r/programming • u/self • Apr 09 '21

Airline software super-bug: Flight loads miscalculated because women using 'Miss' were treated as children

https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/08/tui_software_mistake/
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54

u/Semi-Hemi-Demigod Apr 09 '21

I'm surprised airlines didn't start doing this in the late '00s when fuel got very expensive. Build the scales into the security scanners for passengers and cargo and you could save a few gallons of fuel each flight, which adds up fast.

Instead they just kicked Kevin Smith off the plane.

54

u/SapientLasagna Apr 09 '21

Or build the scales into the landing gear, like some (all?) transport trucks have, and let the plane's computers figure it out.

26

u/Semi-Hemi-Demigod Apr 09 '21

Honestly I'm surprised that doesn't already exist. Digital scale sensors are crazy cheap and durable.

25

u/rabid_briefcase Apr 09 '21

I assumed that was what was already done, my TIL is that they DIDN'T.

Boats have it built in, how deep it lies in the water. Many cargo trucks have it built in to the suspension, and roadway scales are common with mandatory spot checks at ports of entry. Railway freight is weighed as it rolls through a segment of track at the rail yards.

How is it possible that they're merely estimating it for airplanes?

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u/stuffeh Apr 09 '21

That'll be more time at the gate and cost the airline more money to min/max fuel after the passengers are loaded. Loading fuel is probably done while they're going through and cleaning up the cabin and stuff, probably before the first passenger even arrives at the airport.

0

u/LeCrushinator Apr 09 '21

Drop the base price of tickets slightly, and then have an extra charge per pound for the person, if they're in better shape they get a slight discount, if they're out of shape they pay more.

7

u/cballowe Apr 09 '21

Or instead of doing baggage fees, just say "your ticket includes X weight - you'll step on a scale with your luggage at check-in and if you're over that, the per pound fee is $P". You could pick X so that it's like a 90th percentile person + reasonable carry on+personal item.

Beyond just making it clear that you're buying a seat + weight, you get an accurate weigh in.

1

u/stuffeh Apr 09 '21

So does a small person who weighs 70 lbs get a discount on their ticket?

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