United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

[MichelleN 0]

So what about those people on the plane who smell? Should they get charged more to be hosed down before the flight? Or should they be denied boarding until they shower? Or people with kids. Should they be charged extra if the child starts crying during the flight and making everyone else uncomfortable? Maybe we should charge the little old lady who sits next to you and won't shut up about her grandkids a fee for making the flight annoying for you.

Singling out a group of people because they make someone else feel uncomfortable or annoyed is discriminatory. Has anyone stopped to think about how humiliating it would be for these people to be told they're too fat to fly? That they can't fly until they fork up enough for a second seat (anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars). As has been mentioned, there's no way a person would know if the airline deems them 'too fat' until they get to the ticket counter. It's embarrassing enough to have to ask for a seat belt extender (been there), but to be told in public that you're too fat to fly is just abject humiliation and not right. And as for the suggestion about fees based on weight. Who's going to enforce that? Will part of your security screening include a weigh-in? Or will they weigh you on the scales they use for luggage? I can tell you right now, if any airline tried to implement that policy, there WOULD be general uproar and perhaps even lawsuits.

[fozzie 41]

So what about those people on the plane who smell? Should they get charged more to be hosed down before the flight? Or should they be denied boarding until they shower? Or people with kids. Should they be charged extra if the child starts crying during the flight and making everyone else uncomfortable? Maybe we should charge the little old lady who sits next to you and won't shut up about her grandkids a fee for making the flight annoying for you.

Singling out a group of people because they make someone else feel uncomfortable or annoyed is discriminatory. Has anyone stopped to think about how humiliating it would be for these people to be told they're too fat to fly? That they can't fly until they fork up enough for a second seat (anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars). As has been mentioned, there's no way a person would know if the airline deems them 'too fat' until they get to the ticket counter. It's embarrassing enough to have to ask for a seat belt extender (been there), but to be told in public that you're too fat to fly is just abject humiliation and not right. And as for the suggestion about fees based on weight. Who's going to enforce that? Will part of your security screening include a weigh-in? Or will they weigh you on the scales they use for luggage? I can tell you right now, if any airline tried to implement that policy, there WOULD be general uproar and perhaps even lawsuits.

I dont think its because they annoy people. We are talking about additional costs to the airline. Its all bottom line.

[himher 634]

I am all about fairness. I have been assigned seats next to large, smelly, overbearing people who then occupied the seat area like sitting hens, overlapping the entire area with unwelcome parts of themselves. Including the area that I paid for. Kudos to the suggestion of the "gate check" seat, like the "gate check" baggage basket. If unable to seat, they can then be escorted to the cargo hold like our oversized luggage is. Solution. Halas. Problem solved. If they then choose not to fly there are cargo trucks, cargo vans, cargo ships, and cargo trains available for alternate transportation. After all, when I wanted to move overseas, there were things I moved here. My small things were shipped air because they fit on an airplane. My large things (jeep and furniture for instance) arrived months later on a cargo ship. The issue is space. Space is limited when choosing the method of transportation. I certainly did not raise a fuss when my Jeep was unable to accompany me via KLM. Neither should those who are unable to fit into a single seat while unwilling to pay for occupying two.

[MichelleN 0]

So what about those people on the plane who smell? Should they get charged more to be hosed down before the flight? Or should they be denied boarding until they shower? Or people with kids. Should they be charged extra if the child starts crying during the flight and making everyone else uncomfortable? Maybe we should charge the little old lady who sits next to you and won't shut up about her grandkids a fee for making the flight annoying for you.

Singling out a group of people because they make someone else feel uncomfortable or annoyed is discriminatory. Has anyone stopped to think about how humiliating it would be for these people to be told they're too fat to fly? That they can't fly until they fork up enough for a second seat (anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars). As has been mentioned, there's no way a person would know if the airline deems them 'too fat' until they get to the ticket counter. It's embarrassing enough to have to ask for a seat belt extender (been there), but to be told in public that you're too fat to fly is just abject humiliation and not right. And as for the suggestion about fees based on weight. Who's going to enforce that? Will part of your security screening include a weigh-in? Or will they weigh you on the scales they use for luggage? I can tell you right now, if any airline tried to implement that policy, there WOULD be general uproar and perhaps even lawsuits.

