Airline Fat Tax - ThinnerTimes

bigguy_132 · 11-22-2007, 10:21 PM

So airlines in Australia are taxing people for being fat. Foxnews was doing a speal about it on TV I cannot find a link to an article but I did find this on the site.

Debate: Fat Tax for Fat Fliers?

Neil Weinberg, senior editor: I say pay for what you use. If you want a first class seat, then pay for one. When you put your bag on the scale and it's too much, you have to pay more. You know what else I think would work; you know those carry-on boxes you put your carry-on in to see if it fits, why not have one for people and if you don't fit in the box, you can't go in economy.

Poppy Harlow, Forbes.com senior reporter: This is completely ridiculous. Airlines won't go for it and they will lose a ton of money. Fat people are already uncomfortable to fly in the first place. Why on earth should they have to pay more to do so?

Mark Tatge: I think this is basic economics. The airline sells space. If you go to the post office, and you mail a package, if it weight more you have to pay more. It should be the same way on an airline. So why don't the airlines have double wide seats and charge 150 percent more! All of us would be more comfortable: the obese one and the skinny one sitting next to the obese one! Better yet, why not charge more for screaming children!

Josh Lipton, Forbes.com staff writer: The bottom line is an airline tax for fat people is not going to make them change their behavior, it just humiliates them. How would you even make this system work? Would you weigh people when they come in? Put them on giant butcher scales and see how much they way? I really don't see how this would work.

Mike Ozanian: There are two very good reasons as to why they should never do this. Number one; why pick on fat people? They die sooner than everyone else anyway. They save us a lot of money and never collect their social security. Number two; my wife is an awesome baker so I'll be fat soon myself!

Basically to fly if you are fat you get taxed. From the sounds of it alot of people are for it because "it would cause us to lose weight rather then just pay the tax" I dont know about you all but this PISSES me off to NO end. Did I chose to be fat no, I got screwed over in the genetics line. Discuss away.

Chia · 11-22-2007, 11:05 PM

There may not be a formal tax, but some airlines **cough . . . southwest . . .cough** do stuff like this. I have always been a bigger person, but I've NEVER had a problem fitting in an airline seat. One time, the LAST time, I flew Southwest, a gate agent asked if I could fit in the seat, I said yes and thought it was over. Later she came back and said that my word wasn't good enough, made me get out of line and pre-board with the special needs fliers. When I could fit in the seat, with the arms down, she didn't even apologize. I was livid, but I guess that's just the kind of discrimination we as over-weight/obese people have come to know and loathe.

A tax like this would never work, but in my opinion, the mere idea of it seems hateful and rude. There are a lot of things that suck about flying and while I can acknowledge having a bigger person invade your space on a cramped flight may be uncomfortable, what about being seated next to someone w/gnarly BO, or aggressive perfume? Crying babies/bratty kids suck on planes, but no airline would have a "No kids under 10" rule at the risk of losing the family dollars.

raar, good post big guy!

Toony · 11-23-2007, 12:08 AM

Did you know that your medical bills are prorated according to your BMI??? I heard this at my last support meeting... Larger people are more difficult to examine, test, etc. is the theory...

AND... the Fire Dept/Paramedics keep a file of those with high BMI's... in case of a 9-1-1 call, they send extra hands to help.... Egad! Add in we live in a raised ranch - so there are stairs involved getting morbidly obese me or DH out... add on a fork lift!!! I can't imagine our paramedics know about us... wonder if we need to "pre-register" for possible emergencies...

Jeri · 11-23-2007, 03:31 AM

The airlines have been doing this for years. If you can't fit into one seat they charge you for 2. I think it makes perfect sense that they do this since they are in the business of filling seats to make money.

Saying something is discrimination because you find it offensive is a bit miuch. That's what has gotten this country to the place we are now. No one can say or do a thing without getting sued, losing their job, being made into a public spectacle--political correctness run amuck. I'm sorry..but I just don't agree that having my feelings hurt means something is discrimination.

Hamburgler · 11-23-2007, 05:20 AM

When a policy is made that impacts only a specific group based on a physical/mental, cultural, or other percieved or real trait, its discrimination. Yes this is a capitalist society...yes they are in it for the money, but lets face it they pack people in like sardines to make money and even average size people are often uncomfortable. I would be greatly offended if I was asked to weigh in or watch someone else go through that humiliation. It is offensive. Now should they have the right to have weight limits, sure, but at some point someone really needs to measure the rears of the average american and lets get seats to fit those rumps all across the great USA.

I_love_Hello Kitty · 11-23-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chia

One time, the LAST time, I flew Southwest, a gate agent asked if I could fit in the seat, I said yes and thought it was over. Later she came back and said that my word wasn't good enough, made me get out of line and pre-board with the special needs fliers. When I could fit in the seat, with the arms down, she didn't even apologize. I was livid, but I guess that's just the kind of discrimination we as over-weight/obese people have come to know and loathe.

