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

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.

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?

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?

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?

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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!

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..... $$$$

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!!!!

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

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

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?

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?