General

Samoa Air to charge passengers fare based on weight

Samoa Air is ready to charge passengers based on how much they weigh.

While weighing bags is already a common practice, the new policy on the small carrier will require passengers to weigh both themselves and their bags and the airline will charge passengers based on total weight. The going rate will depend on the distance of the flight, with cheaper rates — around $1 per kilogram — on shorter domestic routes. The airline will charge around $4.16 per kilogram for travel between Samoa and the neighbouring island of American Samoa.

“This is the fairest way of travelling,” chief executive of Samoa Air, Chris Langton, told ABC Radio. “There are no extra fees in terms of excess baggage or anything – it is just a kilo is a kilo is a kilo.”

Langton went on to say that perhaps the policy would encourage more awareness of weight issues in Samoa, a nation with one of the highest rates of obesity in the world. “People generally are becoming much more weight conscious. That’s a health issue in some areas,” he said.

He also said that some families, particularly those travelling with small children, will actually pay less for a flight under the new policy.

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
FILED UNDER: