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AirAsiaX mulls charging passengers by weight
Based on heated previous discussions here at Gadling, we know that the idea of charging passengers by their weight is a very touchy subject. In addition to the questionable legality of the concept, many are uncomfortable with the fact that one passenger may have to spend significantly more than the next -- only to occupy the same seat on an aircraft.For a while it was almost a joke -- people knew that no American company would dare try something so bold at the risk of alienating the majority of their passenger base. Even Philadelphia Media Holdings ran a full page ad for a fake airline called "Derrie-air" to tease people and collect some marketing data on what the reaction would be.
Our new perspective on oil and the economy, however, is turning some of those chuckles into awkward inquisitions. Could someone really get away with charging a passenger by his or her weight?
AirAsiaX is starting to think so. Darren Wright, operating manager of the airline, recently told Travel Today that such extreme measures might be a possibility given the current state of the market. Stating that weighing each passenger could help balance cargo and overall aircraft balance, Mr Wright suggested that the measure "could help Aussies lose weight."
No word on whether the airline is seriously considering the changes or whether Wright was just speaking candidly, but if something like this were to go into effect, it would surely rock the industry in which we now fly.
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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 18)
JFL Aug 5th 2008 6:08PM
The airline have themselves to blame for their problems, for years they charged business travelers full price while discounting casual travels below actual cost of flying. Charging as if you were cargo by weight is telling the fliers exactly what the airline board of directors think about their customers.
As for the oversized fliers, the airlines already have rules concerning them. For the safety of the passengers oversized customers are suppose to buy 2 seats. Of course the airlines don't enforce those rules because it's "bad for business"
Michael gifford Aug 5th 2008 3:16PM
there are clearly two sides to this topic...the first is the right of people to not be discriminated against. in the U.S. this is a fundamental right and should be. on the other side is personal responsibility...the epidemic of obesity and its self justification for not taking personal responsibility for it (among those for whom it is not a genetic issue.). this obesity has impact on the world the obese participate in. Yes, they add to the survival of places like McDonalds' and give jobs to many, however, they also are more illness prone. this affects both the work environment and the healthcare system, which affects ALL of us...so no Virginia, they don't need the super size fries and shake to live, they may well need something that adds to the health of their body and not detracts...this is the same for smokers, alcoholics etc....if they ONLY affected themselves, I have no problem with it, smoke, drink, eat away...knock your socks off...except when it intrudes into my world...then you've made your self indulgence, my problem...and that's where my compassion ends and my own self interest...comes in.
Harold Aug 5th 2008 3:17PM
It's not about seats. It's about weight. (and yes, I do agree that the seats are too small & too close together) If FedEx carries 2 packages each of identicle size, but one weighs 2 lbs and the other weighs 30 lbs, the heavier package will cost more to ship. This is because heavier packages are more difficult to handle. They also cause more wear and tear on equipment such as conveyor belts and sorter machines. Heavier packages cause more wear and tear on a vehicles suspension, necessatating more expensive maintanance. The same is true for a plane, (yes, planes do have suspension systems!) but they have one more issue to look at. All planes, by federal law have a Maximum Gross weight rule they must abide by. A plane cannot get off the ground if it is overloaded. And if it does get off the ground the chance of a misshap is all the greater. So yes. I see the wisdom in charging by weight. The other issue that was brought up earlier about the small person is also valid. Each person should pay for their own weight and not subsidize, or be subsidized by anyone else.
Jenn1214 Aug 5th 2008 3:18PM
I am by no means "skinny", but I do fit into a standard airplane seat without encroaching on anyone else. Yes, it would be humiliating for an obese person to have to pay for two seats, but honestly, I paid a good chunk of change for a whole seat, and if a very large person is taking up half of it, I want half my money back. I am 5'4" and used to weigh 227 pounds, so I understand what it's like from an obese person's point of view. I just think we should get what we pay for, even if someone's feelings might be hurt sometimes.
