Flying Fat: Should Overweight Passengers Be Charged More?

As a mass properties engineer, it is outright dangerous to allow "tons" of large people to get on a plane. It's not a matter of comfort as much as it is a matter of safety. Check the NTSB on how many planes crashed due to being improperly balanced. Did you know that weight and balance sheets for aircraft still run on 1960's regulation where they appropriate 185 lbs for each passenger on an aircraft? This includes 20 lbs of luggage! Seat too many obese people in the back of the plane and you're in trouble. Maybe they can accommodate everyone by offering "roomier seating" near the wing (outside of the emergency exits of course). Everyone can pay more for these seats. If you offer them then I am sure the larger people will take you up on the offer. Right now they have no choice.

Brian, The only issue I have with this is if an extremely obese person has to buy a 2nd seat, will they actually get 2 seats or is it really an inconvenience fee? In addition, as a former college athlete, what does it mean to "fit" within your seat? Ever since high school, my shoulders have been wider than the seat, but I am not obese. Should I have to pay for 2 seats? Also, if passengers are just freight, why should we really worry about comfort?

Excess baggage is excess baggage. The airlines charge for overweight luggage so lets be consistent, charge for overweight passengers. I'm all for it.

First of all it's not about discrimination. Anyone with knowledge about flight will tell you the more weight the more fuel the plane burns. I told my girlfriend a few years ago, people will be charged more for their weight, because it costs more. It should be the same with healthcare. It's not fair to have to pay for people that have unhealthy lifestyles. Charge people more for being unhealthy, maybe those people will decide to take better care of themselves after it starts to impact their wallets. I for one don't like paying a "one-size-fits all" type of bills on insurance or airline tickets.

I travel for a living and find myself on a plane every week. I can't tell you how many times I have been put in an uncomfortable position because the passenger next to me was unable to "fit" within their assigned seat. One time in particular the passenger beside me was physically unable to fit in the seat unless the armrest was lifted, which then allowed that passenger to "spill over" into about 1/3 of my space...very uncomfortable. I did not want to embarrass the person so I politely kept quite. I tell you all this because it is my belief the airlines should not sacrafice the comfort of some passengers for the sake of NOT offending the over-weight. If a person requires two seats than they need to be charged for two seat, not cramed into one seat like regularly happens now. I don't know how you would determine if a person is within the limits of one seat without embarrassing them. I can't imagine the airlines would want to have a seat in front of the gate that could check this, kind of like they do at amusement parks. Charge more! and make the rest of us comfortable on the already cramped planes.

Oh cry me a river!! they should have seen it coming, first the smokers then people who drink then prople with bags now you!! So what! at least you can still fly! as a smoker I can't get on at any price!! I'm terrified to fly and I don't get a Blindfold, a Drink or a Cigeratte!! Nobody stood up for me!! tough on you!! That's diversity for ya; first divide then concour.. have a cookie on me :)

Let's get the scientists and doctors involved and find out how large the seat should be based on averages. The airlines shrink the seats and space and now want to charge more. None of them can operate their businesses worth a darn...they've proven that. We are now a bunch of self-centered dummies who think that what we eat, what we think we look like ,etc makes a difference. What a caring and wonderful group of comments. Go run a marathon and serve up that healthy food...lets have all the healthy, skinny people fly by themselves. It won't be any more pleasant since they will all continue to be self-centered and narcissistic. Look...it's a mirror. Don't you look good.

Yes, airlines should be able to charge for that extra seat and it is not discrimination. Brian, I listened to your guest this morning and I did not agree with her. Obesity is not a disease and just because our environment has "changed", it still comes down to personal responsibility. Recently my husband (who is overweight, has high blood pressure and who would be considered obese) made a conscious decision to lose weight. He simply started making better "choices" in his diet, incorporating more fruits and veggies and ditching the colas and fries. He also started simply walking 30 min per day. In less than one month he has dropped almost 20lbs! I am so proud of him! So, listen up America! No one is forcing that Twinkie down your throat! If you take up two seats on an airline, you have a choice. Pay up or lose weight and get healthy! My husband has a long way to go but he's feeling 100% better already!

Brian, At 6'3" and about 200 pounds I can ill afford to share my seat with someone whose bulk overflows. If somebody needs two seats or first class to fit in, that person should pay for the weight and volume occupied. Continued American weight gain could end up with PETA suing the airlines to make seating space bigger. I'd much rather see those who need more space pay for it.