This is so amazing to me!!!! How humiliating!!!!
I have a larger rear side..and I could understand someone not wanting to sit next to me if I encroach on their space...but there are lots of reasons NOT to want to sit next to someone...can we tax those with a crying baby??(I'm a Mom..I know how that is...but still,no one want to listen to it)...can we tax someone if they're too smelly to sit next to, or have super bad breath??, can we tax the person who won't shut up during the flight, and leave you alone??..what about someone with a small baldder who makes you keep getting up so they can go to the restroom???..or the super tall guy whose legs don't fit well, and his knees encroach your leg space???

Its ridiculous!! and humiliating the way fat people are singled out...

I'll keep that in mind for next time...hmmm...Southwest you say..

What ever happened to common decency...and treating people with manners and respect??...and a public company being descreet and polite and apologetic would be nice for a change. Bastards.

Chia · 11-23-2007, 09:33 AM

I agree that companies are allowed to have policies that protect their customers. My reasoning for why I feel I was discriminated by Southwest was the methodology they used to enact that policy. If it were such a big deal why can't they post on their website "If you can't fit into a 19 inch wide seat, you will need to buy a second ticket." where you could assess the situation from the privacy of one's own home?

Also, they have those little sizer things to gauge carry on bags, couldn't they have an area of mock airline seats at the check in area (as in before going through security) where the person who checks your luggage can see if you purchased one or two seats and quietly ask if you were aware of the size policy?

We all can debate the merit of this being a source of discrimination or not, but discrimination DOES exist in our society against fat/over-weight/obese people. Studies show that the obese are employed less often given their qualifications and, on average earn less than their "normal weight" counter parts.

I'm just saying . . .

Debz · 11-23-2007, 10:24 AM

I am sad to say what I'm about to, but it is the truth. Airlines are a business...their objective is to make money. And the way they do that is to sell space on an airplane. If you require more space, there really isn't, in my opinion, a reason for them not to charge you for that space. It's what they sell, for goodness sake. It would seem to me, however, that they could be a tad more humane in they way they size up the situation.

I flew next to my mom recently. She is larger than I was before surgery...and quite frankly, it was awful. I had no place to rest my arm and she encroached on me the whole flight across country. It was intolerable...and I love her. I can only imagine what it would have been like for a total stranger.

Alleusion · 11-23-2007, 10:43 AM

I have to say I agree that this is not discrimination. They do this for the safety and comfort of all passengers involved, as well as in an attempt to make money. Is it offensive? Mildly, hurtful? Yes. But then, often the truth hurts. Airlines charge for an additional seat if you're bringing an infant on board now as well. When we flew with my daughter 11 years ago, this wasn't the case, as she could sit on my lap....now babies are required to be in a car seat on an airline. I have to pay extra for my 11 year old son to fly to California by himself, as he's not considered old enough to fly. I don't feel they are discriminating against my son or future baby because of age.

I remember I flew home from Vegas one time and the seat belt would not close. I spent the entire flight with my seatbelt undone and trying to hide the fact that I couldn't get it to latch. I was miserable and humiliated. For safety reasons alone, I should have had to pay for an extra seat.

It's sad that our world is seeing such a huge influx of morbid obesity. It makes me wonder, where did we go wrong? My husband and I were discussing this last night over dinner. While we did not have a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, I did make sure we had turkey and mashed potatoes and green beans. All healthy, all proportioned properly, etc. But while we were eating, I discribed to him the Thanksgiving dinners of my childhood.

My mom would make a 20+ pound turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, candied yams, cranberry sauce, and a minimum of 8 different kinds of pies. Pumpkin, mincemeat, pecan, apple, lemon, chocolate cream, banana cream, cherry....and the sad thing is we had them all. We would wake up the next day and have turkey and pie for breakfast. Then I told him about all the holiday baking that would begin after Thanksgiving...cookies, pies, candy, brownies, fudge. It's no wonder I grew up stuffing all kinds of sweets into my face.

I agree that genetics does help to play a part in obesity. However, out of my 2 sisters and I, one of us (not me) grew up thin, gained weight, lost weight, and generally has little struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. My other sister and I have fought with the scale since high school. I fear daily that my own children will walk the same path I have.

Oh well, I've gone off on a tangent. Bottom line is, I don't feel this is discrimination.

Quote:

Also, they have those little sizer things to gauge carry on bags, couldn't they have an area of mock airline seats at the check in area (as in before going through security) where the person who checks your luggage can see if you purchased one or two seats and quietly ask if you were aware of the size policy?

They have this at amusement parks. The seats are right there before you get on the ride so you don't have to suffer the humiliation of waiting in line only to be told to get off in front of everyone.

Duckie · 11-23-2007, 10:55 AM

I have to agree that this is a business. If you require "more room than one seat can give you" you should pay more. There are weight restrictions on flights (including people and luggage), if they go over then the plane can crash. I know this is an extreme example. In addition to this, the person next to the obese person has paid for a comfortable seat and is instead VERY uncomfortable.
I agree too however, that a screaming child should pay more! Flying should be a serene experience not one that requires ear plugs!! Anyone requiring extra support or services should have to pay for it.
JMHO (you can bitch at me now!)