Ryanair considers 'fat tax' after vote

[cyberianpan]

Ryanair has a survey which indicates a desire for fat tax:

Telegraph Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers



The controversial move was announced today after a third of passengers on the Irish airline’s website voted in favour of charging fees for obese passengers.

“Over 100,000 passengers took part in our competition and almost one in three think that very large passengers should be asked to pay a fat tax,“ said Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara. “A ‘fat tax’ will only apply to those really large passengers who invade the space of the passengers sitting beside them."

The final results of the Ryanair survey were as follows:
29 per cent – Excess fees for very overweight passengers
25 per cent – €1 for toilet paper – with O’Leary’s face on it
24 per cent – €3 to smoke in a converted lavatory cubicle

Personally I think extra charging is a good idea - but what if you're squashed by person beside you - then you're hardly benefiting ?

Also if fat people don't take up 2 seats then I imagine they may be annoyed at the tax ?

Also... who would this work at a practical level ... would Ryanair staff be patrolling for fat people and measure them ? Once they were measured & they'd paid would they be tagged so as to denote payment ?

cYp

[Clanrickard]

Good idea. Encourage the fat lazy bas tards to slim down

[Gruffalo]

Ryanair has a survey which indicates a desire for fat tax:

Personally I think extra charging is a good idea - but what if you're squashed by person beside you - then you're hardly benefiting ?

Also if fat people don't take up 2 seats then I imagine they may be annoyed at the tax ?

cYp

What a ridiculous load of sh1te. Has anyone taught of how they could possibly do this i.e a fair and consistent measure of who would pay. I understand if someone takes 2 seats then they should pay for two but how do you decide on a fat tax?

I cannot believe that they would introduce it but if they did I would never fly with them again as it is ridiculous. Ryanair is the only airline on my route but I would gladly travel a couple of hours out of the way to avoid them.

You would not be allowed to measure and way someone without their permission but I suppose, no measuring, no flight.

[Geekzilla]

What a ridiculous load of sh1te. Has anyone taught of how they could possibly do this i.e a fair and consistent measure of who would pay. I understand if someone takes 2 seats then they should pay for two but how do you decide on a fat tax?

Looks like a PR stunt to keep Ryanairs name in the news.

[Gruffalo]

Looks like a PR stunt to keep Ryanairs name in the news.

True. They are coming out with more of these now, just shows how tough times are.

[MsAnneThrope]

For short-haul flights its not that big of an issue but I do know how uncomfortable it can be to beside an extremely large person. But its the luck of the draw. For long-haul flights (which I'd define as 3 hours plus) it can be hellish I know, especially if your fellow passenger has an aversion to soap and water.

But how will it be administered/regulated? Long lines, which they have worked for years to do away with for luggage check-in, to step on a weighing scales, or have your mid-girth measured?

Self-weigh-in online is hardly going to work as people will lie, more so than they do in Personals ads. "Normal height, stocky build, fair haired guy seeks fun loving woman" translates to 5 foot nothing squirt, beer belly for Ireland and grey with a bald patch. Are they going to employ "Random Fat Checkers" around the airport, who nab you and escort you off indiscretely, under threat of arrest, to a Weighing Room?

Far, far more annoying to me than any large person is the passenger in front of you who reclines his seat at meals or drink times or when you're trying to read a broadsheet newspaper. Its only a short-haul flight! Can you please sit upright you inconsiderate b*****d? There should be a payment slot in the arm-rests and if he wants to recline then charge him at least a tenner! No, make that twenty!

And add to that an on-the-spot penalty for anyone who doesn't "Step Into The Aisle When Stowing Your Overhead Bags", thereby blocking every other passenger behind them. The fine should be at least €100

And dont get me started on those who decide to go walkabouts just as they're coming through the aisles with the meals or drinks or duty-free trolleys, getting sandwiched between the trolleys, thereby having to thrust their malodorous arses into your face to step in out of the way. For that just seize their wallet or purse and feck them out of one the emergency exits mid-flight

I could go on and on but the above would be a start. I'm sorry but I spend so much time in airports and planes that my patience has worn thin. Luckily I do manage to generally bite my lip and confine my anger to forums like this. There, I feel a lot better after getting that off my chest

[BodyofEvidence]

stupid idea pr stunt.

[mollox]

Would they measure passengers or weigh them, or both?
Can't see too many women happy to get up on a public scales - even the skinny ones!

I knew the "taking a sh1t" tax would never win - who'd want to bring Mick O'Leary along on a flight?

[Digout]

Will people under their recomended BMI get a reduction?

[cyberianpan]

Will people under their recomended BMI get a reduction?

2 anorexics for the price of one ? That is something I'd be against ! :-P

cYp