Fat people on aeroplanes.
Monday, 1 September 2008, at 23:57Here’s something that confuses me about airports: why are fat people not penalised for being excess baggage? Recently, the idea of a “fat tax” was proposed in Australia. It didn’t fly. Apparently, it has to do with discrimination or something.
But being sardined between two fishing trawlers is very much discrimination. Especially if you value breathing.
When I check in, I often glance around at the average size of passengers and their carry-on luggage. Standing behind me, Matilda and her suitcase, combined, clearly don’t touch seventy kilos. In the adjacent queue, Sipho and his laptop, combined, rival a small apartment block.
Matilda is charged two hundred bucks extra. Sipho, who - exlcuding his laptop - weighs nine times more than the aunty and her accessories, is not charged anything extra. Additionally, at no cost, Sipho is permitted to lug a further twenty kilos - or whatever the limit is - to his window seat.
That’s not right.
I believe that every person should be weighed alongside their baggage. If the total exceeds, let’s say, one-hundred-and-fifty kilos, then Mastercard is allowed to smile, and a percentage of the fuel consumption is subsidised as a result.
More importantly, the obese lot should be guided to their own section in the plane, so that the slender bunch are granted the good fortune of avoiding death by suffocation.
Because flying with someone’s stomach on your lap is, quite frankly, discrimination.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 07:23
You know, I have to agree with you - albeit grudgingly. At the current cost of flying - weight is weight. If I have to unpack a pair of shoes because I am overweight and I weigh a fraction of the lady infront of me, that’s not fair.
Not to mention the rolling eyes of the air hostess (I know I am not allowed to use that word, but I don’t like whatever else it is they use now) because I want to bring my crutches into the aeroplane.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 08:12
Dudes. This post is like racism for fat people. Fatists, the lot of you!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 08:42
Picturing someone else’s tummy on mine
that’s just wrong!!!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 08:52
ahh, but what actually costs the airline money? gross weight or seat numbers?
is it fair that kids under 12 go half price,yet get a full seat and equivalent legroom of a bowling alley?
is it fair that babies go free, and keep us paying passengers awake?
wiki tells me a boeing 747-400 weighs 340 tonnes and has a max of 416 passengers. So us and our crap is probably about 10-15% of the payload. don’t think that’s significant enough to charge them for extra fuel usage, but definitely with you on the squish squash of sharing a seat.
weigh them all and fill the plane up from the back, in descending order
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 09:19
Shebee ,be careful on that one, too much weight at the rear side could bring the plane down.(Especially if you load the :heavies” at the back, they must be spread out to even the balance.)
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 09:29
If you based the fare on Rands per kilogram that would get my Scots mother-in-law to shed a few stone - or keep her away. My vote is for
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 09:39
Shame on you Grey!!
I am also a mother-in-law even though that term has been abolished in our family for decades - but I have a problem with my eldest son (who is supposed to be an in law) in that he wants me to come and stay with them - I am the one who wont go!
Hang down your head Tom Dooley!!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 10:00
Jacoba, I now have that song in my head
Hang down your head….(break, pause, beat drum) Tom DOOOoooooooooooooley.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 10:09
With all the flying I have been doing frequently I can only agree with you J. Usually I have work equipment which takes up 2/3 of my “limit” and have to skimp on clothing (and “souvenirs” on the way back).
I think it would only be fair that a standard ticket buys you 150kg, you can then either weight more and take less luggage, or lose (fat) and take more luggage.
And lets not even get started about the 7kg cabin luggage limit … watching these people with full-size camping backpacks, taking up all the overhead stowage space and me wondering when they are going to give in and fall on my head mid-flight!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 11:07
Just put done the arm rests, and insist that you want them down, else you’ll have to play with their genitals comforting your elbows’ curiousity ;^P
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 11:22
Sorry Jacoba - its such an off-the-wall topic we should be able to turn into absolute fantasy without Swart, Melissa, or Guy taking it into racism; religious attacks or athiesm. I don’t have a scot m-i-l and am a father in law a couple of times - battle though to get them to call me Roger.
As someone who could well do without the 18kg hanging above my belt I would be glad to get seated in seats that accomodate it all without compromising my ability to read or use my belly-top.
Sorry - reading Jeremy’s comment again I see Sipho getting the butt end of the attack so expect that it will starta minor war soon.
This time tomorrow - reckon where I’ll be…..
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 11:28
I fear you have now jinxed the whole post, Roger.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 11:48
No doubt, Roger no doubt
And yes Shebee, now that you say so …
I thought it looked like a graduate bowing and have been wondering, all this time, how he/she got the cap to stay on. That darned cap is a hellish thing to keep on ones head - mine anyway.
