'Tubby Tax' on the way for obese travelers?

Posted on Nov 13th 2007 11:23AM by Martha Edwards

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

When your luggage weighs too much, you have to pay an extra fee. But could this kind of excess weight tax be applied to your body weight as well? One doctor in Australia thinks so -- according to Dr John Tickell, an expert in nutrition and weight control, obese travellers should have to pay extra rates to fly because they are driving up the cost of flights for everyone, since it takes more jet fuel to transport them. Really? If that's true, it does seem a little unfair for all of us to be paying the same price, especially since we encourage airlines to charge more for people who bring too much luggage because we don't want to pay for their extravagance.

Still, it seems cruel and embarrassing to base the cost of a flight on how much someone weighs. What do you think of this idea?

Do you think airlines should implement a 'tubby tax'?
Yes -- it's only fair	13732 (31.0%)
No -- it's discriminatory and downright mean	29127 (65.7%)
Other -- Tell us in the comments	1445 (3.3%)

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1191 Comment

Tags: flight, flying, obese, tubby tax, TubbyTax

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 60)

Vishaal 11-13-2007 @ 11:31AM

This is absolutely rediculous because someone can weight 240 lbs but be pure muscle. It's just cruel and embarassing. I'm sure that doctor was just trying to make a point and wasn't very serious on that fact.

William 12-11-2007 @ 5:05PM

I think its a great idea ... finally people will realize how unhealthy and disgusting it is to be 400 pounds and 5 feet wide.. maybe they will wake up and realize that they are eating WAY to much just because they can't control their proportions of meals... they just stuff their face untill they are full ( and also the content of the meals and time eating it) and can't controll themselves.. i just laugh when i drive by mcdonalds at 10 oclock at night and there is a line of 5 cars waiting to eat that greasy garbage.. gross.. why don't you have some self respect and lose some wieght

bdillard 12-13-2007 @ 2:56PM

It is all based on fuel consumption per unit mass. It has nothing to do with being fat or being discriminated against. They burn fuel to carry your total weight- same thing as luggage.

Jacki 12-14-2007 @ 6:18PM

I think that the discriminatory comments are uncalled for. I know, you must think that I am fat, I am not, not by a long shot. I think it is just wrong that they are blaming overweight people for uncomfortable plane rides and gas issues/prices (Thank you Mr. President) . What about the airlines making the seats smaller so they can cram in as many people as possible for financial gain and not comfort?

nthibo2 12-17-2007 @ 3:49PM

It's not the fact of fat or muscle. It's that it cost more in fuel, so why should everyone have to pay higher prices to accommodate larger people?

Rainman57 12-21-2007 @ 4:26PM

VISHAAL: 240 lbs, and solid muscle? Sounds like someone who works out and takes care of themselves. NOT AN OBESE PERSON. The article was about OBESE people, not people in shape. WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, can't a liberal make an arguement without real stupid, probably never going to happen, what if's?

FlyingH1 12-21-2007 @ 9:06PM

As long as the airlines decrease the cost of a fare for underweight and children, then it's fair. I doubt they will..

Donna 12-22-2007 @ 1:17PM

Are you people kidding me! Do any of those who say its right to charge obese people more money serious. Do you people know that nearly have of the obese are but not by choice. Some of them have medical conditions. For years I battled with being obese and doctors said you eat to much.. Well i wasn't turned out I have enlarged thyroid and not working probably. Got on meds and started to lose the weight. And those of you who don't want someone else touching you..Then fly first class. And if not then blame the airlines who keep jamming more seats in. This country has gone through enough and still is. We should be fighting to stop the war and save our soldiers not picking on the obese. My God what have we become. Last time I checked this was still America and governed by the people not some dictator. We decide what happens...be kind to a fellow AMERICAN..not pick on them or make them feel like an outcast.

Burt 12-22-2007 @ 6:16PM

HEY, STOONAD,!
GET OVER IT.
LIFE AIN'T FAIR , AND IF YOU CANNOT STAY AWAY FROM THE CHEESEBURGERS, TOUGH.
I DO NOT WANT TO SIT NEXT TO SOME BEHEMOTH ON A SIX HOUR FLIGHT.
THE SEATS ARE NOT THAT ACCOMODATING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
LET THE PORKERS PAY FOR TWO SEATS, SO THAT I WILL NOT HAVE TO SIT WITH MY NOSE AGAINST THE WINDOW, OR FALLING INTO THE AISLE.

