Here is an odd story from several newspapers (including Daily Mail, The Independent and the Toronto Star) that is also being picked up by several aviation and travel blogs, including the Wend blog and the Dallas Morning News’ Airline Biz blog. Apparently, All Nippon Airways (ANA) is now asking passengers to use the toilet before boarding the aircraft so that they will weigh less and help to cut carbon emissions (and cut the overall cost for fuel as well). The theory behind the request is simple: empty bowels and bladders will mean lighter passengers and hence lighter aircraft and lower fuel usage (and not to mention some additional cost savings for the airline). For now though, the experiment is intended to last for only one month and it will be implemented on 42 flights but if the results are positive and are well received by passengers, the trial may be extended for a longer period of time.
Will this idea work? According to the Toronto Star:
Here's how it works: The average human bladder holds up to a litre of fluid, which weighs roughly one kilogram. All Nippon's most popular aircraft, a Boeing 777, holds 247 people. So, in theory, if 247 passengers all go to the washroom before boarding, they could lighten the plane by up to 247 kilograms - the weight of three average men.
However, the authors of the Airline Biz blog also point out that a “thinking person would then question why airlines serve drinks on airplanes, since that would require visits to the rest room.”
Either way, passengers will find that All Nippon’s idea is a MUCH BETTER one than Irish carrier Ryanair's idea of charging passengers to use their on-board lavatories.
From: http://www.moveandstay.com/business-traveler-asia/2009/10/please-lighten-your-load-before.html
