Fat tax

Alfred Molon wrote:
> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
> overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in
> Australia?), a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?

When we were leaving the airport at Ayers Rock, they actually weighed
our carry-on luggage. If the rest of Australia is as obsessive with
weight, I wouldn't doubt that they would start weighing people next.
JMTCW

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life
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"Alfred Molon" wondered...
> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
> overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in
> Australia?), a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
> --

There has been discussion of the idea - perhaps partly fuelled by the drive
to tackle obesity.
However, some travellers might feel pleased to see something along these
lines.

I, at 75 kg, have the same baggage allowance as someone who weighs twice
that - the airlines charge for excess weight because it increases the fuel
requirements . . .
I've long held the opinion that it would be fairer to charge on the basis of
total weight (not that I'd want to take an additional 50 or 75 kg of
luggage, but an extra10 would be nice).


A couple of years ago, whilst studying for an MSc in "Aerospace Design,
Manufacture and Management" I had to do an assignment on aircraft
performance, part of which was involved with calculating fuelling
requirements. I had a contact whose father is a pilot for Aeroflot, and he
sent me some actual calculation sheets. It was ineresting to see that when
flying from the US, they allowed an extra 10 kg per passenger for average
body weight over that allowed in Europe . . . . But the baggage allowance
was unchanged. so we skinny folks have been subsidising the fatties for a
long time (plus, we actually fit into our seats, whereas they spill over
into out allocated space).

_______
Geoff B
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On Nov 14, 8:54 am, Janet Wilder <kelliepoo....TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Alfred Molon wrote:
> > Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
> > overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in
> > Australia?), a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
>
> When we were leaving the airport at Ayers Rock, they actually weighed
> our carry-on luggage. If the rest of Australia is as obsessive with
> weight, I wouldn't doubt that they would start weighing people next.
> JMTCW
>
> --
> Janet Wilder
> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
> Good Friends. Good Life


What's the big deal? I flew out of SFO and they weighed my handheld.
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On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:40:01 +0200,
=?Windows-1252?Q?Markku_Gr=F6nroos?= <kurkku RemoveThis @hassuserveri.fi> wrote:

>
>"Alfred Molon" <alfred_molon RemoveThis @yahoo.com> kirjoitti
>viestissä:MPG.21a586ad51f409e698b7d3@news.supernews.com...
>> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
>> overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in
>> Australia?), a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
>> --

There is apparently talk about having one though it is only in the
talking stage.
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On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:49:34 -0000, the renowned "Geoff B"
<geoff_screen.RemoveThis@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>"Alfred Molon" wondered...
>> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
>> overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in
>> Australia?), a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
>> --
>
>There has been discussion of the idea - perhaps partly fuelled by the drive
>to tackle obesity.
>However, some travellers might feel pleased to see something along these
>lines.
>
>I, at 75 kg, have the same baggage allowance as someone who weighs twice
>that - the airlines charge for excess weight because it increases the fuel
>requirements . . .
>I've long held the opinion that it would be fairer to charge on the basis of
>total weight (not that I'd want to take an additional 50 or 75 kg of
>luggage, but an extra10 would be nice).
>
>
>A couple of years ago, whilst studying for an MSc in "Aerospace Design,
>Manufacture and Management" I had to do an assignment on aircraft
>performance, part of which was involved with calculating fuelling
>requirements. I had a contact whose father is a pilot for Aeroflot, and he
>sent me some actual calculation sheets. It was ineresting to see that when
>flying from the US, they allowed an extra 10 kg per passenger for average
>body weight over that allowed in Europe . . . . But the baggage allowance
>was unchanged. so we skinny folks have been subsidising the fatties for a
>long time (plus, we actually fit into our seats, whereas they spill over
>into out allocated space).

It must particularly gall the lithe Asians to be subsidizing the
Western lard-a**es.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff.RemoveThis@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
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PeterL wrote:
> On Nov 14, 8:54 am, Janet Wilder <kelliepoo... DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Alfred Molon wrote:
>>> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
>>> overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in
>>> Australia?), a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
>> When we were leaving the airport at Ayers Rock, they actually weighed
>> our carry-on luggage. If the rest of Australia is as obsessive with
>> weight, I wouldn't doubt that they would start weighing people next.
>> JMTCW
>>
>> --
>> Janet Wilder
>> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
>> Good Friends. Good Life
>
>
> What's the big deal? I flew out of SFO and they weighed my handheld.
>
I never had my carry-on luggage weighed before. I have had it fitted
into the little size-thing, but never weighed. They let me put a few
things from my carry-on into my purse when they found it a tad heavy.
Seemed rather silly as it was all going under the same seat of the plane
and the total weight was the same.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life
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texan....usenet RemoveThis @texas...removethisbit.usacom.. wrote:

>
> If it was a small aircraft it is done for safety reasons.

