Ryanair proposes 'fat tax' for overweight passengers

[Melsia]

I heard this on the radio this morning! Ryanair are saying that if a passenger is overweight and could take up more than their seat, causing other passengers discomfort, then they will have to pay extra for their flights. Kind of like when you pay extra for having a heavier suitcase. According to a poll they did this is what other passengers voted for.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/22/ryanair-obese-fat-tax

[jackass]

LOOOOOOOOOOOL.

And yeah, I totally agree with this. :P

[no waiii]

they wanna charge people for using the toilet aswell lol, but awell people will still fly with them because there cheep

and i agree with fattax lose weight or buy 2seats

[Chaos]

Lol@tht

[Melsia]

I've never had the misfortune to be sat next to an obese person on a plane! :D
If someone's told that they have to pay extra to fly it might make them want to lose weight which will be good for our countries obesity level!

[Absently]

yeah, but who does the money goto? like what about the poor person with the discomfort.. shouldn't they get the money? or do the fat people get two seats for themselves?

[no waiii]

no ryanair get the money for the other person suffering whcih is just stupid tbh

[Absently]

k stupid idea then. they shouldn't do this. they should just say fat people cant get flights. 'cos it's their fault for being fatttt.

[Jahova]

Agree with this. It's good.

[Yoshimitsui]

This idea was just brought up in the media ages ago and is just as stupid as the Money to use the toilets malarkey. It is complete rubbish and is not going to happen.

[Jordy]

Not going to make anyone lose weight to be fair. I agree, what's the person with discomfort get out of this? They should get some of it as compensation off their ticket.

However this should in theory lower the cost of tickets for everyone else as the extra weight means the aircraft uses more fuel for obvious reasons, and aviation fuel is rather expensive so if they're paying more towards it all, it's less for others.

A flight full of over-weight people compared to skinny people would use a hell of a lot more fuel and cost the airline a lot more.

[luce]

no ryanair get the money for the other person suffering whcih is just stupid tbh

Yeah basically they're making money out of their passengers discomfort. I have never sat next to a fat person but i have on such things as roller coasters and busses and it is not nice. I couldn't stand it on a trans-atlantic flight or even an hour if im perfectly honest. You shouldn't tax it though you should offer a select section for "wider" people and charge more for it:D!!

[Alkaz]

They shouldnt be allowed to do that. I doubt if someone turned up 5 mins before a gate closed for the plane to leave the runway and they have excess baggage I bet they dont go ''oh, wait a min, someone has excess baggage, lets get the fuel tanker over here to fill up the plane some more to compensate for the extra weight'' they know roughly how much fuel they need and they set limits for things so that people dont go stupid but they expect there to be heavier people no there or heavier baggage so it all compensates for its self in everyones ticket prices. Even as Yoshi said it wont happen, it is a stupid idea.

[Judge Judy]

I've never had the misfortune to be sat next to an obese person on a plane! :D
If someone's told that they have to pay extra to fly it might make them want to lose weight which will be good for our countries obesity level!
It wouldn't really want them make lose weight - more humiliated really

I've phrased it wrong but oh well

[Technologic]

They shouldnt be allowed to do that. I doubt if someone turned up 5 mins before a gate closed for the plane to leave the runway and they have excess baggage I bet they dont go ''oh, wait a min, someone has excess baggage, lets get the fuel tanker over here to fill up the plane some more to compensate for the extra weight'' they know roughly how much fuel they need and they set limits for things so that people dont go stupid but they expect there to be heavier people no there or heavier baggage so it all compensates for its self in everyones ticket prices. Even as Yoshi said it wont happen, it is a stupid idea.
They don't add fuel for each person, it's done on how much they have at the end of the flight... The lighter the plane, the less fuel is burnt, the less fuel needs to be added for the return.

[Jord]

I wouldnt know lol always sat next to family

[Blinger1]

I think this tax would be good, but what is considered fat? I hate sitting next to fat people on planes though, they always smell.

[Alkaz]

They don't add fuel for each person, it's done on how much they have at the end of the flight... The lighter the plane, the less fuel is burnt, the less fuel needs to be added for the return.
Maybe, but surely its a form of discrimination cause they are fat

[leah]

Lmao thats hilarious. They'll probably get sued or something.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Yes they should have to pay for an extra seat, why should the other passengers suffer?

[Technologic]

Maybe, but surely its a form of discrimination cause they are fat

You cant help being old, a different race, a different sex, gay etc but fat people deserve it.

[PaintYourTarget]

How would they measure 'fat'? Would it be by weight or by girth or what? Would you have to bust out the tape measure and scales when you're checking in or would it be at the discression of the person behind the desk?

[Yoshimitsui]

They wouldnt. It's complete cow pat! Each passenger boarding a plane is put into the equation as a set weight on the load sheet. To say 'ooh look s/hes a fat one lets charge him/her' would be discrimination.

It's not going to happen!!!

[Caution]

i don't think it will do much tbh, fat people will just use another airline.

k stupid idea then. they shouldn't do this. they should just say fat people cant get flights. 'cos it's their fault for being fatttt. well, yeah it is actually..:S


yeah, but who does the money goto? like what about the poor person with the discomfort.. shouldn't they get the money? or do the fat people get two seats for themselves?
they should lose weight then!

[kuzkasate]

Lol Im well skinny. I'll just pay less :D Or bring a skeleton with me claiming its me then its only like £5

[exploit]

lmao @ that.

your fat. pay us.

[Bun]

i don't think it will do much tbh, fat people will just use another airline.

then all the other airlines will introduce it cos they will be getting all the fatties!