AND ITS NOT because it’s swollen!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 12:59
Just to point out that Grey Roger and this Roger are not 1 and the same!
And SheBee, no, it looks a lot worse than that, like a cat or a dog from behind with its tail pointing directly at you … or even worse if you let your imagination run a bit wild ….
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 13:16
Just to point out that this Grey Roger andRoger are not 1 and the same!
I posted for a while as Roger but then you came along and it seemed you had been around before so I changed adding the Grey indicating my adilpated maturity (60+).
When i looked hard i could only see the yellow garbed american/fat lady who sat next to me on my last flight to London mooning me after my hips and hers were in contact for 12 solid (and i mean solid) hours
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 13:31
I always thought it was a lightbulb?
Anyway, apart from being a “fatist” I must say that I agree on this issue. And I would like to state that this is coming from someone that was overweight in her youth and was the victim of much teasing! I can appreciate that there is limited luggage space, but some morbidly obese people really do take up more than their alotted seating. Given the fact that the combined weight of me and my luggage comes to less than what the average man weighs, I feel I should get some kind of allowance! Dammit!
Apart from that, people that choose to smoke get the prices of cigarettes hiked up because of “sin tax”… therefore, can’t people that overeat get charged “fat tax” when using public transport? I know it’s all discriminatory, but let’s be frank here, why is it okay to discriminate against certain things and not others?
I’m not sure how much sense this comment has made, but ja…
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:07
I agree - 150kg’s Per person including body weight and luggage! Makes sense to me.
But Jeremy, if “the obese lot should be guided to their own section in the plane” American Airlines will only have 4 huge seats on their plane… No “normal/small” seats…
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:11
You people are really bored, aren’t you?
It looks like a kid blowing a bubblegum bubble. Or a snot bubble
SIES ROGER !!!
I now see what you mean 
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:27
Grey, yes, I think I was around before you arrived here, and I appreciate you using the distinction …
Judy, yes, I think you have a very good point there. And lets not get started on smokers, the worst is having a large person who has just smoked sitting next to you, taking up additional space and still reeking of smoke (yes, I am an avid non-smoker and the smell of smoke really irritates me) ….
Hes …. I am so glad I am not the only one who let my imagination go a bit wild.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:32
Roger! I like you already - I hate smoking. My personal worst are those mothers sitting in their cars, windows tightly wound up, cigarette in mouth, mobile in hand next to ear, driving and both talking & yelling at the poor baby for crying!
………….. and the baby is crying because it is choking on smoke …
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:39
Geesh Jacoba, I have been around here for years and you only *now* like me already …
That aside, I fully agree with you, even parents smoking around the kids at home, or sitting in rush hour traffic smoking, blowing that smoke into my car … *and* the littering …
Yeah, I am a bit fanatical I guess …
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:46
i woke up this morning not realising i am a fatist. i didn’t realise it existed, but i am definitely a life member. just hope all the psychos don’t find me when they google fascism.
anyway, you wanna hate fat people? go to north america where the busses ‘kneel’ to let on paraplegics in their wheel chairs. fine, we’ll all wait 3 minutes no problem.
but then you get the obese people on their motorised wheelchairs who are too fat to walk jumping on the bandwagon. Even Oprah hates them
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 14:50
I agree to the above… I really loathe the smell of cigarette smoke. It’s been a constant battle for four years between me and my boyfriend on the issue; thankfully he’s just about quit now!
Parents smoking in cars with their kids… awful… Another thing though, “responsible” parents that don’t want their little ones being left alone in a shopping centre… just take them into the smoking room with you! Debatable issue, I know, but it irks me!
Also, people that have a cigarette and then feel the need to talk “right in your face”… there’ve been times at work where I’ve been on the verge of choking because customers insist on breathing their cigarette breath on me!
Anyway, back to the topic on hand… what about clothing? I know that some manufacturers do it and others not, but why should a person four times my size pay the same price for an item of clothing as I do? Their clothes use a heck of a lot more material?
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 15:03
Ohhh, yes, cigarette breath is ….
Clothing, well yes, I agree with that too, but … (to be honest this is probably more applicable to females) the huge amount of markup they are making from your size (4) easily makes up for the small amount of markup they make on a size (12) .. and all that without getting the larger women up in arms …
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 15:07
I kinda agree with the total weight concept of say 150kg, but if it is going down a route to make it easier/comfortable for some people, then i want extra legroom while we’re at it. In most cases you can control your weight, but not your height
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 15:16
Trilwillem you can get more legroom by getting certain seats, or the economy delux (or some such with BA) or a business class seat. Yes, it may be somewhat uncomfortable for taller people, but there is (just) enough legroom at least. Too often there is far too little width-room …
The weight issue is not to make is more comfortable to the average person, rather to make it more fair….