It wasn't a small aircraft. I've traveled on small aircraft where the
luggage went into the nose of the plane and the seats were a single row
of lawn chairs strapped to the floor. This was a regular commuter-plane
sized jet holding at least a hundred souls.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life
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On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:56:21 -0600, Janet Wilder
<kelliepoodle.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>
>> If it was a small aircraft it is done for safety reasons.
>
>It wasn't a small aircraft. I've traveled on small aircraft where the
>luggage went into the nose of the plane and the seats were a single row
>of lawn chairs strapped to the floor. This was a regular commuter-plane
>sized jet holding at least a hundred souls.

You actually flew with the Grace L Ferguson Airline and
Storm Door Company?

(do a search on that and Bob Newhart:-)


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest
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It is not usual for International passengers to have their carry-on baggage
weighed in Australia. I've had it done in Ireland (Dublin) also. It's always
seemed futile to me. Take a book or two out and carry them - and you're
under the limit again. Allegedly it's to ensure overhead lockers are not
overloaded. A Safety Measure!!

Spatial measurements are another matter. If people insist on carrying over
sized bags on - the last passengers to board end up with no locker storage
for their stuff.




"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodle RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:473ba7e9$0$31638$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> texan....usenet RemoveThis @texas...removethisbit.usacom.. wrote:
>
>>
>> If it was a small aircraft it is done for safety reasons.
>
> It wasn't a small aircraft. I've traveled on small aircraft where the
> luggage went into the nose of the plane and the seats were a single row of
> lawn chairs strapped to the floor. This was a regular commuter-plane sized
> jet holding at least a hundred souls.
>
> --
> Janet Wilder
> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
> Good Friends. Good Life
 >> Stay informed about: Fat tax 

On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:11:50 +1100, Alan S
<nothere.RemoveThis@there.com> wrote:

>On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:56:21 -0600, Janet Wilder
><kelliepoodle.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>>
>>> If it was a small aircraft it is done for safety reasons.
>>
>>It wasn't a small aircraft. I've traveled on small aircraft where the
>>luggage went into the nose of the plane and the seats were a single row
>>of lawn chairs strapped to the floor. This was a regular commuter-plane
>>sized jet holding at least a hundred souls.
>
>You actually flew with the Grace L Ferguson Airline and
>Storm Door Company?
>
>(do a search on that and Bob Newhart:-)
>
I've always liked that one ever since I heard it when it was
new. Found a version here:
http://www.jibjab.com/view/195595


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/
latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest
 >> Stay informed about: Fat tax 

Alfred Molon <alfred_molon DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk
> of airlines letting overweight passengers pay more
> for their tickets (perhaps in Australia?), a socalled
> "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?

How does one measure 'overweight'?
Will 'underweight' people fly for less?

I can see it now:
"Airfare discrimination: Skinny midgets sue airline"

Dick
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"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodle.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:473b28d2$0$5168$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Alfred Molon wrote:
>> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk of airlines letting
>> overweight passengers pay more for their tickets (perhaps in Australia?),
>> a socalled "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
>
> When we were leaving the airport at Ayers Rock, they actually weighed our
> carry-on luggage. If the rest of Australia is as obsessive with weight, I
> wouldn't doubt that they would start weighing people next. JMTCW
>
> --
> Janet Wilder
> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
> Good Friends. Good Life

May have been a smaller airplane and they need to balance the cargo. Or the
weather was hot and the maximum takeoff load may be exceeded.
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On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:49:30 +0000 (UTC), rdadams.DeleteThis@panix.com (Dick
Adams) wrote:

>Alfred Molon <alfred_molon.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Heard today on the radio here in Malaysia some talk
>> of airlines letting overweight passengers pay more
>> for their tickets (perhaps in Australia?), a socalled
>> "fat tax". Is there anything true in this?
>
>How does one measure 'overweight'?

In medical terms, overweight is defined as having Body Mass Index
(BMI) greater than 25. I'd guess that a rather large proportion of
airline passengers would fall into that category, so they probably
wouldn't even think of charging extra unless a passenger was medically
obese (ie having a BMI of over 30).

Chris
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