Lulu Aug 5th 2008 3:18PM
Several years ago, I was on a packed flight from New York to Denver. I had an aisle seat, the seat in the middle was vacant (they were still boarding), and another lady was in the window seat. I looked up to see a flight attendant with a hugely obese woman next to me. I was asked to move to the middle seat (regardless of the fact that I ALWAYS book the aisle seat and that was the seat on my boarding pass). The arm rest was raised so this gargantuan woman could sit down. Half of her upper body was mashed over my left side and arm...I was practically sitting on just one hip, and the other passenger by the window was squashed into the side of the plane. When a snack was served, the woman was so obese THAT SHE COULDN'T EVEN LOWER THE TRAY in front of her. When we arrived in Denver, I fell getting out of the aisle because my left hip and leg (that she had been squashing) had gone to sleep, and I had to wait to get the blood flowing again before I could walk. IF YOU CANNOT FIT INTO A SEAT AND HAVE TO SPILL OVER INTO THE ONE NEXT TO IT, THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BUY 2 SEATS. NOT TO DO SO DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THE PERSON WHO PAID FULL FARE FOR A SEAT, BUT HAS TO END UP TURNING THEIR BODY SIDEWAYS (SITTING ON JUST ONE HIP) FOR OVER AN HOUR.
Shana Aug 5th 2008 3:20PM
It wouldn't be fair because everyone's bone structure is different. Just as on guy listed above that he is 5'10" and 160, my brother is 5'10" and weighs 145. Neither is over-weight, just my brothers structure is more petite. Bones are heavy and obviously my brothers bones are smaller. On the flip side, my Dad is 5'10 and weighs 190, yes 190 and is NOT over-weight. He is a solid build man with big bones and in great shape. So, all three of these men are the same height and there is a 45 pound swing between the three. Also, people that are muscular, muscles weigh more than fat. So, how this targets an array of people with different builds, not just over-weight. I am the same height as my best friend and we wear the same size pants, however, I weigh 30 more pounds because my build is more solid. I have more muscle, a bigger chest and bigger bones. Now, why should I pay more than my friend who's butt is as wide as mine? I can't help my build makes me weigh more in pounds.
Ryan Aug 5th 2008 3:38PM
I think you are missing the point of this additional cost. It is not to punish those who are fat. It is simply a weight issue as the more you weigh, the more it costs for the airline to accomodate you. The more fuel it needs to fly, etc. So, if you weight 250 lbs, whether it be fat, muscle, large but, large stomach, or whatever else, it just simply costs more for the airline to fly you.
Shana Aug 5th 2008 3:56PM
Hi Ryan,
I appreciate your email and I understand that point. So, my reply is, it all equals out..The one's that are 5'2" and weigh 95 pounds as my mother does or people like my daughter that's 5'6" and weigh 110 make up for my 10 pounds of extra weight. If it didn't all equal out in the end, we'd have had problems already with weight on a plane. I've never seen a commercial plane crash due to the weight of a passenger being a problem. Have you? So, if it's been sufficient all of these years, why isn't it now. And for the record, I have no problem fitting in a seat. So, I don't think it's unfair due to my size because that's not an issue. I think it's crazy because there are too many variables. Plus, if planes aren't going down due to it, is it a real problem? I don't think so. We need to worry more about the pilots, mechanics and air traffic control, and making sure they are doing their jobs correctly. I worry about that more than the size of whom is sitting beside me.
Shana Aug 5th 2008 4:00PM
Hi Ryan,
I appreciate your email and I understand that point. So, my reply
is, it all equals out..The one's that are 5'2" and weigh 95 pounds as
my mother does or people like my daughter that's 5'6" and weigh 110
make up for my 10 pounds of extra weight. If it didn't all equal out
in the end, we'd have had problems already with weight on a plane.
I've never seen a commercial plane crash due to the weight of a
passenger being a problem. Have you? So, if it's been sufficient
all of these years, why isn't it now. And for the record, I have no
problem fitting in a seat. So, I don't think it's unfair due to my
size because that's not an issue. I think it's crazy because there
are too many variables. Plus, if planes aren't going down due to it,
is it a real problem? I don't think so. We need to worry more about
the pilots, mechanics and air traffic control, and making sure they
are doing their jobs correctly. I worry about that more than the
size of whom is sitting beside me. Otherwise, how many decades have we not had to weigh people as they get on? On the flip side, how many crashes have been due to pilot error or mechanical malfunction?
BLF Aug 5th 2008 3:21PM
Why not charge the "oversized" individuals?. While accummulating almost 750,000 frequent flyer miles during my career, I had numerous opportunities to be "squeezed" by large people sitting next to me during flights. It's bad enough having to put up with the gum "popping", bad body odor, smelly perfume, constant talking, coughing, etc. from some individuals. But sitting next to someone who is big enough to take up (2) seats is absolutely intolerable.
mary collins finn Aug 5th 2008 3:23PM
Being 5:4 and 110 lbs I'd really win out if they charged by wait. But as someone who just got off a flight where I was stuck next to a huge woman who had to have an extension for her seat belt to close and who overlapped into my seat so much that I couldn't put down the arm rest between us. What was really annoying was her daughter was sitting across the aisle. No way she was going to sit next to her mother! They kept talking across me and passing food back and forth without even an "excuse me". This is not my first experience.
