Fares based on passenger weight embraced by over half of Brits
A poll by Holiday Extras has found more than half of Brits wouldn’t mind being charged according to their weight for flights.
The survey was undertaken following the news that Uzbekistan Airways is set to introduce special passenger weighing machines at departure gates.
Of the 58% who said they didn’t mind, 19% said they agree with the move and think it is a sensible measure to ensure flight safety, 15% agree with the move and think that heavier passengers should be charged extra for their flight, while 24% don’t see it as necessary but don’t have an issue with it.
When asked how they would respond if an airline started charging extra based on weight, 45% of British holidaymakers said that it would make no difference to them.
A further 6% even claimed the measures would actively encourage them to use an airline more often.
Only 21% said the measures would force them to boycott an airline.
"There’s currently no initiative to weigh customers at check in the UK," said Ant Clarke Cowell, communications director for HolidayExtras.com.
"Even so, the idea has sparked some lively debate with holiday travellers. When compared to the national findings, Manchester people proved far more likely to react against the introduction of weight checks.
"Changes in airline procedures often do receive an adverse reaction initially, so it’s pretty surprising to see that many holidaymakers appear to be tolerant to the idea of weighing passengers at check-in. Personal space is a certainly a very sensitive issue so it will be interesting to see how views about this topic evolve."
Holiday Extras polled 2,765 holidaymakers from across the UK in August.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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