Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers

Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
Ryanair may impose a “fat tax” after more than 30,000 passengers voted
to levy charges on overweight passengers.

By Charles Starmer-Smith (Nigel's brother)
Last Updated: 1:36PM BST 22 Apr 2009
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
A survey this week showed that 83 per cent of Telegraph Travel readers
are in favour of charging obese passengers for an extra seat Photo:
GETTY IMAGES

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 revenues from any such fat tax will be used to lower the airfares
for all Ryanair’s passengers yet further.”

Last week United Airlines admitted that it will start charging
overweight passengers more, if they cannot fit into conventional
economy seats.

Passengers must be able to put their arm rests down and fasten their
seat belts (even with an extension) or they will be asked to pay for
an extra seat or be moved on to a later flight.

The policy applies to tickets purchased on or after March 4.

A survey this week of Telegraph readers supported the move by United
Airlines, with 83 per cent currently in favour of charging obese
passengers for an extra seat.

Recent research by the operator First Choice, using a nationwide
sizing survey, found that British holidaymakers are becoming too fat
to fit into conventional airline seats.

Two thirds of men are now too broad-shouldered for their neighbours’
comfort in 16-inch aircraft seats, the standard size in economy on
many aircraft. While one woman in seven was too broad for a seat.

Between 1951 and 2002, the average female has put on 1.5 inches around
the hips, the research found.

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

14 per cent – Annual subscription to access Ryanair.com

8 cent – €2 “corkage” fee for passengers who bring their own food on-
board.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...assengers.html

On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:34:04 -0700, La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb
wrote:

Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers Ryanair may impose
a “fat tax� after more than 30,000 passengers voted to levy charges on
overweight passengers.

Knowing Ryanair it'll be levied on anyone over 50kg...

--
William Black

On 22 Apr, 14:34, La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb
wrote:
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
Ryanair may impose a “fat tax” after more than 30,000 passengers voted
to levy charges on overweight passengers.

By Charles Starmer-Smith (Nigel's brother)
snip

His brother, eh? Must be a hell of an age gap:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/charles_starmer-smith/

William Black wrote:
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:34:04 -0700, La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb
wrote:

Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers Ryanair may impose
a “fat tax� after more than 30,000 passengers voted to levy charges on
overweight passengers.

Knowing Ryanair it'll be levied on anyone over 50kg...

Peter Stringer will be fine then.

"La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb" wrote in
message
...
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
Ryanair may impose a “fat tax” after more than 30,000 passengers voted
to levy charges on overweight passengers.

By Charles Starmer-Smith (Nigel's brother)
Last Updated: 1:36PM BST 22 Apr 2009
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
A survey this week showed that 83 per cent of Telegraph Travel readers
are in favour of charging obese passengers for an extra seat Photo:
GETTY IMAGES

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 revenues from any such fat tax will be used to lower the airfares
for all Ryanair’s passengers yet further.”

Last week United Airlines admitted that it will start charging
overweight passengers more, if they cannot fit into conventional
economy seats.

Passengers must be able to put their arm rests down and fasten their
seat belts (even with an extension) or they will be asked to pay for
an extra seat or be moved on to a later flight.

The policy applies to tickets purchased on or after March 4.

A survey this week of Telegraph readers supported the move by United
Airlines, with 83 per cent currently in favour of charging obese
passengers for an extra seat.

Recent research by the operator First Choice, using a nationwide
sizing survey, found that British holidaymakers are becoming too fat
to fit into conventional airline seats.

Two thirds of men are now too broad-shouldered for their neighbours’
comfort in 16-inch aircraft seats, the standard size in economy on
many aircraft. While one woman in seven was too broad for a seat.

Between 1951 and 2002, the average female has put on 1.5 inches around
the hips, the research found.

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

14 per cent – Annual subscription to access Ryanair.com

8 cent – €2 “corkage” fee for passengers who bring their own food on-
board.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...assengers.html



I have a large friend who always buys two seats. Ryanair is the only airline
he does not use because the armrests are fixed, so even if he pays for both
he can't even fit in one of them. I must admit I struggle, and would be
concerned by this as whilst I am by no means fat, I am over 17st. It's
already damned near impossible for me to fit on one of their planes as I am
6ft 7. I have paid for speedy boarding before in an attempt to get the
emergency seats, but unfortunately whilst they are supposed to limit the
number of people per flight that they sell this to, they don't. There were
more people holding speedy boarding cards than not last time I flew with
them.

On Apr 22, 2:34*pm, La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb
wrote:
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
Ryanair may impose a “fat tax” after more than 30,000 passengers voted
to levy charges on overweight passengers.

By Charles Starmer-Smith (Nigel's brother)
Last Updated: 1:36PM BST 22 Apr 2009
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
A survey this week showed that 83 per cent of Telegraph Travel readers
are in favour of charging obese passengers for an extra seat Photo:
GETTY IMAGES

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.

These would be the same passengers who are in favour of mobiles on
planes?

UD

On Apr 22, 2:38*pm, William Black wrote:
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:34:04 -0700, La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb
wrote:

Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers Ryanair may impose
a “fat tax” after more than 30,000 passengers voted to levy charges on
overweight passengers.

Knowing Ryanair it'll be levied on anyone over 50kg...

I flew with Ryanair once. I wouldn't do it again - they're a joke.
Overpriced compared to regular airlines (once you take into account
all the hidden extras - phone call charges, credit card fees, etc.)
and entirely misleading destinations (we flew from "Frankfurt/Hahn"
which is like "London/Penzance"). Let's face it, Aer Lingus must have
been ****ing abysmal for a shower of ****e like Ryanair to do better.

UD

"Uncle Dave" wrote in message
...

I flew with Ryanair once. I wouldn't do it again

Me neither. I refuse to be treated like **** to save a few quid.

Ian

Uncle Dave wrote:
On Apr 22, 2:34 pm, La-a-a-a-a-aarry the La-a-a-a-a-a-a-mb
wrote:
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
Ryanair may impose a “fat tax” after more than 30,000 passengers voted
to levy charges on overweight passengers.

By Charles Starmer-Smith (Nigel's brother)
Last Updated: 1:36PM BST 22 Apr 2009
Ryanair considers 'fat tax' for obese air passengers
A survey this week showed that 83 per cent of Telegraph Travel readers
are in favour of charging obese passengers for an extra seat Photo:
GETTY IMAGES

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.

These would be the same passengers who are in favour of mobiles on
planes?

What's wrong with that?


UD

By Charles Starmer-Smith (Nigel's brother)

NS-S was my house tutor at school in the 60s. As far as I know, he didn't
have a brother.

Charlie, the Telegraph travel writer, is Nigel's son. Charlie's brother died
tragically 7 or 8 years ago from cancer, and his sister had died some time
before that.

Ian