United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

[NickD 202]

How come two people sitting side by side have to share just one armrest?

Have you read the limits of liability on your plane tickets lately? If they kill you, you are only worth a couple of bucks.

[Craneman 2]

United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

Airline Says Overweight Travelers Will Need To Buy Extra Seats Or Be Denied Entry To Planes

If "beefy" or "curvy" describes you, here is a word of warning: United Airlines will begin aggressively enforcing a new policy that allows it to charge heavier passengers twice to fly.

WBBM Newsradio 780 has learned that Chicago-based United has instructed its customer service representatives at O'Hare International Airport ticket counters and gates to be extra vigilant beginning Wednesday for passengers they deem to be overweight. Those unable to comfortably fasten a safety belt with one extension or sit comfortably with armrests down will be denied boarding unless they purchase an extra seat, even if they can be placed elsewhere in the aircraft next to an empty seat.

If no empty seat exists, the passenger will be forced to take a later flight.

Couples flying together who can fit in adjoining seats are exempted "unless one of them complains," a United spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said it is responding to complaints from passengers.

While the directive has some United customer service representatives questioning the wisdom or legality of such charges, the airline spokesperson told WBBM that the double charge has become common practice in the industry, and that United is the last airline to adopt such a policy.

O'Hare's other major carrier, American Airlines, begs to differ. American spokesman Tim Smith said that while the airline has the right to require a second ticket, it will do so only if it can find no other solution, such as re-seating the passenger next to an empty seat at no extra charge.

"I don't remember us ever having to impose such a charge," said American spokesperson Mary Frances Fagan.

The United spokesperson said it intends to impose the charge even when empty seats exist and passengers can be re-seated next to one. The spokesperson said United quietly adopted the policy earlier this year.

Southwest Airlines also is known to be aggressive about imposing the double charge.

http://cbs2chicago.com/business/united.ove...s.2.985271.html

having flown 400K miles on united, I say it's way past time.

I have to agree, flown over 500,000 miles in 4 years, Nothing worse than having a 500 pound person in the seat next to you.

Or should I say half in his set and half on top of you for a 9 hour flight, they need 2 seats pay for 2 seats.

The airline charges for overweight luggage.

[^KK^ 3]

Can you imagine if they start doing this at concerts? Charging for two seats when the person is too big for one.

[Donna A 4]

i can see what will happen now. the airline will charge for 2 seats and give only one. i just came back from hawaii a few months ago and that plane was so full u couldnt even move. we requested a window and the one next to it two months in advance and we ended up with inside seats. they wouldnt let us change either. it was horible.

[^KK^ 3]

Sorry about that Donna...Hawaii was probably beautiful though.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

EEEEWWW... that is what happens when you fly commercial

buy your own planes, peoplessssss

[Niels Bohr 72]

I can time travel....you want to know how?

Take a plane ride 180 degree from your longitudinal axis of earth. You'll be in the future by one day.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Thanks. I will have to try that.

[DEDixon 39]

Huge opportunity here folks.... someone can start an airline for big folks with big wide seats and an all you can eat buffet at the front and back of the plane.

[HannahP 119]

Do I get a half-price ticket if I only take up half a seat?

[minimule 3]

well from a buiness point of view, i can undestand it because can u imagin if the plane is only half full because bigger people are taking up 2 seats?how much money they would lose, so the tickets would get higher to everybody instead and im sorry it is expensive enough as it is...

but then i feel bad for the bigger people, they allready have a lot to deal with on the everyday basis and then thet gotta pay double just to travel, must be very humiliating and of course expensive...

so yea that s a tuff one...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Do I get a half-price ticket if I only take up half a seat?

Why not double up, and join the mile high club at the same time? A darkened cabin, and a strategically placed blanket...

[Scott & Lai 12]

Do I get a half-price ticket if I only take up half a seat?

Why not double up, and join the mile high club at the same time? A darkened cabin, and a strategically placed blanket...

I've wondered why it's called the "mile high club" considering most flights go several miles up. If you do it on the ground in Denver, shouldn't that qualify?

[MARM 7]

So how do the customer service reps for United "eyeball" if a passenger is just barely going to fit in one seat or whether the passenger's "fat" is going to pour over into the next seat? And what about tall people? Not only are they themselves uncomfortable, but passengers next to a tall person also get disturbed by tangling legs or legs that have no where to rest...

Yeah its darn uncomfortable sitting next to "one of those fat people", but this new policy does not make sense.

[Anna C. 4]

Hm I wonder how they spot people... Honestly, I would be fine if everyone gets weighed at the check-in like the luggage does. Every single thing in the world if hauled on planes or ships gets charged by pound, why not people. I would not feel discriminated, it makes sense, each pound more is more expensive to transport. I wouldn't mind at all. And if I gain a lot of weight and it gets pricey, it would be quite the incentive for me to loose it, as I am stingy.

United has the worst seats in my opinion though. On my recent flight I noticed they are very close to each other, closer than in Lufthansa planes. Also they did not give us the booked bassinet seat and made me hold my baby on my lap instead and the attendants were extremely rude. It was my worst flight experience and surely I will never take this airline again.