Do you think airlines should charge passengers by the pound based on their weigh

1. 94

   Solarasposted 11 years ago

   Do you think airlines should charge passengers by the pound based on their weight?
   
   A Norwegian economist is suggesting that people be charged airline travel fees according to their weight, but is that weight discrimination, and is it fair to really tall people who can't adjust their size?  One airline already dos it.

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2. 88

   JayeWisdomposted 11 years ago

   No, I think the practice is discriminatory. Not everyone who is larger than whatever is considered the "norm" (and with the airlines, who decides what is normal height and weight?) is able to change his or her size. Height, of course, is not changeable, but some people gain weight due to medical problems, medication, inability to exercise because of disabilities and limited mobility, etc. Many things cause weight gain through no fault of the individual and are difficult, if not impossible, to change.
   
   I realize airlines have very high expenses, of which jet fuel is major, and the quest for market share of airline tickets sold at the highest rates possible drives their business. I've thought for years that if airlines made their coach/economy seats larger and gave travelers more leg room they would build a base of customers through loyalty that would increase their fares sold--not that anyone from the airline industry asked me!
   
   Discrimination against people who don't fit into a particular short, skinny "mold" decided on by an airline is not good customer service, and we all know that people who aren't forced by circumstances to put up with it...won't. It seems like a good way to lose customers. By the way, which airline does it? (I'm just curious, as I rarely make use of air travel since I retired.)

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   1. 94

      Solarasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like your idea that they improve their product, i.e larger economy seats, to build a loyal client base.  It was not a US airline that was charging based on weight.  It might have been Somali Airlines.

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3. 72

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Oh that would be interesting! But I think they should make an exception for individuals who are overweight due to medical conditions... There would be a couple of problems with that. And guys might believe the pricing would be biased.

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4. 0

   lisasuniquevoiceposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Solaras,
   I bet that this would help more people lose weight. They might think it's bad when they first have to pay extra, but I believe it would stop them from their bad habits.
   Lisa

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   1. 94

      Solarasposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe the NBA player would disagree lol

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