I am likely to vote for Samoa Air as the best airline in the world. I have never flown the airline, nor have I been to Samoa. So why this sudden fancy ? Its because I just discovered that they charge passengers based on their weight !
I have traveled many a long mile on planes and can be considered a fair expert on the matter of air travel. But even I have failed to understand how airlines fix their fares. Nor can I be sure that I won't have to cough up more on reaching the airport, for check in bag fees (horrible American airlines) , place in the queue to board fee (Southwest), going to the loo fee (Ryan Air), quench thirst fee (Indian carriers) whatever, whatever. If there is a logic to air fares, it has thus far escaped my comprehension.
But I do have a pet peeve when it comes to airfare. You see, the cost of flying an airplane is all down to weight - airlines will do anything to reduce the weight of the aircraft. You would therefore expect that airlines would have some linkage of their fares to weight That is indeed the case with checked in baggage. But when it come to the more substantial issue of the weight of the passenger itself, it seems to have been forgotten. Now, I must confess that I have a serious weight problem - I weigh literally nothing !!! Therefore my pet peeve has always been that I have to pay the same fare as Rajalakshmi sitting beside me - she of the gargantuan proportions ! And I always seem to attract Rajalakshmis as my neighbour - so I occupy one tenth of the seat and the good lady spills over from hers and occupies the balance nine tenths !
I have railed often against the injustice of it all, but to no avail. And then I came across Samoa Air's policy on fares. Fares are simply based on your and your baggage's weight. They quote a per kg price. You and your baggage stand on the weighing machine. Weight multiplied by the per kg fare and that's your bill !!! If you don't believe this, visit their website.
Wow - I can now fly almost for free. Wouldn't that be the most spectacular thing to happen. I , a jaded traveler, who can't stand the sight of a plane anymore, is now all perked up and energised to travel - thanks to the wonderful policy of Samoa Air.
The airline was forced to take this practical step because Samoans are the most obese people in the world. Any airline that flew Samoans and did not have a weight policy would not take off - pun intended. So this was virtually forced on them, but then who cares what is the motive for a brilliant pricing strategy.
I love Samoa Air. Samoa - Oute alofa ia te oe !!
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15 comments:
I see Rajalaxmi's after you with a belan in their hands LOL - but you, having the serious weight issues that you describe in the post, will outrun them :)!
The malnourished like you and me can rejoice! :D I'd love to go to Samoa and Fiji islands.. with this I can make a compelling case to the hubby!
@Shachi - Indeed I can outrun them - that's not a big thing since she can barely take a dozen steps together, belan in hand or not !!
@Deepa - Yes Yes; you are one of the club obviously. Can't you ever land next to me on a flight !!
Suggestions to beat Samoa Air at their own terms. Go on a fast a couple of days before your date of departure. Avoid all fluid intake at least two hour before and go to the loo (mandatory) just before standing on the weighing machine.
@kvbigman - Excellent suggestions. But for the usual size of air travelers that can at best decrease weight by 3 or 4 kgs. More longer term measures are necessary !!!!! :):)
Imagine if Samoa Air comes with a minimum weight limit. You may not be allowed to travel ha ha ha ha ha
@Vincy - Ha Ha ha
So, you are back to blogging on some "heavy" topics.
Hmmm ... you should be happy that you are not in the US--by now, a lawyer would have sued for a pound of flesh from you. Oh wait, you don't have a pound on you!!!
Whoa, that's a topic close to home for us. With over half the Samoans living in NZ (and most of the All Blacks are Samoans, Tongans and Fijians), I guess AirNZ will pick this up as well much to my detriment, after all, years in the land of milk and cheese has helped me pile on the layers to weigh enough to qualify for the might ABs (at least in the weight department) On a different note, Ramesh, do you ever fancy an Indian Origin player in the All Blacks??
@sriram - Being unlike the majority of your countrymen, I thought you would jump with joy and be an enthusiastic proponent of this idea ..... :)
@Kiwi - Well, you are nowhere near the Samoans, although I concede that you have to pay a slightly higher fare than me :)
Go for the ABs. After all Richie McCaw has to retire some time :)
Ha ha sounds like a good Idea, but I don't think I will ever prefer it as my case I'd entirely opposite to you ☺
:) what's next? Maybe people will be charged extra to sit next to a thin person. That how they will recoup your free ticket from the Samoan who wants his seat plus half of yours :)
@Prats - :):)
@J - Maybe; maybe . Can somebody hint at that to Rajalakshmi as well :)
Poor Rajalakshmi lol
This airline would go bankrupt in india
@ Sri - you are in as much of a grave danger as I am :):)
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