Originally Posted by Midas

Personally I don't have a problem with it, in fact I'd be quite happy to see the whole of the airline industry set a maximum limit for the combined weight of passenger plus luggage, over which an excess fee would be charged. The weight limit could be based on the average carrying capacity of their fleet divided by the average number of passengers carried and would thus allow average weight passengers to carry more luggage.

I agree on the total weight. Last time I flew, I had to pay extra for my luggage as I was over the limit, yet Lardy McSaladDodger behind me was okay even though he was about twice the weight as me. Personally, I think its about time we started disciminating against fat people a bit more, speaking as a smoker, I get disadvantaged for my bad health choice, I don't see why being a Super-Sizer should be any different.

I use Ryainair a lot. I hate it! They are like English buses. They cost more than you think they should. The may come or they may not, u may have enough space for your bag, you may not. If you treat it like a bus service and BUY Insurance (even tho won't necessarily cover the cost of a replacement flight you if they cancel last min). However like a bus, when it's on time it's really handy and cheaper than a train most of the time.

I am for the proposals of a "fat tax", one it is completeley avoidable if you live a healthy life. Being 6"6 i have to pay extra if i want some more leg room so i think its fair enough they should pay for 2 seats if they are overflowing from their first seat. I would go for

Charge for a second seat if passengers’ waist touches both armrests simultaneously.

Originally Posted by Midas

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, announced on April 22 that it will now consider how to charge a ‘fat tax’ after more than 30,000 passengers voted in favour of charging excess weight fees for very large passengers in an online vote over the past two weeks.

Ryanair’s poll seemed preposterous when it was first announced on its site, but it appears this week that the airline will follow through its proposals. On the surface the poll seems to be a reply to the British and Irish government’s air travel taxes, which it has incessantly lobbied against this year.

The poll gained votes from 100,000 passengers, via the airline’s website. The poll allowed customers to decide which cost reduction idea would be introduced.


Ryanair has announced that it will now consider how to implement such a charge and asked passengers to vote on which format the charge should take:

• Charge per kg over 130kg/20 stone (male) and 100kg/15 stone (female);
• Charge per inch for every waist inch over 45 inch (male) and 40 inch (female);
• Charge for every point in excess of 40 points on the Body Mass Index (+30 points is obese);
• Charge for a second seat if passengers’ waist touches both armrests simultaneously.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“With passengers voting overwhelmingly for a ‘fat tax’ we are now asking them to suggest which format the charge should take. The above four points seem to us to be the simplest, fairest and administratively easiest to apply. In all cases we’ve limits at very high levels so that a ‘fat tax’ will only apply to those really large passengers who 'invade’ the space of the passengers sitting beside them.”

“These charges, if introduced might also act as an incentive to some of our very large passengers to lose a little weight and hopefully feel a little lighter and healthier.”

“The revenues from any such fat tax will be used to lower the airfares for all Ryanair passengers.”

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Does anyone have any views on whether Ryanair should be making these charges and if so, how they would best be implemented?

Personally I don't have a problem with it, in fact I'd be quite happy to see the whole of the airline industry set a maximum limit for the combined weight of passenger plus luggage, over which an excess fee would be charged. The weight limit could be based on the average carrying capacity of their fleet divided by the average number of passengers carried and would thus allow average weight passengers to carry more luggage.

My initial response would be positive, however I don't think it is workable. Lets take the 4 ideas.

1) If you happen to be a tall person you will be far more likely to exceed toe 20st. Tall people should not be punished for something they can not help

2) Can you imagine people having their waist measured at the check in, especially when we are asked to check in on line anyway.

3) Body mass index. So we get in a cue, get measured and then weighed whilst someone works it out, I don't think so.

4) So we get on the plane and while we are waiting for take off a trolley dolly walks around trying to decide who's hips are touching the arms of the seats. I don't think so.

Like I said, I like the idea in principal, but it will never work

Originally Posted by CAGAN

My initial response would be positive, however I don't think it is workable. Lets take the 4 ideas.

1) If you happen to be a tall person you will be far more likely to exceed toe 20st. Tall people should not be punished for something they can not help

2) Can you imagine people having their waist measured at the check in, especially when we are asked to check in on line anyway.

3) Body mass index. So we get in a cue, get measured and then weighed whilst someone works it out, I don't think so.

4) So we get on the plane and while we are waiting for take off a trolley dolly walks around trying to decide who's hips are touching the arms of the seats. I don't think so.

Like I said, I like the idea in principal, but it will never work

Yeah it would be mostly unworkable. Unless they just had one set of scales at the checkout, and you got on with your luggage, and it just said either 'yes' or 'no'. Yes you can get on, or no you are either a fat bastard or you've packed too much stuff. On the armrests thing, if someone complained, then they could issue you with a fat card that you'd have to produce on check in. But yeah, I guess these ideas are still unworkable.