Airlines may treat passengers as freight: charge by weight

Will airlines soon weigh you as well as your luggage?

Imagine two scales at the airline ticket counter, one for your bags and one for you. The price of a ticket depends upon the weight of both.

That may not be so far-fetched.

With fuel costs almost tripling since 2000, now accounting for as much as 40% of operating expenses at some carriers, according to the ATA, airlines are cutting costs and raising revenue in ways that once were unthinkable.

U.S. Airways Group Inc. has eliminated snacks.

Delta Air Lines Inc. is charging US$25 for telephone reservations.

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines last month became the first U.S. company to charge US$15 for one checked bag.

Even a cold drink may be harder to come by aloft.

Directing passengers to step on a scale would not be an easy task.

More of the story here.