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

[Spungo]

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

I wonder if this terrible logic is the reason dumb Americans buy incredibly heavy vehicles then complain about gas prices.

Why does my Ford Excursion burn more gas than a Toyota Echo?? I don't understand this! The government needs to step in and make this more fair. I should get a tax credit to make my fuel cost less!

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

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.

It's a tough road, and I'm not about to have the answer. You can't charge people at the time it happens when you're 1 minute from take-off. If I was a fattie i would be like "Oh, I'll just take that empty seat in first class then". That, or I wouldn't have my wallet on me. If something is going to be done, it would have to be done beforehand. Maybe after you get caught once you're on the equivalent to a "No fly <except when buying 2 seats for yourself> list"

Basing it off weight? Much weight can be attained from your dress, coat, backpack, etc... And if we're basing it off weight/miles, why don't people that bring 2 huge ass baggages with 2 huge ass carry-ons pay extra? Like I said, women pack more than men on average - now it's a sexist issue. Maybe the man isn't fat, he is just a slim body builder. So with those said: I don't think weight can work.

Like I said, I'm not taking a single side - just stating the oppositions/arguments. Both have quite valid points. I don't want to have to pay more for bags, but at the same time it REALLY is unacceptable when you walk down the seats and your only option is being in the middle next to a fat guy whose blobs of fat is guzzling over the seat arm rest. Ugh, I get the chills just thinking of that.

 

[Paul98]

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?"

Why not just have a large scale on the floor in a place where everyone already has to walk though. Each person walks on it one at a time with all their stuff. It then gives a reading with the price. It wouldn't be hard to setup a system which would keep things moving and would be easy.

 

[boomerang]

I think pregnant women should pay more and especially those that got pregnant through anything other than natural means and are carrying more than one child. Proof of aborting enough babies to offset the current carry would exempt them from the surcharge. This should be a law.

Another fattie flying thread. Can't get enough of those...

 

[Midwayman]

Well there really should be two charges to be fair. One- the combined mass of passenger and luggage. Two- The amount of seat space they take.

 

[silverpig]

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.

But you do pay more for overweight baggage.

You get up to 40lbs or so, and anything over that you have to pay a fee for. Also, you can't take 6 bags with you unless you pay more.

 

[Paul98]

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.

It has nothing to do with your shape, it has to do with how much it costs to fly you from one place to the other. It costs them more to fly you than it does for them to fly some 100 pound person. Yet you both get to pay the same price, the 100 pound person is basically subsidizing the cost of your ticket.


The point is to try and make it fair and everyone to pay a more correct share of their flight cost. That is if it is done correctly and not just to get the airlines more money.

 

[PricklyPete]

Yes, I think human freight can be charged the same way most other freight is charged...by the weight.

 

[Paul98]

Well there really should be two charges to be fair. One- the combined mass of passenger and luggage. Two- The amount of seat space they take.

This, then you would pay a more correct percentage of the total flight cost.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

It has nothing to do with your shape, it has to do with how much it costs to fly you from one place to the other. It costs them more to fly you than it does for them to fly some 100 pound person. Yet you both get to pay the same price, the 100 pound person is basically subsidizing the cost of your ticket.


The point is to try and make it fair and everyone to pay a more correct share of their flight cost. That is if it is done correctly and not just to get the airlines more money.

Bullshit. Before I worry about the cost difference that fattie makes, I would worry more about the customer satisfaction of the 2 people sufferring with fattie in the middle.

 

[Paul98]

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

Why not?

 

[Spungo]

It's a tough road, and I'm not about to have the answer. You can't charge people at the time it happens when you're 1 minute from take-off. If I was a fattie i would be like "Oh, I'll just take that empty seat in first class then". That, or I wouldn't have my wallet on me. If something is going to be done, it would have to be done beforehand. Maybe after you get caught once you're on the equivalent to a "No fly <except when buying 2 seats for yourself> list"

Nope. Remember renting a Super Nintendo from the video store? They would put your credit card number on file. They would charge your credit card if you kept the system instead of bringing it back. Hotels do this too. They check the mini bar and charge your credit card after you've checked out The flying weight fee would be added to the final bill at the terminal even though you've already paid the regular price for the tickets.

Basing it off weight? Much weight can be attained from your dress, coat, backpack, etc... And if we're basing it off weight/miles, why don't people that bring 2 huge ass baggages with 2 huge ass carry-ons pay extra?

They should weigh everything just to keep it completely fair. It shouldn't be difficult to weigh luggage and add that to the price since that's exactly what shipping companies already do. Weighing people should be easy as well. Stand on a scale, scan your ticket, the system adds your weight to your ticket and that weight would show up on the final bill.

