Is it right for airplanes to charge someone based off of weight?

[Cicero]

So this was recently on the local news, and it said that a airplane company will start charging people off of how much they weigh. Is this right? Personally, I see their point. Because flying heavier people wastes more fuel, especially when an airplane has a lot of heavy people, it can add up. It's not right. But I see where they're coming from and I think I agree.

[project_icarus]

Smaller operators (such as charters) already do this, and have for a long while, now.
As long as it doesn't affect the operational standards of an aircraft, it shouldn't matter. As long as the aircraft is below the relevant MTOW (maximum take-off weight), it shouldn't matter (just keep in mind that passengers and luggage aren't the only things that have an effect on the weight).

[thatguywhosaysEH]

I feel it's ok. It's basically like shipping something but with people. The more it weighs the more you pay.

[Neptune]

I’m completely fine with it. The heavier someone is, the more expensive it is to fly them places. A heavier plane = more gasoline.

[Jess]

I think it's fine...though I'm a bit worried about my family's future plane trips...will be a bit more costly because my mom isn't ---well, she's not obese, or terribly overweight but she's not slim and perfect like some mothers. I don't know.

[Horizon]

I can see the airline's stand point on the whole situation.

They have their mind slightly in the right, but charging people by their weight is almost unfair to me. Because why should someone have to pay more because they are different? It's almost a discrimination issue, but at the same time it's not.

[Cicero]

I can see the airline's stand point on the whole situation.

They have their mind slightly in the right, but charging people by their weight is almost unfair to me. Because why should someone have to pay more because they are different? It's almost a discrimination issue, but at the same time it's not.

Is not a discrimination issue because you can change your weight. Not skin color.

[Horizon]

Is not a discrimination issue because you can change your weight. Not skin color.

That's why I said its almost.

I don't feel people need to lose weight to fly on an airplane.
The only reason that people should choose to lose weight, is because they want to get healthier, or they would like to just lose it.

[Human]

There's nothing wrong with it, obviously there's a overall weight limit to the flight so having lots of heavy people would make it less safe.
If you're heavy and don't like it, find another company which offers you flight free of your weight.

[PinkFloyd]

more weight = more jet fuel needed. Same goes with needing to buy 2 seats. I feel that it's fair.

[Apollo.]

I think it's fine, if they get fat they pay more, however I think the weight limit should be relative to height. Besides who wants to be sitting next to the fat guy on a plane!?

[workingatperfect]

I don't agree with it. Maybe if you're morbidly obese, like 3 or 400 pounds. And if you're that size, you probably need to buy 2 seats anyway, so that's like flying two semi-normal weighted people anyway. But if like, I was flying somewhere with my mom and my ticket was more than hers just because I weigh more, no I would not be okay with that. Not at all. I'm not going to lose weight just so I don't have worry about whether or not I can afford a flight.

Is not a discrimination issue because you can change your weight. Not skin color.

Actually, it can be considered discrimination, and you can't always change your weight, whether you weigh too much or too little. Discrimination can be anything, it doesn't have to be something you can't change. What about body mod discrimination in the workplace? Or religion, you can claim a different religion too if you don't like how people treat you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weightism

[Harry Smith]

I think the airline have every right to do it, it's there mode of transport and they need to ensure the safety of the other passengers and make it economically viable to actually run the flight.

[xmojox]

How do they intend on doing it? Will it cost x dollars per pound, or, will it be an additional charge beyond regular fare?

According to a 2010 article from WebMD.com, 36.6% of Americans were overweight, and 26.5% were obese. That article is here ( http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/news/20100210/percentage-of-overweight-obese-americans-swells), if anyone is interested.
,
If they're planning to do it where everyone gets on a scale and then pays so much per pound, then it's fair, as heavier people would pay more and lighter people less. Any other method, would not be fair.

[Cicero]

I don't agree with it. Maybe if you're morbidly obese, like 3 or 400 pounds. And if you're that size, you probably need to buy 2 seats anyway, so that's like flying two semi-normal weighted people anyway. But if like, I was flying somewhere with my mom and my ticket was more than hers just because I weigh more, no I would not be okay with that. Not at all. I'm not going to lose weight just so I don't have worry about whether or not I can afford a flight.



Actually, it can be considered discrimination, and you can't always change your weight, whether you weigh too much or too little. Discrimination can be anything, it doesn't have to be something you can't change. What about body mod discrimination in the workplace? Or religion, you can claim a different religion too if you don't like how people treat you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weightism

Well that's the great part about this one offering the weight charge, its only one company. But if it were all airplane companies, they'd either tell you pay the bill according to your weight or don't fly with us, they don't care whether or not you're not going to lose the weight. Cause you either fly with them or fly with someone else.