Vishaal 12-23-2007 @ 12:59PM

Rainman57: I know that they are talking about obese people...in that case what are they going to use to set the bar for the pricing of seats? Their BMI? Weight does NOT 100% show if a person is obese; in which case, weight would not be a proper form of policy in extra taxes. It's inhuman...what are they gonna do?...take a body fat sample at the airport? Make a guestimate?

divagrl 12-24-2007 @ 2:49PM

so then Hulk hogan 6'7" 285 lbs should pay more than right. cause i don't know about you but i wouldn't call him fat. on and the govenator arnold s. 230 lbs 6'3" him too right. get a grip it's discrimintation. if not then you wouldn't be using crass remarks now would you.

Morgan 12-25-2007 @ 11:26AM

Weight is weight, whether it's fat or muscle...knuckle head

MJ 12-28-2007 @ 4:47PM

THIS TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION IS THE STUFF THAT KEEPS OUR SOCIETY DIVIDED! IF THE AIRLINES WANTS TO IMPOSE A WEIGHT LIMIT PER PERSON, LET'S SAY 200 POUNDS, THAT SHOULD APPLY TO ALL FOLKS OVER 200, MUSCLE, FAT, TALL, MAN OR WOMAN! HAVING SAID THAT..THE IDEA STILL STINKS AND IS DIVISIVE!

Pat 12-30-2007 @ 6:35PM

I have just one comment.... HAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!! I can't believe they would even consider this! It's friggin hilarious! What's next? Taking a body mold of everyone on the flight four months in advance to make custom seats?! I can see it now, "Attention passengers, our left wing just fell off, we need all of the heavier people to start moving as quickly as possible to the right side of the cabin... You there in seat 67, why aren't you moving?!"

Actually, now that I think about it, making custom molds of every seat based on who would be sitting in it would make for a very comfortable flight, don't you think? The luxo-cruiser airlines should consider ideas like that to boost customer count, and, of course profits..... $$$$

J 12-31-2007 @ 8:07PM

I think the fat tax is completely fair. If you are overweight due to an illness then get a doctors note. If you are fat because you eat too much cake then you have to pay for it. Other than that, fat people are ruining the health care system and fat parents are making fat kids, that alone is criminal and the parents should be held criminal charges of child abuse. The simple answer is don't eat too much cake:). Happy New Year!!!!

bob 1-01-2008 @ 9:10PM

No, we are not kidding. Blame it on the thyroid and heredity if you want. That's convinient. I've been near many overweight and obese people and they do eat a lot more than they should. At what point did the people on the biggest loser decide that weighing 400 lbs wasn't what they wanted? If they all had "thyroid" problems then they wouldn't have been able to lose the 100+ lbs they normally use during the series. It's diet (not dieting) and exercise that are the key. Nothing flashy, just the way it is. I agree that anyone (other than maybe a football player or wrestler) who weighs over 250 lbs should be charged more, in increments of 50 lbs. Having people who can't control their cravings need help, but they need to know who to ask and where to go. You want to talk about fair??? Who pays for all the medical expenses needed by people who don't (not can't) take care of themselves? This includes smokers. So yes, increase the fees. Maybe a little embarrasement will jolt most into action for a better healthier life. Leave the Nazis out of it, and quit sensationalizing the obvious, heir Goebbles

Anna 11-13-2007 @ 2:29PM

I think to charge obese passengers an additional fee is appropriate. Not because they cause the plane to use more fuel but in order to fairly accommodate every passenger in terms of space. While it may be embarrassing for the heavy passenger, it is unfair for the passenger next to them who was paid just as much for their ticket to endure an uncomfortable plane ride with someone else's thigh, shoulder or arm completely on top of them or taking up additional room. Planes are already cramped and uncomfortable and having a 300 pound person sit in a seat built for a maximum capacity of 220 pounds in unjust to everyone.

Messaline 12-04-2007 @ 6:14PM

Well then shouldn't they be building the air craft's seats, or at least a certain percentage of them, accomodate larger passengers?

Arnold 12-06-2007 @ 9:06AM

Who will determine who is overweight?
Will a 5'2' 180 pound woman be too heavy or will a 6'2" 180 pound man be too heavy?
What will be the upper weight limit?
Will the criteria be based on Metropolitan Life weight limits or BMI or will everyone who is over 150 pounds be overweight and pay according to how much they are over 150 pounds?