 

[boomerang]

How about "Skinny Airlines"? No fatties can fly and those that are anorexic can fly for free. Bulemics fly free on Tuesday's! We can subsidize the carrier with tax dollars and borrowing from China.

America - dumb and getting dumber.

 

[Paul98]

Nope. Remember renting a Super Nintendo from the video store? They would put your credit card number on file. They would charge your credit card if you kept the system instead of bringing it back. Hotels do this too. They check the mini bar and charge your credit card after you've checked out The flying weight fee would be added to the final bill at the terminal even though you've already paid the regular price for the tickets.



They should weigh everything just to keep it completely fair. It shouldn't be difficult to weigh luggage and add that to the price since that's exactly what shipping companies already do. Weighing people should be easy as well. Stand on a scale, scan your ticket, the system adds your weight to your ticket and that weight would show up on the final bill.

Heck when you bought your ticket you could even have an option to estimate flight weight, and then if you are over/under when you get weighed it would just add/subtract from your bill.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Nope. Remember renting a Super Nintendo from the video store? They would put your credit card number on file. They would charge your credit card if you kept the system instead of bringing it back. Hotels do this too. They check the mini bar and charge your credit card after you've checked out The flying weight fee would be added to the final bill at the terminal even though you've already paid the regular price for the tickets.

This isn't "Did you take a coke from the mini-bar?" it's a game of "Are you 200lbs or 199.99lb?" or "How wide are you when you suck it in? And were you going into this expecting to pay double?" Sorry, but that won't happen even with a credit card on file. I mean legally.

They should weigh everything just to keep it completely fair. It shouldn't be difficult to weigh luggage and add that to the price since that's exactly what shipping companies already do. Weighing people should be easy as well. Stand on a scale, scan your ticket, the system adds your weight to your ticket and that weight would show up on the final bill.

Personally, not a fan of charging more for bag weight. My stance is for the satisfaction of customers for the airline - not for the airline to charge more per miles.

 

[jacktesterson]

It has nothing to do with your shape, it has to do with how much it costs to fly you from one place to the other. It costs them more to fly you than it does for them to fly some 100 pound person. Yet you both get to pay the same price, the 100 pound person is basically subsidizing the cost of your ticket.


The point is to try and make it fair and everyone to pay a more correct share of their flight cost. That is if it is done correctly and not just to get the airlines more money.

Sounds all find and dandy for anyone unlike me.

I will never fly again on my money if this comes into place.

 

[sourn]

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.

How about publicly shaming retards.. Fuck that lets throw stones at them, and by them I would mean people like you. Idiots are what's fucking up this country not fat people.


As far as the op if a person takes up two seats, sure by all means charge them for it. Other wise it should already be factored in. This is just another way to nickel and dime people.

 

[Paul98]

Sounds all find and dandy for anyone unlike me.

I will never fly again on my money if this comes into place.

So you want other people to pay more so you can pay less?

 

[Gunslinger08]

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

Does any new fee ever work like this? Do you really think fares will go down for anyone?

 

[Paul98]

Does anyone know about how much fuel is used per pound on a normal flight?

 

[Paul98]

Does any new fee ever work like this? Do you really think fares will go down for anyone?

This is the problem I see, they give us a reasoning that could work out if done correctly. But usually the implementation is just to pad their bottom line.

 

[jacktesterson]

So you want other people to pay more so you can pay less?

Yes. I'm paying for a seat. I have no choice in my body structure no different than you. My father is 6'5 and 275 and has worked in a gym his whole life. At 19 I played Junior hockey at 255 lbs. I've never been lower than 245 pounds that I can remember, ever, and never want to be under 260 again as I'm better shape now than I was at 250. I don't need 2 seats. I'm in shape, I carry some muscle mass. I fly 3-4 times a year and have for years. I'm not getting weighed at an airport.


Pretty simple. I will fly with whoever doesn't do this. If they all do it, I'm done flying.

 

[Munky]

What they're doing is practical from a cost savings perspective. If you don't agree with their proposal based on some emotional reason and touchy-feely logic, then you're free to boycott their business. If such policy results in normal weight people paying less, I will certainly take advantage of the cost savings.

 

[Scooby Doo]

Knowing the airlines, the new "average" weight will be 100lbs.

 

[TechBoyJK]

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

Penalized? No, but they need to accept that providing service to them is more costly for the business, so the business has a right to adjust pricing to accommodate them.

Biz - Hey, we'll haul up to 1 ton of stuff for $1,000

Customer - ok, sign me up, here's $1,000

Biz - Um.. this is 2 tons of stuff. Price = $2,000

Reasonable.