flights.’
'We thank customers for their understanding,' they added.
But why is this balancing act necessary? According to aviation experts at Simple Flying, every aircraft has a maximum take-off weight, which includes passengers, luggage, cargo, and fuel.
Surprisingly, most aircraft cannot carry a full cabin of passengers, a full cargo hold, and full fuel tanks without exceeding this limit.
Therefore, airlines must employ various strategies to ensure the weight is distributed correctly.
While most of the balancing is done through careful planning of fuel loads and luggage placement in the cargo hold, occasionally, the solution is as simple as asking passengers to switch seats.
This quick fix can prevent delays that would occur if the ground crew had to rearrange cargo.
It's important to note that these requests are not personal. Simple Flying said, ‘Note that if you are asked to move for weight and balance reasons, it is not anything personal.’
You can watch Annie’s video here.
Source: TikTok / @londonerinsydney
Responses to Annie's social media post about the incident were mixed.
Some, including Jetstar employees, reassured her that it's a standard procedure, albeit not commonly known to the public. 'I work for Jetstar, it's totally normal,' one viewer explained.
Another said, ‘Sometimes the cargo is put in the wrong place and it’s a quick fix for takeoff instead of having to get the ground crew back & open it up.’
Another user shared their own experiences of being asked to move for balance reasons, highlighting the significance of this safety precaution.
However, not all passengers were as understanding. One called the situation ‘absolutely ridiculous’, reflecting the surprise and inconvenience some might feel when faced with such an unexpected request.
This isn’t the only time passengers have expressed their frustration over Jetstar’s policies.
This one Aussie man was left disgruntled as Jetstar refused to accommodate his simple request.
Read more about his story here.
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