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Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by gragas on Wednesday December 28, 2016 @02:54AM (#13269107)
It's not a grey area at all. Airlines should have the right to charge customers per pound of items they take with them --- be it flesh or carry-on.
Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by hobofan on Wednesday December 28, 2016 @03:51AM (#13269342)
As should Uber et al.! Cars, like airplanes, use more gas if they have to transport more weight.
Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by gambiting on Wednesday December 28, 2016 @05:30AM (#13269675)
Marginally though. About 0.5l/100km more for every 100kg of weight.
Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by funnyfacts365 on Wednesday December 28, 2016 @06:43AM (#13269907)
That's more than 10% increase on most new cars.
Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by bdhess on Wednesday December 28, 2016 @01:58PM (#13272705)
...or cane, or wheelchair, or guide dog. Glad you have this all figured out in your libertarian utopia; in the real world there is still a debate.
Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by gragas on Wednesday December 28, 2016 @03:56PM (#13273571)
This is what happens when you take "everyone is equal" to a delusional extent. Everyone should have the same rights, but not everyone is born the same. It is sad, but true.

I think the only reason one could come to your conclusion is that one does not understand the difference between being a lesser human being and simply being very misfortunate. Many are misfortunate; no one is lesser. I had cancer when I was little. Should everything in the world be modified to accommodate my specific needs? Should everything in the world be modified to accommodate the "average" person's needs? Perhaps that is how things should be in government, where the sole purpose of the entity is to serve its people. But it should not be the duty of any private entity to do such a thing.

Re:An American airline wins the right to weigh passengers on... by bdhess on Thursday December 29, 2016 @02:27AM (#13276137)
> This is what happens when you take "everyone is equal" to a delusional extent.

I'm not really arguing one way or the other, just pointing out a number of cases that would likely lead to public outcry and therefore attention from regulators who do have the authority to impose their will on the airlines.

> I think the only reason one could come to your conclusion is that one does not understand the difference between being a lesser human being and simply being very misfortunate.

Or one could recognize that airlines are chartered as common carriers, and are therefore subject to regulatory oversight.

> But it should not be the duty of any private entity to do such a thing.

The private entity in question necessarily consumes public resources as part of its business model (ATC, takeoff/landing slots, ...). Hence the corresponding regulatory authority.