A Touchy Subject

[WanderlustNZ]

The first airline has officially started charging 'fat fees' to fly with them. I'm shocked by how many people are in support of this move, and am curious what people here on the Dis think.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10875041

Let me start by saying that I am a tall, overweight gal. I obviously aren't keen to start paying lots more for my airfares as it'll mean I won't be able to travel as often. However, I get that thin people might feel irked that they are subsidising my flights, and I also get the annoyance of sitting next to someone who spills into your seat (which I don't by the way - unless I'm sitting next to my family, in which case spillage is fully acceptable).

So I guess, in principal, I can see how it might be fair to ask wider people to pay for wider seats, or heavier people to pay a small fuel surcharge if they are over a certain weight. But what irks me terribly is Samoa Air's charging structure of price-per-kilo. A 100kg person is paying the exact same fare as two 50kg people. However the two thinner people are getting twice the space on the plane. It's not like a small package is given the same amount of space on a cargo plane as a large package. Prices are calculated based on both weight AND Mass.
Also, it's not like 100% of a fare goes to paying fuel - it goes to other amenities such as staff wages, in-flight entertainment, customs charges etc. Heavier people will be paying more for these services than light people just because they are overweight, tall, pregnant and/or muscular. It makes no sense to me.

I'm also interested to find out how you would go about paying your airfares in advance. I don't think you could. Your airport experience would be made all the more enjoyable by first having to go through the fun of standing on scales, followed by the joy of handing over your credit card to pay your whole fare then and there. No earlybird sales on this plane. Just lot's of fasting and less consumption of fluids before the flight so I can try and save a few dollars.

Dear Samoa Air

- Give me more leg room by decreasing the legroom of the short person in front of me.
- Widen my seat by shrinking the seat width of the slim person next to me.
- Put me through a faster line at check-in and customs.
- Give me twice as many channels on my inflight TV and twice as much attention from inflight staff.

And then, and only then, will I understand why you are wanting to charge me twice the fare of the thin person next to me.

Yours sincerely,
wanderlustNZ

 

[battymum]

So are they still sitting in the same seat? How is that going to make it any more comfortable for anyone??

Costs are worked out on a per seat basis - so unless they are making the seats wider and therefor less of them -maybe sliding armrests and you pay by the cm ??

One thing that sort of irks me is children's fares - they take up a seat, have the same luggage allowance, special meals and often take a lot of the stewards attention - but don't pay full fare? My children on the other hand because they are over 12 - have to pay full fare!!

Yeah I definitely wouldn't want to sit next to someone that was encroaching on my space, and there should be rules about that!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

So are they still sitting in the same seat? How is that going to make it any more comfortable for anyone??

It's not. At the end of the day, I don't think this has got anything to do with fairness or obesity awareness. It's just a airline that knows they have quite a few heavy customers, and are looking for ways of making more money.
Can you imagine how this would work on an airline where a large percentage of customers are of smaller build (e.g. An airline in Asia)? The airline would go out of business.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The only way this is going to be fair is when they decide to charge you per cubic meter of oxygen you suck in.

I think I'll just BYO my tank.

 

[aussietravellers]

Well this would bring a whole new meaning to "losing weight for Disney" .

But seriously, paying per kg? I don't understand how that will work, nobody being able to prepurchase a ticket, then having to jump on the scales at the airport Um no thankyou! The only thing hopping on the scales at the airport when I travel is my suitcase (and even that is embarrassing sometimes , yes I am an over packer).

I know some airlines in the US already charge extra for "customers of size" as they call them. They do have to buy another ticket. But it's done at the airport (without the use of hopping on the scales in front of everyone) and I think is determined by wether there is trouble putting down the armrest or being over in the next seat.

But I do not see buying another full fare If that is the case, double the luggage allowance (thank you very much), another meal, two seats (or at least substantially wider). If not, then maybe a small subsidy for a larger seat.

 

[battymum]

It's not. At the end of the day, I don't think this has got anything to do with fairness or obesity awareness. It's just a airline that knows they have quite a few heavy customers, and are looking for ways of making more money.
Can you imagine how this would work on an airline where a large percentage of customers are of smaller build (e.g. An airline in Asia)? The airline would go out of business.

Your right it's not about anyone's comfort - it's money grabbing. I don't think anyone minds paying the same amount no matter their size. But unfortunately some people just don't fit in the space they are allocated. They should be made to pay for two seats.
Maybe there should be a test seat before you get on!

Oh and don't go taking my overhead locker space either!!!

