Comments on: What we’re reading: Boeing starts 787 engines, a pilot’s life, airfare by the pound

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:34:27 +0000

On May 19th, 2009 at 4:56 pm Ron said;
I’m happy to see that I am not the only one to notice a pattern with Mr. Frank’s comments.
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How so? You didnt know that different seat sizes exist? I DID NOT comment on you, I simply answered your question. Alternatives already exist:
Two seats, first and business (if you cant fit in a coach seat). That someone can NOT afford it is another issue.
Obese travelers have been discussed ad nauseum on the net. Trust me, I do whatever I can to make their flight less stressful. A 17 inch seat is torture, I know, I hear it daily. But, in REALITY, you do have choices when you travel, most however, choose price over comfort. (So I’m snide for offering choices) And, isnt that what the industry has evolved into? IMPROVED comfort would require an airline to remove seats, remove seats and yield goes down. Yikes, airfares must GO UP then. Airfares go UP, people either dont travel or worse, decide to drive. And, there you have it. Today’s industry that offers an abundance of cheap fares coast to coast and in many cases, cheaper then driving.
Financials were out a few weeks ago for the airline industry’s first quarter. Further PROOF that airfares are not covering costs.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:50:06 +0000

On May 19th, 2009 at 12:42 pm Paulette Baker said Another snide and simplistic comment from Frank. So, only the rich and/or skinny should get to fly?
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And, yours is condesending. Hit a nerve?

There ARE different seat sizes on aircraft.
And, I’m NOT snide, I’m realistic in my opinions in this industry. Disagree? Then debate it.

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:56:01 +0000

Another snide and simplistic comment from Frank. So, only the rich and/or skinny should get to fly?

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I’m happy to see that I am not the only one to notice a pattern with Mr. Frank’s comments.

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:24:15 +0000

I agree completely with Ron here–
If I (6’1″, 62″ shoulders, 44″ waist, 290 lbs) get charged double what Mr. Skinny over there (5’8″, 30″ waist, 145 lbs) gets charged, then I should be as comfortable in my seat as he is in his. Realize, too, that this is a double-whammy. My clothes are probably twice the weight of his, and I’ll end up having to pay for that as well…

Buying two seats or biz/first class seats is not an option, unless they’re going to _give_ me that seat for the double-fare that I’m paying.

By: Paulette Baker

Paulette Baker — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:42:25 +0000

Another snide and simplistic comment from Frank. So, only the rich and/or skinny should get to fly?

By: weenis

weenis — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:29:54 +0000

I am so sick of the imminent threat of pay-by-the-pound airfare. The airlines finally found a way to nickle and dime us, and nobody is going to complain because overweight people have only themselves to blame, right? Imagine what would happen if the airlines decided to charge, say, a handicapped person for requiring extra assitance. THAT would be an outrage, but when you are overweight, you no longer have the privelage of basic human rights.
What about the muscualr body builder, who despite his average sized frame, happens to weigh more because of his muscle mass? I weight the same as my muscle head co-worker, but he would not have to pay the extra fare because he appears to be of average weight, when in reality he is over 200 pounds. Is anyone going to ask him to get on a scale? No, because he doesn’t look like he weighs that much. Seems there are way too many variables for this to ever work, but human rights clearly isn’t one of them.

By: jim

jim — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:25:50 +0000

If as a 250 pounder I pay twice as much as a 125 pounder, then I dang well better get two seats….without having to pay for another seat.

By: Debi Saeger

Debi Saeger — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:24:09 +0000

It will be be a great idea for families with small children. As it stands now every child over 2 years old pays the same price as an adult. Now Mom and Dad can bring the whole family for very little.

By: Graham

Graham — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:23:54 +0000

Can you imagine the chaos? So you pre book your flight. They ask you “how much do you weigh?”. How many people will answer truthfully knowing that the fare they pay depends on the weight; they’re going to “bend the truth”. Even if you go and weigh yourself there and then and answer truthfully when we all get to the airport are they going to have us all step on scales? And if the weight is different, what then? A surcharge? A refund (yeah, right). Check in is slow enough now. OK, so just pay the fare on departure based on weight. Again, how long will that take and how many people will disrobe or hide clothes round the corner? If you pay the fare on departure the airline loses cash flow – big time.

Not going to happen.

By: John M

John M — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:00:38 +0000

Will they have the passenger get on a scale with all his/her carry on and checked baggage to come up with the total weight and charge by that or will they just take the word of the passenger? It would mean that all tickets would be sold at the airport on the day of departure. One wouldn’t be able to purchase tickets in advance either online or via a travel agency because your weight could change and/or there wouldn’t be a meaningful way to verify a person’s weight.