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 15:18
Yeah, I know all about clothing mark-ups… Grrr.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 15:49
Judy - I don’t get the clothing thing either. Why do some obese people wear clothes that are clearly too small??? If the clothing prices were according to the amount of material used, I could understand, but I DO NOT want to see your cellulite fighting for air through your pants!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 15:56
Muffin tops, I thought they were all the fashion nowadays
Perhaps it is just those people who refuse to accept that they have increased in size … or maybe it just prevents excessive wobble …. everything held nice and tightly in place …
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 16:37
Hester, believe me… that’s another aspect of this “fatist” stuff. I sometimes think that certain styles of clothing just should be made in large sizes, as horrible as that sounds!
There are few things worse than an overweight person wearing clothes several sizes too small… and still thinking that they look good! Modesty! please!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 16:58
Have you noticed at gym how fat people wear tights? And then, worst of all, as you are sitting there, doing weights or you are busy at a machine (i.e. eyes are butt-level) they would bend over right in front of you to pick up a weigth, their towel or maybe even a burger and all you see is this crack, gasping for air…
Then, after I have pulled my face normal again, I want to tap them on their shoulder and ask “do you need flowers for that vase?”
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 17:17
I usually go for the emergency exit seat to get the extra legroom if i am early enough at the airport. I once sat between 2 woman (not large) on a cape town flight, the one typing on a laptop, elbowing me and the other reading a newspaper halfway across my view.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008, at 17:23
I know this one chick… large… unfortunately has no sense of pride in her appearance (which I think is also part of the problem). Wears clothes horribly inappropriate for her size! And the thing is, that in saying that, not all clothes made for the larger sizes are awful! There have been times when I’ve stopped to check a garment ’cause it looks really nice, only to discover that it’s Marien Hall and therefore the smallest size a few sizes too big for me.
An anecdote regarding this person… A friend and her then current boyfriend went to a party with this chick… apparently she was wearing this really short skirt! My friend later commented that she should have worn such a tiny skirt; her boyfriend said that the skirt wouldn’t have been so short if it had been worn by a person that was the size it was made to fit.
Can we extend this argument to buses and taxis where you often don’t have individual seats? Sometimes the larger people take up so much space on the benches, you don’t want to sit there ’cause there’s almost no room left for your ass!
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 08:43
good point, what happens on taxis?if they want to cram 25 people in a zola budd, 5 mama Tembas will take up half the original space.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 11:01
Another “fatist” agreeing that total weight should be taken into account when flying.
I also firmly believe that there should be some law against making hipsters and short tops in any size over a 10. (This is coming from someone who is a size 12, and really hates hipsters, but battles to find full waist pants - therefore we hide the fat rolls over the top of the pants with long tops.)
Roger - the sizes you mention are clearly American. In SA and British terms, a size 8 is generally the smallest.
BTW - 1 Time airlines seems to have slightly larger seats and more leg room than any of the others.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 12:00
I’m not sure if it would be ‘fare’ to charge fat people more unless they charge us skinny people less.
I weigh 65kg - and never take a lot of luggage - so I should, by implication, fly for next to nothing.
Do kids get charged less when flying cos they are little?
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 13:25
Actually Fairynuff - 6 is the smallest size. But the sizes changes very often (AND NO, IT’S NOT ME - I’ve been the same weight the past 6 years!) Anyways, I always wear a certain brand pants in a size 6, but last time, I couldn’t even fit into a 8… so I had to try on the 10!!!! WTF? I have also spotted a size 4, but it’s reaaaaally small!!!
Andrew L - I’m sure kids fly for less. Don’t they get half price if they are under the age of 12 or something? Wouldn’t know - don’t have kids… Anybody else know?
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 13:54
Kids do get charged less, not sure how much…
and Hester, definitely know what you mean! My weight tends to fluctuate give or take 7kg every year, but I always remain within a healthy weight group according to my BMI. Anyway, I find myself having to buy either a size 6 or 8 depending on where and what I’m buying! I find that Mr Price’s small sizes have got larger and I need extra smalls! There’s supposed to be a standard, but there really isn’t! When I can, I shop in the children’s section at Edgars ’cause the clothes are a lot cheaper and the jeans actually fit my height!!!
