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Comment by NZ_Matt | Hacker News Reader

Air New Zealand have introduced "pay what you weigh"

http://promos.airnz.co.nz/payweigh/

Is fair pricing such an obscure concept that this is a credible April Fool's joke? Why shouldn't people get discounts for losing weight and saving the airline fuel expenses? Is there a implicit moral norm that those who consume less should subsidize those who consume more ("to each according to his need"), or is mentioning an awkward truth like "heavy people take more energy to lift" a social taboo, or do people just avoid thinking about this entirely?

I assume this would be illegal discrimination from a private New Zealand company, even though it's dandy for the NZ government:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5245...

I doubt that a few dozen pounds is significant relative to the weight of the aircraft.

Probably not. But the airlines charge as though it is when you're over the baggage weight limit.

I believe that is more to do with baggage handler's unions and worker regulation. Though they certainly exaggerate it to make a profit.

Yes, but what is the marginal difference in fuel costs based on people's weight? I'm guessing it's dwarfed by the subsidization of empty seats.

Fair pay for the costs you incur is a great concept. Unfortunately it usually means charging tens-of-dollars (or more) for pennies difference in cost.

See charging for bandwidth use, etc.

edit: removed snark

  Sorry, my bad ... It was Carl, he's new. 

  This was an April Fools prank, thanks for all the fun
  feedback. Glad that we could give (most of) you a
  laugh. Have a great weekend!

sigh political correctness sucks.

Are fatties covered by PC now? I thought that was the only group you could legitimately slag off?

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