Weight Debate

You've heard the headlines...

A new fuel surcharge..

You'll be charged extra for your second bag...

Charged more for a heavy bag...

Charged for soda and tea...

Charged for a blanket...

With all of those cutbacks and extra fees for the airlines now -- it's hard not to let your mind wander and picture the day where if you weigh and pay!

I mean think about it: That's why airlines decided to increase baggage fees earlier this year.

Their bottom line -- the more the plane weighs, the more fuel it needs, which makes the flight more expensive to run.

If the carriers can get us to pack lighter or less they'll save money.

But what if airlines charged by not only the weight of the luggage, but also by the weight of the passenger?

This week there were reports that AirAsia X (a carrier that heads to Australia) may make the shocking move.

In "Travel Today" magazine, the general manger of AirAsia X said it is considering more extreme measures to increase revenue if fuel continues its march to $200(US) a barrel.

He said the move would be difficult to implement, but said charging larger passengers "could help Aussies lose weight."

Oh boy!

I know I'm trying to picture it.

Do you step on the scale with your bag in hand...

If your total weight is 200 pounds.. do you pay $200, but if it's 300 then that's what you pay?

It seems crazy, but while we may think it's humiliating...

I still can't believe the indignities we all suffer through--shoeless --belt-less--arms out--while humorless homeland security employees grope us. (I had a really bad experience with that !!!)

But I have a feeling the idea may not get off the ground, and the main reason is that as a country we're overweight.

I think we'd see real rebellion if a policy like this was ever adopted.

I can see the lawsuits already.

Charging by weight would be seen as "discrimination against overweight people."

So I think Airlines will just have to keep coming up with other crafty ideas to try and stay out of the red until gas prices go back to normal (OK..OK I'm an optimist).

Stay tuned for the next ridiculous fees that they come up with.

Comments

[Max]

All these "surcharges" by the airlines - extra baggage fees, pillow and blanket, inflight drinks, etc. - amount to nothing but bad publicity for the airlines. Why not raise the price of ALL airline tickets by $20.00 or so (would anyone blink an eye at this?). This would more than cover any increases in operating expenses that these so-called "nickel & dime" fees are supposed to cover. And, as an added bonus, the media won't have anything "negative" to cover regarding the airline industry except, like everything else, prices are going up. No more sensationalizing headlines that read "Airline Now Charges $15.00 For A Pillow!"