Pay What You Weigh???

**Lady_V** · 06-05-2008, 07:07 AM

Has anyone heard about this possibility?

Pay What You Weigh

Great for kids and those skinny people... but I can guarantee I will not step foot on a plane if it meant I had to step on a scale at the check-in. Mayyyyyybe I would if I absolutely HAD to get somewhere I couldn't drive to, but even then, I would like SOME privacy and not be weighed like cattle.

Not only can I see a decline in personal travel if the airlines went 'freight' pricing, but I can see problems for the business travelers as well.

Will companies only find thinner people 'qualified' for hire? Will they allow a heavier employee attend the business trips if it means spending more to send them?

**baxjul** · 06-05-2008, 07:26 AM

Wow, I really can't see that happening. The price of air fare is so expensive. They would have to reduce almost everyone's prices.

**YankeeMom** · 06-05-2008, 07:50 AM

Back when I was a kid, photo studios used to run a "pay what you weigh" promo for kids pictures. Not quite the same, but if they did it then, why not now?

Oh wait...someone might get offended.

**TheRootedNomad** · 06-05-2008, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by YankeeMom

Back when I was a kid, photo studios used to run a "pay what you weigh" promo for kids pictures. Not quite the same, but if they did it then, why not now?

Oh wait...someone might get offended.

Weight is such a touchy issue with a big enough portion of our population that I can see the problems Lady V mentioned in the "grownupworld". With children's pictures weight doesn't come into play for us parents. The only reason most parents truely care about their children's weight is for health reasons. If we want pictures for our 35lb toddler we also want them for our 150lb 9 year old. I don't think it's a matter of being offended but of embareessment in the personla realm and money in the business realm.

**IntlMom** · 06-05-2008, 08:36 AM

Politically incorrect? Yes!
Totally Absurd? Absolutely!

and yet, ......... where can I go buy my ticket?

**sunshine** · 06-05-2008, 08:41 AM

Our town has done this for years (since I was a kid at least). We have an annual fly-in, and they offer plane rides at a price. You pay by what you weigh, or they have a maximum amount and you can opt to pay that if you prefer.

**FrugalMomof3** · 06-05-2008, 08:58 AM

I dont think it's fair for the simple aspect that as you mentioned about business people who travel alot for their company might now be missing out on jobs or other opportunities that factor in your weight.

I am sure there will be an outbreak of protestors on this for sure.

**C@rol** · 06-05-2008, 09:07 AM

Heard this on the news this morning.
I feel a very large protest and outcry coming on from a lot of people.

**cab54** · 06-05-2008, 09:15 AM

My first thought was my DS22 who is 260# ---BUT--- he's 6'6" and athletic (muscular) so he's actually SLIM at that weight. Not fair!

**sunshine** · 06-05-2008, 09:20 AM

The point is - it takes more fuel to fly those that weigh more. I understand their point. I guess the alternative is to hike everyone's rates to cover those that weigh more ( BTW, I'm obese - so I'd be paying more as well)

**nuisance26** · 06-05-2008, 09:22 AM

~This actually seems completely fair to me. I don't like being weighed either and I'm slim but the principle of paying for what you consume IS fair. If you and a friend went to a restaurant and you had a salad and water and your friend had a lobster and imported wine but the restaurant charged you each $50, would you feel THAT was fair?~

**janelane** · 06-05-2008, 09:51 AM

I really doubt this would fly (pun intended :p) in the US. Arguments about the overweight and extra consumption aside, it would also end up charging discriminatory prices for things people can't help or change to get that better price. My DH is 6'5" and muscular, what's he supposed to do to lose weight to consume that miniscule less amount of fuel, cut off his legs? He's already hideously uncomfortable in those normal sized persons seats, and then they'd ask him to pay more for it, with no sort of upgrade to accomodate that extra size appropriately? Psh!

**The Muse** · 06-05-2008, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~This actually seems completely fair to me. I don't like being weighed either and I'm slim but the principle of paying for what you consume IS fair. If you and a friend went to a restaurant and you had a salad and water and your friend had a lobster and imported wine but the restaurant charged you each $50, would you feel THAT was fair?~

I completely agree.