Yes Andrew, I want a discount! let me bring back more souvenirs next time I go away! When I left CT in March I got told that my luggage was over the limit, but it was ’cause the stupid woman didn’t listen to me when I said that the luggage was for two passengers!
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 14:09
Fairynuff (and the rest of the females here) … apologies, but I am a guy, i have no notion of female sizes so I just picked a small number and a big number which is also why I put them in brackets …. males fortunately only really have small, medium, large & xlarge to deal with
Andrew, you are only serving to complicate things, the idea was you pay for your ticket, you get up to the average estimated weight of 150kg. How you use it is up to you. That, unfortunately, is just the general way of business.
That aside, with the latest regulations only allowing bags of max 23kg (due to the poor weakling groundstaff who have to handle them according to health & safety regulations) you may end up having to to take 6 bags to make up your excess available weight …..
Which does make me wonder are people getting weaker or lazier, i mean, 23kgs … thats nothing …
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 14:14
That’s actually dumb… what about people that carry cement bags, etc?
If you can’t handle the weight, you shouldn’t be doing that line of work; it’s stupid!
Wednesday, 3 September 2008, at 14:17
Weight is weight, at least skinny people should be allowed extra luggage.
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 07:52
I saw a programme about a smallish airplane that crashed due to too much weight on the plane and inadequate maintenance. Plane would’ve been OK if weight calculations had kept up with growing obesity amongst population. Guess this wouldn’t matter too much on bigger planes but this also assumes perfect maintenance
Smoking is bad for you, and smokers are punished for smoking. Obesity is also bad for you; why shouldn’t obese people be punished if there is no medical reason for their obesity?
Of course, obese people are rapidly increasing in numbers. Their opinions probably by now outweigh those of the fatists - after all, majority (weight) rules
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 09:18
As true as fuck there was a fat lady at gym last night wearing tights!!!! And I had to see her camel toe!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 09:30
ThinkitThru … i believe you meant “obese people are growing in mass”
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 11:50
You have my sympathy, Hester!! I think it’s far safer to work out at home!
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 12:58
Not for me, Judy! Last time I tried to work out at home, I ended up going for three sessions with the physio!!
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 13:18
Oh shame! Well, it’s my place of choice – no fear of judgement from others… no fear of me running out the door screaming from the horrific sites on display!
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 13:51
Well, the fear of judgement is a big pain in the ass, or maybe that’s just the bicycle seat… And the sights are horrific… And the big muscled okes are intimidating when you are sweating while using your 1.5kg dumbbells… And the gym is smelly… And the personal trainers will make Hitler cry like a sissy… But I love going to Kamp Staaldraad… I mean gym!
Thursday, 4 September 2008, at 13:54
Hey Jeremy! Since we are on the subject of gym… why are you so quiet about your sessions? Are you still going? Or are you ‘too busy’?
Friday, 5 September 2008, at 12:45
not my fodder
Saturday, 6 September 2008, at 19:52
Why would I care?
Sunday, 7 September 2008, at 13:51
wow I am actually disgusted really.
person A, who is of a small build but has a bmi larger than that of a large boned person (person B) who has less body fat than person A, wants to complain because they are stuck next to or between a person who may appear to be fat and clearly weigh more not taking into consideration that we allll have different genes dictating alot of these things and you expect person B to pay more?
come on, if you really want space and comfort go fork out the extra cash for a first class seat and stop being a bigot.
my brother in law has very little fat on him but is a tall big guy, so what must he do? pay more or chop off a limb ?
Sunday, 7 September 2008, at 15:24
You have a point and you are quite right. I don’t think that was the intention of the original comment, in all fairness.
Maybe the airlines should re-think the way they do the seating and include the variation in size in their design. It can’t be too difficult to do this without them losing too much money - can it?
Sunday, 7 September 2008, at 20:00
Paul, it still boils down to trying to give each person a reasonable flying experience. If someone is large due to genetics or large due to inability to control their eating it still becomes unfair that they encroach on someone else’s space & get more luggage than them, for which they also paid an exorbitant amount.
So, yes, for your brother-in-law, he should pay extra, or fly business …
And believe me, I never used to have this view when I only flew short trips occasionally, that changed very rapidly though on having many regular long flights - it all gets a bit much …
Monday, 8 September 2008, at 17:52
Paul, we’re talking more about people that are actually obese. I’m sure your brother in law doesn’t weigh 150kg…
besides, while there are some things that we are genetically predisposed to as far as fat goes (not height, bone densitiy), I’m living proof that you can work it off and keep it off (and I like my food!)