I was intrigued by the announcement from Ryanair last week that it was considering imposing a ‘fat tax’ on passengers who exceeded certain limits on weight and/or waist size. I think there is a very good reason why they are talking about this and not actually doing it and that is because the legal and moral headaches would cost them a lot of time and money. Despite this, as Britain’s obesity epidemic takes hold there may be a chance that all airlines will set some size or weight limits in the future, once they have explored the law and tested customer attitudes. This is still some way off though.
I know that many airlines in the US tackle this problem by requiring obese passengers to buy two economy seats but give them a refund for one seat if the plane is not full.
The interesting aspect of the Ryanair story is that it wasn’t just about a penny-pinching firm being mean, the idea came from the airline’s passengers. An online poll found that one in three, or 30,000 people favoured charging excess weight fees for very large passengers. Those for it say that apart from the discomfort for large passengers and those around them, there are safety implications.
“People who are obese need help to enable them to make healthy lifestyle changes like modifying their diet and increasing their fitness levels," said a British Medical Association spokesman in response to the Ryanair announcement. What they don’t need is to be penalised and discriminated against.” The chairman of the National Obesity Forum, Dr David Haslam, said: “They cannot put an extra charge on being overweight or obese. It is discriminatory and will not happen.”
The proposed Ryanair fat tax would apply to every kg over 130kg/20 stone for men and 100kg/15 stone for women; every waist inch over 45 inches for men and 40 inches for women; every point in excess of 40 points on the Body Mass Index (+30 points is obese); or for a second seat if a passenger’s waist touches both armrests.
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “In all cases we’ve limits at very high levels so that a fat tax will only apply to those really large passengers who invade the space of the passengers sitting beside them. These charges, if introduced, might also act as an incentive to some of our very large passengers to lose a little weight and hopefully feel a little lighter and healthier. The revenues from any such fat tax will be used to lower the airfares for all Ryanair passengers yet further.”
Ryanair is already considering a £1 charge for passengers to use the on-board loos, something which I believe will never be allowed legally and which was designed to get them some newspaper headlines. Other suggestions in their customer poll included a charge for allowing smoking in the loo or a fee for special loo paper featuring the face of controversial Ryanair boss Tony O’Leary. Need I say more?
Your money or your life….
But the airline industry is not the only one facing the obesity issue. Last year, insurance firms announced that life insurance policies would cost up to 50% more for obese applicants. Britain’s biggest life insurer, Legal & General, confirmed that 13% of new applicants face paying the higher premiums, which apply to anyone with a body mass index of 30 or higher, the point at which people are declared medically obese. At Norwich Union, the second largest life insurer, premiums start rising once the BMI hits 35. Friends Provident, the third largest insurer, begins "loading" premiums when the BMI is over 33. This is in line with higher premiums for those who smoke or have previous or existing medical conditions.
In one recent case, a 37-year-old man told his insurer he was 6ft and weighed 16 stone. Just five months later, he died from a blood clot – but the claim was rejected after discovering he was actually 5ft 9in and 21 stone. If it had know the truth, the insurer said it would have increased his premium by 275%.
Have your say….. should airlines be able to charge a ‘fat tax’ or insist on a double-seat purchase for obese passengers? Leave your comments below…..
Photo: Daily Telegraph
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Money consumer champion 
Eva, you refuse to answer me cos you are wrong. Admit it. Until you can say I am allowed into a nightclub for half the price as someone who goes out more and drinks more than me, then I am afraid you have lost your argument.
No name seems to have lost the plot. Your not reading what eva is saying. Maybe time to take a food break and boost your sugar levels.
i know jess but we can\’t force people to use their brains just like we can\’t force them to be healthy and have a happier longer life. it\’s sad.
I am actually reading EVERY single word Eva says. What makes you think I am not? Let me quote you what Eva said – youre right no name but jess would have PAID FOR ALL THE ALCOHOL DRANKThe same applies to fat people and all their food. What is the difference? Please tell me what the difference is? I cannot see a single difference!
Again I reitterate I am not overweight. But people are not seeing further than thier noses on this issue unfortunately!
No name get this into your head…. someone who goes to a club 3 times a week, pays 3 times. if you go once you only pay once. You get it now. Some one who sits on 2 seats in a plane should pay for 2 seats, not 1!!!!!
jess did i make a single comment about the food fat folks eat on a plane? i\’m quite sure i didn\’t . i\’m positive i was talking about the spilling over my seat thing. hmmmm……….maybe because my blood flows freely throughout my body and brain i\’m getting a little light headed?
