Large passengers on airplanes often occupy more than their “allocated” single-seat space, intruding into the space of a fellow traveler in the next seat—space the fellow traveler reserved and paid for. Depending on the large passenger’s size, this can lead to anything from a slightly scrunched position for the fellow traveler on an hourlong flight to a nightmarish, sleepless, backbone twisting 10-hour journey on an intercontinental flight. This has led to a debate about whether large passengers should pay more for their seat or be forced to pay for two adjacent seats. After all, airlines already charge for luggage by the number or pieces and by weight. An economist recently argued that charging by weight would provide health, financial, and environmental dividends. He proposed three potential pricing approaches: First, price tickets based on the total weight of passengers and their luggage. Second, charge a base rate and an extra charge for heavier passengers. Third, his preferred option, charge a standard price for passengers within a weight range, with an extra weight-based charge added for passengers above that weight range and a weight-based discount for passengers below that weight range. Some additional information: About two-thirds of U.S. adults are medically classified as overweight or obese, and a survey indicated that more than two-thirds of travelers think airlines should charge overweight passengers more if they needed an extra seat.

In groups, debate the following proposition with open minds: “Large passengers should pay more for their seats on airplanes.” List your arguments in favor of or and against the proposition.