It's such an emotive and serious issue that it beggars belief how many people refer to it, least of all the media.
Everyone appears to be calling this development – which we will go onto – as the "fat tax". Fat, as you know, is a derogatory term to highlight a person's larger countenance. It isn't stated as a matter of fact, but used negatively.
So, the fact that everyone seems to be refer to a so-called additional air tax on those who are overweight as the "fat tax" seems a little insensitive. Anyway, enough of a moan, let's get to the wider topic at hand.
A recent Court of Appeal judgement could, technically, lead to people who are classed as obese being charged extra to fly, while also, just as worryingly, make void the rights of people. This applies to areas like disability and discrimination.
The Daily Telegraph reported that two cases, which saw passengers sue airlines for what they saw as harsh and extremely embarrassing treatment, were dismissed because the judges decreed that the Montreal Convention supersedes British law.
"The ruling confirms that disabled passengers have no right to dignity once the wheels leave the runway," Daniel Barnett, a barrister at Outer Temple Chambers told the newspaper.
He added that this interpretation of the law – or tacit acknowledgement that British law is second to international statutes – would make airlines "immune" to any kind of action if they choose to embarrass customers over extra taxes by virtue of someone's weight.
Speaking to the Mail Online, Mr Barnett expanded on his comments: "[The judgement] makes it clear that airlines will never be liable for hurt feelings. Anything cabin crew say to passengers when they are on board will be done without fear of the consequences."
The challenge, bizarrely, is how does an airline gauge a person's weight and decide what is obese and what is "naturally large"? It sounds preposterous, believe us, but the reality is not so fictional given the fact senior judges threw out those two cases.
Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you
