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Air New Zealand have introduced "pay what you weigh" http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/ http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/

by NZ_Matt 16y ago

uvdiv 16y ago
Is fair pricing such an obscure concept that this is a credible April Fool's joke? Why shouldn't people get discounts for losing weight and saving the airline fuel expenses? Is there a implicit moral norm that those who consume less should subsidize those who consume more ("to each according to his need"), or is mentioning an awkward truth like "heavy people take more energy to lift" a social taboo, or do people just avoid thinking about this entirely? I assume this would be illegal discrimination from a private New Zealand company, even though it's dandy for the NZ government: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5245555/Nurse-told-shes-too-fat-to-move-to-New-Zealand.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5245...
- spicyj 16y ago
  I doubt that a few dozen pounds is significant relative to the weight of the aircraft.
  - archangel_one 16y ago
    Probably not. But the airlines charge as though it is when you're over the baggage weight limit.
    - pyrhho 16y ago
      I believe that is more to do with baggage handler's unions and worker regulation. Though they certainly exaggerate it to make a profit.
- dasil003 16y ago
  Yes, but what is the marginal difference in fuel costs based on people's weight? I'm guessing it's dwarfed by the subsidization of empty seats.
- kbutler 16y ago
  Fair pay for the costs you incur is a great concept. Unfortunately it usually means charging tens-of-dollars (or more) for pennies difference in cost. See charging for bandwidth use, etc. edit: removed snark
snprbob86 16y ago
Sorry, my bad ... It was Carl, he's new. This was an April Fools prank, thanks for all the fun feedback. Glad that we could give (most of) you a laugh. Have a great weekend! sigh political correctness sucks.
- danssig 16y ago
  Are fatties covered by PC now? I thought that was the only group you could legitimately slag off?

Air New Zealand have introduced "pay what you weigh" http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/ http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/

by NZ_Matt 16y ago

Air New Zealand have introduced "pay what you weigh" http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/ http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/

uvdiv 16y ago

Is fair pricing such an obscure concept that this is a credible April Fool's joke? Why shouldn't people get discounts for losing weight and saving the airline fuel expenses? Is there a implicit moral norm that those who consume less should subsidize those who consume more ("to each according to his need"), or is mentioning an awkward truth like "heavy people take more energy to lift" a social taboo, or do people just avoid thinking about this entirely? I assume this would be illegal discrimination from a private New Zealand company, even though it's dandy for the NZ government: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5245555/Nurse-told-shes-too-fat-to-move-to-New-Zealand.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5245...

spicyj 16y ago
I doubt that a few dozen pounds is significant relative to the weight of the aircraft.
- archangel_one 16y ago
  Probably not. But the airlines charge as though it is when you're over the baggage weight limit.
  - pyrhho 16y ago
    I believe that is more to do with baggage handler's unions and worker regulation. Though they certainly exaggerate it to make a profit.
dasil003 16y ago
Yes, but what is the marginal difference in fuel costs based on people's weight? I'm guessing it's dwarfed by the subsidization of empty seats.
kbutler 16y ago
Fair pay for the costs you incur is a great concept. Unfortunately it usually means charging tens-of-dollars (or more) for pennies difference in cost. See charging for bandwidth use, etc. edit: removed snark

snprbob86 16y ago

Sorry, my bad ... It was Carl, he's new. This was an April Fools prank, thanks for all the fun feedback. Glad that we could give (most of) you a laugh. Have a great weekend! sigh political correctness sucks.

danssig 16y ago
Are fatties covered by PC now? I thought that was the only group you could legitimately slag off?