Airlines now charge fat
passengers more
about 19 days ago
Determination of airlines across
the world to make flying more
comfortable for air travellers
has yielded another dividend
with Samoa Air becoming the
first airline in the world to
introduce a ‘pay as you weigh’
system by charging passengers
per kilogram rather than per
seat.
The American company claimed
that its system was fairer than
simply charging per seat, and
that many families with children
are benefiting from the scheme.
Under the new move,
passengers input their weight
into the airline’s online booking
section.Rates start from around 70p a
kilogram for the total weight of
the traveller and their baggage
for the shortest domestic route.
The price goes up to around
£2.75 per kilogram for the
longer route from Samoa to
American Samoa.
Pilot and Chief Executive of
Samoa Air, Chris Langton, was
said to have told ABC News that;
“Planes are run by seats, not by
weight, and passengers should
be educated on this important
issue.
“There is no doubt in my mind
that this is the concept of the
future. We always weigh the
mass that is on an aircraft. It
doesn’t matter whether you are
carrying freight or people.
“Anyone who travels at times
has felt they have been paying
for half of the passenger next
to them. The standard width
and pitch of the seat are
changing as people are getting
a bit bigger wider and taller
than they were 40-50 years
ago.”
Langton also told Reuters, “The
industry has this concept that
all people throughout the world
are the same size.” “Airplanes
always run on weight,
irrespective of seats.”
“There is no doubt in my mind
that this is the concept of the
future. This is the fairest way of
you travelling with your family,
or yourself.”
While adding that it would raise
awareness of public health and
obesity issues, Langton
explained; “We have worked
out a figure per kilo. This is the
fairest way of you travelling
with your family or yourself.
You can put your baggage on,
there are no extra fees in terms
of excess baggage or anything,
it is just a kilo is a kilo.
The policy is expected to help
with safety standards.
“When you’re only fitting eight
to 12 people in these aircraft
and you’ve got some bigger
Samoans getting on, you do
need to weigh them and
distribute that weight evenly
throughout the aircraft, to
make sure everyone’s safe.”
The subject of charging
overweight fliers more has long
been a controversial issue in
the aviation industry. Last year,
former Qantas economist Tony
Webber suggested heavier
people should pay more to fly.

Me liky the bolded part8-)