Now we all know that there's been lots of discussion in recent years about expanding passenger girth versus shrinking seats and passenger space on board aircraft. I think we can all agree that airlines shouldn't discriminate on the basis of a persons size. But on the flip side, we've all probably experienced the tight squeeze when seated next to larger passengers and, truth be told, silently seethed in our misfortune. Don't deny it!
To date, the airlines' response has been to offer coach seats with more leg room, for a fee. Or they've demanded that our larger brethren pay for 2 seats instead of one.
Enter Samoa Air with an alternative approach to this situation. Set the fare price by the weight of the passenger and his/her luggage. Um, really?
What is your take on this latest attempt to address this weighty controversy?
Is this merely discrimination against larger passengers disguised as a business decision? Do you think other airlines will follow suit? I'm fairly certain this has captured their attention. We've read similar articles where one airline begins charging for something and others follow suit. There's a good possibility we'll be hearing more news stories about something like this in the future.
Or do you think this is an isolated situation - that comparing Samoa Air with the major airlines is like comparing apples and oranges? Is this honestly just a sound corporate policy? After all, the planes used by Samoa are very small and as the article states the weight variance is definitely a bigger concern for Samoa than for the major airlines. The article even suggests that passengers on this airline - under this policy - may even pay less for passage than they did before.
Ok. Let's examine this closer.
Can you imagine? Instead of waiting for a sale on airfare, passengers will have the option of dropping a few pounds to lower their airfare. What a deal! With an added benefit - it could be just what we need to fight the nationwide obesity epidemic. At least for the frequent fliers among us.
Well, this is my wake-up call. Time to finally drop those 20 pounds that have been hanging on to my hips for dear life. I need to be ready, fit and trim that is, for when all the airlines jump on the "pay what you weigh" bandwagon. Now this is what I call incentive!
This may be just the incentive I need, too. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNothing else seems to work for me, so I'm willing to give the "weigh/pay" diet plan a try!
DeleteI'm glad to hear it's from a small, foreign airline. The headlines I heard made it sound like it was Delta or something.
ReplyDeleteThis would definitely make me lose weight! I think Samoa Air should weigh people with their luggage, just to be fair.
The way the media pushed the story, I also thought it was something a US airline was enacting.
DeleteI too hope Samoa Air includes luggage weight.
air fare is so expensive these days, perhaps a little monetary incentive to lose weight will do the trick;) haha
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! lol!
DeleteYes, this would be an incentive for me too ;) BUT let's also charge more for the women who wear an overwhelming and overbearing amount of perfume, the people who don't bathe or sweat profusely, cats (Im allergic and sitting next to one even in a carrier is a horrific flight for me) etc. etc. I think we could all think of a few more :)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be something - if the airlines came up with a menu for the different fares based on various factors: girth/height, bathers/non-washers, animal owners/pet abstainers, smokers/non-inhalers, etc etc
DeleteHee hee!
What about the people who get past the air attendants and lug on more than their fair share of "carry-ons" holding up the line and taking your overhead space? They need to pay more!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Maryl, I feel your pain. Just had back-to-back travel and it took all my will power not to verbally abuse the inconsiderate passengers trying to squeeze down the aisles, arms laden w/multiple bags then trying to stuff them into the overhead bins (taking up more than their share of storage and holding up the line)
Delete....grrrr...don't get me started....grrr