Air passengers already have to pay extra if they want to bring on extra luggage, get a seat with extra leg room and get a decent meal. Will they soon have to pay more based on their weight?
Small airline Samoa Airline has gone ahead and instituted what some call an unfair "fat tax." Over the past few weeks, the airline has put into effect a "pay by weight" pricing structure for international travelers. This means that when a person buys a ticket online with the airline, he or she must enter their weight and the weight of their baggage. The ticket price is then calculated based on the total weight and the distance of the flight. Passengers are then weighed at the airport to make sure that they're not just lying and will presumably be forced to cough up for any discrepancies.
Samoa Air Chief Executive Chris Langton has said that this pricing structure is both logical from a business standpoint and will help address the South Pacific's obesity problem.
Not surprisingly, those with a little heft to their bodies are infuriated by this pricing structure while thinner-framed passengers, especially those traveling with small children, are welcoming it.
Considering that U.S. airlines face similar narrow profit margins and there's also an obesity problem here, will U.S. carriers start charging a "fat tax" too?
Not likely, according to Airfarewatchdog president George Hobica, who shared his opinion on the matter through a press release.
"I can't see a large US airline or any airline doing this any time soon. They'd have to install scales at check in; it would delay boarding and ticket sales enormously. However, perhaps a very small airline, such as Great Lakes Aviation or Cape Air, could make it work...I think we'll see airlines charging by the pound for bags, as they already do for cargo, before we see them charging by the pound for passengers," the airfare expert, who initially thought that Samoa's new pricing structure was an April Fool's joke, said.
So there you have it. You don't have to worry about paying more to fly because you have a weak spot for desserts and carbs. "The key to budget travel is to prepare in advance. When it comes to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new spots we have never been before, the truth of expense and budgeting is often in the back of our thoughts. Arranging and consuming our travel budget carefully is a priority for most families. Reducing spending and costs, while still delighting your vacation to its fullest, is the key to confirmed success and fiscal responsibility. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The reasoning regarding saving money while journeying is simple: Even if your personal finances is highly tight, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also thinking about that while traveling, no matter whether on a finances or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel costs!..". At least for now.
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