I dont think its because they annoy people. We are talking about additional costs to the airline. Its all bottom line.

The original article states it's being implemented in response to complaints by passengers.

[mawilson 2,133]

So what about those people on the plane who smell? Should they get charged more to be hosed down before the flight? Or should they be denied boarding until they shower? Or people with kids. Should they be charged extra if the child starts crying during the flight and making everyone else uncomfortable? Maybe we should charge the little old lady who sits next to you and won't shut up about her grandkids a fee for making the flight annoying for you.

Singling out a group of people because they make someone else feel uncomfortable or annoyed is discriminatory. Has anyone stopped to think about how humiliating it would be for these people to be told they're too fat to fly? That they can't fly until they fork up enough for a second seat (anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars). As has been mentioned, there's no way a person would know if the airline deems them 'too fat' until they get to the ticket counter. It's embarrassing enough to have to ask for a seat belt extender (been there), but to be told in public that you're too fat to fly is just abject humiliation and not right. And as for the suggestion about fees based on weight. Who's going to enforce that? Will part of your security screening include a weigh-in? Or will they weigh you on the scales they use for luggage? I can tell you right now, if any airline tried to implement that policy, there WOULD be general uproar and perhaps even lawsuits.

I dont think its because they annoy people. We are talking about additional costs to the airline. Its all bottom line.

The original article states it's being implemented in response to complaints by passengers.

The original article is wrong.

[Peikko 1,575]

I am all about fairness. I have been assigned seats next to large, smelly, overbearing people who then occupied the seat area like sitting hens, overlapping the entire area with unwelcome parts of themselves. Including the area that I paid for. Kudos to the suggestion of the "gate check" seat, like the "gate check" baggage basket. If unable to seat, they can then be escorted to the cargo hold like our oversized luggage is. Solution. Halas. Problem solved. If they then choose not to fly there are cargo trucks, cargo vans, cargo ships, and cargo trains available for alternate transportation. After all, when I wanted to move overseas, there were things I moved here. My small things were shipped air because they fit on an airplane. My large things (jeep and furniture for instance) arrived months later on a cargo ship. The issue is space. Space is limited when choosing the method of transportation. I certainly did not raise a fuss when my Jeep was unable to accompany me via KLM. Neither should those who are unable to fit into a single seat while unwilling to pay for occupying two.

So obese people are cargo? Good to know.

[mawilson 2,133]

I am all about fairness. I have been assigned seats next to large, smelly, overbearing people who then occupied the seat area like sitting hens, overlapping the entire area with unwelcome parts of themselves. Including the area that I paid for. Kudos to the suggestion of the "gate check" seat, like the "gate check" baggage basket. If unable to seat, they can then be escorted to the cargo hold like our oversized luggage is. Solution. Halas. Problem solved. If they then choose not to fly there are cargo trucks, cargo vans, cargo ships, and cargo trains available for alternate transportation. After all, when I wanted to move overseas, there were things I moved here. My small things were shipped air because they fit on an airplane. My large things (jeep and furniture for instance) arrived months later on a cargo ship. The issue is space. Space is limited when choosing the method of transportation. I certainly did not raise a fuss when my Jeep was unable to accompany me via KLM. Neither should those who are unable to fit into a single seat while unwilling to pay for occupying two.

So obese people are cargo? Good to know.

At least they are not livestock (pay close attention to the category), like EasyJet passengers:

[Peikko 1,575]

[Niels Bohr 72]

It looks discriminatory. However, if the heavy person want a seat, he'd get two. This is to give them more comfort. I'd also like to ask the question, even for a skinny person like me, a direct flight from MA to CA can be a killer sometimes. Why can't the skinny people get comfy as well?

[Peikko 1,575]

Have you ever tried buying two seats? Better yet, go Business

[DEDixon 39]

Average seat size is definitely "country" dependent. Cebu Pacific Airlines (that's the name, right?) - their seats are super narrow!

US seats are average too - people that are way above average should have to pay more.

Edited April 15, 2009 by DEDixon

[JODO 2]

I thought airlines were already doing this.

[fozzie 41]

Edited April 15, 2009 by fozzie

[Niels Bohr 72]

I'd go business if it was the same price as the heavy person who's flying economy with two seats.

[fozzie 41]

Ooops, couldn't get the youtube thingy to work.

Edited April 15, 2009 by fozzie