Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Australian airlines reject 'fat tax'

World Jan. 12, 2012 - 03:00PM JST ( 29 )

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29 Comments

3

ironchefJan. 12, 2012 - 03:18PM JST

i would rather these obese passengers pay for 2 seats rather than this fat tax. I hate getting stuck sitting either next to or between one of these people and have to squeeze into my seat. I paid for a full seat, not half a seat. it has happened often while traveling in the US.
2

ElvensilvanJan. 12, 2012 - 03:27PM JST

One word: LOL

The idea of a weight tax has been around for years with some airlines around the world charging for a second seat if passengers are unable to lower both armrests.

Personally, I experienced having a seat next to a very large guy with him seated by the window. On short tips, I might just ignore the uncomfortable arrangement, but on a 9-hour flight in economy section, I couldn't imagine the "comfort" I would be in. So I asked the FA if I could have another seat, even after I saw that the flight was quite packed. She saw my predicament, and asked me to wait a while. Luckily, there was an available seat.
2

spudmanJan. 12, 2012 - 03:32PM JST

Seriously good idea, but no one will be brave enough to implement it. I have to pay extra on the luggage that is a few kilos over the limit but the fat guy and his case weigh double me and mine. Not fair!
0

SerranoJan. 12, 2012 - 03:34PM JST

"if passengers are unable to lower both armrests"

If the passengers are elementary school children who aren't too fat, it's possible to lower both armrests.

And those armrests are a joke, the one between the two seats can be used by only one passenger.
-2

CletusJan. 12, 2012 - 03:40PM JST

As a person of large build l would happily pay a surcharge if the airlines also got serious and started charging people for excess hand luggage, bad body odour, people who lean into your seat while sleeping. And while we are at it lets also restrict the angle that seats recline at.

And l say this after a recent experience on a QANTAS flight from Sydney to Tokyo where l was forced to stand for 5 and a half hours, after the woman in front fully reclined her seat. Being over 6 ft l had no leg room to begin with and when l asked the FA if l could move elsewhere l was told the flight was full. The woman was asked by the FA if she could lift her seat a little to which she replied no lm tired so l got to stand at the rear of the plane until she woke up.

As for excess baggage it amuses me that they check your carry on when you check in then everyone goes shopping and the one bag limit is out the window as armfuls of bags come on the aircraft.

When they fix ALL this l will pay a fat tax but not before
1

TriumvereJan. 12, 2012 - 03:41PM JST

If you can't fit in your seat, then you pay for two. Otherwise, no dice. Airlines have no business weighing people prior to boarding.
0

GurukunJan. 12, 2012 - 03:51PM JST

If you're goonna charge more for weight, then give me a bigger seat to sit in. I'm not obese, but at 6'3" and 295 pounds, I never get any leg room and the seat is too narrow. I look like a sleeping Dracula if I tilt my seat back when I'm sitting in the middle seat.
2

Ben_JackinoffJan. 12, 2012 - 03:57PM JST

And while we are at it lets also restrict the angle that seats recline at.

There are new seats that recline only along the inside cushion with the frame staying in the same place. So, even with the seat fully reclined, the seat frame does not move back.

As to this, if people have to pay for heavier luggage and kids have to pay adult or near adult prices, maybe heavier people should also bear a financial burden. It does seem fair.
-1

tmarieJan. 12, 2012 - 07:18PM JST

I wish they would make people who can't put the arm rests down buy a new seat! If you need a seat belt extension (and are not pregnant), you need two seats! I have had numerous of flights made worse by the fatties next to me. Always on a sold out flight. Shame this wasn't instated.
-1

SerranoJan. 12, 2012 - 09:27PM JST

"If you can't fit in your seat, then you pay for two"

What if, and this is most likely the case, the seats next to you are taken or the flight is full?
1

Patrick SmashJan. 12, 2012 - 10:16PM JST

Cletus, no seat should recline on an aircraft. It is dreadful for taller people in economy. I have had my knees crushed time and time again. Now I only use ANA to fly to London as the ANA seat only reclines in its own shell. Check it out mate. The person in front cannot take your legroom on the newer ANA planes.
0

Patrick SmashJan. 12, 2012 - 10:17PM JST

Gurukun, I am 6 feet 8 and I can sit in economy in ANA on the newer aircraft.
0

SuperLibJan. 12, 2012 - 10:45PM JST

I have to agree about no reclining seats, but I suspect the airlines are already a step ahead of us and planning for that. I flew over 10,000 miles in the past few weeks. On one flight (737-800) when the person in front put their seat back the headrest was so close to my face that I couldn't hold my newspaper in front of me. When I tried to get my bag out from under the seat the distance between my seat and the one in front of me was so small that I had to turn my bag to the side and smush it sideways just to get it up. It was just absurd.

Talk all you want about fat people....I'm sure the airlines enjoy letting you pretend that normal people fly with comfort. I sure don't.
1

TriumvereJan. 12, 2012 - 11:15PM JST

What if, and this is most likely the case, the seats next to you are taken or the flight is full?

Wait for the next flight, I guess. Overweight people need to take some responsibility for their condition (even if it is medical and they can't do anything about it). That means recognizing physical realities.

