Perhaps some entrepreneurial airline might consider extra width seats (at extra cost) just as they offer extra legroom at extra cost. ISTR that BA used to have seat configurations on their short-haul fleet which could be either two across or three across after a minor adjustment (in order to expand the business class seating area). That way the airlines can economically cater for the growing minority Maybe they could call it Premium Economy (not just " the fat seats" )

Why is my view bordering on being fascist?

People who are not in the catergory of being "average Joe" have to pay for all kinds of extras, the world is not catered for them, so why should fat people be any different?

A diabetic or gluten intolerant person has to pay extra for their food products, because most foods are for people with no digestive problems.

People with extra big feet, have to pay more for their size to be catered for.

It happens to lots of people with a whole host of dfferent needs, and if someone is so big that they cannot use "standard" seating, through being way overweight, than that to me should be a wake up call.

Because one of the aspects of fascism is that those who do not conform to some state defined norm in these authoritarian societies are discriminated against - and in the extreme cases eliminated.
It's not quite the same as a gluten intolerent or big footed person as they still have a choice - what is suggested is that large people will be prevented from flying (a restriction of their freedom of movement as guaranteed by EU primary four precepts BTW)

What worries me most about extremely obese people on flights is not so much whether they should pay extra, or seats be made wider to accommodate them, it is the issue of safety in the event of an emergency evacuation. Would you like to be stuck in the aisle behind such a person trying to get out of their seat and struggling to move down the aisle, and how could they safely use an evacuation chute?

I know some people with disabilities would also have problems in an emergency evacuation, but if they aren't massively overweight then at least the crew stand a better chance of being able to move them safely.

Everything is possible - at a price. The trouble is passengers want to fly for next to nothing and airline shareholders demand their company make a profit. The airline attempts to satisfy both.

Quite a few years back a pal of mine had that very job, flying basketball players, american football players and ice hockey players around but only within the States and in ancient Dakotas, DC3s at that.

Though I never flew in a DC3, I'm sure those old prop driven jobs of the early package era allowed far more legroom than today's flying sardine cans.

Whats more they often had real deep luxury leather seats that you could sink deep inside of and almost hide, as well as real genuine 24 carat drop dead gorgeous Air Hostesses with what must have been the biggest knockers I ever got to see quite a lot of in my younger days...........

Yeh, the airlines used to look after their customers properly back when I were a lad.

Talking of old aircraft, great programme tonight BBC2, "Cold War, Hot Jets" Catch it on iplayer.

Thanks Ag. forgot all about it.

I once flew back from Australia and was seated next to a professional rugby player. As an unprofessional ex rugby player myself, of the same size as the real thing, we had an interesting conversation for more uncomfortable hours than I care to remember.

I'm afraid I'm like the reformed alcoholic or smoker now, I haven't got much time for fat people, and where I live now is bouncing with them. They limp about with walking sticks and enormous guts hanging down to their knees.

I appreciate a few may have medical problems to explain their enormous guts and I feel sorry for them, but the great majority are just silly people who eat and drink too much.

There's nothing worse in this world than a reformed anything and I'm guilty as charged.

See how we danced to America's tune! How we did all their dirty spying work for them and gave Russia our jet technology! Embarrassing!

Well, how you can equate making people pay more for an extra seat or a wider seat on a flight and eliminating them, is beyond me.

There is a difference to being genetically disposed to being large and someone stuffing themselves to the extent that they can't sit in the average airline seat!

Just been reading a story in 'The Sun' about a chap who was refused a flight by BA because of his enormous size saying it was not safe to allow him to fly as he would not be able to move quickly enough in an emergency! He eventually had to take his journey by cruise liner.

Thin end of the wedge (forgive the pun)

Surely the point is this: In aircraft extra weight needs extra fuel and that is around 70% of operating costs ( I think) so why should overweight ( not fat!) people pay more. I had to pay a small fortune with RA for overweight baggage. Why should overweight people not pay extra. It costs more to fly them!
Pete