Overweight air travellers: AirAsiaX breaks the 'don't mention scales' taboo
August 5, 2008
According to Jaunted, weighing air passengers is no longer beyond the realm of possibility.
Air Asia subsidiary AirAsiaX has apparently considered calculating the overall passenger weight so it can maximise the amount of cargo it packs in, thus increasing revenue per flight.
Let's be clear that this isn't the 'overweight passengers should pay more' scenario beloved of pub agitators and stand-up comedians.
Strangely, though, the original report on news.com.au says,
Although admitting the move would be difficult to implement, [AAX general manager] David Wright said charging larger passengers 'could help Aussies lose weight'
Which suggests some kind of disincentive for larger passengers, does it not?
Nathan Midgley
Martin Couzins
Comments (8)
Nathan, you might want to check out this err, rather heated discussion on airlines and obesity on Travel Rants.
Posted by Darren Cronian | August 5, 2008 2:59 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 14:59
It's certainly a big topic...
(Sorry)
Posted by Adam
|
August 5, 2008 3:09 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 15:09
@Darren - thanks. I remember you twittering about whether or not you should disable the comments on that one :)
I've just heard from our news ed that someone from ABTA's press office was interviewed on BBC Northampton today about whether overweight passengers should pay more. I'll see if I can track it down later today.
Posted by Nathan Midgley | August 5, 2008 3:33 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 15:33
@Adam - trusted commenter indeed. For shame.
Posted by Nathan Midgley | August 5, 2008 3:42 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 15:42
Out of interest, what would you have done Nathan? I think the discussion has gone way off-topic but some good points have been made.
Posted by Darren Cronian | August 5, 2008 4:48 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 16:48
*hangs head, suitably chastised*
Posted by Adam
|
August 5, 2008 5:10 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 17:10
I think maybe used a firmer hand moderating. Stuff about whose 'fault' obesity is was off-topic, and I'd have made clear early on that other comments in that vein would be rejected.
So what's your stance on the AirAsiaX thing? It's different to charging 'per pound', but there's still something a bit dehumanising about being weighed before you travel - as if modern air travel wasn't dehumanising enough...
Posted by Nathan Midgley | August 5, 2008 5:12 PM
Posted on August 5, 2008 17:12
Nathan, I agree – I think I let it get a little out of control when I was busy, rather than keep a rein on the comments. Lesson learnt. As for the issue at hand, it’s tricky, but if a person is taking up more than one seat, then they should be made to pay for it.
I do not like the idea of being weighed and charged a surcharge accordingly, we aren’t cattle. To be honest I cannot see how this is administratively possible considering how long it now takes to get from the airport entrance to boarding the plane, so to add another ‘step’ into that process sounds impossible.
Where airlines are concerned though, nothing would surprise me!
Posted by Darren Cronian | August 7, 2008 5:44 PM
Posted on August 7, 2008 17:44