Nutritionist Suggests “Fat Tax” For Airlines
November 14, 2007 by Claire
Filed under Women's Health
An Australian nutritionist, Dr. John Tickell, has suggested that airlines should charge their obese passengers more for tickets. This is based on the reasoning that the more weight the plane bears, the more the cost for fuel – so we should all pay up according to size.
Sound reasonable? Just listen to what he has to say about overweight passengers:
“I fly Sydney to Perth – five hours – and being totally disadvantaged by some huge person next to me literally flopping over into my seat. Why should I pay the same as them?” (BBC News)
Is it just me, or does he sound more than a little prejudiced?
While I don’t necessarily like being seated next to an obese passenger on an airplane either, I just see it as one of those things you have to deal with on flights – such as crying babies or people ahead of you pushing their seats all the way back.
What’s your take on this? Do you think it’s fair? Let me know in the comments.
Claire
(image from skycontrol.net)
I do not think it is fair to tax obese indivduals on flight fare. I think its just something you may deal with on a flight just like if you were next to a screaming baby or people who are loud on flights.