Difficult to administer fairly. Being tall I have problems with seat pitch, and yes have to pay more for more legroom.
Also have sat next to an obese person, it invades your seat and space, charge them I say.

Bee, Yorkshire, uk

It seems obvious to me that the total weight of you and your baggage should determine the cost of your ticket.

Peter, Chelmsford, UK

I remember a skit many years ago by the late Les Dawson (pre budget airlines) when he is told by airline check in staff to be weighed along with his baggage. The combined weight was deemed too much so he crammed some clothes in his pockets and then flew.

Did the scriptwriters predict the future?

AP, London,

Sorry Ed, but where is the dignity and human rights of the non-obese airline traveller forced to suffer being squashed for hours on a long distance flight?

S. Turner, Fife , UK

What if you're a 6' 4" person who is not at all obese? You'll be penalised compared to a much smaller person. Also, since muscle weighs more than fat, fit people will also be at a disadvantage.

Duncan M, Tunbridge Wells,

My boyfriend is 6ft 7, and on many airlines we have to pay extra if we want the fire escape seats so that he can sit in the seat properly and not encroach on other people's leg room. Why should people who are extremely overweight not have to do the same?

Gemma, Notts,

If it is a medical condition that makes someone so big, then they will have disability rights anyway - if not, & a person has eaten their way to obesity, then this might be the wakeup call they need. It is not normal or healthy to be significantly obese, and we need to prevent it from becoming so.

Gemma, Notts,

So how would it work? Simply using mass, thus discriminating against those who are tall and healthy, or using body mass index (BMI) as a guide? Should tall people get a discount for lack of legroom and headroom? Would it extent to public transport too? Mass doesn't equal obesity. Unworkable.

Darren, Dungannon,

Come on - the human rights of those who are crushed by obese and selfish air travellers is a primary consideration. Let alone the safety and evacuation risks of having such people on flights.

Higher prices and special seating would seem a reasonable compromise.

Chris, Bristol, UK

Currently airlines have a baggage weight limit of about 30 Kg. Why not have a combined weight limit of baggage and passenger. By doing this it would give all passengers the same choice, slim down or shed baggage.

Peter Mallinson, Swindon, UK

I would support this completely. Then when we've sorted out the flying fatties can we have a tax on on long haul screaming babies and obnoxious toddlers??

Pu Li, Guangxi, PRC

"...theme for 2008, “Dignity and justice for all of us,” reinforces the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a commitment to universal dignity..."

Yes, BJ Deller, it IS a human rights issue.

Ed, Cardiff,

Allow 100kg each for the basic price, inc. hold luggage & hand baggage and the weight of the passenger & charge a surcharge per kilo that they go over it. A pressure matt at check in could be used that calcilated the fee automatically so no one would see the actual weight. Simple & fair.

Mark, Zurich, Switzerland

An interesting concept and quite legal? It would prevent many obese people from flying unless they pay a surcharge, as with luggage, and be another good reason for them to lose weight. It is not a human rights issue and cannot be judged as such: it is a safety issue and an anti-pollution need.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain