As unfair as it sounds and as politically incorrect as it seems, the fact remains, airlines are charging passengers based on their weight… The lowdown from MSN…
Ryanair caused a stir in February when it suggested making passengers pay to use the bathroom. Now the company is considering a policy that would make overweight passengers pay by the pound. (Search for more on that.)
The Irish budget airline isn’t the first to consider implementing a policy for “flying while fat,” a phrase coined by the media. Earlier this month, United joined Southwest and other airlines by enforcing policies that require overweight passengers to purchase another seat — or forgo their flight. (Search for the “seatmates of size” policy.)
The Association for Airline Passenger Rights has fired back, calling the policy discriminatory. It’s not likely to be the last challenge. Consider that more than half of the American population is overweight or obese.
In the meantime, search has the skinny on the so-called fat tax:
How big is too big: Passengers who cannot fit in a single seat with the armrests down and/or cannot use the safety belt with a single extender. (How long is an extender?)
Pay-per-pound: If Ryanair adopts its body-conscious model, passengers may have to pay for every pound they exceed a medically determined ideal weight. (Search for your ideal weight.)
Know your rights: Travel writer Harriet Baskas suggests keeping a copy of the airline’s policy with you, to ensure all options are exhausted before you’re forced to pay for another seat. (Search for more on your rights.)
Bonus: Weight policies don’t affect just passengers. Several Air India flight attendants were fired earlier this year for exceeding airline weight requirements. (Search for that story.)
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