Should airlines base ticket prices by weight?
It is a kind of distribution of wealth scheme… everyone gets charged the same even though they may be light and not use as much fuel. I like the idea… you get weighed with your baggage and get charged so much per pound. The airlines charge extra for excess baggage so why not? Someone might say… why should an obese person be penalized because they have a problem? On the other hand… why should a healthy person be penalized for the obese person’s problem by having to pay to fly that heavy person? I can’t see an airline stepping out and trying that… Because most of their riders are fat. Those riders will go to airlines that don’t charge the “fat tax”. Watch the stewardess next time you fly… they quietly hand out extension seat belts like popcorn at the onset of the flight. Also probably a little less benefit then would be realized because 1/3 to 1/2 of the airline payload is in fuel. Heavier people cause that fuel to be burned more quickly and burning it faster lightens the air