Most likely it's their fault they're overweight, no one else's. there is of course a small percentage if overweight people who are that way due to a condition or medicines they take, but I'm sure if planes gave a discount to those with those condition most everyone they'd see overweight would be that way due to their medicine (as in fat people would lie and really have no condition compared to overweight people who are that way due to a condition [ie meds, disease/illness])

[Nellerin]

So this was recently on the local news, and it said that a airplane company will start charging people off of how much they weigh. Is this right? Personally, I see their point. Because flying heavier people wastes more fuel, especially when an airplane has a lot of heavy people, it can add up. It's not right. But I see where they're coming from and I think I agree.

Ya why not. Charge people on their weight + bags combined.

[Stronger]

I see nothing wrong with it, but I'd be interested to see how the pricing would work out, like what would be consider a large size, etc.

[dontfiguremeout]

Well honestly I don't see anything wrong with it. Gas or oil or whatever they use for planes is probably extremely expensive! Especially now a days with our economy! I also think it's a good way to encourage those people to think about how they live their life style, and maybe want to change. Maybe they don't want to pay extra and realize that they should start thinking about how they need to exercise and eat healthier! Sad as it is, this could give them the encouragement to want to exercise and eat healthier so they don't have to pay for being overweight on the plane.

[Maverick]

Its really not feasible to become mainstream. Boarding and de-boarding airplanes is already a clusterfuck as is. Suddenly there are going to be scales at every gate having everyone line up one by one to get weighed? What happens if somebody pays for a 150 lb ticket yet they end up 220 at the gate? Do they have to pay the difference otherwise not be able to fly? I can see this getting crazy with people boarding airplanes with bikinis or skimpy clothes so they can get the lowest fare.

This whole entire idea might be a cost accountant's wet dream however whats good for cost control may not be good for customer relations.

However, its important to watch this closely because if it ends up working out... the door has been opened for others.

[nice]

I think its a nice thing I wouldn't mind doing it because u know fuel and stuff for airplanes probably isn't cheap. If I was mad with the price I got it'd motivate me to lose weight and slim down some

[ReginaGeorge]

For small airplanes, I think maybe. Those things can't carry a lot, and if two 120kg people take up that same space as 3.5 70kg people for the same resources then charge them. These planes while yes, still used for traveling, have a different feel and these don't go long distances, and it's just different. Plus, these people still need to make a living.

But, big airlines should not. No way. People aren't just cargo, you can't just charge them a baggage fee if they weigh more than 80kg. That's utter bullshit. We're talking about PEOPLE here, not objects. The airplane and the company need to be prepared to cater for everyone, not just the light ones. It's like saying that the bigger the clothing size, the higher the price. It's unethical and unfair.

And there is a flaw in this logic. I'm sure people who are agreeing are thinking "damn right, fat people need to lose weight and be like everyone else", but no. You see, tall people naturally weigh more than short people. A girl that is short and skinny could be.. let's say 60kg. A girl that is tall and just as skinny could be 70kg, 80kg or even more. That's not fair that they'd have to pay more because of how they're born. That's discrimination. There is also the consideration of muscle, so bodybuilders, athletes, let's not forget PREGNANT WOMEN. Someone can be flabby and 60kg, and someone can be fit as fuck, toned, and sexy, and take up less room at 85kg+. "Why don't they just do it by BMI then?" Ah see, that's not accurate either. That's just as unreliable as weight. "Why don't then do muscle:fat ratio?" Do you seriously think it's logical to measure a each and every single person's wrist, neck, bust, stomach, and thighs and calculate how much muscle they have? Let's remember the thousands of customers they have every day.

I rest my case.

This argument is bullshit and discrimination.

[Hunter_Steel]

I'm an obese person and I agree with this. I weigh 98kg and thats over the average for a person of my height. My girlfriend is just as tall as me at 5ft 11 inches, but weighs as much as a 10 year old at 45kg. Taller people doesn't mean heavier. For me, I have a large stomach, and I am fat. So its not just my muscle, if I lost my flab, I will weigh in the 80 kg range. I hope they do implement this in. Its not discrimination, its encouraging people like me to live a healthier lifestyle.

Plus, the plane's maximum take off weight is the reason. You don't want a 747 dropping from the sky with 500+ passengers on board because of the plane being heavier than its max take off weight. So its no discrimination, the feelings of 1 person out weigh the safety of nearly 500 people on board. So its either, tell the guy to pay more, or risk the lives of half a thousand people. I prefer paying up than risking the lives of others just because I feel its not fair.

I rest my case.

~Hunter

[randomnessqueen]

consider what it is, i understand why its by weight. people may not find it pleasant, but when youre in the air, weights important