Self‐interest, ethical and environmental considerations of air traveler weight policies

Abstract

There is ongoing debate about whether airlines should charge passengers based on their weight. This study examines the ethics of three policies by surveying 1012 US air travelers: A Standard policy with a uniform price irrespective of the weight. A Threshold policy with a penalty if the body weight exceeds 160 pounds (72.6 kg). And a Unit‐of‐Body‐Weight policy with an individual price based on body and baggage weight. The study demonstrates levels of acceptance of these policies by different segments of passengers across various normative ethical theories. Younger generations were more accepting of alternatives to the current standard policy. Self‐interest was evident as a major influence of respondents' views. The core of the theoretical contribution highlights the importance of a differentiated view on, and separation of ethical and environmental issues in tourism research, as it shows, that the more environmentally sustainable choice may not be the more ethical one.