'Fat Tax' on the agenda
Over three-quarters of respondents in a poll conducted by Skyscanner have favoured an airline 'Fat Tax', with only 22 per cent of the 550 people surveyed disapproving of the possible introduction of extra payments for overweight passengers. The poll comes in the wake of Air France's imposition of a mandatory two-seat requirement whereby obese passengers that do not reserve a second seat may not be allowed to board the plane, dependent on the captain's discretion. The policy is to come into force this April, although Air France has long offered obese travellers the option of purchasing an adjoining seat at a discount which, according to the company, would be fully reimbursed in 90 per cent of cases. Although met with overwhelming approval, 'Fat Tax' remains a sensitive issue for several airlines that are reluctant to alienate heavier passengers, said Skyscanner co-founder Barry Smith. "On the one hand, it's not unreasonable for airlines to charge passengers extra if they occupy more than one seat," he said, adding: "On the other, many would argue that it should be the responsibility of airlines to adjust their standard seating size ... to accommodate all passengers." Similar policies where overweight people need to purchase a second seat but can claim a refund if the plane is not full are currently present in Southwest Airlines and United Airlines in the US.
Over three-quarters of respondents in a poll conducted by Skyscanner have favoured an airline 'Fat Tax', with only 22 per cent of the 550 people surveyed disapproving of the possible introduction of extra payments for overweight passengers.
The poll comes in the wake of Air France's imposition of a mandatory two-seat requirement whereby obese passengers that do not reserve a second seat may not be allowed to board the plane, dependent on the captain's discretion. The policy is to come into force this April, although Air France has long offered obese travellers the option of purchasing an adjoining seat at a discount which, according to the company, would be fully reimbursed in 90 per cent of cases.
Although met with overwhelming approval, 'Fat Tax' remains a sensitive issue for several airlines that are reluctant to alienate heavier passengers, said Skyscanner co-founder Barry Smith. "On the one hand, it's not unreasonable for airlines to charge passengers extra if they occupy more than one seat," he said, adding: "On the other, many would argue that it should be the responsibility of airlines to adjust their standard seating size ... to accommodate all passengers."
Similar policies where overweight people need to purchase a second seat but can claim a refund if the plane is not full are currently present in Southwest Airlines and United Airlines in the US.