I didn't see a post on this yet so I apologize if it's already being discussed.
Imagine having to get on a scale to pay your fair share to fly? I might not mind in 50lbs but I sure would have 123lbs ago! Actually 123lbs ago I wouldn't get on a plane as I was too embarrassed.
I wonder how this is going to go over. Do we line up like a pile of cattle to get weighed in?
This will never, ever happen in the US. It punishes people who are muscular, tall, male, and just...well, can you imagine the lines and waiting times if every passenger had to get weighed too?
Now there is incentive to lose weight! Being able to save money for being thinner!
Probably in the US someone would say they are being unfairly treated .
Unfortunately it would not be PC ,and being PC to some is paramount!
This will never, ever happen in the US. It punishes people who are muscular, tall, male, and just...well, can you imagine the lines and waiting times if every passenger had to get weighed too?
What SouthWest does isn't far off from this, and I was shocked when they made that move.
But having said that, there is nothing unfair about what the Samoan airline is doing. In fact, it is perfectly fair. A passenger pays exactly in accordance with the amount it costs to transport him/her. So, I wouldn't say it "punishes" anybody. Why is it fair that passengers who weigh less should pay more than their fair share to fly and subsidize the cost for higher weight passengers?
Is it me, or did the author of this article seem to unfairly target females??? There are heavy dudes, typically they outweigh women.
This is random, but the average woman is 5'3"??? I'm a giant!
I don't think that was the aim of the article. I think the woman who wrote the article was just trying to use examples. By the end of the article it seems that she believes that the practice is unfair discrimination against overweight people.
This will never, ever happen in the US. It punishes people who are muscular, tall, male, and just...well, can you imagine the lines and waiting times if every passenger had to get weighed too?
Not to mention all the people passing out all over the place from trying to lose that last few pounds before their flight going in all starved and dehydrated. Then there's the issue of people getting on the flight and drinking their alcohol on an empty stomach and all the vomiting that would ensue.
Huh, I'm not sure how I feel about this, and of course, I have a few logistical questions. Do they take your word for it when you log in your weight to buy the ticket, or do you have to weigh in at the airport in front of everyone? I don't even weigh in front of my boyfriend!
But, the opportunity to fly on any of their routes for a set price is very appealing!
I did hear, Missy, that you have to weigh in at the airport to verify. Talk about anxiety!!
I get pulled out "randomly" by security every flipping single time I fly, sometimes both ways. So now I get anxious knowing it might be coming! And now you are going to weigh me too?!? OMG, I'll need some of those drinks on an empty stomach that Stephanie talked about!!
Last edited by elvislover324; 04-03-2013 at 06:18 PM.
I can understand the reasoning behind it, especially for a small Samoan service whose every dollar counts and they are willing to give bigger seats/areas for those people.
I'd be probably more annoyed should it ever be required at a large U.S. carrier as I know it would just be another excuse to tack on yet another fee. I doubt they'd automatically upgrade those over a certain weight to premium economy either.
I wonder, though, how they balance it with no matter how small/big (well, to a point) you are, you still take up the same seat as everyone else.
Actually the article said they gave more seat room to bigger people. So not sure but what it would be worth it to pay a bit more and not be shoved into a tiny seat. I'm tall and have actually had marks on my knees from the seats being so close together and those metal bars on the backs of seats leaving red marks. Here the only option is paying a massive fee for first class. I'd gladly pay a bit more to have a decent size space.
Paying by the pound to fly?
