Airline says bigger bums on seats will cost more

**Swoop** · 23rd April 2009, 12:47

About bloody time too!!

Low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair plans to introduce a 'fat tax' after more than 30,000 people supported such a move in an online poll run by the airline.

The poll asked people to vote on five potential measures which would cost some passengers more but result in lower overall fares.

More than 100,000 people voted, with 29 per cent saying overweight passengers should be charged excess fees.

The other poll options, in order of popularity, were:

* That passengers be charged 1 euro for toilet paper (25 per cent)
* That passengers be charged 3 euros to be able to smoke in a converted toilet cubicle (24 per cent)
* That an annual subscription charge be introduced to access Ryanair.com (14 per cent)
* That a 2 euro "corkage" fee be introduced for passenger who bring their own food onboard (8 per cent).

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said passengers' preferences were clear, with people "voting overwhelmingly" for a 'fat tax'.

In a statement posted on the Ryanair website, he said the airline was now seeking further guidance from passengers about what form that tax would take, through another online poll.

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AdvertisementThe proposed formats are:

* A charge per kg over 130kg (male) and 100kg (female)
* A charge per inch for every waist inch over 45 inches (male) and 40 inches (female)
* A charge for every point in excess of 40 points on the Body Mass Index (+30 points is obese)
* A charge for a second seat if the passenger's waist touches both armrests simultaneously.

McNamara said the four options "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," he said.

The idea of fat taxes is not new, but few carriers have implemented them.

A notable exception is United Airlines, which last week announced it would begin charging passengers more to fly if they were unable to fit comfortably into a single seat.

Efforts to find two open seats together would be the first preference, the airline said, but if that was not possible, the passenger would be required to buy a second ticket or upgrade to business class.

United Airlines spokeswoman Robin Urbanski told the Los Angeles Times the new policy was introduced after more than 700 complaints were received during the last year from passengers who "did not have a comfortable flight because the person next to them infringed on their seat".

McNamara said any revenue gained from Ryanair's proposed 'fat tax' would be used to lower airfares for all passengers.

"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," he said.

Voting on how Ryanair's new charge should be implemented closes on Monday, April 27.

**eelracing** · 23rd April 2009, 12:56

Haha don't ya gotta love the Irish,no PC bullshit with them.

Id be willing to pay to smoke as well.

**Mikkel** · 23rd April 2009, 13:09

Good luck to Ryanair, it's risky business implementing stuff like that. Some people are just larger than others - given the same level of body fat.

How about making people pay a noise pollution task for bringing crying toddlers on board?

An extra charge for people with disabilities? It is after all more personnel intensitive.

But most certainly, if you can not fit on one seat you should be required to pay for two - and allocated two. Alas, there's already been a case about that in America - and they were told they couldn't charge grossly obese passengers for two seats...

Originally Posted by eelracing

Id be willing to pay to smoke as well.

Yes, and the passenger sitting next to you would most likely be willing to pay more not to have to sit next to someone stinking of cigarettes once you return from the cubicle.

I know I would - a lot too.

**Usarka** · 23rd April 2009, 13:17

Fair enough too especially on a budget airline, it's a right shitter being charged an arm and a leg for 2 extra kg's of baggage when some pie eatin person in front of you weighs twice as much as you and your luggage combined and doesn't pay anything more. And nothing worse than only getting half a seat because of someone else's overspill.

The calculation could be easier though:

You + luggage <= Total allowable weight / number of seats.
Plus have a limited number of extra large seats available at added cost for those that choose.

If you don't want to pay more, remember two things:

The bottom hole is smaller than the top hole. Compensate.
Them boots are made for walking.

**Badjelly** · 23rd April 2009, 13:20

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Good luck to Ryanair, it's risky business implementing stuff like that. Some people are just larger than others - given the same level of body fat...

Yes, but this is supposed to be a charge based on the fact that larger people require more space and/or more fuel to carry them. Not a tax to reflect the moral outrage that some people seem to feel about other people's weight. Isn't it? So, sorry Mr Tialata, you'll have to pay the extra like all the other big people. (Actually, Neemia Tialata weighs 127 kg, so he just squeaks in.)

**Mikkel** · 23rd April 2009, 13:36

Originally Posted by Badjelly

Yes, but this is supposed to be a charge based on the fact that larger people require more space and/or more fuel to carry them. Not a tax to reflect the moral outrage that some people seem to feel about other people's weight. Isn't it? So, sorry Mr Tialata, you'll have to pay the extra like all the other big people. (Actually, Neemia Tialata weighs 127 kg, so he just squeaks in.)

If he wears jandals, a t-shirt and shorts - and no luggage.

It's not that I don't get it. I'm just saying that this budget airline mentality of hunting the last dollar with a vengance might come around to bite their own arse eventually.

Personally I don't like the whole atmosphere associated with the mentality. Once I've paid for my ticket I just want to show up, go through the motions, sit down and relax... So Jetstar will have to offer me a truly GREAT deal before I'll fly with them again.

**SPman** · 23rd April 2009, 13:40

Nothing worse than having some great fat cunt in the seat next to you, who takes up all his/her seat and half of yours as well! The fucking seats are small enough as it is for us less financially endowed sods who travel cattle class.......(especially on United...)

**peasea** · 23rd April 2009, 13:41

Do they fly to the islands??

**Finn** · 23rd April 2009, 14:21

Well you have to pay for excess baggage so why not excess fat?

**Little Miss Trouble** · 23rd April 2009, 14:22

Originally Posted by Usarka

The calculation could be easier though:
You + luggage <= Total allowable weight / number of seats.

I LIKE this idea, more room for all the shopping I do while away

**Beemer** · 23rd April 2009, 14:38

Originally Posted by Mikkel

Good luck to Ryanair, it's risky business implementing stuff like that. Some people are just larger than others - given the same level of body fat.

How about making people pay a noise pollution task for bringing crying toddlers on board?

An extra charge for people with disabilities? It is after all more personnel intensitive.

But most certainly, if you can not fit on one seat you should be required to pay for two - and allocated two. Alas, there's already been a case about that in America - and they were told they couldn't charge grossly obese passengers for two seats...

Yes, and the passenger sitting next to you would most likely be willing to pay more not to have to sit next to someone stinking of cigarettes once you return from the cubicle.

I know I would - a lot too.

I agree - I certainly wouldn't want to sit next to someone who's just been off for a smoke - ugh!

I think the baggage and passenger should be added together. It has always irked me that a hugely obese passenger gets the same luggage allowance as me - and I feel sorry for those skinny 45kg people who don't get any bonus luggage allowances either! Hell, get a fat person, their golf clubs and their bag and it would be the weight of two normal people and their luggage!

I think it's only fair - when you buy clothes, often the larger sizes are more expensive because of course they use more material. Why should space be treated any differently? You take up more, you pay more!

**Beemer** · 23rd April 2009, 14:40

Originally Posted by Mikkel

...Once I've paid for my ticket I just want to show up, go through the motions, sit down and relax... So Jetstar will have to offer me a truly GREAT deal before I'll fly with them again.

But aren't they charging 1 Euro for loo paper too? So if you want to go through the motions, byo bog roll!

**007XX** · 23rd April 2009, 14:45

Fair enough I reckon. Not wishing to be mean to any obese people, but frankly, the logic behind this is undeniable...simple math really, you weigh more, you cost more.