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- pa.press.net
Should overweight fliers pay more?
New legislation that would make it necessary for obese passengers to buy an extra seat might be introduced.
Stewart Cohen_Getty
It's a touchy subject, but what would you do if you paid for a seat on a flight, and found yourself unable to occupy it comfortably because your neighbour was spilling over into a third of it?
Would you insist that they pay some sort of 'fat tax', as mooted by Ryanair in 2009, who raised the question with its passengers?
This hot topic has reared its head again, as The Daily Telegraph reports that a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, which, in two cases, said that the Montreal Convention - a set of international rules and regulations on air travel - should take precedence over British law.
The two cases in question were with regards to wheelchair users who sued their airlines on grounds of 'embarrassing incidents' after they were unable to sit next to their carers. The cases were dismissed after judges ruled that key elements of Britain's disability and discrimination laws do not apply once passengers have boarded an aircraft.
In effect, it means that if an airline wanted to introduce an extra charge for obese passengers, it could. The Telegraph also quotes barrister Daniel Barnett as saying that it gives airlines a "laissez-faire attitude to disregard seat allocation promises" and could mean they "are immune if they choose to embarrass overweight passengers by demanding a fat tax".
If someone can't physically occupy one seat, however, it is fair on other passengers to give up their space? This is particularly relevant on long haul flights, which are lengthy as well as expensive. And, apart from the discomfort, it comes down to an issue of space - which is of course a premium on flights - as a passenger carrying an extra bag or more than their weight allowance would be expected to pay a baggage excess fee. On the otherhand, obesity is a sensitive issue and the question is whether airlines can handle it sensitively. Tell us what you think by taking our poll.
Vote now
411Comments
27/02/2012 11:39
I am 5'0" and weigh 43 Kgs and always seem get seated next to a large person. I pay for a whole seat, and usually end up with half as the larger person next to me puts up the arm rest so that they can overflow into my space! I have been seated next to large people who got irate with me because I was in THEIR way even though they were in half my seat! I once was seated next to a man who wasn't able to use his tray as his belly got in the way, and without asking let down my tray so that he could put his drink on it! I don't care if a person is large, as long as they stay in the space that they paid for or pay for the half of MY seat that they are sitting in!
The percentage of obese people is growing. If weight gain was purely due to "health" or "biological" reasons as Joshua Dickenson below suggests shouldn't the percentages be similar to those 30 or 40 years ago? Those issues were present too, but it didn't seem to be as much of a problem back then! It is all about change in what we eat. There is much easier accessibility to fattening food than there was back then, as the processed food industry has boomed. Basically, quit eating the stuff! I should be a fat person as I eat as much as my boyfriend does, but I don't eat a lot of junk! So I do not buy into that sob story. I do realise that people do have medical issues that make it difficult to lose weight and I am not including them, but for most people it is a choice!
Also, i only use a 45 litre soft backpack when I travel. Shouldn't I get a discount as my bag never weighs more than 8 or 9 Kgs? Maybe, as one person has suggested, price should reflect total weight of passenger and baggage.
I do think though that the seats in economy are too small, fine for a person my size, but not very good for bigger or taller people. The seats should be a bit larger.
14/02/2012 10:07
The Travel Industry is on it's knees at the moment with rising fuel costs one of the biggest issues and if they were to sacrifice more seats to create extra space for obese passengers it would hurt their purse strings even further.
For me I don't think we should accept obesity... it's troubling our economy due to additional procedures on the NHS, some not working due to excessive obesity and now we are discussing changing configuration on aircraft for obese people... not for me... we should be putting procedures in place to reduce the amount of obese people and getting them healthy. We don't want to turn into USA!
13/02/2012 22:00
i think the airlines should supply seats that are bigger i think there should be one on every row... i think it's up to the airlines to provide for every size person... they squash so many seats onto the plane there not even big enough for the not so big person!! !! but then that would be to easy!
11/02/2012 18:36
Most of you people on this make me sick...most of you dont actually understand the biology behind weight gain and think it is a very simple (eat to much, get fat thing) that is simple narrow minded and not the case, yes this can contribute to weight heavily. however if your stick thin and you eat a pizza, crisps, ice-cream and then dont gain anyweight you tend not to think about it. However we all have different rates at processing fats (there are such things as fat cells btw) a fat person may eat exactly what you the stick thin person might eat and yet gain weight. why should they be discriminated for that? you people have no human decency.
09/02/2012 20:41
I weigh 19 stone, my wife weighs 9, but we both take up one seat nothing more. Just because someone is overweight and/or obese, does not mean that person needs more room and therefore pay more. If however someone needs way over just their seat and causes the passenger next to them discomfort by taking up some of their seat then they should be made to pay more for an extra seat or be made to pay for an upgrade. Don't judge a book by its cover.
09/02/2012 18:39
pay per kg for the total weight ,which includes the person plus all luggage and belongings,if the person needs extra room then perhaps they need to upgrade. its not fair someone half my weight should pay the same as me, i pay my own way, i dont think i or anyone else should be subsidized to go on holiday.
09/02/2012 18:34
09/02/2012 18:32
I am overweight but I don't fly anyway. Sometimes however tall slim people weigh more than short fat people. How are they going to measure that; with a guage rather like when you check the size of your mail? The last time I flew a skinny person sat next me and her bones kept sticking into me.
09/02/2012 16:48
09/02/2012 15:34
09/02/2012 15:20
09/02/2012 15:08
09/02/2012 14:45
09/02/2012 14:40
09/02/2012 14:35
09/02/2012 14:35
09/02/2012 14:30
SS
She is on your case now and clearly has not understood any of us..
Lana
Choosing to be fat, eating too much and not exercising is not a medical condition, it could lead to one though. Prior to that condition the above mentioned persons (those that choose) had a choice. Take your blinkers off, why do you think that companies such as Weight Watchers even exist? And guess what tactic they employ... reduce calories and promote exercise.
09/02/2012 14:22
SS clearly you have got your stastics wrong
obesity is a medical condition and there is a large percentage of obese people in this country
This doesnt mean they sit all day and eat cream cakes
I am a frequent flier and and expect rightly allocated space and a good journey
this is the real world and a lot of my trips have been unplesant due to
A, skinny people spreading their long arms & legs all over my space,,,
B. thin People stinking of Body odour,,into my space
c. normal size people constantly disturbing my space to get out or in to their seats
d. Average size parents with screaming kids, ruining my space & my journey
e. Passengers listening to mobile devices at full blast bouncing in time to the music ruining my space and my journey
Any passengers of Size sat near me always apologised if they were closer to me due to seat size
LEAVE PASSENGERS OF SIZE ALONE...TARGET SOMEONE ELSE
09/02/2012 13:51
Lana
Yes there are people that CHOOSE to be fat! Those that don't exercise, and eat more calories than they should... and yes there are people that have illnesses, BUT they are a small percentage of obese people! We care and support them because it is out of their control.
But those that have control (the majority) are invading our rights to have a good journey with our rightly allocated space!! I don't care what the airlines choose to do.... all I care is to have the space I PAID FOR!
Isn't it your exercise time lana??
Yes there are people that CHOOSE to be fat! Those that don't exercise, and eat more calories than they should... and yes there are people that have illnesses, BUT they are a small percentage of obese people! We care and support them because it is out of their control.
But those that have control (the majority) are invading our rights to have a good journey with our rightly allocated space!! I don't care what the airlines choose to do.... all I care is to have the space I PAID FOR!
Isn't it your exercise time lana??
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