Airline 'fat tax': Should heavy passengers pay more?

[JEDI]

http://travel.cnn.com/airline-fat-tax-should-heavy-passengers-pay-more-619046?hpt=hp_c2

In his paper, published in the Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Dr. Bhatta noted “a reduction of 1 kilo weight of a plane will result in fuel savings worth US$3,000 a year

low-cost carriers are already making oversized passengers book two seats.


currently in the US, if these heavier passengers can fit in 1 seat w/o affecting the space in adjacent seats, then they pay the same price as everyone else.

if charging heavier people more means i pay less, then i'm all for it.

if you're skinny, whats your opinion?


edit:
one option is total weight: person + luggage

if you're over the limit, you get charged more.
if you're under a certain weight, u get credit towards inflight food/drinks

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Only if we're also charging by the pound for luggage as well, including carry on.

 

[Slew Foot]

hell yeah, the sooner the better. Fatties should pay more or everything. Food, healthcare, taxes...

 

[Doppel]

Of course they should.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

We should probably consider volume as well. We could no doubt save on cabin size - and thus metal needed for it, and therefore weight - by making cabins accommodate people 5'6 and just telling taller people to duck. Or they'd have to buy a ticket on a larger, and thus more expensive plane.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Tough call. Just like any other shipment/transfer of item, the more it weighs - the more UPS makes me pay.

On the other hand, you tossed in the idea of paying more for baggage - and thats a whole new curve ball. I'm curious, what does everyone think of that? I can hear all the women with bats and signs raging right now about paying more for their blowdryer, straightener, and curling irons for every trip already and it becomes a sexist battle


So far, the only thing I can safely say after that point is this: For the comfort and satisfaction of both parties, I can't say there should be a "fat tax". However for the satisfaction of parties next to them, it shouldn't be allowed for creeping fat to cross lines. That's just disgusting. Forcing to pay for 2 seats I can agree with for that reason. Pay by the pound now makes it about luggage, coats, babies, and anything else that has weight.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Good.

This isn't discrimination. It's just common sense.

I'm all about generally public shaming fatties as long as it doesn't boil down to personal discrimination. I also don't believe fatties should be afforded more rights aka "I didn't get the job because I'm fat! Sue the business!" when the business's model revolves around having beautiful women rep them. Surely a hooters with 300 pound girls won't survive.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Good.

This isn't discrimination. It's just common sense.

I'm all about generally public shaming fatties as long as it doesn't boil down to personal discrimination. I also don't believe fatties should be afforded more rights aka "I didn't get the job because I'm fat! Sue the business!" when the business's model revolves around having beautiful women rep them.

HAHAHAHA public fattie shaming. You're silly. They have no shame driving around in golf carts while picking up their groceries with walking sticks that grab items. What makes you think airline seats are going to be any different?

Surely a hooters with 300 pound girls won't survive.

On the contrary, I would have quite a comedic time. Toss in some drinks and a sarcastic asshole and it would be more fun than skinny girls

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

Headline: Forum filled with geeks and nerds endorse public shaming in incredibly well-thought out plan.

 

[aking2879]

Some people have thyroid problems and cant help being overweight. they should not be penalized for this.

 

[Paul98]

As long as they put a good model in for this. Seems like it could work if they have a base cost per seat and cost per pound. But I expect this would just be the airlines wanting to make more money so they would make the rules so that no one pays less and you only end up paying more if you are over a certain weight...

 

[utahraptor]

That is not true. Are you suggesting that of we damaged the thyroids of starving people in poor countries we could end world hunger?

 

[SheHateMe]

I'm just curious how they are going to determine who is too heavy and who isn't without harassing and discriminating against people at the terminals?


"Excuse me, ma'm....can you step to the side and step on the scale please?"

 

[Incorruptible]

This is an excellent idea and we need it. Its time they pay their fair share

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I'm just curious how they are going to determine who is too heavy and who isn't without harassing and discriminating against people at the terminals?


"Excuse me, ma'm....can you step to the side and step on the scale please?"

Precisely. However it can be seen when fat globs are rubbing all over the person in the other seat and it isn't wanted.

 

[Spungo]

Some people have thyroid problems and cant help being overweight. they should not be penalized for this.

Fail. Having thyroid problems is very common and the fix is on par with having an appendicitis. Low thyroid activity is easier to treat because the solution is drugs and hormone replacement. You get a bottle of T3 or T4 in the form of pills and you take one per day. High thyroid activity involves killing the thyroid with radioactive iodine then taking those same pills to replace the function of the thyroid. I know someone who had their thyroid removed and they seem to be doing fine.

The weight and size thing should apply to buses and trains. Your bus pass should be twice as expensive if you require 2 seats.

 

[SheHateMe]

Precisely. However it can be seen when fat globs are rubbing all over the person in the other seat and it isn't wanted.

Then, at that point, you're going to HAVE to charge them for that seat.

People already hate the TSA for feeling people up all the time.


Just imagine when they hire people to check for these "fatties" and they start harassing people who aren't going to be spilling over into the seat next to them.

 

[Spungo]

I'm just curious how they are going to determine who is too heavy and who isn't without harassing and discriminating against people at the terminals?


"Excuse me, ma'm....can you step to the side and step on the scale please?"

I know right? How could a shipping company like UPS start changing by weight? They would need to start weighing boxes or something. This would be impossibly difficult because a standard bathroom scale costs like $20,000 and they're as big as a house. Charging by weight will only be possible when someone invents a scale that is cheap enough for the average person to buy and small enough to fit in something like a bathroom.

 

[jacktesterson]

Copied and pasted from other thread

Im 6'7 and weigh 300 lbs and workout 6 days a week.

I am in good shape, better than most.

Anyone that tries to charge me nore because of my weight simply wont get my money.

To be honest the thought if this idea is offensive to me, in shape or not.

 

[Oldgamer]

I'm just curious how they are going to determine who is too heavy and who isn't without harassing and discriminating against people at the terminals?


"Excuse me, ma'm....can you step to the side and step on the scale please?"

LOL I was just thinking the same thing. Can I get a discount if I am under their weight limit??

 

[Spungo]

Copied and pasted from other thread

Im 6'7 and weigh 300 lbs and workout 6 days a week.

I am in good shape, better than most.

Anyone that tries to charge me nore because of my weight simply wont get my money.

To be honest the thought if this idea is offensive to me, in shape or not.

"I'm huge and I eat a lot of food. Why is my food bill higher than that of a 5 foot Asian woman?? This is unfair. I demand that my food bill and my fuel consumption cost the same as her!"

Good to see communism is still alive and well. Those sneaky soviets will win the cold war eventually.

 

[Oldgamer]

Copied and pasted from other thread

Im 6'7 and weigh 300 lbs and workout 6 days a week.

I am in good shape, better than most.

Anyone that tries to charge me nore because of my weight simply wont get my money.

To be honest the thought if this idea is offensive to me, in shape or not.

That is a good point. Are they going to charge customers because they are too tall? Or too big boned??

 

[Oldgamer]

This person has agromegaly (gigantism) http://media.heavy.com/media/2013/01/tanya-angus.jpg

This is what she use to look like prior to the illness taking hold http://in2eastafrica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Tanya-Angus.jpg

How does the airline deal with people who are large do to an illness or disease?

 

[Fenixgoon]

If you take up more than 1 seat, I could see it happening...otherwise no, weight/size should not matter

 

[Oldgamer]

If you take up more than 1 seat, I could see it happening...otherwise no, weight/size should not matter

What about people disabled in wheel chairs, they take up a lot of room. I am curious do the airlines charge them for the space?