Fair to be paying for an overweight passenger?

[BacchusMarsh]

Funny how every opposing view has resorted to extreme responses like this instead of having a intelligent discussion...

Funny how every opposing view has resorted to extreme responses like this instead of having a intelligent discussion...

If I don't want someone with your particular set of debating skills to sit in an exit row for fear of an hour-long discussion as to "are they flames", would I have recourse? Can we start applying an IQ filter?

I'm guessing perhaps not.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Omg....it has nothing to do with fitness, it has to do with passing on the cost of operation.

I assume your post ( #14 ) is the basis of your argument. Obese people should pay more or receive less baggage allowance based on total weight.

Your closing comments implying that obese people can just change themselves is at best, a very weak point.

You have made a lot of this discussion about personal weight. So yes it does have something to do with fitness. You now cannot claim that it does not.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Some posts have been removed.

Some quotes have been repaired.

Some members are getting close to infractions.

Some moderators may not be as lenient as me.
[/mod hat]

 

[foggy]

bean makes good points for a new form of air travel business model. Pay by KG as though you are posting a parcel. I don't see what's wrong with that, there would be a customer base for it, me included if I didn't redeem all my flights.

 

[JohnK]

Is it possible to pool weight?

I'll take my wife's 20kg for now and when my daughter turns 2 I can take 25kgs from her and then we'll be fine.

But as my daughter is way under standard weight can we get a discount?

 

[eric2011]

Ho Hum its morning already, is this still going

 

[drron]

Omg....it has nothing to do with fitness, it has to do with passing on the cost of operation.

OMG indeed.Fit people are usually at their ideal weight.That is normal for them.So you are discriminating on the basis of something the person has no control over and at a weight that is medically advisable for them.

Then there is the unfortunate fact that our Human rights commission has deemed it illegal to discriminate on the basis of weight.So your suggestion is almost certain to cost the airlines plenty.
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/quick-guide/12069

[h=1]Obesity[/h] Obesity can be covered by the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act.
The law defines a ‘loss of functioning of a person's body or part of the body’ as a disability. Therefore, a person whose weight impairs his or her functioning would be covered.
It is against the law to discriminate against a person because of their disability. There are some limited exceptions and exemptions.
It is not unlawful discrimination to discriminate against an employee on the basis of their disability if the person cannot perform the inherent requirements of a job after reasonable adjustments have been made

Your argument has officially been shot down.

 

[turtlemichael]

Some people have TMTOTH.

 

[Denali]

I think more people would buy a comfort seat if airlines made it easier, not having to phone the desk but just book online and ensure the 2 seats remain together as part of the booking.

I think OPs main problem is hes stuck in Y, coughing about people taking his space. In the meantime, I'll continue to place my fat butt in my J seat and he can keep walking to the back of the bus, whining no doubt.

 

[Melburnian1]

It's an interesting discussion but Oz is unlikely to adopt the model one Pacific Islands airline did.

I had thought the standard weight per passenger airlines calculated was about 70 kilograms not 81. Many months ago one of our aviators 'weighed in' (excuse the poor pun) on the discussion and suggested a figure but AFF is difficult to search unless one can remember the exact phrases used. From memory the aviator commented that the standard weight had or would be at least slightly revised.

 

[Quickstatus]

No airline makes it easy to buy two seats for 1 pax and then ensure the 2 adjacent seats remain together.

 

[Vic]

skipping to the end Pick up on two things from the OP:

ICAO average weight for load and balance purposes

Pasing on the cost of operation

Ok, so that average weight is for load and balance - NOT cost or fare
The cost of operation is already passed on using an average wieght of 81 kg or whatever number the OP mentioned.

Having to devote extra employee resources into individually wieghting each pax, and their jacket full of clean skins will undoubtedly add significant operational cost such that the 87 cents the OP might save for being 3 kg lighter will still be charged to pay someone to weight them and record that number in the new software system. In fact the OP might have to pay an extra $2.56 for the privilege of being wieghted

 

[Deleted member]

Just more weight ( no pun intended) being added to the maim that one size does in fact NOT fit all

 

[ermen]

Lol I don't know why people are getting worked up over this whole "charging by weight" concept.

Intellectually, it is a solid concept and a very pure argument. Indeed, at the very extreme, one should charge on the toilets used, call buttons pressed etc etc as some have alluded to - and it is not economically wrong. Indeed, it is actually the most economically efficient thing to do - but it won't make for a very fun experience (and arguably does attract from the "utils" enjoyed by purchasing that service).

Also, it offends our sense of "fairness" (however that is defined.. and besides is there the concept of "fairness" in economics?), and obviously we do not go to those extremes. And in society, we do tolerate subsidies as it just creates a better place for everyone.

 

[Vic]

Not sure about charging for toilet use. Why should the users subsidise the cost of carrying the water required to have the service available for people who don't end up using it.

but that might create a use for 5 cent pieces...

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Lol I don't know why people are getting worked up over this whole "charging by weight" concept.

Intellectually, it is a solid concept and a very pure argument.

A physicist, an engineer, and an economist are stranded in the desert. They are hungry and find a can of beans. They want to open it, but how?
The physicist says, let’s start a fire and place the can inside the flames. It will explode and then we will all be able to eat.
Are you crazy says the engineer. The can will explode; all the beans will scatter, and we will have nothing. We should use a metal rod, attach it to a base, push it in and crack the can open.
You are wrong too, says the economist. Where the hell do we find a rod in the desert? The solution is simple: Assume we have a can opener…..

The Fallacies of Pure Thinking – Dr. Ichak Adizes

 

[NoName]

Basically this idea is ridiculous as it would be almost impossible to impiment. However, to humour the OP can we have some more details of how you see it working? Specifically around when the weigh in would occur - before or after gorging yourself on a 3 course meal and half a dozen champagnes in the F-lounge?

 

[moa999]

But as my daughter is way under standard weight can we get a discount?

Maybe $1 or $2.
But she could really only get a discount if willing to sit in a smaller seat, and the airlines were willing to fit smaller seats (kids creche

The main constraint in an aircraft cabin is floor space. Whether you are 30kg or 100kg you occupy the same floorspace as far as the airline is concerned.

For cabin baggage and checked baggage the main constraint is cubic space. Weight is used as a simple proxy given not many of us travel with feathers or gold bars.

 

[juddles]

...I had thought the standard weight per passenger airlines calculated was about 70 kilograms not 81.......

me too. Anyone have an authoritive (ie not figure plucked from their backsides) true figure for this?

In any case, this concept of weight charging is certainly not new, but also anyone with just a touch of commonsense or real-world experience would know that it has no chance. But it is great for a laugh and some entertaining debate - just BYO popcorn

 

[theblank]

The main constraint in an aircraft cabin is floor space. Whether you are 30kg or 100kg you occupy the same floorspace as far as the airline is concerned.

but what about the fat lady in the seat next to me. She occupied a fair chunk of my space!