Podgy passengers should pay, Aussies argue

Most Australian travellers support the idea of making larger passengers pay for an extra seat on the plane, Coolum and North Shore News has reported.

According to a survey conducted by travel.com.au, 70 per cent of the 800 people questioned agreed that obese or largely overweight people should purchase an extra economy class seat when travelling by plane.

Travel.com.au general manager, Lisa Ferrari, commented, “In 2008 we posed the same question to Australians, and back then it seemed the nation was grossly torn with 53 per cent feeling that people should have to purchase two seats. But, two years later, the scales have well and truly been tipped.”

The 25-35 year age group still remained somewhat torn, the survey found, with 50 per cent supporting the idea, while those from Victoria were especially tolerant, with just 25 per cent agreeing.

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