At the same time, they don't deserve to be demonized for their condition. Pricing by the pound does this, in my opinion. The airlines have a responsibility, too . If the average customer is getting fatter, they should be looking into fewer, wider seats on planes.
1

malfupeteJan. 12, 2012 - 11:43PM JST

flying is all about being selfish these days.. if the person in front of you puts the seat back right in your face, make a point to smash into it every time you go to the bathroom. Its not like you have a lot of room to move about anyways and why not make the other person as uncomfortable as they are making you. Everyone needs a little air rage.

from a previous poster, I find it astounding that the FA would allow Cletus to stand at the back of the airplane for 5 and half hours.. even if said passenger says no to raising the seat, the FA have the final say in what goes on in an airplane. For safety concerns everyone should be in their seat at all times and it seams like a serious breach of procedures. I hope at least you made a complaint to the airlines (not like that would do anything but for moral reasons nonetheless)
-2

BurakuminDesJan. 13, 2012 - 01:50AM JST

Simple solution: ALL fast / junk food - including conbinis, McD's, Moss Burger etc - should be taxed by governments at the rate of 500% junk food tax. I have not been to McDonalds or similar joints for 10 years, but Ive been told you can get burgers there for 100 yen. Tax 500 percent on it and I guarantee less people will be eating this junk and piling on the kilos. Let's hit the fast food outlets first and regulate them. And yeah - if you can't fit in 1 seat on a jet - pay for 2. Problem solved.
0

TriumvereJan. 13, 2012 - 02:28AM JST

flying is all about being selfish these days.. if the person in front of you puts the seat back right in your face, make a point to smash into it every time you go to the bathroom.

Or you could, you know, politely ask them to tilt their seat a little bit forward....
0

123XYZJan. 13, 2012 - 03:15AM JST

I feel for the tall people. They did not ask to be tall. And some people are large without being fat at all. Why should either be charged more?

The only way to be fair would be extremely complicated. If someone is too big for one seat, then they should get two and not be charged at all, unless its their own fault they are so big. But how to prove its their own fault? That is where the complications come. Proving who just had the genetics and who is just an overeating slob.
0

malfupeteJan. 13, 2012 - 04:12AM JST

flying is all about being selfish these days.. if the person in front of you puts the seat back right in your face, make a point to smash into it every time you go to the bathroom.

Or you could, you know, politely ask them to tilt their seat a little bit forward....

Then I am wondering why Cletus didn't do this instead of standing at the back of the airplane.. Flight Attendents with no power to get passengers to move their chairs? Come on..
0

proxyJan. 13, 2012 - 06:07AM JST

I pity the person ahead of me who reclines their seat fully if they think that they will get any sleep; my long lags can create a pretty bumpy ride. It should be common courtesy to recline one's seat slowly while checking with the passenger behind if it is okay and it should be common courtesy not to crush the passenger sitting behind.
0

GurukunJan. 13, 2012 - 06:59AM JST

It's funny how people relate 'overweight' for being obese. There are tall people that are not obese, but easily weigh over 200 plus pounds. I'm 295 and below 10% bodyfat. So I would wonder how us, larger healthy individuals caould be charged more, if they did it.
0

calm downJan. 13, 2012 - 07:16AM JST

well then how about making fat seats down at the back of the plane...with the babies,and the tilters,so everyone else is free to sit quietly
0

smithinjapanJan. 13, 2012 - 09:13AM JST

I'm against a 'fat tax', per se, but I DO think that if a person is taking up two seats they ought to pay an additional fee for the second one (not necessarily the full fare unless maybe the flight is packed). That, or perhaps airlines need to think about putting in larger seats here and there on the plane to accomodate.
0

TriumvereJan. 13, 2012 - 10:07AM JST

Then I am wondering why Cletus didn't do this instead of standing at the back of the airplane.. Flight Attendents with no power to get passengers to move their chairs? Come on..

I missed that anecdote the first time around. That... sucks. I don't for a moment believe that the flight attendant couldn't have ordered the other passenger not to recline the seat. I'd be making some serious complaints to the airline, if I were in his position.

Luckily not everyone who flies is a complete jerk.
1

TriumvereJan. 13, 2012 - 10:09AM JST

well then how about making fat seats down at the back of the plane...with the babies,and the tilters,so everyone else is free to sit quietly

What are you thinking, man?! You're going to unbalance the plane that way, and the tail end might fall off!!
-2

tmarieJan. 13, 2012 - 01:36PM JST

What if, and this is most likely the case, the seats next to you are taken or the flight is full?

By two seats instead of one when you make your booking? Fat people know they are fat. That or what for the next flight.

If the average customer is getting fatter, they should be looking into fewer, wider seats on planes. They are. There has been plenty of documentaries on this. Fewer seats means... prices go up. For everyone! Seems unfair to the skinny and fit people that they'll have to shell out more for a ticket because the fatties can't fit into the seats they've been using for years.

As for leg room, ask for a bulkhead when checking in. Not that difficult.
0

TriumvereJan. 13, 2012 - 03:30PM JST

Fewer seats means... prices go up. For everyone! Seems unfair to the skinny and fit people that they'll have to shell out more for a ticket because the fatties can't fit into the seats they've been using for years.

At the point where fatties are the majority, skinny people will just have to suck it up. TS, I guess.
0

tmarieJan. 13, 2012 - 03:43PM JST

We're sucking it up as it is. Who do you think helps pay for the medical these people get?
0

TriumvereJan. 14, 2012 - 01:30AM JST

We're sucking it up as it is. Who do you think helps pay for the medical these people get?

Depends on what country you are in. But seriously, welcome to the new minority.