Airline pricing structures

Sure, extreme example but with rising average weights, the passengers will have that sort of effect hence the increase in calculation weight as michael suggested. 5kg per person for 400 people is 2t, which is not insignificant. Then the weight of the additional fuel needed for the extra 2t+fuel lift compounds the problem. So the airlines dump cargo, or restrict passenger numbers on the plane, lowering profits so they raise the fares.

And round it goes again. The £ per kg system would distribute this fairly, and with greater accuracy for calculation, the airlines can run the aircraft more efficiently.

Sure, it's all unlikely except the rising fares bit.

 

OK, so my point is this. I weigh about 30 kg more than you. So I'm personally adding about 0.01% to the overrall load of the aircraft than you are, NOT 60% because I weigh 60% more than you. So a per kilo price is utterly unfair to me, as it would result in me paying 60% more than you for the same journey. Relative to the weight of the airplane + fuel we all weigh the same.

Enforcing the system would also be virtually impossible and result in ridiculous delays and a huge increase in administrative costs. Pricing tarrifs, weighing machines, ticket re-pricing for people who booked a January flight in November, arguments at the check in, scale calibration, accruals to take into account dieters, the list goes on and on.

Most likely result? You'd pay the same, I'd pay more, the airlines costs would increase, margins would change little. Who's happy? Possibly you because you can snigger at my marginally larger ass having to pay a bigger fare. But you've won nothing, and nor has anyone else.

 

Julian,

The airlines don't need any excuse to increase fares. They can and do charge what they want within the constrains of a competitive system. Many try to charge less, which explains why I can generally fly my family to the in-laws in Germany for £2.50 per person - although the children used to cost £5.00 before they became 'adults' (over 2 years old).

Isaac,

Don't be silly. The idea of ticket charges being based on weight is patently absurd. What is needed is a formula that takes into account not just weight but also volume and, particularly, a person's width.

 

....Or they may just be tall!

Bent double and an increased fare. Super.

 

Also don't forget to factor in the luggage, not everybody is going on their Hols with a bulging suitcase. The Airline that i work for mostly caters for business class passengers, most of these people are going to and from work and travel with just a laptop and a raincoat, not using any of their XX kg baggage allowance. Our aircarft usually has to fly with at least 100kg of ballast (literally bags of gravel ) in the boot to make sure the Aircraft will trim properly.
Also the cost of fuel varies from airport to airport. The last time i had any actual figures one of the Airports that we used charged nearly double per litre compared to the other one, needless to say we would usually take on enough fuel at the cheaper Airport to last both legs.

 

I'm sure that average Joe weighs more than that these days

You can guarantee your costs wouldn't be reduced if this was brought into force. You would pay the same and average Joe (you can't say you're average at 53Kg!) would pay more!

 

Indeed, this would simply be a way of bringing about price increases by stealth. Anyway how would they charge you for it. Would you have to weigh in at the Travel Agents or the airport. How much fuel does a plane use Sid? How much extra fuel is needed per extra ton carried? I bet it's not that different.

 

Hmm... Thats a tough one. It really does depend on the a/c and the type and number of engines fitted, the length of the flight and the cruise altitude. Modern Turbo-prop a/c are more fuel efficient over short regional runs ( say circa 1.5 hrs ), upto about 30,000 feet, however Jet aircraft with modern Turbo-Fan engines come into their own flying longer distances at much higher altitudes. It really is a very similar to an analogy with cars whereby a small car with a small petrol engine is probably more fuel efficient than a larger car fitted with a more powerful Turbo Diesel around a town centre. As soon as the these cars do a bit of Autobahn bashing at higher speed and longer distances the larger Diesel will probably rule the statistics sheet.

I seem to remember that when I do Max power Engine runs after doing maintenance we are looking for a fuel flow of circa 500 LbsPH ( 1 Engine) . This is max power though, once the Aircraft is at altitude and in the cruise this figure will go down significantly. I think we use something like 600 Kg of fuel in total for a 1:15 Hr flt from Scotland to London ( using 2 engines). These are just ballpark figures. I think that Jet A1 fuel that most airliners use costs about 30 per litre, (but don't quote me, i also dragged that figure from a hazy memory).