Pulse poll: TAX on obese passengers a step closer

THE introduction of a ‘fat tax’ by airlines for overweight passengers is becoming a very real possibility after a Court of Appeal in the UK ruled that passengers could not sue for embarrassing treatment.

The news comes after travel giants Thomas Cook and British Airways won a case against two passengers who suffered "embarrassing" incidents on board, the Daily Mail reports. The court cited the Montreal Convention as the reason for the firms' victory, which overrules international law and is a set of rules that govern air travel. The two plaintiffs were not overweight but, in fact, disabled and were unable to sit next to their carers on the flight. One of the men was tipped from his wheelchair in front of other passengers, so the pair filed for compensation over their ruined holiday and hurt feelings.

Daniel Barnett, a barrister of the Outer Temple Chambers in London, said the court's decision meant that, because passengers could not file charges over ‘embarrassing’ incidents, airlines could introduce the controversial ‘fat tax’ without fear of the consequences. In other words, airlines could therefore embarrass obese fliers into paying a 'fat tax' when they board. He also said disabled passengers would have no right to dignity once they left the ground. Barnett explained that currently airlines could act as they pleased with regard to an obese person before a flight took off, and that they were legally allowed to do so. This could include forcing them to buy a second seat if they were unable to fit comfortably into one seat. However, in the case of disabled people, airlines are not allowed to charge a passenger more unless they can prove a good business case.

Over the past few years various airlines have toyed with the idea of introducing such a tax. In January a former economist for the Qantas airlines suggested a tax because of the need for additional fuel to carry overweight passengers. And in January 2010, Air France revealed it was to charge passengers for extra tickets if they could not fit into a single seat.

*How do you feel about the ‘fat tax’ issue? Do you think it’s unnecessary or something that calls for action? Let us know by voting in the poll on the eTNW homepage and by sending your comments by leaving a poll comment?