Obese people on airlines paying double?

[Fire-Starter]

Passengers who are considered overweight having to pay for two seats to fly.

There are many stories on this, I am curious if you think this is the RIGHT thing to do? or is this somehow being insensitive to people overweight?

If this were you, or a friend, and were told at the ticket counter,
" Sorry Sir/Miss you will need to purchase TWO seats to fly today do to your size"



see link below.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html

[Atoz]

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you've ever had a miserable cross-country flight because you were seated next to a morbidly obese person who should have been on two seats on a full flight (I have), you might agree.

[playinpearls]

need something to get them to stop going to mcdonalds...

not all, but most...

[mothmonsterman]

If your ass is too damn big to fit in one seat that they have to lift the arm rest so you can squeeze in there, yes i think they should.
I'm overweight and i don't find it insensitive at all.
Big difference is are you have a little extra baggage or looking like Jabba the huts long lost twin.

No seriously why are people even complaining about this, set the sammich down sir.

sorry if i offended anybody, but it just isn't fair to the company that your make them eat the cash on a ticket when your the size of two people.

[baba]

"What is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size?
The armrest is the definitive gauge, as it serves as the boundary between seats. Customers who are unable to lower the armrests (the definitive boundary between seats) and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed during initial reservations."

Makes complete sense to me. They should pay for more than one seat if they are taking up space of more than one seat.

[von buck]

oh, so small folk should pay less? Maybe pay by the pound for tickets?

Andy

[mothmonsterman]

Originally Posted by von buck

oh, so small folk should pay less? Maybe pay by the pound for tickets?

Andy

No, but their ass can fit in the confines of one seat so they pay for one seat, if your ass is spilling into another seat and they don't allow two people in a seat, then you should pay.

[mothmonsterman]

should fat people be charged more for getting the super size meal just because they eat more?

[playinpearls]

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

should fat people be charged more for getting the super size meal just because they eat more?

no, cause they are paying for 1 meal. If they want more, they pay more.

[Bob Clayton]

Originally Posted by von buck

oh, so small folk should pay less? Maybe pay by the pound for tickets?

Andy

no, because they still take up the seat, not allowing anyone else to sit there, as they are already sitting there. if i am a small person or normal sized, i am not taking up any other space than what i paid for, but if i am a very overweight person, and i cannot fit into one seat, i am taking a seat away from someone else or making someone else very uncomfortable.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Atoz

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you've ever had a miserable cross-country flight because you were seated next to a morbidly obese person who should have been on two seats on a full flight (I have), you might agree.

+1. My thoughts exactly.

[mjolnir]

I don't see any problem with it either. If you take up two seats, you should pay for two seats.

[ubado]

Originally Posted by Atoz

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you've ever had a miserable cross-country flight because you were seated next to a morbidly obese person who should have been on two seats on a full flight (I have), you might agree.

+1

This situation sucks! Full flights are uncomfortable enough without someone spilling over into your seat.
Plus with their size... say good'bye to using the armrest.

The last time this happened to me ... the person was taking up a portion of my seat, plus the armrest is now gone .... adding room for personal space leaves you with a very uncomfortable flight. AND forget about using the lavatory.

(besides, if the flight isn't full they get the $$ for the other seat back... it's only fair)

[tova]

just to stir things a bit, if I'm a quite skinny person who could fit in just half of a seat and I'm still paying full price I'm being charged as a passenger, so if that is the criteria any person regardless of size or weight should be charged as that. otherwise could be a double standard, "you pay us, we decide what is comfortable for us, we class you as a passenger or as cargo depending on the size of our seats, that by the way can be the size we fit convinient for our business"

[kasanovakarl]

Originally Posted by Atoz

I don't see anything wrong with it. If you've ever had a miserable cross-country flight because you were seated next to a morbidly obese person who should have been on two seats on a full flight (I have), you might agree.

+1

That is the absolute worst.


There currently is talk among the airlines about charging extra fees to people of greater weight, due mostly to their weight in relation to the cost of fuel. While I agree with purchasing two seats if the need arises due to space infringment upon other's paying customer's seats, this idea I don't necessarily agree with.

[Jared Lash]

There are people that are genetically predisposed to being obese and I definitely feel for them. They face social and medical problems all their lives. But honestly, if you are so big that you can't pull down the armrests then you are making a flight miserable for the person next to you. It's not mean spirited or prejudicial to charge for two seats, just practical.

For that matter, parents of screaming children should have to pay an extra ticket fee too.

[Mingus]

Sounds like punishment for being overweight.

[mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Mingus

Sounds like punishment for being overweight.

...Or compensation for losing the potential customer that would otherwise be able to fit in that seat.

[NJL]

nothings worse than sitting next to obese fat chick on the plane that smell like onions.

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by Mingus

Sounds like punishment for being overweight.

but it isn't at all, it's just business, if you take up 2 seats, you pay for 2 seats.