Why am I only allowed to carry the same weight of luggage as much heavier passengers?
P.Gill asked:
Wouldn’t it be fairer if it was based on total weight of person and luggage?
Wouldn’t it be fairer if it was based on total weight of person and luggage?
The reason that I ask is that I recently had to pay excess baggage on my return from a bicycle touring trip. My bike and other gear weighed in at 37kgs.
I then spent the next 8hrs shoehorned between two larger passengers who individually would have weighed more than myself and my luggage.
If the reason you have to pay excess baggage is the weight of the articles then logically the weight of the passengers themselves contributes to this.
I think your question is inappropriate!!!
I am not here to defend the logic. But the reason they do it is that there are x seats in an airplane. Statistically, the so called average traveler weighs 170 pounds in the summer and 175 in the winter. Each passenger takes an average of a 35 pound bag for checking. Carry on luggage is (yes it is) considered part of the average 170 person.
When the checked baggage exceeds a certain cut-off, you ge charged for it.
Southwest tried the “per pound” passenger weight and they got sued for it. They tried to charge a big person I think 50% more for a ticket becuase they literally poured into the next seat.
I’m certain that they thought of all the angles to make a buck, but whatever is decided, I’m certain somebody will whine about it.
I quite agree, but there would be howls & wails about discrimination etc.
Total weight, passenger and luggage seems a fairer way to go.
I am not sure. I sympathize, and it isn’t inappropriate. It is a good question. I have had to fight to get the piddly amount of space that I pay and exorbitant amount of money for. I had an overweight gentleman who was sitting next to me get angry because I wouldn’t allow him to raise the armrest to give him extra room. I actually put my pillow there to ensure that I had my 2*2 space. I travel a lot…for long period of times, and it stinks to be someone who is weight conscious and have to be smushed by someone who isn’t.
Why dont you just do what the Airline/Airport asks you to do….People Stop Asking Questions and Just Do It!!!
I understand that some airlines will make/ask pax to pay a little more if they are “of size” please read fat and occupying more than one seat. But really it is up to you to make a fuss because if you don’t then you just have to suck it up. Many years ago I had to take the red eye from Seattle to Atlanta and I was stuck in the middle seat between to “large” gentlemen. If I hadn’t had to be in Atlanta the next day I would have tried to take a flight on the next day.