MORE than half of travellers are not fond of the idea of weighing in before they catch a flight, even if it could help the environment, new research has revealed.
A recent study conducted by the University of New Hampshire and published in Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice surveyed over 1,000 US air travellers to find out their view on weight-based airfare pricing, as a way to help airlines cut back on emissions.
Nearly 60% of participants expressed concerns about weight-based policies due to potential fairness issues and the risk of discrimination.
Travellers more open to the idea tended to be younger, with those aged 18-35 accepting weight-based pricing almost 20% more than the 66-plus age group.
Additionally, travellers with higher incomes or frequent flyer status were 25% more likely to support weight-based policies than those with lower incomes or who didn’t travel as much.
“We wanted to explore how air travel could be made more sustainable, especially considering the weight we carry – both personal weight and baggage that often travels back and forth,” said one of the paper’s authors, Markus Schuckert, Professor of Hospitality Management.
“We wondered if reducing weight overall could contribute to more eco-friendly air travel and began questioning whether passengers might accept pricing that reflects this.
“Some airlines have tried or considered weight-based policies, but the main roadblock remains ethical concerns, which make it difficult to even discuss,” Schuckert said.
The study acknowledged that, as well as creating concerns for customers, weight-based pricing also presents challenges for airlines, particularly when it comes to striking a balance between environmental impact and customer privacy. JM
