Katie Hopkins on overweight passenger debate: ‘Fat flyers should be taxed’

PASSENGERS should be weighed along with their luggage when they check in and slugged with an extra fee if deemed too hefty, a controversial TV personality says.

‘Fat flyers should be taxed’

PASSENGERS should be weighed along with their luggage when they check in and slugged with an extra fee if deemed too hefty.

That’s according to British TV personality and columnist Katie Hopkins, who made the controversial comments in a sneak preview of her new show If Katie Hopkins Ruled The World.

She made her case for a “fat tax” very untactfully, telling the audience: “One of the things that is closest to my heart is a fat tax for fat flyers.

“I have to pay for my 20 kilograms of luggage on cheap cr***y airlines when some fat chubster just up the aisle from me, (I’m gesturing now in this direction because I think that might be more tactful), doesn’t have to pay anything to get on-board that plane when quite clearly they are carrying more cumulative luggage and I think when you check in, you should weigh in.”

She then looked to the audience, saying: “You ma’am, you’re slim, good looking, intelligent, you can fly for maybe free while ... my chubster friend has to pay.”

Next she asked panellist Gemma Collins, star of the show The Only Way Is Essex, what she thought of the idea.

Ms Collins responded that while she’s “not the skinniest” she can fit in a plane seat comfortably. She also pointed out that “not everyone is fat because of burgers and pizza” and that health issues like thyroid problems could cause weight gain.

Collins hit back.

But that didn’t convince Ms Hopkins to change her mind, who instead expanded on her desire for a fat tax.

“I’ve thought this for a long time. It seems crazy that I’m charged to check in a bag whereas some 20 stone idiot next to me with hand luggage isn’t charged anything even though they’re carrying as much extra weight.

“I think that’s not very fair.”

Opinion of the idea is divided on social media, with some supporting it but others pointing out flaws.

@KTHopkins @tlc_uk loved the show, couldn't agree more with fat tax although as a heavy weight boxer @95kgs hols would be alot more costly!

— Dan Mackness (@DNessy87) August 6, 2015

That Katie Hopkins show was rather amusing actually, fat tax is my fave😂😂😂😂

— tobe (@TobyMcDowell) August 6, 2015

#KatieRules let's throw this into the mix,most people that weight train have a BMI that is obese! Are we going to charge them fat tax too?

— Linda Hayward (@lindashayward) August 6, 2015

The idea of charging passengers for air travel based on their weight has been fiercely debated over recent years as waistlines around the world continue to expand, but airlines have consistently refused to implement such a ticketing system.

It is a decision that’s causing some passengers problems. Just last week, it emerged that flyer Andrew Basso is suing Etihad for $227,000 over his overweight seatmate. Mr Basso says he was seated next to a “grossly overweight” man who “encroached into his seat” on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Sydney.

While products have been invented to try to solve the problem, it’s yet to be seen if they will be fitted onto aircraft. One such product is the SANTO seat — an acronym for Special Accommodation Needs for Toddlers and Overweight Passengers — which is designed to be one-and-a-half times the size of a standard seat.

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There must be something in the air over in the UK – the divisive comments come just a day after fellow British TV personality Kelly Rose Bradford called for babies to be segregated on flights.