I’m 6’5” and 235. I’m basically tall & thin, but I lift weights regularly. But according to the government’s BMI index I’m about 20-lbs overweight. If the airlines are going to do this then they need an objective standard. I’d just be leery of them using a government stat that can be manipulated by the simple whim of a regulator.
Oh, and I might be willing to pay more for that ticket if the airlines put in a few rows with more leg-room. But you see they won’t do this because of the headaches it cases the flight reservation systems. If you get, as I once did, the University of Nevada’s basketball team on one of your flights, then there won’t be any extra leg-room seats no matter how many there are.
Weight is an objective standard. It uses the same amount of gas to move 250 lbs. from point A to point B, regardless of whether the 250 lbs. is a tall, thin person; a short, fat person; or a sack of rocks. Perhaps charges could be based on personal weight + checked bag weight + carryon luggage weight.
Alternatively, they could leave things as they are, knowing that (a) people are going to complain no matter what and (b) people will continue flying because it's faster than the alternatives.
Im 65 and 235. Im basically tall & thin, but I lift weights regularly. But according to the governments BMI index Im about 20-lbs overweight.
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When ‘they’ first introduced the BMI index, I sluffed it off because they considered Michael Jordan to be fat AND he was in the prime of his career.
Guess no one thought to put the ‘racist’ tag on that data...
](when it comes to ‘health’ and ‘global warming’ doesn’t take much to get me to ‘sluff it off’.)
Live long enough and every thing you grew up with to be ‘bad’ suddenly turns good AND vice-versa.
Even the old quote ‘Everything I love is either illegal, immoral or fattening’ (A. Woolcot) has come to pass.
I do a good bit of flying...99% of the time in coach.I'm 6 feet,205,meaning I'm about 20 pounds overweight.I've never had the slightest trouble fitting into a coach seat nor has any part of me ever spilled over into the seats next to me.So I haven't yet gotten to the point where a story like this can be written about me.
I agree. Same problem. 6’2” and 225. I’m supposed to weigh 185lbs according to BMI. No way.
The problem with charging more, is how quickly will they start making the seats even smaller. Pretty soon, my 5’9” wife will have to start paying more. Don’t think for a second they won’t abuse it and figure out a way to charge more. I’m fortunate in that I stick with United and with my miles and rewards status, I get put in first class on most flights. Economy plus at a minimum. I fly enough that I haven’t been in coach in a couple of years.
I’m 6-7 with very wide shoulders. I get an aisle seat and lean into the aisle so I don’t lean into the middle seat space.