Do you support ‘Pay as you Weigh’ Flight Tickets?
Nearly two thirds of British holidaymakers would support the concept of ‘pay as you weigh’ flight tickets, where overweight passengers are charged more money to travel on flights, so that airlines can get back the extra fuel costs involved in carrying them.
Only time will tell what pricing structures might be introduced, but airlines can perhaps rest assured that there won’t be too much uproar in future if it’s an idea they want to proceed with.
An academic in Norway recently suggested that charging overweight fliers would help airlines recoup the extra cost required to carry them, and it seems that the idea is largely supported by 63 per cent of Brits, according to new research.
Online independent travel agency www.sunshine.co.uk polled 2,472 Britons who had been abroad, by plane, in the last 12 months, and while nearly two thirds warmed to the idea of heavier people ultimately paying more for their flights, 29 per cent disagreed with ‘pay as you weigh’ and eight per cent remained unsure of the concept.
Chris Clarkson, co-founder of sunshine.co.uk, said: “Pay as you weigh flight tickets are certainly an idea that’s been thrown around for some time and I think it’s only a matter of time before pricing structures linking to weight are introduced.”
Those taking part were also asked to class what weight bracket they felt that they personally fell within, i.e. correct weight, underweight or overweight.
The poll revealed that 21 per cent of those in agreement with such a scheme were actually classed as overweight, but would still think the charge would be a good idea.
In contrast, the 72 per cent who were not in support of ‘pay as you weigh’ flight tickets were classed as overweight.
When those in support of ‘pay as you weigh’ flight tickets were asked what method they thought would be best to employ for airlines to get back the fuel costs involved in carrying heavier passengers, nearly half chose price per kilogram (passenger and luggage), 23 per cent went for fixed low fair, but heavier passengers pay surcharge and a fifth said passengers should be split into light/average/heavy bands and charged more/less accordingly.
A further nine per cent of respondents expressed concerns about charging less for lighter passengers, due to the fact it ‘might irresponsibly promote weight loss’.
Chris added: “It was interesting to see what kind of response such a scheme might receive and it was surprising that the majority supported it – even though many of those people were overweight themselves.
“Only time will tell what pricing structures might be introduced, but airlines can perhaps rest assured that there won’t be too much uproar in future if it’s an idea they want to proceed with.”
Would you support ‘pay as you weigh’ flights? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK
Tagged in Travel