Airliners to charge by the pound?

[OptionsTrader]

Charging obese people more to fly is 100% within the airline's rights. I tihnk they should also offer free alcohol on flights if you weight less than 150 lbs.

 

[grizzums]

No they need to increase the number people of flying. Not decrease them. They will start losing all their business if they keep this up; there are alternate forms of travel.

Because the fares (outputs) for passengers on airlines are in part determined by production/service costs (inputs), including the cost of fuel, then to charge a one size fits all fare for all passengers is a blatant form of price discrimination because the weight of a passenger in part determines the overall costs (inputs). You apparently support price discrimination....why am I not surprised.

I do not see this idea flying (pardon the pun), especially here in the states because of the number of Americans that are overweight, obese, or extremely obese and the backlash that a policy like this would stir up, regardless of the fairness of it. Perhaps Fed Ex should charge a one size fits all fee for any all packages they ship via airfreight. A person mailing a cerified letter could pay the same as a person mailing a new crated up tractor trailer....seems fair...

America's illegitimate victim mentality will never allow this to become policy, so, no worries for you. Legitimate victims to this price discrimination will just continue to subsidise the rest of the population. By the way, I'd gladly pick up the cost of your lost fare for the airlines if this policy was implemeted....and fortunately, I can afford it.

Good day.

 

[Danke]

High school economics. Corporations act on incentive. As demand increases, price increases.

True. But their highest cost is fuel and that has gone through the roof in a short period of time. Ticket fares increase, less fly, decrease capacity. But decreasing capacity is a slow process, and one they are generally cautious to do as they lose slots, gates, markets, feed, etc. Capital intensive and hard to adjust quickly.

 

[danberkeley]

No they need to increase the number people of flying. Not decrease them. They will start losing all their business if they keep this up; there are alternate forms of travel.

Why do they have to increase the number of people flying? Why increase the production of something that you are producing at a loss? They won't lose their business, but they will many costumner. However, the alternative is that they go bankrupt. Soon enough, flying will be only for who are rich.

The planes are not full....if they were full they wouldn't be having to increase rates at this rate.

Well I take that back, they are full, because they delay every plane until its completely full. They won't even take off with 75% of the passengers anymore.....crazy.

I think your missing the point. They not goiong to swtich to flying half-empty planes. They are going to reuce the number planes they operate but will continue to fly with a full load. Quick! Somebody draw this person a graph!

 

[AutoDas]

They may lose some customers but they will make more money from charging their usual customers. I'm not upset not having to worry about sitting next to a human figure of fat. This will make the flights more enjoyable and worth discriminating.

 

[danberkeley]

True. But their highest cost is fuel and that has gone through the roof in a short period of time. Ticket fares increase, less fly, decrease capacity. But decreasing capacity is a slow process, and one they are generally cautious to do as they lose slots, gates, markets, feed, etc. Capital intensive and hard to adjust quickly.

True. It does take time to decrease capacity. I think that is why many airlines when bankrupt so quickly.

 

[pinkmandy]

I'm all for it, great idea! If people refuse to fly then that's the market at work. The airlines will then decide if they want to keep that policy. Maybe at 115 I'll get a discount?

 

[grizzums]

I'm all for it, great idea! If people refuse to fly then that's the market at work. The airlines will then decide if they want to keep that policy. Maybe at 115 I'll get a discount?

As long as you're over 5'2".... totally j/k

 

[danberkeley]

Because the fares (outputs) for passengers on airlines are in part determined by production/service costs (inputs), including the cost of fuel, then to charge a one size fits all fare for all passengers is a blatant form of price discrimination because the weight of a passenger in part determines the overall costs (inputs). You apparently support price discrimination....why am I not surprised.

I just re-read the chapter on price discrimination. How is the example you gave an example of price descrimination? It would be price discrimination if the costs the were same but they charge based on weight when weight did not determine cost.

I do not see this idea flying (pardon the pun), especially here in the states because of the number of Americans that are overweight, obese, or extremely obese and the backlash that a policy like this would stir up, regardless of the fairness of it. Perhaps Fed Ex should charge a one size fits all fee for any all packages they ship via airfreight. A person mailing a cerified letter could pay the same as a person mailing a new crated up tractor trailer....seems fair...

So your being sarcastic? Ok, cool.

America's illegitimate victim mentality will never allow this to become policy, so, no worries for you. Legitimate victims to this price discrimination will just continue to subsidise the rest of the population. By the way, I'd gladly pick up the cost of your lost fare for the airlines if this policy was implemeted....and fortunately, I can afford it.

Dont worry about it, the feds will subsidize fares for over-sized passangers.

 

[RideTheDirt]

The planes are not full....if they were full they wouldn't be having to increase rates at this rate.


Well I take that back, they are full, because they delay every plane until its completely full. They won't even take off with 75% of the passengers anymore.....crazy.

Why don't you figure out your argument before you type it?
You sound like Obama and Mclame, pandering to what people want to hear, not the truth.

 

[electronicmaji]

Anyways airlines are not suffering losses. This policy will last 5 minutes before they get sued. Hell I'd sue them, cause I refuse to pay more just because im fat.

 

[AutoDas]

^Age of Entitlement

 

[Kludge]

I refuse to pay more just because im fat.

Produce enough to construct an airport and make the rules if you want to. You do not have the rights to tell others what they can/can't do with their property.

 

[MRoCkEd]

The idea of a really fat person going on a scale with their weight coming up on a digital screen for everyone to see is pretty funny.

 

[Kludge]

The idea of a really fat person going on a scale with their weight coming up on a digital screen for everyone to see is pretty funny.

Maybe the airline could turn it into a type of carnival game and offer reduced airfare if someone guesses it correctly.

 

[angelatc]

Ok, first they are going to scan us and see through our clothes,

Then we have to weigh in . . . . . . .

Hmmmmm -- I see a decline in female passengers . . . . .

...but a record number of TSA scan applicants.

 

[grizzums]

I just re-read the chapter on price discrimination. How is the example you gave an example of price descrimination? It would be price discrimination if the costs the were same but they charge based on weight when weight did not determine cost.

Think about it differently and throw out the textbook. Because fares are in part determined by the input costs that airlines incur in the production process. Hence my fare for flying is payment for my share of the service the airline is providing. If the airline does not use fuel costs as one ioda of a factor in determining their fares, then fine, I will defer....but that is not the case. If a plane was flying at full capacity with everyone on board weighing 100 lbs side by side a plane flying full capacity with everyone on board weighing 300 lbs would the costs of the flights be the same, all else being equal? No. Therefore, if an airline uses fuel costs as a variable in their price determinate, then it can be said that my fare is payment for (in part) the share of the fuel costs that my weight incurs. In this sense, I, at say 100 lbs, am paying a higher pewrcentage of the fuel costs then someone weighing 300lbs. Is that not price discrimination?

I understand the textbook definition of price discriminations in varying degrees.

 

[angelatc]

Anyways airlines are not suffering losses. This policy will last 5 minutes before they get sued. Hell I'd sue them, cause I refuse to pay more just because im fat.

It's just another vice tax. We sat by and let them have the drinkers, then the smokers....now they're coming after the eaters.

 

[MRoCkEd]

if the airline itself chooses to do this - not if the government mandates it

Maybe the airline could turn it into a type of carnival game and offer reduced airfare if someone guesses it correctly.

:o

 

[danberkeley]

Anyways airlines are not suffering losses. This policy will last 5 minutes before they get sued. Hell I'd sue them, cause I refuse to pay more just because im fat.

Airlines arent suffering losses? Sounds like a buying opportunity...