Samoan Air is the world's first airline carrier to charge their airfares based on their passengers’ weight.
When booking a seat on any of their flight services, one has to submit their current weight and weight of their luggage so as to calculate one’s fare.
As stated on its website, the airline's way of charging for fares means, “no more exorbitant excess baggage fees, or being charged for baggage you may not carry.” All you have to worry about paying for is, “your weight plus your baggage items.”
Chris Langton, Samoa Air Chief Executive, has dubbed his airline's policy as ‘fair’, and stated that it represents how other airlines will charge for their fares in the future.
He also mentioned that, “The next step is for the industry to make those sort of changes and recognize that 'Hey, we are not all 72 kilograms (about 160 pounds) anymore and we don't all fit into a standard seat’.”
According to Langton, airlines are “selling weight,” not seats.
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[via CNN and The Guardian, image via Samoa Air]