ScotBill:
why should passengers be exempt from basic economics?
My understanding is that with the exception of Concorde, extra baggage weight is not anywhere as expensive as it is charged. So, if you charge lots more money based on an individual's weight, some airline (in fact, all of them!) will decline to do so and will welcome all the passengers you no longer have. I think the airlines are well aware of 'basic economics' .
I'm overweight but I usually travel without bags. Last time anyone in aviation asked my weight was for the helicopter from a manufacturing plant in Stow, MA to Boston's Logan Airport. Downtown they would fly between the buildings - those were the days pre 9/11...