If fat people should pay double on their flight then "drunkards!" should pay double when they go into nightclubs! (and maybe even double on drinks) then maybe they wouldnt act in the behavoir in which they do. The principle is exactly the same. The only difference is "nightclubs" are not that "STUPID" as to introduce such a thoughtless act – as they\’d lose business. The same as RyanAir would IF they do bring this into force.
What you on about now Eva? Again your arguement is flawed. Every single item of food is "taxed" in some way so every single person benifits from it in some way. Again you\’re arguments are all flawed.
Eva its very difficult to get people to take responsibility for themselves in our blame blame society. If some thing bad happens its always someone elses fault.
ok no name is boring me now. i\’m off to the gym. have a good day jess and kayleigh. maybe see you guys around some time.
Its the same people here who are trying to justify there weight , who in 20 years from now will be queing up to sue Mc Donalds.
Airlines are shipping luggage and live weight. To be fair, there should be a platform scale that a passenger stands on, with baggage similar to the produce/meat scales that figure what you will pay. This is a business, and it doesn\’t cost them any less to ship live weight. So, I am a lightweight, travelling for many weeks out of the country, and Mexicana\’s rate for my "overweight" was almost $300–how was that fair to me when they were handing out seatbelt extenders to passengers who were very overweight? (at an added cost to them)
Legroom is very important. Airlines should do something about that. Thomas
i\’m hungry
Haha! Its gone dead in here. To the other NoName. How can your way of implementing it be fair – when many\’s people weights (ie 33stone cists) would set that person a much higher fare when not through there own fault. I have had NO answer as to why people who do not go out drinking much should pay half of what a "binge" drinker should when going out. Its is the same principle. I think if "fat" people are to be charged double for flying. Then "binge" drinkers should be charged double for getting hammered. Here\’s 2 things I want you to also think about.After shopping in Tesco today, I went to buy healthy "cereal" bars for my son. After checking the price I noticed that the "healthy" strawberry bars were at 95p, yet the exact same type of bar with extra chocolate in it, was only 77p! Then, if you want to look at the higher healthier bar (i.e. SpecialK) you then look at a price of "over" £2 (three times the amount of the cheap bar) The 95p bar had 80calories in. The 77p bar had 425calories in. In today\’s financial climate – how can you expect people on "low" incomes to look at "every" bar chart – and not at saving the pennies. Please people – spare a thought for the people who can barely spend £10/15 a week. Im sure you have all known what it is like living on a low income!Secondly – here\’s another thing bugging me – how would they charge transexuals/transvesittes etc etc. Would they charge them too the gender they used to be. Or the gender they are now? Imagine if a 15 stone man was to change to a woman. Would she have to pay the charge? Imagine a 15stone woman changing to a man. She would have had to have paid a charge on this had she still been a woman? Would it be fair to let the man who was a woman fly for half the price as the woman who was the man? Do you get where I am here? Confused? Again, you could say that it is a "choice" for these people to do that. However, facts state that this is NOT always the case. Tell me, which one deserves to pay double? And again, if they have had the surgery done, and their "NEW" name is on their passports – HOW would they have any evidence of this being done? Im sure the "woman" that changed to a man would be the better off. But how would this be FAIR? The whole system is FLAWED!!!PS your McDonalds comment is nuts – I see more skinny people there than FAT people EVERY day Jess :o)
i live on a low income. i buy my son apples. 10p each. snack bar! please! and gender has nothing to do with it. if you are fat you would be charged for being fat. i dont want to pay less coz i\’m thin and i never said i did. you keep going on about this massive cyst and thats clearly a moot point. if your mother was charged doule because of misdiagnosis thats a sign of poor doctoring and not the airlines fault. you keep coming off topic. we\’re talking about fairness and seat size. but hey, since you\’re never gonna get the point i think this is my last word on the topic. some people just don\’t ever listen. bye all.