I wonder also if multiple personality (MPD) Disorder folks should be charged too per personality. Maybe thin people should get a weight discount ? These were my first two reactions- though not necessarily in that order. Sure - weight is mass is costly fuel - AND - if you take up two seats- you take up two seats. No big deal here folks- two seats is two seats - that's what the airline could charge for them - for two seats. Now, if one seat was never going to be used ? underbooked plane ? hey - COULD BE case to say - well -the space is there - but in that case, why not find the nearest homeless person at the airport and say - hey pal -wanna take a ride to Jamaica ? I mean, why should that extra unused seat be given to someone who could pay for it ? I'm fat probably - 240 ? 5'11 ? I think that's obese I hear it's above what ? 30% mass body index ? to fat ? oh well- maybe airlines should have a scale like I have that shows body mass index. After you get the ole probe for pipe bombs- I say - stand on the scale please ? IN FACT - why do airlines NOT charge by weight and volume - really THIN people should fly cheaper. there should be volume cost - as in - the space you take up - one seat is one seat is one seat, two seats is two seats is two seats... BUT - then ? they could go composite score by WEIGHT too and MAYBE even a Mass Body fat index BONUS ! I have more solutions today than problems I think. GREAT Show there Mr. Sullivan - awesome host/jour

Look at it like a BUSINESS decision. Does it take more fuel??? What if FEDEX or UPS charged the SAME for every package??? A DVD shipped to Phoenix weighs XXX but a DVD PLAYER shipped to the same location is much more $$$. Pay up or lose the weight.

Yes, overweight passengers should be charged more, but not merely on the basis of being obese. Body composition should be irrelevant. Even a large, lean person who takes up more than one seat should be charged extra. Let's not make this a debate about obesity, discrimination, or behavioral modification. If your body protrudes beyond the armrest into the next seat (regardless of your body type), then you should buy that second seat.

As someone that flies a lot, and has had the unpleasant experience of being leaned on for some number of hours, it should just be a flat requirement to buy another seat if your waist is over a certain number of inches. And this isn't discrimination at all, its being fair to the person next to you that payed for his 15 inches of space, same as you did. We already charge a person that brings on extra poundage in the form of luggage, is that discriminating against skiers, or surfers, or golfers? People need to understand that being fat isn't a disease. You don't just magically become fat because you a specific genotype. Sure, it might be easier for you to become fat, but it is still a choice to eat enough and not work out enough to become fat. Just as some people have the genotype them makes it more likely to become an alcoholic, but it is still a choice to drink or not, and many make that choice not to. Then to carry this analogy out, should we call it discrimination at a restaurant when the alcoholic HAS to order a $5 beer where the non-alcohol can just drink a $2 cup of tea? Should the restaurant be required to offer $2 beer, so not to discriminate? It is essentially the same thing as the fat person that HAS to buy two seats vs. the average sized guy that can just buy one. If you don't like it, stop hiding behind the "its discrimination" defense. Instead, get out to gym and become friends with produce section at the grocery. Its that simple for anyone.

1) Good credit = you pay less financing, Bad credit = high risk = pay higher finance. 2) Good Driver = less risk to you and others = you pay less car insurance. Bad /reckless driver = high risk to you and others = you pay more for car insurance. 3) you are way healthy = you a more productive, you sick days are less, ... = lower medical bills = should pay less for health insurance. You are obese, you smoke, etc.. = you cost the more in every way. Life is making choice, and everyone should be pay or rewarded accordingly.

I have no issue with the policy in theory. However, I do think specific guidelines should be in place. The airlines could simply squeeze in more smaller seats and start requiring even those of moderately overweight dimensions to buy extra seats. Then they could bring back the seats we have now and call those the "obese" seating facilities. (I trust airlines about as far as I can throw a 747. And I am a wuss.) I can certainly see the complaints of those who have had others significantly in their space, and I do agree that the present seat size is simply not appropriate for a person of 350 lbs or more. I like the idea of a large person seat and especially of watching the ACLU uproar. Bill Small: I love the "Fare Share" pun. As for me, I will personally continue to drive whenever possible and often simply opt for passing on some trips based on a necessity of air travel. Required business travel on a relatively infrequent basis reminds me of the many pitfalls (baggage claim, TSA lines, shoe removal and replacement, delays) that simply add to the seating issue (at 265 lbs, life isn't much fun for me or the next person over if I can't find a spot with an empty seat next to me) to prevent my enjoyment of the experience on any level.

