Should fatties pay more to fly?

Percy1983

Generali wrote: »

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.

As much as I see the point, why should thin people have to pay to get away from fat people?

N1AK

It's not actually a terrible idea, and although it is often supported as generic 'fatty bashing' weight is a big cost to aircraft. Besides the hassle of bringing it in (vast enough that it won't happen) the charge itself isn't unfair.

I have no issue with someone who doesn't fit comfortably in a seat being required to have two seats. It would be hypocritical for me as a heavy person (fortunately due to height not waistline) to think the additional cost I bring should be ignored.

Now if airlines would be so kind as to fit more decent legroom seats and/or charge a less exorbitant surcharge for using them then I'd be happy

PaulF81

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.

Already posted exactly this earlier, with a nasty ntsb youtube clip of what happens when it goes wrong. flown an aircraft out of c of g limits (aft) and it wasn't fun.

new_home_owner_3

i suppose when you buy some of the overpriced !!!!!! food on the plane and put a few ounces on, they will ask you to jump back on the scales so they can fleece you again, the idea is ridiculous.

PaulF81

new_home_owner wrote: »

i suppose when you buy some of the overpriced !!!!!! food on the plane and put a few ounces on, they will ask you to jump back on the scales so they can fleece you again, the idea is ridiculous.

Are the fatties protesting?

wotsthat

I once sat next to Claire Sweeney on a flight. She didn't fart once.

new_home_owner_3

wotsthat wrote: »

I once sat next to Claire Sweeney on a flight. She didn't fart once.

I heard a joke about her being stopped at customs, i heard they found 20 kilos of ( i better not say)

dktreesea

Vitamin D deficiency causes fat storage, so maybe, once the fat person has been sunbathing, they will weigh less on the return flight :-) Perhaps fat people are meant to hibernate over the winter....

PaulF81

Chocolate?

new_home_owner_3

PaulF81 wrote: »

Chocolate?

yeah that's the one