YES THEY SHOULD MAKE US FATTYS PAY MORE
Again Eva you\’ve missread everything I typed. I do listen to your points of view. And understand every single one of them. Did I or did I not say "Cereal Bars" not 1 single bar. But that is neither here no there. Until you realise that there are too many flaws and implementations to the whole criteria then you are the one that is "not" getting it. Again, NO answer on if I should pay half compared to someone else in a nightclub. Because you have no answer. If you say NO I do not deserve to get into half price then you know YOU have lost the argument. If you say that "YES" you do deserve to pay half price then that will P*** you off as YOU are the ONE that is being effected. Apples are all very well. Do you give your son/eat yourself ONE apple for breakfast? I think not. My son eats apples. As do I. But he also eats "healthy" cereal bars as part of his breakfast. Again you miss read into what I said. Regardless of whether something is "poor" Doctoring or not, are you trying to say that the NHS should then pay for the cock-up of the Doctors if this issue came to light after the flight then? I think your not. Again if the NHS did then people would be annoyed. Surely the Multimillion pound company after "profits" should pay! Why can you not see further than your nose Eva? Is it that big? Again, no REAL answer on the issue I asked about below. Why? Because you have NO answer. If there are too many "FLAWS" in something then how can you introduce it? Do not "fix" something that isn\’t broken I say. Leave it as it is. If people moan then get them to all sit next to each other. Then the rest of us decent people can sit in peace knowing not one person has been "OVER" charged for thier holiday. I doubt you will actually read all of this, and understand all of this, but this is more directed of towards "others" whom understand about having a real debate about a topic. ANSWERS though would be nice. As for you being on a "low" income, how low? Do you only have £10 a week to do your weekly shopping? Or are you one of these ladies spending £60 a week and thinking you are so "worse" off than so many others.TOO you neil – I do not belive you are really fat! Prove you are? I bet you only say this to stir things up. I can read into peoples comments really well you know!
Oh and as to your reply earlier Jess (being paying 3 times) have an answer to this then! So you are saying if this "fat" person flys abroad 3 times in a short time with RyanAir then they should pay normal price? Is that what you are saying? I think not! Stop coming up with rubbish answers to my valid points and please use your BRAIN before you type things. Thanks!
Oh, and if you bother to actually "read" comments Jess you\’d realise that I was no-where near the "criteria!" set up to pay DOUBLE for flights. But you do not read any comments properly anyway. Again. Use your brain before you open it. There are many "thin" or "normal" as you people call them that have posted on this thread that DO NOT agree with this coming into force!
And again Eva, about your comments. Yes I am going on about it being fair! How can you suggest it is "fair" to charge someone more than anyone else for the exact same holiday. What is next? Charging "muslims" in this country more as there is a "higher" risk of a terrorism act (though a load of bollocks) IF they had introduced this tax onto ANYONE else then the government/police would have been involved. IT IS CLEARLY UNFAIR!! Can you not see that through your long nose?
shaun andrewswrote: I think people are being tricked. The airlines are getting passengers to fight with each other to justify a proposed tax, this time it\’s people who are overweight. This isn\’t about people this is about how can airllines increase thier income and get away with it with public support. Yes I have complained when a big unit has sat next to me and encroached on my very limited space but that should be the issue.. the seats are to small, give us bigger seats most people are not 5ft and a size 8. The airlines should be providing better seating not taxing us more because it\’s too small. they are sliding in another tax on the pretext it\’s all the fat peoples fault..wake up people100% AGREE Shaun. At least some people are talking sense. Im still fed up of the issue of "fuel" coming into the argument (i have now read posts left here last night) Untill ONE person gives me the "exact" amount of EXTRA fuel used up in MPG between the difference of someone 20stone and someone 19stone then im afraid you cannot use that towards the argument. Yes there would be fuel used – but it is negligable! Can you not see that people? How many times do I need to tell you? i.e in a car the difference in MPG would be "less" than 1MPG (regardless of how small your car is) SO if it is that low in a CAR imagine how LOW it would be in a Passenger Aircraft – even LOWER. HOW many times do i need to say this. I am still waiting on ANSWERS of people which no one is giving so I am assuming they\’ve all given up on guessing. If one person of 19.9 stone deserves to pay one price, why does another person of 20 stone deserve to pay "double!" the price. Until someone answers me that question alone I will not be happy with anyone else coming on here belittling our fellow people. Thanks and Goodnight!
Oh, one more quick thought actually before I finally go! I hope people are actually reading these – for the peope saying that flights should be charged on "weight" alone (i.e the heavier you are the more you pay) imagine this – in Thompson Travel agents – Flights to New York £225 – At what middle ground weight would you then "propose" this flight to be? Can you honestly imagine seeing something like this in thier windows "Flights to New York £2.87 per Kilo!" Haha! How daft would that be. If they went on weight alone and people were charged by how much they weighed, people would be able to fly "anywhere" for the same price as long as there were NO weight gains. How daft does all this sound. Pathetic! The day this happens is the day flying abroad dies! And I suppose they\’d have to have scales to weight people in Travel Agents too so they could pay? And what if they gained/lost a few pounds in the time they book/pay for their flights and boarding! Not one person would have a clue standing outside actually "how" much their holiday would actually be. God Sakes people sort it out.
