Airline charging overweight passengers more

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Good idea. Wish all airlines had it.

Airlines cost per flight increases if they have more heavy passengers on board because they need to load more fuel for a given amount of passengers. If they only charge a set amount per seat but more of their passengers are overweight, they will make less money on that particular flight, and if the trend is a general increase in weight then they will be forced to raise the price of a ticket for a seat.

So why should the general populations increasing obesity increase the cost of a ticket for a healthy weighted person? If you're heavier, you should be the one contributing more towards the increased fuel costs.

Reply 21

Katie_p

I'm in 2 minds about it.
It's good because it may encourage frequent fliers to lose weight and also reduce the likelihood of incredibly uncomfortable seating arrangements...but where people are willing to pay the extra, a charge paid to the airline makes no difference to the person being crushed!
It's also incredibly unfair to charge people more because they are bigger if they are a healthy weight!

Reply 22

Aspiringlawstudent

Original post by Doctor Dolittle

Is it fair for those who are overweight for other reasons besides their own conscious actions? For example, drug aide effects, certain medical disorders, increased muscle mass, eating behaviours reinforced as a child, etc.

'Fairness' has nothing to do with it. It's an economic decision.

Should the poor be charged less in Tesco and the rich charged more to pay for this subsidy?

It would be economic madness in a free market.

Reply 23

Aspiringlawstudent

Original post by Katie_p

No it isn't.

You understand that the more weight a plane needs to carry, the more fuel it needs to reach the destination?

It therefore doesn't matter why the weight increases; it merely matters that it does.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 24

Sgt.Incontro

Original post by Psyk

It's a fairly sound idea, but it is a bit unfair on tall people. A perfectly healthy tall person is going to have to pay more than a healthy short person. So it's not just fat people who are going to lose out.

That, and the fact that men will always pay more than women, on average. In a way it is quite sexist actually.

Reply 25

UnderPost

Totally agree with this. The fatter you are the more weight a plane carries and so the more fuel a plane needs. Why should a skinny person subsidise a fatty?

Also if you're tall and you need more legroom- the airlines expect you to pay... why discriminate between tall and fat people?

Can't see how it will work - will it be a per kg price or will there be categories? Also, what will happen to those who put on weight months after they book the flight? Or those that go away on an all inc holiday and come back half a stone heavier?.

Maybe a better policy is that everyone pays a 'base price' then once at the airport your weight is talen and then you pay a 'surcharge' of £x per kg

Reply 26

curtis871

I agree with this policy completely (and being quite tall it might put prices up for me were other airlines to take it up).

Reply 27

babyvet

Agree.
Incentive to lose weight and it makes financial sense.
Why on earth wouldn't you? Its hardly discrimination as weight is incredibly variable! And a result of the environment mostly.
Lay off the McDonalds, pay less to fly (Y)

Reply 28

Dr00n

an incentive to lose weight is exactly what Britain needs with our soaring childhood obesity rates

Reply 29

Psyk

Original post by UnderPost

Totally agree with this. The fatter you are the more weight a plane carries and so the more fuel a plane needs. Why should a skinny person subsidise a fatty?

Why should a healthy, tall, muscular person pay more than a short, underweight person?

Reply 30

Doctor Dolittle

Original post by Aspiringlawstudent

I don't have an opinion on the matter. What about when buying clothes would they be charged at different prices depending on whether you are a M or an XXL? Or should there be scales when you step onto a train so calculate your ticket price?

Reply 31

Aspiringlawstudent

Original post by Doctor Dolittle

If I were the CEO of a clothing company, I would charge slightly more for larger sizes than an M and slightly less for sizes smaller than that.

I don't know the extent to which the weight of passengers determines the cost of the operation of a train - but I presume it does bear some relation to it. If the relation is significant; i.e. it is worthwhile economically to adjust prices accordingly, then I would do so if I were the CEO of a rail company.

Reply 32

UnderPost

Original post by Psyk

Why should a healthy, tall, muscular person pay more than a short, underweight person?

Because he weighs more?

If he drives a car, that person would have to refuel more often than the skinny guy.

Reply 33

hvanheerden1

Can see Ryanair doing this before long, considering they wanted to have standing room on their (very) short haul flights and charge a quid for the loo...

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Reply 34

Faberry

It's disgusting, what has this world come to?! Number one, people will lie about their weight. Obvious. They can't measure it, it's an infringement of privacy. It's so insecure and insulting. Socially, this will increase the number of people with eating disorders because again, pressure is put on being "THIN AND UNDERWEIGHT".

Footballers and other sports-people may be quite heavy in weight, but be perfectly healthy - yet they have to pay more!?

ABSOLUTELY ridiculous!

Reply 35

Doctor Dolittle

Original post by Aspiringlawstudent

If there was a tax on greenhouse gas emissions, would you charge people who expend more carbon dioxide more greatly? Silly question, don't answer.

What you're saying makes sense to be fair. Just interesting to think about, doubt it would ever happen. It might sort out the obesity problem though.

Reply 36

Psyk

Original post by UnderPost

Because he weighs more?

If he drives a car, that person would have to refuel more often than the skinny guy.

So why is everyone making this about fat people?

Reply 37

UnderPost

Original post by Psyk

So why is everyone making this about fat people?

I think because a lot of us have been there on a plane, and you see the person next to you who is clearly overweight - and you think "hmmm, why should I pay the same air fare as this bloke".