'The bigger you are the higher the cost of a plane ticket' AIBU to think that this is ridiculous?

[Poppet48]

I have just heard the debate of should a plane ticket cost more for obese people.

I think that this is ridiculous, not only is it discriminating it is highly embarrassing to have to get weighed at the airport check in, Where have the human rights gone?

AIBU to feel this way?

I would love to hear what others think of this.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

For the luggage/weight issue and fuel costs, perhaps there should be a total weight allowance per person. Then you and your luggage get weighed together, and no one knows if it is the gold brick in your suitcase that tips the scale.
I do think that if you need more space, then you should pay extra, and that if you've paid for a seat, you are entitled to all of it.

[AndBingoWasHisNameOh]

never going to work for commercial operators using large craft.

The one time I was weighed for a flight was going in a helicopter over the grand canyon as they had to seat you in a particular formation according to weight so that the helicopter was balanced correctly. There was a spot on the floor, pretty discrete, you stood on and no one but the person doing the arrangements saw the figure.

[CloudsAndTrees]

I'm not sure the fact that weight is related to a disability is relevant, although I'd be prepared to stand corrected if provided with a good explanation.

Tall people can't help being tall. Why is it currently ok to charge them extra but not ok to charge overweight people extra?

[crashdoll]

I'm slightly overweight, although I fit perfectly in the seats and I agree that if a person cannot fit in the seat, they should pay for two. It is not discrimination, it's for comfort and safety. However, I think it's humiliating to expect people to weigh themselves and their baggage and I'm suprised people think it is a reasonable suggestion.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

If you had the paperwork to prove the disability, then you should be exempt from payment and still get enough space.

[crashdoll]

Westie Not sure what your disability is but it might be more comfortable to have two seats anyway...?

[BabyMakesTheBellyGoRound]

How about if they don't raise the price for obese people but offer lower price or more baggage allowance for smaller people.

[ArbitraryUsername]

How exactly would an airline implement a you must buy two seats if your arse is too big for one policy though? Would they turf people off planes (where there are often no extra seats, and therefore no way to offer people the option of buying an extra seat)? Would they insist you measure your arse and choose an option from a drop down menu on booking? It seems unworkable.

Yes, sitting next to a very large passenger who encroaches into your space on an aeroplane (or a train for that matter) is unpleasant. But so is sitting next to someone with dubious personal hygiene. Or sitting next to one of those men who think their balls are the size of basketballs and position their legs accordingly. Or sitting next to a passenger who snores and farts in their sleep. Or someone who gets drunk and tries to grope you (it has happened to me, and the airline did not take it seriously because she was a woman). Or in front of a child who keeps kicking the seat (and whose parents don't bother to stop them). Or behind anyone who wants to recline their seat at all, because the bloody airlines put all the rows too close together...

In short, I think one should just expect to be annoyed and uncomfortable on a plane. Or book a seat in first class. Of you get on the plane and it turns out not to be dire, it's a bonus.

[VisualiseAHorse]

I think there should be a weight allowance per seat. So you get weighed with your luggage.

The fatter you are, the less luggage you can take.

[BertieBotts]

Most airlines already offer the chance to buy a "comfort seat" ie an extra seat if you are overweight.

I think it would be appalling to weigh people or have "tester" seats at the airport. And I'm so underweight I'd probably be able to take 3 extra bags (which would be great!) - it's just an awful awful idea.

[Frogman]

Bloody hell Westie - you'd sue them for discrimination

I think it's a great idea to charge fat/heavy people more. I too have suffered with an obese passenger sitting next to me and spilling over into my space. It was awful.

[BertieBotts]

MrsBucket!!!

[CloudsAndTrees]

In my experience, airlines only show limited understanding when it comes to disability. So while I agree that if it could be proved that weight is related to disability then that person should be exempt from payment, exemption needs to be extended to all extra weight related to disability. My friend takes two wheelchairs on holiday, plus a mobile hoist and toileting chair. He often (not always) gets charged for the hoist and extra chair.

[MoreBeta]

It is rational to charge by total weight including your seat. People with children are being penalised quiet heavily having to pay full price and I have even heard of an airline considering 'child free' flights.

Freight carried by air is charged by weight so why not people with their luggage plus seat?

It is the fuel used on take off lifting it off the ground that is a major cost associated with additional weight.

I honestly think that if a budget airline did this there would be a lot of people agree and actually specifically book that airline if it offered more leg room and bigger seats in return. I once sat next to a very large man (height and weight) on a longish European flight. He must have been just as uncomfortable as I was.

I bet he would have happily paid more for a bigger seat and so would I.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

What happens when you get two or three obese people in the same row, is there enough space, or do passengers have to shuffle around?

[slippysofa]

I know. Let's set up national fat farms where we purge fat prople of their desire to eat. Let's give them 800 calories a day and make them work in striped pyjamas. But the increasing obesity problem would make these fat farms full. Concentrated, in fact. So we would have to rename them Concentration Camps. But that would be expensive. Let's euthanase them so that they don't breed and produce even more fat children who will become fat adults.

Dear god, where will this end?

[GinAndSlimlinePlease]

Another vote for it being based on bmi. Or maybe hip width.

I will pay more for extra leg room, so don't see why larger folk shouldn't pay more for width room.

[WestieMamma]

Westie Not sure what your disability is but it might be more comfortable to have two seats anyway...?

I'm not so overweight that I need 2 seats. On most planes I can just about do up a normal seatbelt, so long as I hold my breath for the entire flight. :o

[Remotecontrolduck]

If you take up more than one seat, you pay for two seats. There's nothing unreasonable about that I'm afraid. It's not discrimination, you simply pay for the space you're taking up. If you're overweight and still fit into one seat, you only pay for one seat.

It might be embarrassing, but it's uncomfortable and unfair for people to have to be squashed thoughout the flight because you're spilling over your seat.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

44 posts in and Godwin's Law already invoked.

[expatinscotland]

'I'm overweight because of my disability and can prove it. I'd sue them for discrimination.'

A man in the US sued an airline when they sat someone who took half his seat up as well at their own and they refused to refund him half his ticket price. He won.

[crashdoll]

Yes, let's humilate everyone! FFS, yes people who cannot fit into 1 seat should have to buy 2 but weighing people....too far!

[GinAndSlimlinePlease]

Oh dear, I started my response before it all became a little nasty.

Anyway, back to sensible suggestions... surely it could be the norm to opt for a 'comfort seat' if needed, in the same way easy jet currently charge for luggage. If you don't, and then you rock up at the airport and it's clear you need the 'comfort seat' you have to pay for it.

I like the idea of a discreet set of scales so only check in person knows.

of course, this would go hand in hand with airlines having improved disability policies so that those who needed extra help/space as a result of a disability got it as standard at no additional cost.