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The Straight Story

(48,121 posts) Thu Jan 12, 2012, 08:04 PM Jan 2012

Airlines paying more for fuel because waistlines are expanding

Airlines paying more for fuel because waistlines are expanding

PEOPLE weighing more than average should pay more for their airfares than slimmer passengers, a former Qantas executive says.

Tony Webber said airlines were paying more for fuel because the average weight of the population had increased, the Herald Sun reported.

The extra fuel needed cost about $472 a plane, he said, and additional weight of passengers affected airlines' profits.

"It's just a fact, and the thing is airlines consider these things when deciding how much fuel to put on the plane," said Mr Webber, former Qantas chief economist.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/passenger-weight-impacts-on-airlines-profits-says-former-qantas-executive/story-e6frfq80-1226242204162

5 replies

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Highlight:

Airlines paying more for fuel because waistlines are expanding (Original Post) The Straight Story Jan 2012 OP

Maybe they should start charging passengers by the pound. Quantess Jan 2012 #1

How would that be different from charging people by color? customerserviceguy Jan 2012 #3

Go for it! Well said! Zalatix Jan 2012 #4

Airfare should be... cthulu2016 Jan 2012 #2

So what does that come to? customerserviceguy Jan 2012 #5

Quantess

(27,630 posts)

1. Maybe they should start charging passengers by the pound.

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Thu Jan 12, 2012, 08:20 PM

Jan 2012

Wouldn't that be something to see advertised? Fly to Hawaii $3.79 per pound!

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

3. How would that be different from charging people by color?

Reply to Quantess (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 12, 2012, 09:51 PM

Jan 2012

Or age?

Zalatix

(8,994 posts)

4. Go for it! Well said!

Reply to Quantess (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 12, 2012, 09:53 PM

Jan 2012

This way people can simply decide not to fly. Drive a stake in the airline industry's vampiric heart. The whole industry is inherently unprofitable, and can't go ten minutes without a bankruptcy or some kind of subsidies.

cthulu2016

(10,960 posts)

2. Airfare should be...

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Thu Jan 12, 2012, 09:25 PM

Jan 2012

A flat fee for the seat plus a fee per pound you take on board the plane -- combined checked luggage, hand luggage and passenger.

It doesn't matter whether a person is heavy or is skinny with a heavy bag. The plane cannot tell the difference.

Similarly, heavy people with no checked luggage should not be presumed to be getting away with something.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

5. So what does that come to?

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Thu Jan 12, 2012, 09:53 PM

Jan 2012

Two bucks per passenger? They make that up by the shitty meals and/or snacks that they save a small fortune on.

Fuck you, airline asshole (Tony Webber, not the OP).

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