If there are unsold seats on a flight the airlines might move passengers to provide a two seat arrangement for obese travelers without charging them extra. Most overweight people are very self-conscious about the problem anyway without subjecting them to public humiliation. On the other hand, if the flight is full then the obese passenger must bear the consequences and not infringe upon the comfort of other passengers.

Yes

This is a ticking time bomb -- health insurance will spiral ever upward -- productivity will be hurt. Maybe we should start getting obnoxious and start telling people the truth -- they are not big boned or whatever -- they eat too much and eat the wrong things.

THE HUE AND CRY IS THAT THIS IS DISCRIMINATING TO OVERWEIGHT PEOPLE, WHILE IGNORING THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM HAVING AN OVERWEIGHT PERSON NEXT TO THEM. I HAVE FLOWN A GREAT DEAL AND DO NOT APPRECIATE SOMEONE ENCROACHING ON MY SPACE, THE SPACE I PAID FOR. AS MUCH AS I MAY SYMPATHIZE WITH THEIR CONDITION, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VIOLATE MY RIGHTS. IF THEY NEED TWO SEATS TO FLY PROPERLY, THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THEM. WHY SHOULD THE REST OF US SUBSIDIZE THEIR WEIGHT ISSUE IF THE PLANE IS FULL? I ALWAYS BOOKED AN AISLE SEAT AND NEVER THE BULKHEAD, SO AS TO MINIMIZE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN INCONVIENCED BY SOMEONE WHO TOOK UP PART OF MY SPACE AS WELL. THE AIRLINES SHOULD HAVE MORE SEAT SPACE ON THEIR FLIGHTS, BUT BARRING THAT I HAVE A RIGHT TO ENJOY THE SPACE I PAID FOR, AND SOMEONE'S WEIGHT PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE AN EXCUSE FOR INFRINGING ON MY SPACE.

Only if they occupy the space of a next seat paying customer. Its difficult to be in the middle with folks using the limited space the airlines sells you. Slim

I completely agree with charging overweight individuals more for a plane ticket. My opinion will cost the majority of my family more money, but so does the rest of our society. I am confused on how this would be misintepreted as discrimination since obese people already pay more for something as simple as clothing... Everything in life cannot be an, "ALL U CAN EAT BUFFET". I believe that the outrage revolves more around shame than an actual belief in discrimination. Its embarrassing to have your size alone inconvenience others. It's easier to buy fast food than it is to eat salads. It's easier to over eat than it is to control your portions. It's hard to simply put down your fork before you are full when all of America has created an emotional tie to food. The behavioral science of obesity has become an epidemic more so than obesity itself. How many times have you seen an overweight child and felt confused as to how that happened only to see their parents and notice a developing trend. Americas obesity problem will only exponentially increase due to a complete disregard for our children. If I can thank the baby boomers for one thing, it's that they wanted more for their children than they wanted for themselves. I feel that this value amongst families has been lost and that in another 20 years the statistics will have doubled again. We as parents should want more for our kids.

Yes, overweight passengers should be charged more, but not merely on the basis of being obese. Body composition should be irrelevant. A large, lean person who takes up more than one seat should also be charged extra. Let's not make this a debate about obesity and discrimination. Keep it simple! If your body protrudes beyond the armrest into the next seat (regardless of your level of obesity), then you must buy that second seat.

I think you are mixing two points; charging the obese extra and behavior modification. I think the obese should pay their fare share. Additionally, if I have to sit next to an obese person, and loose seat space, I should be compensated for the additional discomfort.

Maybe it would be a great incentive to lose weight, consider your health first! I'm not fat, but I would not discriminate against over-weight flyers, that seems so hurtful and superficial.

Brian, First, I have to admit that I'm a big man myself (6' 3" and 245 lb). However, I support this measure. Quite a few times I had to sit for 4 and more hours to someone who'd have difficulty even with two seats and most of the flight these gentlemen (somehow they all happened to be male) were resting on me with a portion of their body. Only someone who experienced this may be a judge. What the companies may consider - is creating a few seats specifically enlarged for these passangers and ask them to take these sits for a fee (the same as we pay to sit in the exit row because it's more space). There's nothing offensive in using a special seat, and it's not difficult to arrange. As an added benefit, it will immediately bring ACLU on the case and it will be a great entertainment for all normal (outside of ACLU circle) people. Thanks for your excellent reviews.