Quite simple, if you can fit (within design size and weight criteria) in a seat, without discomfort to the person next to you, fine. If you cannot and requre two – then you should pay for two. There should not be any difference whether you are male/female, young/old, or phsically fit or disabled.
Andrew mate – quite simple – there is no way they could implement this without it being "unfair" to so many people. Therefore they shouldnt bring it into place. i.e the criteria they set – what about a 15stone man (no where near the criteria set) whom had a sex change to a woman! There are too many flaws in "any" of the criteria set so how could it be implemented 100% fairly?
Absolutely agree with James and Andrew!I am a size 10 in fact even a size 6-8 from the waist up, and even I do not get a lot of room in my seat, so you don\’t have to be overweight to feel uncomfortable during your journey, not even mentioning the legroom (or the lack of it) And my view on this matter that it is not fair to judge people based on how much they weigh. And this is not about whether people are fat or not it is just another way for the airlines to make even more profit as another reviewer pointed out.And how are they going to check people whether they fit the criteria or not? Will they have an airline seat when you check in so that you have to sit in it and pay there if you do not fit the criteria. This is bloody ridicolous, it will increase queues and waiting times, and further embarass people who are already embarassed about their weight problems. Air travel is already expensive let\’s not encourage these airline bosses, and let\’s not agree with their \’fat tax\’!!!I have just booked a flight with these so-called cheap budget airlines and it cost me £142 I could not believe it!!! It certainly isn\’t cheap anymore it should have cost about £50. Absolutely disgusting!!!!!
Cheers Kat! I don\’t think RyanAir could be considered as a "budget" airline anymore anyway. And they certainly couldn\’t if they charged double for anyones tickets! Regardless of what size people are – if people want more space then go to an airline where they have larger seats :o) (though even the most expensive do not have the largest of seats either!) Maybe RyanAir should give more space to people. Though I cannot see them "losing" ANY of thier high profits.
Just one more thing. What about all those people who pay online for their flight? Would they have weigh themselves then put their own weight on the form? Who woud actually put their right weight in? Its all a load of nonsense this is. It cannot be implemented properly (without ANYONE being effected WRONGLY!) so should never come into force.
James , James , James, you need to go out more, you obviously have too much time on your hands. Your arguements against a fat tax are all centred around the fear that a person may be wrongly charged. This is a valid point but it would only affect a very small percentage of the total travellers that it really is as eva said a moot point, so lets move on shall we. Fat people being charged extra is fair because the cost ot air travel is intimately tied to the weight of a planes passengers and baggage. It therefore follows that those passengers who contribute to the total weight over and above a set limit, should be charged more, very much in the same way that passengers are charged extra for excess luggage. Short of weighing a persons at check in, the airline is suggesting that the waist size of a passenger should be taken as a measure of their size, which i think is very sensible.The difference between a [erson who drinks quiet a lot as compared to one that doesnt, is that the person who drinks a lot is not affecting the drink price of the other person, whereas a fat person will effect the ticket price of other passengers.
Why is everyone afraid that an airline will make a profit? Let market forces dictate how succesfull a business is, or is not.People should stop expecting something for free. As far as mc donalds are concerned, yes james, they do have a lot of skinny people as customers, but unfortunately they wont stay that way for long.
God Jess. Use your brain. How do you know that Jess? My mate whom is skinny has been eating there for 6years. Your argument is 100% flawed. If you say it will affect a "small" amount of percentage of people – do you not realise that charging this "small" amount of people would be wrong? If they charge "one" person more than they should "double" then the system shouldnt come into force. Can you NOT see that? Again I reitterate – learn to PACK if you have a problem with your luggage – or try and have words with RyanAir about it. Don\’t blame FAT people. The luggage problem is 100% your doing. If you cannot see that it\’s not FAT peoples fault your to daft to see it. Again, no answer on the nightclub issue. Its the exact same thing in principle. Unless you can say "drunkards" who go out Twice or more a week should pay double to get into a nightclub, then you cannot say the same for FAT people on Airlines. How would the FAT person effect the price of your tickets? Are you that thick. You will not go on your holidays for ANY cheaper! Can you not see that? Your ticket prices will be exactly the same. And again, how are YOU helping FAT people to lose weight? If you get them onto scales in an Airport you will NOT be helping them in the slightest!I REST MY CASE
Oh, and I tell you why RyanAir shouldn\’t INCREASE their profits – as it is at the expense of people who can barely afford to go on holiday\’s once a year! Imagine how you\’d feel if you and your partner had saved up ALL year to go on holiday – only to be told at the Airport you have to pay double! I mean come on – what if they didn\’t have this extra £600 to go – would they be given a FULL refund on thier holiday if they decided not to go because of this? They\’d have to be. As it is law. But RyanAir wouldn\’t as they\’d lose those seats. TOO many flaws for this to be put into place.
