Should fatties pay more to fly?

PaulF81

zagfles wrote: »

But if the airline charges per kilo, ie a 100kg person pays double a 50kg person, then they should obviously be entitled to double the space.

It won't be priced like that. There will be a baseline weight and a surcharge if you exceed it.

Spirit_2

For a three month period I used to ommute from the local regional airport to a city in the north of England. The plane was minibus with wings.

On one occassion I was unlucky enough to have a large chap sit next to me, lever up his thigh and rest it back down on my leg so that he could 'fit' into his seat. He had the grace to tell me the seats were a bit tight. I think he had a problem with the seatbelt too.

No chance of moving in a full plane and I was too polite to complain. I have though that should I ever again be confined by the bulk of another (I am no twig but am small) I would speak up, although I am not sure what happy outcome I could expect on the spot and think it most likely I would be sat next to an angry humiliated large person for the journey..maybe my keeping quiet when it happened was the best thing afterall.

PaulF81

Try it longhaul. One of the downsides of work is having to deadhead (reposition) next to fatties.

londondealer

What about overweight crew? Should they be earning less? Absolutly absurd idea.

PaulF81

londondealer wrote: »

What about overweight crew? Should they be earning less? Absolutly absurd idea.

Potentially, yes. I wouldn't put it past o'leary trying this on with his crews...

You don't seem to get many overweight crews though. The job is unhealthy enough as it is, without throwing additional risk factors in. By and large, we live relatively healthily these days ( although if you ate inflight catering every day you would be size of a whale before long)

Generali

P

PaulF81 wrote: »

Potentially, yes. I wouldn't put it past o'leary trying this on with his crews...

You don't seem to get many overweight crews though. The job is unhealthy enough as it is, without throwing additional risk factors in. By and large, we live relatively healthily these days ( although if you ate inflight catering every day you would be size of a whale before long)

"Man cannot live by Japanese Rice Crackers alone," as my frequent flyer mate's Doc told him.

dktreesea

wotsthat wrote: »

I provide a free service for my fellow passengers because, in defiance of the laws of averages, the seat next to me is usually where they put the morbidly obese. If they're morbidly obese and have a screaming baby it's even more likely.

If I get on a flight and spot a thin person in the seat next to mine that's usually a good indicator that they have BO and fart issues

That's karma for you. You get what you concentrate on.

dktreesea

Percy1983 wrote: »

I can just see them passing a big over peoples heads and if it gets stuck at any point you pay more.

Or maybe they could use being able to fit through a hula hoop as the criteria, so anyone wider than the 15 inch seat width (the seats seem to be getting narrower) has to buy two seats....

ChiefGrasscutter

On a more serious note and slightly OT.
It's not just overall weight that matters, weight distribution is also an issue as the plane has to be in balance in terms of its Center of Gravity(CofG) both 'fore' and 'aft'. There are reduced fuel use advantages to flying with an CofG near to the aft limits however a GofG which is way too far aft (beyond that permitted) is exceptionally dangerous.
It would be theoretically possible to load an an aircraft better if you knew individual passenger weight.
There is one accident I know of where an in-flight fire occured, the final loss of control and fatal crash came when it is belived the fire broke through into the passenger cabin and everyone rushed to the back to get away from it thereby precipitating loss of control as the aircraft CoG was now way too far back......

The smaller the aircraft the more this matters. There are many AAIB fatal reports on 4 and 6 seater aircraft where the fact that the aircraft was overloaded (people+ luggage) is cited as a major contributor to the ensuring accident.

If you ever take a flight in an even smaller aircraft such a a two seat glider with an instructor you may well be asked your weight if you look either extra lightweight or heavy - they are not being rude - the instructor needs to be sure that the aircraft is within both its overall and its fore/aft weight limits.
You see, there is also be a minimum pilot weight - Lightweight pilots have to fly such aircraft with additional lead weights in the cockpit to bring the CofG forward enough to be within the limits specified for the aircraft.

Generali

ChiefGrasscutter wrote: »

On a more serious note and slightly OT.
It's not just overall weight that matters, weight distribution is also an issue as the plane has to be in balance in terms of its Center of Gravity(CofG) both 'fore' and 'aft'. There are reduced fuel use advantages to flying with an CofG near to the aft limits however a GofG which is way too far aft (beyond that permitted) is exceptionally dangerous.
It would be theoretically possible to load an an aircraft better if you knew individual passenger weight.
There is one accident I know of where an in-flight fire occured, the final loss of control and fatal crash came when it is belived the fire broke through into the passenger cabin and everyone rushed to the back to get away from it thereby precipitating loss of control as the aircraft CoG was now way too far back......

The smaller the aircraft the more this matters. There are many AAIB fatal reports on 4 and 6 seater aircraft where the fact that the aircraft was overloaded (people+ luggage) is cited as a major contributor to the ensuring accident.

If you ever take a flight in an even smaller aircraft such a a two seat glider with an instructor you may well be asked your weight if you look either extra lightweight or heavy - they are not being rude - the instructor needs to be sure that the aircraft is within both its overall and its fore/aft weight limits.
You see, there is also be a minimum pilot weight - Lightweight pilots have to fly such aircraft with additional lead weights in the cockpit to bring the CofG forward enough to be within the limits specified for the aircraft.

Fascinating, cheers.

I get a bit annoyed when I sit next to someone who spills into my seat. If I was that bothered I could always pony up the extra cash and fly business.

Live and let live I reckon. There are worse people to be stuck next to than a chubby one. Joey Barton for a start.