Airline passengers remain high on fat tax
More than three-quarters of respondents in a poll by Skyscanner favored an airline “fat tax,” which comes in the wake of on-off news that Air France imposed a definite, mandatory two-seat requirement.
But Air France: are they or aren’t they?
“The latest is that the airline promises to reimburse obese passengers it asks to buy a second seat if the plane isn’t full,” says NewsSource.com.
The company, which has long offered obese travelers the option of buying an adjoining seat at a discount, said that passengers would be fully reimbursed for the second fare in 90 percent of cases.
Obese passengers who don’t reserve a second seat may not be allowed to board, at the captain’s discretion, and if there is not an unoccupied adjoining seat. The policy will come into force starting in April.
This comes after widely-publicized news that the carrier was definitely charging for overweight passengers, which Air France later denied. The new two-seat requirement was met with overwhelmingly approval.
In the Skyscanner poll, only 22 percent of the 550 people questioned disapproved of introducing extra payments for overweight passengers.
Skyscanner co-founder Barry Smith said a so-called "fat tax" was a very sensitive issue for airlines who are reluctant to alienate heavier passengers.
"On one hand, it’s not unreasonable for airlines to charge passengers extra if they occupy more than one seat. On the other, many would argue that it should be the responsibility of airlines to adjust their standard seat size, enabling them to comfortably accommodate all passengers," he said in a statement.
In the US, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have a policy where "oversize" people need to buy a second seat and can claim a refund if the plane is not full. This followed complaints from neighboring passengers.
Bloggers responded heavily in favor of the fat tax.
But others were not impressed. One dieter said:
“As a FFT — fat frequent traveler — I find all this talk of charging me and my large brethren insulting and unfair. So last night on my flight from Amsterdam to London I rejected the offer of my snack and also only drunk water. I am now off to buy some celery.”
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026