Oh and Jess – a heavy drinker would cause the price of the Nightclub to go up – as they\’d need to employ more bouncers on the door the more drunkards there are there – and more cleaners to clean the place out after all the drunkards had been sick. To suggest someone should pay "double" on something just because of thier eating "habits" would mean surely "binge" drinkers whom go out should pay "double" for thier drinking "habits" Can you not see that this is the exact same principle? OK its far fetched – as Nighclubs wouldnt dare do anything of the like – but its the exact same in principle!
At the beginning of a drinking session you could not distinguish between a heavy drinker and a light drinker, however you do not have this problem in spotting a overly fat fat who needs to sit on 2 seats and a normal traveller.Answer my question, if a person requires two seats on a plane why shouldnt he pay for two seats. I really dont know why im arguing with you, you seem to have a really lobsided strange opinion on everything.
Oh and one more thing Jess – whats your point on your statement of Me going out more. I go out enough. Thats why I didn\’t post all day yesterday afternoon/night! There was no need to have a dig at me just because I am a relatively quick typer and actually want to stand up for something that is RIGHT. At least I have some intelligent thoughts into the whole idea of the "fattax!" your thoughts are mearly arguments that have been brought up by other people. If you can come up with FLAWS in my arguements then I might consider changing my mind. However, all those "for" the "fattax" haven\’t given me a decent argument as to why someone of 19.9 stone should pay double of someone whom is 20stone! Can you not see what I am getting at here?
You are one of those annoying people that i come across who nit pick minor points and try to make a big deal out them. Grow up. I bet your no more than 20 years old. your inexperirnce speaks for itsself.
Most fat people secretly what to lose weight and they should be encouraged to do that. They shouldnt however be encoraged to remain obese, for all the obvious health reasons.
Jess jess jess. No you can\’t. Im not saying that. Im saying if the Nightclub has seen that person already within that week. i.e. if someone goes out twice or more a week. Yes you could then go to a different nightclub if you wished – but that same thing applies to the "fat" people who can go to another airline. It isn\’t a strange opinion on everything. It is a right opinion. Unless you can tell me why someone of 19.9stone should pay half of someone whom is 20stone (when there is only 1pound difference) then your argument is 100% flawed. If a person believes they require two seats, then they have the choice as to whether to pay double. If someone who believes he/she can sit in one seat, then I cant see why they should be FORCED to pay double. Can you not see the issues here?
Jess, age has nothing to do with this topic – but NO i am not under 20years of age. Though it seems like your childish behaviour on this issue makes you look younger than 20 – though you are probably not! (if you wish to have a dig at me for no real reason then I guess I should apply the same to you) I AM NOT SAYING to encourage people to be obese – but doing this will not ENCOURAGE many obese people (yes of course some people may benefit – however many people will not) They should be helped in better ways – not being made to pay "double" on something.
If you have a 23kg bag and the limit is 20kg then you pay excess charge on the 3kg. thats the point of setting a limit. If the rule is that a 20 stone person pays double then so be it. Your arguement abour nightclubs is rather silly, because their business is to sell beer and by charging double for some drinkers would be counter productive to that business, however an airline takes people from one place to another. This costs money, and one of the biggest cost is fuel, which is directly proportional to the weight of passengers and cargo, so it therefore follows that those passengers who case a greater consumption of fuel should pay more for their passage.
For some one who is inexperienced Jess as myself – I do not go slagging of one particular type of person just because of what they look like on the outside. I judge people as to whom they are. You seem to suggest that I am wrong in EVERY pointer on this issue – yet you HAVE no real insight as to an ANSWER on my pointers. Can you not see how daft your comments are looking? Not one of them actually answers the question ASKED in the first place! Should someone of "one" size be charged "double" by force, over someone who is only 1pound lighter.
