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Ryanair proposes surcharge for fat passengers

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Ryanair proposes surcharge for fat passengers

Posted by George Hobica on Saturday, April 25, 2009

From Ryanair's press room:

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:
 
"Over 100,000 passengers logged on to ryanair.com to take part in our competition and almost one in three (over 30,000)think that very large passengers should be asked to pay a fat tax. 
 
"With passengers voting overwhelmingly for a 'fat tax' we are now asking them to suggest which format the charge should take. The above four points seem to us to be the simplest, fairest and administratively easiest to apply. In all cases we've limits at very high levels so that a 'fat tax' will only apply to those really large passengers who invade' the space of the passengers sitting beside them.
 
"These charges, if introduced might also act as an incentive to some of our very large passengers to lose a little weight and hopefully feel a little lighter and healthier.
 
"The revenues from any such fat tax will be used to lower the airfares for all Ryanair passengers yet further. Passengers can vote for their preference on www.ryanair.com until Monday 27th April".
 
It really looks like they're serious.
 
Should US Airlines impose such a surcharge? Would it keep fares lower for everyone? Or just discriminate against a class of people, many of whom may simply be unable to control their weight due to emotional or hereditary reasons. Should we therefore give discounts to really skinny people?
 
United Airlines and Southwest already charge a "tax" in the form of requiring obese passengers to buy an extra seat (basically a 100% surcharge.)
 
Your comments are welcome.
Categories: Airline Industry News

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This site is very informative and this posting is really good. I think United Airlines did well regarding the tax. free domain name
by vicky on Monday, March 15, 2010
This site is really wonderful. It provides so vital information
by Mitsha on Thursday, November 26, 2009
If you got the actual ryanair.com page that deals with this proposed tax you will find that they are still investigating how to implement this. The four basic suggestions involve a calculation based on weight, waist measurement, BMI, and the fourth one is an actual seat test...much like the device they have for ensuring your carry on luggage meets the requirements. In my respectful view option number four appears to be the most fair. It targest people that actually do not fit in the seat regardless of the nature of their excess size.

I have travelled next to larger people whose girth did not affect my seating area. I have travelled on at least two occasions beside hulking, muscualr gentlemen whose shoulders and biceps were inches from my chest and face making for a very awkward dinner service.
The idea is that space on a plane is limited and they want to get as many people on the plane as possible with out sacrificing quality of service for all passengers.
Both individuals and corporations have economic bottom lines they have to adhere to while still attracting business.
Does anybody know if other airlines are considering similar approaches?
by Old Books on Wednesday, October 28, 2009
This whole debate about being obese or choosing to be obese while interesting and somewhat entertaining is probably better suited for a sociology or health issues message board. London Escorts is right.

This has nothing to do with discrimination or targeting a specific group maliciously. It's a matter of simple physics and economics. Airlines need/want more money. One of the avenues that they can exploit in that regard is the reality that some people take up more than one seat. So if you take up that extra space you will be charged more...nothing personal, just business. As a consumer if you feel unfairly targeted or that you are not getting good value for your dollar you can take your business elsewhere. I'm sure the airline won't take it personally...it's just business.
by Old Books on Monday, October 26, 2009

by on Wednesday, December 31, 1969
Nobody cares about your failed attempt to diet, just because you're sore about the size of your butt doesn't mean it should be everybody else's problem. Space is at a premium on an airplane - just pay for it and cry about it at home!
by Jen on Thursday, October 08, 2009
As a larger lady who is trying her best to diet, I think this kind of tax on so called 'fat people' is just another way to promote discrimination of anyone who does not fall under societys acceptable skinny image. Disgusting.
by rapid weight loss diet on Thursday, October 08, 2009
i recently took a plane trip and we had to wait, because a fat person held up the flight for ten minutes and the people in the front had to move from their seats ( handicaped by the way) so a fat person can sit there.
by yankee in texas on Monday, May 18, 2009
I think some of you have forgotten what discrimination really is. You cannot compare paying for a second seat to the holocaust. You cannot compare being sold into slavery because of your skin color to someone who is obese paying for the space they occupy. No African babies chose to be African, that's their race, they were born that way. Obese people were not born obese, a series of bad choices made them obese. Your race is not a choice but your girth is. People who cry discrimination every time they feel unique are generally just lazy quitters who cause their own failures. These types of people are typically the ones who feel that grades, awards, trophies, promotions and complements are unfair. Whenever there are competitions they show up to complain because they never win. Instead of complaining try putting some honest effort into the things you do and you will be surprised to notice how much discrimination will disappear from your life. You may even succeed at something. People speak of obesity as if it is a disability. Those people should be ashamed of themselves and the truly disabled should be outraged. I have yet to hear anyone who has a real disability say that if given an option they would choose to remain disabled. No blind person says "if there was a way to see again I won't take it." No paraplegic would say "if given the chance to walk again I wouldn't take it." Yet obese people who claim to be disabled will not get on a treadmill and eat only healthy food in order to become able-bodied again. You demand fairness but you don't understand the meaning of the word. How fair is it to have to share your seat with someone when you paid for an entire seat? How fair is it that a small pair of jeans cost the same amount as a large pair of jeans despite the obvious quantity difference in material? How fair it is that everyone pays the same price at a buffet when it is so very obvious the quantity eaten will not be the same between the obese and the normal? Just look at how much of our tax money goes towards the obese. How many ways do we have to accommodate the obese before they stop complaining? Should a meal at KFC be tax-deductible, should all stairs be converted to escalators? zzzzzz78759 said "You don't buy a seat, you buy a ticket." I have to assume that when you boarded that aircraft you sat on your ticket and not a seat, right? With your style of logic people in first class should pay the same as people in economy class because their tickets are the same size, the same color and I bet equally as comfortable to sit on. You pay for a seat, the ticket just proves that you paid and it tells you wear to put your butt. Which is the point, your butt should only be in the seat that the ticket says you can put it in and that's all. In regards to your comment about the paraplegic in the isle, most passengers and crew members will gladly carry them to safety because they can fit through all the emergency exits and regular people can lift them without dislocating a disc. You also mentioned that you are old enough to remember prejudice against blacks and you talk like you think you know something about the theory of flight with your DC-9 comment but I am black and I have completed ground school. You have demonstrated that you don't know a thing about either!
by Berealistic32889 on Sunday, May 03, 2009
I'm totally amused by all the people who want everyone and their luggage weighed, and then charged accordingly. Okay, that might give skinny people a break on their airfare, but how is it going to solve the problem of overweight people spilling into the seat the skinny ones paid for?

I've been on plenty of flights that were overbooked and had airline personnel begging passengers to voluntarily give up their seats so people with confirmed tickets can be seated. I don't think those folks would appreciate being told they can't fly because 10 or 15 people on board were required to buy two seats, leaving several empty seats per flight.

People, try not to be so judgmental of others. The fact is, you have NO idea what any given stranger's circumstances are. Your need to feel superior to those who weigh more than you do says a lot about you. Elderly people, children, and those with chronic illnesses might not be able to move quickly in an emergency either. A helping hand, rather than a cold shoulder, would go a long way to making sure everyone could safely exit a plane in an emergency.
by tucsonflier on Sunday, May 03, 2009
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