 

[battymum]

Well this would bring a whole new meaning to "losing weight for Disney" .

But seriously, paying per kg? I don't understand how that will work, nobody being able to prepurchase a ticket, then having to jump on the scales at the airport Um no thankyou! The only thing hopping on the scales at the airport when I travel is my suitcase (and even that is embarrassing sometimes , yes I am an over packer).

I know some airlines in the US already charge extra for "customers of size" as they call them. They do have to buy another ticket. But it's done at the airport (without the use of hopping on the scales in front of everyone) and I think is determined by wether there is trouble putting down the armrest or being over in the next seat.

But I do not see buying another full fare If that is the case, double the luggage allowance (thank you very much), another meal, two seats (or at least substantially wider). If not, then maybe a small subsidy for a larger seat.

Small subsidy for a larger seat, that's what premium economy is, and it's usually more than the cost of two economy seats!

 

[Marlea98]

I wish we could go back to the days of combined baggage allowance/weight for your travelling party. It would save a lot of shuffling around of stuff in your suitcases at the counter after you've picked yourself up off the ground at the 'overweight baggage' fees.

I don't like having someone spilling over into my seat but I don't know if charging an overweight person extra is going to fix that problem for me. The airline may be making money but I'm not gaining my space back. In a way, really tall people are already being penalised by having to purchase exit rows for the leg room. I'd like a smell surcharge implemented, too. For those farty, unwashed or heavily perfumed folk who make me want to gag or sneeze or vomit. And make everyone brush their teeth before entering the plane, too please

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Well this would bring a whole new meaning to "losing weight for Disney" .

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Your right it's not about anyone's comfort - it's money grabbing. I don't think anyone minds paying the same amount no matter their size. But unfortunately some people just don't fit in the space they are allocated. They should be made to pay for two seats.
Maybe there should be a test seat before you get on!

Oh and don't go taking my overhead locker space either!!!

Airlines should covert a few 3 seat aisles into 2 seats. These seats would be 150% the size of a standard seat, and would be costed out at up to 1.5 x the standard fare.

I actually think that there are a lot of bigger people out there who feel just as uncomfortable on an airplane as the person sitting next to them. They would love a bigger seat, but the cost of business, premium economy or even two seats is a bitter pill to swallow (especially long-haul flights).

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I wish we could go back to the days of combined baggage allowance/weight for your travelling party. It would save a lot of shuffling around of stuff in your suitcases at the counter after you've picked yourself up off the ground at the 'overweight baggage' fees.

I don't like having someone spilling over into my seat but I don't know if charging an overweight person extra is going to fix that problem for me. The airline may be making money but I'm not gaining my space back. In a way, really tall people are already being penalised by having to purchase exit rows for the leg room. I'd like a smell surcharge implemented, too. For those farty, unwashed or heavily perfumed folk who make me want to gag or sneeze or vomit. And make everyone brush their teeth before entering the plane, too please

Ah, smelly passengers. Never a good thing.
I remember sitting next to a woman once who was not only smelly, but was sweating profusely, and coughing non-stop. She was clearly unwell and I spent the whole flight feeling terrified that I would catch something from her that would ruin my holiday. I would much preferred to have been sitting next to a non-sick overweight person.

Luckily my traveling party of 3 rarely have to sit next to strangers these days. Seating layouts are very favourable to groups of 3.

 

[Marlea98]

Airlines should covert a few 3 seat aisles into 2 seats. These seats would be 150% the size of a standard seat, and would be costed out at up to 1.5 x the standard fare.

I actually think that there are a lot of bigger people out there who feel just as uncomfortable on an airplane as the person sitting next to them. They would love a bigger seat, but the cost of business, premium economy or even two seats is a bitter pill to swallow (especially long-haul flights).

Good idea. And very true.

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[Marlea98]

Ah, smelly passengers. Never a good thing.
I remember sitting next to a woman once who was not only smelly, but was sweating profusely, and coughing non-stop. She was clearly unwell and I spent the whole flight feeling terrified that I would catch something from her that would ruin my holiday. I would much preferred to have been sitting next to a non-sick overweight person.

Luckily my traveling party of 3 rarely have to sit next to strangers these days. Seating layouts are very favourable to groups of 3.

We are a family of 4. I sit with the kids and DH with strangers.

