Basing Airfare On Passenger's Weight [Weigh-in at the ticket counter]

WTVW ^ | 6/4/08

[mngran2]

Basing Airfare On Passenger's Weight Possible Given Surging Fuel Costs

Setting passenger airfares the same way air freight charges are calculated -- by weight -- may not be so far-fetched as the airline industry grapples with surging fuel costs.

Bloomberg.com reports an Air Transport Association official says airline CEOs are considering everything in efforts to cut costs and increase revenue.

That's because airline fuel costs have nearly tripled since 2000. U.S. airlines had combined first-quarter losses of one-point-seven-billion-dollars and could end up with losses totalling six-point-one-billion-dollars in 2008.

[chilepepper]

!

[Ramius]

If anybody thinks that they’ll get women to step on a scale at the airport, they’re dreaming.

[spanalot]

That will appeal to the female market segment - getting weighed during the most stressful environment in modern history - at the end of a checkin line at the airport.

“What do you mean I weigh 121 lbs!! That scale is BROKEN!”

[tmbrrr]

Not to mention that I will immediately sue under the Americans With Disabilities Act. See how much they save after all the legal costs!

[pgkdan]

The argument can be that the calorically challeged might need help with healthcare and such, so after the tax is collected it can be spent on gay parades and art centers.

Calorically challenged, lol...yep that's me.

[pgkdan]

The argument can be that the calorically challeged might need help with healthcare and such, so after the tax is collected it can be spent on gay parades and art centers.

Calorically challenged, lol...yep that's me.

[Hyzenthlay]

Trains are nice... they’re cheaper, train stations have more and better locations with less security, they’ve got more space, no assigned seating, etc. The only catch is, if you have problems with motion sickness, they’re worse than cars, and far, far worse than airplanes.

[Plutarch]

Not so fast there, airlines. those most likely to be obese are Democrat constituents. And it is the fault of Why'd he that it is so, because the grocery stores in these democrat constituent neighborhoods are devoid of the nutritious fruits and vegetables for which they clamor.

[StayAt HomeMother]

This makes perfect sense to me.

UPS and FedEx tend to treat my packages better than the airlines treat my luggage. Why not use the UPS/FedEx model and charge per pound per mile (you and everything you wear or carry), with a minimum price per package (passenger)?

Charge more for extra services, such as an “oversized box” for wide or tall people.

Raise the price per pound per mile as needed to make a profit; lower the price as needed to stay competitive.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The problem was that the guy actually needed two-and-a-half seats.

I recently dealt with this situation on a Southwest flight. Some unfortunate big guy came in late and got the center seat in the last row, with me on the aisle. The gentleman was big enough to push me about halfway into the aisle, pinned against the arm-rest. It was literally not possible to sit upright. Since we were in the last row, beverage service and then the line for the restroom meant no escape for the duration. Incredibly uncomfortable for me and, I'm sure, the big dude, who not only had to endure the physical discomfort but spent so much time apologizing that I and everyone in range spent time trying to reassure him.

This was an extreme case, but the width of airline seats lost any connection with the width of American flyers quite a while ago. Americans in 2008 are big people but airline seats are built for Americans in 1958.

[posterchild]

True and they effectively already do for those needing 2 seats or having extra baggage. It just seems to me to be an over complication of what they do already.

This issue reminds me of a friends child who mentioned to his 2nd grade teacher what he was having for dinner. The teacher jokingly asked if she could ride home with him and come for dinner. He serious reply was ‘Oh no, you’re way to fat to fit in our car.’

[wideawake]

You've gotta wonder how airlines in other countries have managed to stay afloat.

Many haven't. The ones that have are taxpayer-subsidized.

[Cobra64]

"Excuse me... I'm in seat 7-B"

[wideawake]

Hmmm. Not good for me. I'm not fat - but I'm 6'2", 220.

My wife cannot weigh much more than half of what I do, maybe not even half.

Can we take an average?

[oh8eleven]

This is the way to do it (that's me on the left) ...

[Alberta's Child]

I can assure you that this will never happen.

For one thing, it would be a logistical pain in the @ss in terms of: (1) the reservation process (is the fare based on the passenger's weight at reservation time, or at boarding time), (2) airport operations (as if any airline is going to implement a weigh-in process that actually works efficiently), and (3) the legal process that would bankrupt any airline that tried to do such a thing (Do pregnant women have to pay more? Do people with wheelchairs have to pay more?).

[CatherinePPP]

I guess it makes sense, but I can’t say I’d fly on the airline that tried out this policy. I’m a reasonable size and am comfortable sitting in the airplane seats, so I’d probably even get charged less this way, but still I’m not as young or thin as I once was and I don’t want to be publicly weighed by airline workers, thank you! Those people are rude enough as it is without discussing my weight with me. :P

[Kozak]

Knowing the way the airlines work, it will be an archane, “dynamic” pricing voodoo that will be impenetrable to the average person and always jack their fare up, never down.

One other thing, currently they bump based on “fare codes” with cheap seats getting bumped for more expensive ones. Want to bet they would start doing the same based on total $$$ ie the skinny woman gets left at the gate and the whale gets wedged onboard?

[TxAg1981]

The service sucks, the help is hostile...

Fly Southwest Airlines!

Service has always been great for me and the staff has always been more than helpful. Plus, the LOVE our service men and women. For short haul or coast-to-coast their service and prices are hard to beat.

[glide625]

When I used to fly domestic, I would only fly Southwest; you’re correct, they are very good. At these prices, I doubt they’ll be in business much longer.