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Heavier people should pay more to fly

theage.com.au

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Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#41

Post by tmh88j »

51Cards wrote: post #10

The article seems to miss one key point that would make implementing this much more complex. While we have some control over our BMI (weight to height ratio) we don't have control over our height. I have two friends who are 5' tall and 6'5" tall. The 6'5" male, while still being quite fit, comes in at a solid 210-220 easy I'd guess, which would (under a 'weight only' policy) incur a surcharge for him. The 5'0" female…

I don't think this is supposed to be viewed as a "fat people policy." If the airlines were to implement this they wouldn't do it to punish obese people. It's not like they're going to calculate your BMI. It would be purely on weight; whether you're 6'5" or 5'6".

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#42

Post by pwthornton »

lutorm wrote: post #39
pwthornton wrote: post #4

While the idea may make sense on paper, would this really save money? To do this, airlines would have to weigh passengers before they fly and then charge them a surcharge based on what they weigh (say that everything up to 120 there is a flat fee and then you pay for every pound over). Think about how much man power that would take. It would greatly slow down flying even more, unless of course airports got much bigge…

They already weigh your bags when you check them. Just step up on the scale along with your bags. It doesn't really have to be more complicated.

Many of us who fly don't check luggage. In fact, I'd be willing to be that the majority of people on shorter domestic flights don't check luggage. All of the sudden an airline would need a lot more staff to weigh people because everyone would now be getting in line to be weighed.

Currently, I print my ticket at home, never go the ticket counter and don't check luggage and have nothing weigh for most of my flights. The idea of weighing me with my bags would require me to start checking luggage.

It is complicated when you think about it. Airlines are trying to get more and more passengers to skip the ticket counter, print their own boarding passes and to not check luggage. That all saves money and time by requiring less staff and even less ticket printers. This proposal to weigh every passenger does not save time or staff resources.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#43

Post by justanotherbody »

DLarsen wrote: post #23

Ever wonder why your bag mysteriously didn't arrive your destination? Could be too many overweight people on board. It's cheaper to "forget" some baggage than to ask passengers to stay behind.

So you're suggesting that airlines route baggage differently because the marginal increase in passengers' weight is pushing the airplane load past the factor of safety the FAA requires?

In some cases I'm sure that's been the case. In general planes are more limited on volume than lift, as most people don't travel with particularly heavy luggage.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#44

Post by mc32 »

pwthornton wrote: post #42
lutorm wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They already weigh your bags when you check them. Just step up on the scale along with your bags. It doesn't really have to be more complicated.

Many of us who fly don't check luggage. In fact, I'd be willing to be that the majority of people on shorter domestic flights don't check luggage. All of the sudden an airline would need a lot more staff to weigh people because everyone would now be getting in line to be weighed. Currently, I print my ticket at home, never go the ticket counter and don't check luggage and have nothing weigh for most of my flights. Th…

I think they could simplify it.

Everyone who pays for fare gets: 200lb‡ allotment (person + luggage)

If person only (no luggage) they are assumed to come under the 200lb limit, even if they don't -as this will average out with others weighing less.

People with luggage are weighed and any overage is paid for at the counter.

‡ 200 assumes that men might weigh on ave 180-ish, women 150-ish. Here's where women make back what they pay in haircuts.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#45

Post by johngalt »

The example given in the article destroys any credibility this argument has. If you take a 500+ seat plane and increase every passengers weight by 20% it only costs an additional $472 for a trip from Sydney-Singapore-London. That's less than $1 per seat difference. What is the cost of tracking and weighing every passenger? Hard to see how there could be any gain from this.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#46

Post by tomp »

pwthornton wrote: post #35
tomp wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you bring food to airplanes in the USA? I don't think that's allowed in most of Europe any more...

Yes, you can bring food and drinks onto planes. There may be limits to what you can bring before security, but anything after the security line is fair game.

After security, of course. As long as they earn money on you buying expensive unhealthy food...

But they don't like you bringing food through security, AFAIK. Drinks are completely forbidden, even plain water, except for infants.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#47

Post by sushantsharma »

tomp wrote: post #46
pwthornton wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, you can bring food and drinks onto planes. There may be limits to what you can bring before security, but anything after the security line is fair game.

After security, of course. As long as they earn money on you buying expensive unhealthy food... But they don't like you bringing food through security, AFAIK. Drinks are completely forbidden, even plain water, except for infants.

Not true. I have taken food several times through security. I am talking about US airports. Drinks, however, are not allowed.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#48

Post by drcube »

No mention in the article about people who overflow their seats. I personally don't care whether the person beside me is 6'7" and 220lbs. But I do care if they're 5'0', 220lbs and half of their body is on my lap. Prices should rise with average customer weight for everyone across the board to make up for fuel costs, but when someone takes up two seats, they should pay extra for it.

But of course, I think seat sizes should increase with average customer width too, but we're still flying in planes that were manufactured in the skinny 70s. Increasing seat size would ensure that only the most ginormous would have to pay for an extra seat, rather than the 60% of the population that is overweight.

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#49

Post by 13rules »

Drbble wrote: post #19
13rules wrote: post #12

I'm 6'5", 275lbs. Fine, charge me more. But you better give me a seat that is reasonable for my body size. The width and leg room of coach seats today is completely absurd! Part of the problem is that there is too big of a gap between coach and first. It's like having to choose between a Smart Car and an Escalade, when really all I need is a mid-priced sedan.

I paid $60 for extra leg room recently. It's a common option.

On some airlines, but the majority don't have them. I always try to get exit row, but even then the seat width is pretty small. If you're 5'2" I'm sure it's great! :)

Re: Heavier people should pay more to fly

#50

Post by kaybe »

tomp wrote: post #46
pwthornton wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, you can bring food and drinks onto planes. There may be limits to what you can bring before security, but anything after the security line is fair game.

After security, of course. As long as they earn money on you buying expensive unhealthy food... But they don't like you bringing food through security, AFAIK. Drinks are completely forbidden, even plain water, except for infants.

Just bring an empty bottle and refill it at a tap behind security.
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