Sick passengers make me nervous. I watched that Gwyneth Paltrow movie where she got sick and died and there was this sickness that spread all over the world. Matt Damon was in it and the woman from Titanic. I watched in the return flight from LA and people were coughing everywhere. Bad choice of movie

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[battymum]

Oh there is so many people I don't want to sit next to on a long haul flight.... Fat ones, smelly ones, sick ones, stinky ones, talky ones, then there are those that sit behind and kick the seat, those that sit in front and recline the whole time, those that have a smoke before boarding.........maybe I shouldn't be on the plane!!.

On our trip to the us, dd and I were sitting in the row of three, she had the window, I had the middle, then this really cute American guy took the aisle......WINNING!!! I thought dd might want to swap with me. Anyway I said hi, made a comment about the long flight - he said "it's better than the bus!" Then put his headphones on and started reading some sort of script. This was all before takeoff, I got the hint and didnt talk anymore!

But I wonder, if it came to a choice between paying $1800 or $1200 for SYD-LA, would they pay for a wider seat.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

We are a family of 4. I sit with the kids and DH with strangers.

Sick passengers make me nervous. I watched that Gwyneth Paltrow movie where she got sick and died and there was this sickness that spread all over the world. Matt Damon was in it and the woman from Titanic. I watched in the return flight from LA and people were coughing everywhere. Bad choice of movie

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I've seen that movie and also can't remember what it is called (Contagious or something like that). I can see how it might of freaked you out. Germs seem to travel really fast on a plane.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

But I wonder, if it came to a choice between paying $1800 or $1200 for SYD-LA, would they pay for a wider seat.

I think there's a lot of people who would be tempted, including people who fit within a regular sized seat. It's a good option for a person like me who would really much rather have the space of premium economy, but can't quite afford it.
While there is admittedly little room to spare, I fit in a regular sized seat. However, I would still feel way more comfortable in a bigger seat. If I'm having to sit for long periods, I find it more comfortable to sit on a bit of an angle. Wider seats allow me to do this and, in a round about way, they also provide me with a bit more leg room for my long legs. When I'm traveling with my young son, he's okay with me twisting to the side and encroaching on some of his leg space. But without my son next to me, I'd be tempted to book one of those $1800 seats.

I suppose Air NZ is going that way a bit with their option to book a skycouch for 2 people, or their Works Deluxe option which leaves the seat next to you empty. I've already been sold on their works deluxe product, and if I was traveling long haul as a party of two, I would be very tempted by the skycouch.

 

[battymum]

Yeah, I am like that too - while I am not especially overweight, but I am tall and I can not sit straight up especially if I am trying to sleep - so yeah my legs are all over the place.

And yep, except for meal times, I am putting my seat back.

We are travelling as a family of five. This time we have chosen the seats at the back of the plane that are in pairs and the row of three in front.

There is nothing fun about long haul flying, no matter your size!

 

[robinsa88]

I don't agree with it at all, The only time I have the problem is the ocassional larger person encroaching on my space. I've never complained or asked to be moved - mainly because my slight build makes it rarely a problem, but I think airlines could benefit for some wider seats at extra charge.

However, I would be a fond supporter of extra luggage allowance for those weighing less than 100kg.....At 52kg, I should be able to have an extra 48kg in luggage.....and yes, I'm a shopper

 

[Marlea98]

I've seen that movie and also can't remember what it is called (Contagious or something like that). I can see how it might of freaked you out. Germs seem to travel really fast on a plane.

It was a weird kind of movie, isn't it. But when you watch it on a plane and people start coughing and sneezing all around you you do start to get a bit paranoid...

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[Marlea98]

Oh there is so many people I don't want to sit next to on a long haul flight.... Fat ones, smelly ones, sick ones, stinky ones, talky ones, then there are those that sit behind and kick the seat, those that sit in front and recline the whole time, those that have a smoke before boarding.........maybe I shouldn't be on the plane!!.

On our trip to the us, dd and I were sitting in the row of three, she had the window, I had the middle, then this really cute American guy took the aisle......WINNING!!! I thought dd might want to swap with me. Anyway I said hi, made a comment about the long flight - he said "it's better than the bus!" Then put his headphones on and started reading some sort of script. This was all before takeoff, I got the hint and didnt talk anymore!

But I wonder, if it came to a choice between paying $1800 or $1200 for SYD-LA, would they pay for a wider seat.

If I'm travelling on my own I'm an anti-social flyer too. Except this one time, in business class, flying to Melbourne last year to see Prince, I sat next to this woman and neither of us just shut up the whole flight! It was so cool! I was so excited (it was my first time in business!) Argh! I was so excited and I still can't work out if it was because I was off to see Prince again or I was in business!!!!!

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