Why do you insist on bringing luggage into it! Did you ever go to scouts when you were younger? Learn to pack! I have NEVER once been over the limit on luggage. Again, if this is your issue DO NOT blame fat people – and suggest to RyanAir to have a few extra kilo\’s put onto ur luggage allowance. Simples ;o) FUEL! FUEL! Stop going on about fuel! Unless you can give me EXACT amounts of fuel used in the difference on someone whom is 20stone and is 19stone then stop mentioning fuel. It is NEGLIGABLE! And again – yes there would be a slight amount of increase – but not DOUBLE of the ticket price! Get A REAL ARGUMENT THAT IS NOT FLAWED WILL YOU!!!!
You may not be aware but their are some american airlines who already charge double for their larger passengers. What would you like airlines to do if you have some travellers who are unable to use the onflight toilet. I expect you would be happy for new airplane to be built with bigger toilts, which the rest of us would have to shoulder through increased ticket prices.
And the nightclub issue – yes it is silly – but it is the same in principle. I can guarantee you though – a nightclub that did this would see me in it more. If you cannot see that it is the exact same in principle then you need to look further than your nose. Again, how do you know that "normal" non binge drinkers wouldnt fill this nightclub more due to the fact no drunken louts would be in there. The exact same sorry excuse someone mentioned earlier on this thread – stating that even though RyanAir would lose custom on their "fat" people, the airline would get that back with "skinny" people on thier flights. Your arguments are flawed. TELL ME WHY SOMEONE OF 19.13STONE SHOULD PAY HALF THAT OF SOMEONE WHO IS 20STONE
Again Jess – my argument is not with those people who feel they "cannot" fly because of their weight. My arguement is with the huge amount of people that "CAN" fly and ARE able to use the toilets who would be charged double because of their size. Stop bringing in things that are not even part of the debate here will ya.
If you expect a passenger to be responsible in packing their luggage then why not their body weight. By following a responsible life style then overweight people would not be a burden to their families, the nhs, and not cause discomfort to their fellow travellers on an airplane. In an emergency on an airplane they would be a danger to themselves and others due to their decreased mobility and size.
I think i have dealt with your 19.13 stone nonsense by comparing to the luggage llimits. Please read what i am saying and try to stay focused.
Anyway James , you keep well i have to go now. We may not see eye to eye but i like your passion.
How Jess? When did you answer my question? Someon with extra luggage weights doesnt have to pay "double" on thier flight do they? Tell me why someone should pay "double" for being mearly a pound over 19.13stone. Tell me WHY someone of 19.13stone should be let on for "half" the price of someone who is 20stone. Can you not see what I am getting at here! Geez Jess. Get your head into focus more like!
I bet your from the north east.
Again arguments flawed! They going to charge "older" people double just cos of health and safety issues? They cannot "always" move quick! And again – sumowrestlers can move much quicker than you? So why should they pay double more than you? Can you not see how daft all your arguments sound! And no – i am not from the north east :o) Making assumptions again!
Bye.
Bye to you too. No Answers Jess! Great nickname :o)
Are you fat James, is that what all this is about.
And again – you seem to think "all" large people are overweight due to eating. When there are MANY known facts that have proven this NOT to be the case. You make assumptions that as many people are obese that are overweight then EVERYONE large is in the same boat. Get a REAL answer to the issues please.
Again I say – I am nowhere near the stupid Criteria RyanAir have set – I am mearly standing up to what is RIGHT! Simples ;o)
And again you make assumptions. Everyone that appears to be "for" this fat tax are "always" making assumptions. How wrong.
You should become a politican…….. for the lunatic party!! Only joking. Have to go..bye..
Haha! Nice one. I ain\’t heard of that party. They cant be doing very well. Not surprised if they are actually lunatics though. Bye man. Catch ya soon.
Just noticed now on RyanAir\’s website! They\’ve made a 90.3million pound LOSS in the last quarter. How Ironic. Its no wonder they want to have a money making scam like this underway! Haha! How can they say on one hand that this extra charge would be used to make other peoples "fares!" lower, when clearly they will not put the prices down at the moment due to this loss. Maybe they should take care of thier customers MORE rather than thinking up of scams to con people. READ THIS PEOPLE:Ryanair confirms that ‘fat tax’ is a non-runner because it’s not collectible Passengers want very large passengers to pay more Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (8 May) confirmed that it will not implement a ‘fat tax’ because there is no way to collect it without disrupting its 25 minute turnarounds and its online check-in process. Ryanair confirmed that more than 16,000 passengers voted in its latest online poll to identify how the airline should charge larger passengers. The poll results showed: 46% – Charge per kg over 130kg/20 st (male) and 100kg/15 st (females); 37% – Charge for a second seat if passengers’ waist touches both armrests; 11% – Charge for every point in excess of 40 points on the Body Mass Index 6% – Charge for every waist inch over 45 inch (male) and 40 inch (female); PLEASE NOTE: where was the vote for "No extra charge for those overweight!" hmmmm…..that slipped their minds I bet!