I'd be happy if the airlines would simply make people who cannot fit in one seat pay double fare. Better still, weigh the person and the luggage and have a cut off.
Cheryl Aug 5th 2008 3:38PM
I really don't think that the Aussie will like it either...they have the same issues as we do in the US and I would bet anything that the Aussie's court's wouldn't call it foul and boot it as well. As for me, I am about normal for a 61 year old woman and not to over weight, but I would boycott any airlines that pulled this kind of nonsense. Even if it meant I had to drive across country to visit my son's family instead of flying. It would be worth it to sunb an airline's who is so cruel to it's passengers.
JT Aug 5th 2008 3:26PM
Many of you people have complained about an obese person spilling over onto your seat, and favored charging larger people higher fares. I don't see how a higher fare for a larger person corrects the personal spillover problem. Is it worth having a very large person take up half of your seat if you know s/he was charged an additional amount to board the plane? The large person is still taking up part of your space on the plane. Unless you agree that a lower fare for a smaller person entitles you to a fraction of a seat . . .
tekkii Aug 5th 2008 3:30PM
They shouild have an Airline for jumbo people and they all ride on a jumbo jet and it will be called Jumbo airlines !
mchllclrk2 Aug 5th 2008 3:32PM
I have traveled 50K miles a year for 10 years. I am 5'5" and 120#. They do not allow me to smoke on planes. I understand that. But, why do they allow overweight people to use half my seat? Why do the airlines allow travelers to carry on 50# of luggage? Why do I have to wait to disembark a plane because of travelers trying to pull out the 50# carry on bags stored in the overhead compartments? Come on, be fair. If a passenger takes up 2 seats, they pay for 2 seats. If a passenger carries on 50# of luggage, they should be charged for it. A microwave is not carry on luggage. A laptop computer is. My carry on luggage (lap top, jacket, books, etc.,) ends up shoved back, while the other people who should have checked their bags get priority. Let's go after them as well.
outraged Aug 5th 2008 3:34PM
1. Men tend to be larger than women and this would unfairly affect men.
2. I am short and have had my air space invaded upon by people who are taller with longer legs as they don't fit in the seats and spill into my seating area. So shouldn't these people be charged more for spilling into the next seat area as well?
3. How about dirty Europeans that don't bathe for a week at a time? Being thin doesn't automatically mean a person smells good! Oh and let's not forget the excessive perfume, cologne, smoke or alcohol breath.
4. How about the people who want to join the mile high club? They leave the bathrooms smelling like crotch and then smell the rest of the trip from the bodily fluid dumpage on them.
5. What about kids who kick the seat, cry and act up? Is anyone charging them more for invading the air space? Hey now there's an idea, fat people breathe more of the air in the plane, why don't you charge by breaths per minute?
6. Who is going to charge for extra trips to the rest rooms? People invade my space by climbing over me to get to the bathroom.
Come on people!!!!
Angiebaby Aug 5th 2008 3:35PM
Another good reason why I don't fly... I couldn't afford a ticket for me, plus one for my big ass!
Michael gifford Aug 5th 2008 3:34PM
at what point is a person responsible for their extra physical weight?? it's simple to blame the airlines for having "small" seats; it's simple to blame a "medical condition" when it isn't in most cases; it's simple to cry "selfishness" about smaller people when it's equally "selfish" to foist one's obese body into anothers airspace; it's all too simple to not take responsibility for one physical condition and the habits that generate it, and the habits that don't. Ultimately, for me it comes down to this...I don't care what your size is as long as it doesn't intrude into my space. If your body, extends past the plane of the seat arm into the plane of the box of my seat (extended vertically) then it's a problem and YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT...SO GROW UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. other than that...eat all you want, what you want, when you want...and if you want to eat yourself into a state of ill health and disease, then it's your right...
raidermike Aug 5th 2008 3:34PM
if fast ass people cant stop eating make them pay for the plane ride.
tekkii Aug 5th 2008 3:36PM
#64,,WTF ?