Just read that since US passengers have been getting heavier, it is costing the airlines more for fuel approx. 275 million $ more per year. Now, does that make you want to go on diet? LOL Judy

Judy, what I have been thinking is that all the airlines are making sure we go on a diet by NOT feeding us anymore!!

There is a method to their madness.
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I'd be interested to know when vs. when in this "report" of information.

For example, if airlines have recently added more seats, and can carry more passengers and luggage per flight "in order to remain competitive" then, perhaps the add'l weight is NOT from the avg. weight per passenger increasing over time.

Besides, for every one person gaining weight, I would offer than another has lost weight - since dieting / exercise has become popular in the last 17 years. Yes, this is pure conjecture, however, it's chance of holding water are equally true with the OP.

So if that's the case then the ticket price should be based on my weight. And I'm quite trim, so give me some money back, please.

I just thought that whole article on Yahoo's homepage was a hoot! LOveItaly. you are right about them not feeding us, Plus they get an added benefit of not having to carry that "heavy" airline fare;-). Triplesec, bottom line is the airlines will give any excuse for their huge losses, even our expanding derrieres. BTW, I did not realize that Southwest made the "very" obese people buy 2 seats!

Exactly Tandoori.. would be nice to get a discount for every pound you weight below the average.

This new release by the airline industry is yet another excuse to claim loses and it is pathetic. "Over-weight" passengers don't cost $275,000,000. How about weighing the top executives of the airlines and deduct one million dollars from their yearly pay for every pound they are over-weight? Fatty boy at XYZ Airline could lose $50 million for his company. Mulitply that by six airlines and the lost money is recovered.

If I'm skinny, can I bring more luggage to balance out my averaged allowance?

Oh, you all are fantastic!!!! I needed a good laugh.

And don't we all wonder why the "top guys" never seem to give up salaries and benefits.

Uhmmm, since I am under the "average weight" for my height, never thought about "how about a lower priced ticket". Too funny.

Of course the airline CEO's sit and read Foders threads. Oh right!

And I would add that the airlines have actually been flying lighter planes since they often seem to leave the service behind at the gate.

I think you should be handicapped like in horse racing. The airlines could attach bags of sand to underweight passengers. The overweight passengers luggage should be reduced.

If you buy a fatboy's ticket and you're average weight you should be able to take a skinny person free.

Here's an article about it although there's not much detail:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3984973.stm

Makes me want to go on a diet! We flew just last week and after the first leg DH commented that it was time for him to once again take off the excess. Those seats are too little for the skinnys!

I think this report is a hint of what's coming - higher prices.

The airlines are paying more for gasoline because of Mr. "No new taxes" George W. Bush.

I guess you could call that a problem due to dead weight.

Seriously, these are things that can make a plane lighter:

- personal video entertainment system
- food/beverage carts
- extra fuel
- don't paint the fuselage, like what AA has been doing for years

And then they can carry less cargo, which cuts revenue, or give passengers less baggage allowance.

I just had to weigh in on this subject again after hearing just who wasted tax payers' money coming up with this study for the airline industry. The same people who saw no need to get the nation's flu shot supply from more than just Two labs in the world. The CDC. The government run Centers For Disease Control!!!!!!!!! This administraion is totally asleep at the wheel.

Rkkwan, let me add to your list:

cut nails before boarding
wash off makeup
cut hair/shave

you don't need your jacket on the plane, right?

Forgot to make everyone go to the restroom before getting on the plane.

Keith

This is no laughing matter. The 2003 USAirways commuter plane crash in North Carolina was partially caused by the outdated weight calculations of US passenger's weight. [The main reason for that flight was a maintenance error.]

Because of that crash, FAA has increased the approx weight of a passenger by 10lb.