And I wonder if those 16,000 people have actually flown with RyanAir! Most likely have not. Note how the highest percentage was the one I DISAGREED with the most! Typical daft people. Too many flaws in ANY of the below in any case! Discussion is now OVER!
does anyone know if you can fly to cyprus in June if your passport runs out it Nov?
As in Kayleigh if your passport runs out next Nov or Last Nov? Isn\’t it obv. If your flying in June this year then you can use that same passport if it runs out in Nov this year. But obv not Nov last year!
I just know in some places your pasport isn\’t valid if it only has 6months left. It\’s Nov 09
Hmmm! I did not know some countries were that "particular" with your passport. Feel its a bit harsh. According to some websites I have seen you do need it valid for six months prior to going there. However, I should imagine you would be fine. Though I would apply for a new passport now for when you come home. You are only 1month short of thier proposals. I would go into the travel agent you bought your holiday from and "specifically" mention this to them, and ask them how they think they would be in Cyprus. Sorry I couldn\’t be of more help. James
I know pain, seems silly really you will always loose out on 6months!!! That\’s ok thanks anyway. Kayleigh
It is harsh that! I didn\’t know that was the case – though I believe it is only certain countries. I guess losing out on 6months every ten years isn\’t to bad. Though when you apply they should state that you should renew passports 6months prior to the Renewal date. You\’d think they\’d mention that some countries do this. Rather than telling people the passports are for ten years, why don\’t they say 9 and a half regardless. Then that issue shouldn\’t come to light then! Thanks for pointing this out for me. I will keep my eye on my passport over the next few years to make sure I do not get bu*****d by it. haha
If you renew a passport 6 months before its expirey, you do not lose out on 6 months it just gets added on to your new passport which will then run for 10 years and 6 months. Your passport needs to have a life of at least 6 months if you travel because this is the minimum period that is considered you would need to sort out any problem you may encounter unexpectedly while abroad. common sense really. Anyway fat people should pay double just for being unsightly.
I take it you all agree?
Sarah can i close this thread i think ive talked everone to sleep.
I wonder if ryan air had a poll on what else would make people happy when flying and the largest answer was the race and colour of the next passenger. Now that would cause some feedback mmmmm. Since fat people are scapegoats with no rights but if you insult someone on their colour of beliefs oh my look out your in trouble…
Define obese. Many doctors dont agree with the BMI Index – indeed many fit rugby players are officially obese even though we all know that\’s nonsense. It\’s very easy to judge, more difficult not to. Thank God that He is merciful, unlike some people.
This is absurd, how does it equate to a friend of mine who is 6\’72 tall and weighs around 20 stones with no actual fat on him; he is in excellent physical shape and has attained his physique by working in a manual job for many years, he also used to weight train as his hobby, and is naturally the size he is.He plays rugby, football, ice hockey, and rows in his spare time, this is in addition to being a keen cyclist and walker; his doctor says he burns off body fat naturally and easily, and is actually slightly down on what his body fat should be for his size and physique.
Whats your point?
Physically, he would fall outside the scope of the fat tax, with a weight less than 20 stone and a waist less than 45 inches. Im assuming that since a lot of his body bulk is mucle then his fat to weight ratio i.e his BMI index will be less than 30, which means he is not obese.
I don\’t quite understand the anger most people vent towards Ryanair. Exceptionally cheap flights if you buy wisely. Fat tax is yet another money making scheme as is the proposed toilet charge. The more scratchcards/mars bars/toilet fees/blackberry charges/checkin desk fees/card fees they can get away with – the cheaper anyone with any sense can fly.Without ryanair – there is no way I could travel the length of the country affordably. If you fall for the sneaky tricks – then you deserve to!
Hahaha! Jess jess jess. Silly! Physically if he is over 20stone as Simon\’s mate appears he "could" be then he would have to pay double charge. And also – BMI – do you not know how BMI actually works Jess? It doesnt caculate any sort of "fat" mass. It calculates your height to your weight. So, if they measured me at 4\’11" tall as they have done with me before, i would be over the 40BMI index. Even though im clearly not four foot eleven, they could easily say I was over the BMI and not indicate to me the height they calculated me at. And also – THIS is NOT coming in. RyanAir have REALISED what a cock-up they have made. READ COMMENT I MADE BELOW! James
Yes Jess I am back to haunt you ;o) haha! Oh, and as for paying double for being unsightly – are you going to charge really "ugly" people double as well then? Haha. God some things are daft in today\’s society.
