If airlines are so concerned with every kg/lb of luggage you carry, should they charge more for obese people?

Miranda
#1. March 14th, 2007, at 3:24 AM.

good question

missourim43
#2. March 16th, 2007, at 11:00 AM.

Airline employees have to lift and carry luggage. They are unable to control the weight of the passenger. By limiting the weight of luggage they are helping to reduce the costs of lost time due to employee injuries to the backs, shoulders etc. If you want to wear 4 pair of Bermuda shorts and tee-shirts…. go for it.

49erfan
#3. March 19th, 2007, at 2:49 PM.

Not unless they are being put in the over head bins.

boonietech
#4. March 20th, 2007, at 9:45 AM.

What is even more annoying is sitting next to a person who is overflowing into half your seat on a 4 hour flight, and they seem oblivious to it. I don’t want to sound like I’m picking on the obese, but there has to be a way to require them to buy 2 seats if they are over a certain girth. Or the airline could bump me up to first or business class and I wouldn’t complain either.

Question Everything
#5. March 20th, 2007, at 2:02 PM.

Some airlines require that an larger than average person purchase an additional seat. Also give the airlines employees some kudos because when seating these specific type of individuals they are not just trying to cater to their needs but they also take fellow passengers into consideration. So with requiring an additional seat purchase they are charging them more.

VA Girl
#6. March 22nd, 2007, at 4:14 AM.

This is an unkind question, but the airlines do sometimes charge obese people for 2 seats. They also get sued and derogatory airtime on the news because of it.

poison ivy
#7. March 24th, 2007, at 4:03 PM.

LOL.. dude.. try it..

xyzlmnop_tx
#8. March 25th, 2007, at 8:04 PM.

I think the luggage weight question isn’t so much about total weight on the plane as it is about the luggage handlers on the ground not having to lift as much weight per bag. You will notice that two bags of 50 lbs. isn’t a problem but one bag of 60 lbs. is.

As to your point about obese people, you are right, this is a sensitive question. But frankly, this deserves some discussion. What does an airline have to sell other than physical space for people and things on a plane? The answer is nothing. So why am I charged the same amount as somebody who takes up more space than I do?

I saw a talk show years ago where an obese woman was complaining (and suing) Southwest Airlines because they suggested she purchase another ticket since she required two seats. Embarrassing to her? Certainly. Appropriate, given that the airline couldn’t also sell the seat next to her? Yes, in my opinion. In this day and age of online and 1-800 number reservations, a simple question such as “Do you physically require more space than one standard airplane seat allows?” will get the airline sensitively and discreetly (i.e., it avoids an embarrassing situation on the plane in front of dozens of people) to the issue with these special passengers.

I’m tired of everybody in this life always wanting to blame somebody else for their shortcomings. I take responsibility for mine. I’m apparently one of the few people who thinks this way.