More airlines require obese passengers to buy extra seat; are fuel surcharges next?

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

With fuel costs an increasing threat to the airline industry, airlines have left no stone unturned in finding ways to discourage or eliminate excess weight on their aircraft. Some have added extra charges for baggage, some have switched to lighter beverage carts, and others to the dismay of some pilots, have reduced the amount of spare fuel they carry on flights.

The combination of high obesity rates and higher fuel costs has some air travel gurus predicting that obese travelers should anticipate having to purchase an extra seat on most airlines sooner rather than later. In fact, some airlines, like JetBlue and Southwest Airlines already require obese passengers to purchase a second seat. A majority (69 percent) of SmarterTravel.com readers who took part in an online survey favor making obese flyers purchase two tickets.

Excerpts from the comments for:

"Those of us who can fit in one seat should not have to suffer because obese people cannot. Unless they have some sort of medical condition, they need to buy two seats. I think the airlines have quite a battle ahead with this situation as it seems the amount of obese people continues to grow rapidly."

"Passengers who are forced to sit next to a weight-challenged fellow flyer should be compensated for the inconvenience. If I pay for a seat, I want my full seat. If the person next to me oozes his or her bulk into the space that I have paid for, then I want compensation in proportion to my loss."

and against:

“I think this is discrimination against obese people. It would be the same thing as not letting someone fly because they were black."

"I think that it is so unfair to punish the consumers, most of whom are loyal multi-flight purchasers, because of the higher costs of fuel. It boils down to pandering to a common base, and if you are in any way different, you are punished. It seems it is fair game to discriminate against the obese, many of whom are medically not at fault for their condition. Who's next? The wheelchair bound?"

According to Airfarewatchdog.com, here are select airlines' policies regarding ticketing for obese travelers:

· Southwest: Passengers should plan on purchasing an extra seat or risk being asked to do so at the airport by staff. If the flight is not sold out, the passenger may claim a refund.

· American: Passengers over 250 pounds should recognize that there may be limitations to the service that the airline can provide. However, it does not require that you purchase an extra seat automatically.

· United: No policy whatsoever.

· Midwest: Like Southwest, passengers are encouraged to know their needs in advance. If staff determine that two seats are required, the seat will be sold at the lowest possible fare, with a refund available if there is one or more open seats on the flight.

· Air France: Passengers with "high body mass" may receive a 25 percent discount on an extra seat, knowing that if they choose to not buy the seat, they may risk not being able to fly.

· JetBlue: You are required to buy a second seat, and there are no refunds.

· Delta: The airline "works to accommodate" passengers with special needs. Upon request and availability, it will try to make sure the next seat is unoccupied. However, if the plane is full, you will most likely be asked to leave the flight and buy a second seat on the next available flight. (You can actually count on this being a fairly typical practice on most airlines.)

SmarterTravel says the topic of additional fuel surcharges for passengers is a hot one that U.S. airlines haven’t had the heart to broach – yet. But Australia’s CourierMail reported that at least one airline, Air Asia X, “is considering charging passengers depending on their weight in a bid to fight rising fuel prices and to "help Aussies lose weight.”