Im glad your back James because without you this thread was becoming way too sensible. I think your a shining example as way we should always look after the less fortunate. And yes the BMI index is a measure of a persons % fat content. Just because you dont understand it doesnt mean its not true.
Most airports now have hand baggage size checkers in the terminals. On the same lines, perhaps mock up seats could be installed before the boarding gates to check that any suspect oversize person could comfortably fit WITHIN the width between armrests. Anyone who fails to fit would be denied boarding unless there was another seat spare for them to purchase, or pay for an upgrade. This would be far easier to administer than using weight or BMI index, it is the SIZE that matters. It would also save embarrassment and hassle once on the aircraft. Having endured a (thankfully) short flight with someone next to me overflowing onto my seat, this is a serious issue which has to be addressed, oversize people should not expect others to suffer because of their large size.
Jess jess jess. It does NOT calculate your "fat" mass. It simply cannot just by measuring your weight and height. How can it define between someone with "muscle" of the same weight of someone with "fat!" get a grip on your statements. You have NO idea of how BMI is calculated on the "thousands" of BMI scales dotted around the country. Go and stand on one and see for yourself. Malcom mate, this has been mentioned before, but surely if you do not have enough room it is because the Airlines have crammed you in as small a seat as feasibly possible to make MAXIMUM gains. Simples ;o) James
The method of calculating BMI from height and body is that there is a predermined "normal weight" for a person of a particular height Where is a deviation from this standard, it is determined that the deviation is due to excess fat. An equal volume of fat weighs more than an equivalent volume of muscle i.e protein. The BMI index is based on a determination that the excess weightis due to that person carrying extra fat, which is expressed as a % of that persons overall volume.
I think no name has lost the plot.
You said ealier you are 4 foot 11 inches, and weigh 20 stone. Thats harsh man. How you get like that? Now you gat a problem with everything. You got to go out and find some company. If you get on a plane just dont sit nex to me, man . I blame your mama she should have teach you when to stop eating.
Mario mate! I did not say that! I am nowhere near 20stone. However, the BMI worked out my height completely wrong. Thus, just to prove to you Jess, it calculated my BMI over 40! Despite the fact my BMI at present is under 30. Your points on weight of "fat" to muscle" are flawed Jess. If you know anything about the human body then you would know that Muscle actually weighs more! For you to say fat weighs more is nonsense. If you weigh 5lb of fat against 5lb of muscle, it obviously weighs exactly the same! However, you can compress 5lb of Muscle more in your body than 5lb of fat. One square inch of "Muscle" will obviously weigh more than One square inch of "Fat" – and that is a fact. Mario mate, get a life. Make some decent comments about the Topic and not taking the piss out of a comment I made. You obviously didn\’t read what I said – I did not once say i was 4foot11 and 20stone. I said that BMI index\’s are never accurate. Jess, prove me wrong. I can guarantee you that you can not. The BMI does not work out body fat Jess. It simply cannot. How can it tell between "fat" mass and "muscle" mass! It simply cannot! Get a decent argument!!!
What you are saying in your statement Jess is this – normal people are a normal weight – so people with more muscle in thier legs (because they walk longer distances) who weigh more are NOT normal. Your statement is flawed.
Hmmmmm Jess – no answer to that one! I wonder why ;o) You\’ve looked up body fat/muscle facts I take it. 1-0 to moi :o) haha!
Hmmmmm Jess – still no answer to that one! I wonder why ;o) haha!
The cost of the fuel an aircraft uses is directly proportional to the weight it has to carry. Place each passenger on scales complete with luggage and charge per kilo. The post office do this for surface mail, why should airlines not do the same?
God No Name! How many times do I need to tell people! That is UNWORKABLE! Even RyanAir have come out and said it! And also – i\’d be well peed off if women generally could fly cheaper than I could just because they are women (on average in the UK ya know Men weigh 2 stone more than women!!) Flaws all over the shop! And what about people whom buy online ;o) James
And just to kill that arguement dead No Name – do you know how much fuel difference would be needed for someone who is 15 stone and who is 16 stone? Its negligable. Most of the fuel is needed to lift the aircraft! James
No, definately not!!!! Bloody cheek!!!!
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