Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
#1
Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
A former Qantas economist believes that overweight passengers should have to pay more to fly citing that they cost more in fuel to lift into the air. What do you reckon?
It seems harsh and degrading for passengers - especially as it would put a large swathe of Queensland under virtual house arrest.
It seems harsh and degrading for passengers - especially as it would put a large swathe of Queensland under virtual house arrest.
#2
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
If I have to pay a fat tax I expect a seat wide enough for my fat arse to sit in comfortably.
#3
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
Unadministerable.
(not sure if that is a real word)
(not sure if that is a real word)
#4
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
A former Qantas economist believes that overweight passengers should have to pay more to fly citing that they cost more in fuel to lift into the air. What do you reckon?
It seems harsh and degrading for passengers - especially as it would put a large swathe of Queensland under virtual house arrest.
It seems harsh and degrading for passengers - especially as it would put a large swathe of Queensland under virtual house arrest.
That said, I wouldn't fly Qantas anyway.
#8
...giving optimism a go?!
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Brisbane (leafy, hilly western suburbs)
Posts: 2,202
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
I'd be very happy for flights pricing to be on a per kg basis.
Why should my wife be limited to 20Kg of baggage (and thus a total weight of 75Kg) when I'm entitled to carry 110Kg of total weight?
It makes absolute sense to me.
(Of course the relationship between cost and weight isnt quite linear - small people use just as much of a staffing overhead as large people, and use the same amount of airport facilities too - so perhaps there should be a VERY low ticket cost to cover these 'overheads' and then a per kg cost thereafter?)
Why should my wife be limited to 20Kg of baggage (and thus a total weight of 75Kg) when I'm entitled to carry 110Kg of total weight?
It makes absolute sense to me.
(Of course the relationship between cost and weight isnt quite linear - small people use just as much of a staffing overhead as large people, and use the same amount of airport facilities too - so perhaps there should be a VERY low ticket cost to cover these 'overheads' and then a per kg cost thereafter?)
#9
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
It would be a massive demand killer surely? Who would risk the embarassment of paying extra for a few pounds. Also where would it end? Logically all types of public transport could start charging more for the per pound/fuel ratio.
The seats on Jet Star are tight for an anorexic so it seems like there already doing their job to keep the bigger Aussies off yet in the name of profit.
The seats on Jet Star are tight for an anorexic so it seems like there already doing their job to keep the bigger Aussies off yet in the name of profit.
Last edited by Turban Explorer; Jan 11th 2012 at 12:15 pm.
#10
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
I'd also want a seatbelt that could be loosened enough so that it really could be left loosely fastened
#11
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle
Posts: 7,344
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
#14
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
A former Qantas economist believes that overweight passengers should have to pay more to fly citing that they cost more in fuel to lift into the air. What do you reckon?
It seems harsh and degrading for passengers - especially as it would put a large swathe of Queensland under virtual house arrest.
It seems harsh and degrading for passengers - especially as it would put a large swathe of Queensland under virtual house arrest.
Theoretically, sure. Logistically, a nightmare. Imagine it...check in is long enough. Then you'd have people weighing in, taking off their shoes, jewellery, jackets and all before getting on the scale. Then you'd have groups of people travelling together arguing that well, since Joe's 10kg under the weight limit, Mary can have his 10kg because she's so fat along with 5kg from each of the kids. Then you'll have the ones that argue that they brought less luggage to compensate for total weight. Yeah, that'll speed things along...
#15
Re: Should overweight passengers pay 'fat tax' on flights?
Forget that, I want an extra supplement for screaming kids.