Should large people have to buy two airplane seats for themselves?

[smoke20 0]

i was joking relax a little. cmon it was kinda funny

[SqdnGuns 21]

Let use another example. Would you honestly say, that you sympathise with the guy sitting next to you - who is stricken with irritable bowel syndrome throughout the flight with the result that he farts constantly and uncontrollably. Are you thinking - "wow that must be awful for him - I'm so sorry that he has to go through this"? or are your thoughts more concerned with the quality of the air your breathing and that fact that its putting you off your food?

Couldn't resist..........

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think there's a difference between adopting a politically correct position to preserve the perceived sensitivities of others and being honest insofar as how you would react in a given situation. I doubt too many people 'enjoy' mass transit.

[KarenCee 3]

I don't think it's a fair comparison to ask the obese to stop being obese in the same way smokers can stop being smokers.

The idea was to ask the obese to pay more, not to stop being obese.

I don't find it particularly unfair either. The obese already spend more money on food,

clothes, doctor appointments and prescription drugs amongst other things. Why not

plane tickets also?

Not necessarily Mark. I don't spend more on food and clothing...I spend less on food and still manage to eat healthy and I don't overeat, since that seems to be the general belief for the reason so many are overweight. My clothing isn't as expensive either. Some skinny people pay more for their clothing than I do. My doctor appointments are for medical conditions that even skinny people have. My prescriptions are for conditions that even skinny people have need of. Medication prices are regulated by drug companies and insurance companies...skinny or overweight isn't the only determining factor IMHO.

BTW - who am I mocking exactly. Its not like the guy who sat next to me on the flight to LA (not Sydney) is reading this thread...

Yes, but lots and lots of overweight/obese people are, and if I were a large man, I would feel bad that others think of me as some Jabba the Hut. It's not that easy, losing weight, especially for the very large.

Thank you Alex. I get tired of hearing comments like "if they'd just close their mouth" or "back off from the table". There are some very real medical conditions out there that contribute greatly to one's weight gain...even the lack thereof. It doesn't matter that my medical condition (documented and proven) is the major contributor to my weight gain...I am still judged according to society's idea of what is "perfect". Even when my ex was presented with the medical evidence of my medical condition and its symptoms and the effects, he was still very much like most of society.

So now we have those that feel that overweight people should further be penalized...punished....for lack of a better term...for being overweight and wanting/needing to fly. What if you were charged extra for having long legs...or something similar? Those "ideas" posted by PlatyPius could very well apply to some of you here. What if you were charged more for your ticket if you have small children that might possibly disturb the other passengers. What if you had to ask a battery of questions when you decide to purchase a ticket and one of those questions is "do you snore?" and answering yes generated a higher purchase price? If charging more for an overweight person starts happening, where will this stop? Yeah, Yeah, I read all the posts about weight to fuel ratio. That's just one way to justify personal preference IMHO. You have to see that it wouldn't end with just overweight people, don't you?

Edited June 27, 2007 by KarenCee

[Caladan 19]

It doesn't really matter whether the person is fat because they have a bad character (a dumb claim if I ever heard one), or fat because the Angel of God decreed it; as far as the airline's concerned, we're talking butts-in-seats. Weight isn't the problem, just butts-per-seat.

So let's lay off the personal attacks, k guys?

[SteveLaura 0]

As a fat man with irritable bowel syndrome, body odour and spoilt kids, I'm bowing out of this thread.

[Cassie 8]

so....according to sentiments in this thread

I should pay more since I am overweight, AND I should pay more because I have long legs that prevent the person ahead of me from leaning their chair back.

good to know.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As far as flights go - it has nothing to do with a person's character and everything to do with the fact that another people (for whatever reason) is contributing to what is an already unpleasant experience.

You can resolve most disputes about reclining seat backs (for example) by reasoning with people, or if that doesn't work - with the aid of the flight staff; but little can be done if you're being squashed in your seat by another person.

[mawilson 2,133]

Weight isn't the problem, just butts-per-seat.

Weight is a big problem for airlines.

"Through the 1990s, the average weight of Americans increased by 10 pounds,

according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The extra weight

caused airlines to spend $275 million to burn 350 million more gallons of fuel in

2000 just to carry the additional weight of Americans, the federal agency estimated

in a recent issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. "

Source

[sereia 0]

no wonder we're only allowed (generally) 2 bags @ 50lbs now instead of 3. and the carry on size is much smaller/lighter

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

no wonder we're only allowed (generally) 2 bags @ 50lbs now instead of 3. and the carry on size is much smaller/lighter

Well it makes sense that the operating costs of a commercial flight go up as the overall payload of the plan goes up and gas prices skyrocket. Anyone who thinks those costs aren't being passed on directly to the consumer is sadly kidding themselves.

[Queen Jenn 0]

I agree that airline seats should be larger. However, the cost of replacing all the seats in all the airplanes in the U.S. would be prohibitave. I am heavier myself, but not enough that I don't fit in the seat. I can still fasten the seatbelt with a little of the belt left. But . . . . it is uncomfortable enough to be in the small seat WITHOUT someone larger spilling over into my seat.

So . . . I voted that LARGE people should have to buy two seats. I'm not trying to be mean or heartless. That's just how I feel.

[sereia 0]

no wonder we're only allowed (generally) 2 bags @ 50lbs now instead of 3. and the carry on size is much smaller/lighter

Well it makes sense that the operating costs of a commercial flight go up as the overall payload of the plan goes up and gas prices skyrocket. Anyone who thinks those costs aren't being passed on directly to the consumer is sadly kidding themselves.

well of course. in my short lifetime a lot in the airline industry has changed. we're still paying somehow by less baggage, no food service/paying extra for food, paying for earphones, paying for movies, etc. none of that was around when i was younger. and even before i was born i've heard about having wonderful table serviced meals in coach! lol

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Generally all the other issues that people have brought up about seat backs, screaming kids, flatulence, snoring etc - are controllable to a point. The size of the person sitting next to you and the reduced space available to adjacent passengers are not controllable.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

no wonder we're only allowed (generally) 2 bags @ 50lbs now instead of 3. and the carry on size is much smaller/lighter

Well it makes sense that the operating costs of a commercial flight go up as the overall payload of the plan goes up and gas prices skyrocket. Anyone who thinks those costs aren't being passed on directly to the consumer is sadly kidding themselves.

well of course. in my short lifetime a lot in the airline industry has changed. we're still paying somehow by less baggage, no food service/paying extra for food, paying for earphones, paying for movies, etc. none of that was around when i was younger. and even before i was born i've heard about having wonderful table serviced meals in coach! lol

Also depends on the airline - some offer more seating space than others. If anything perhaps it should be a universal standard - but then again there's nothing that can be changed related to seat space/number of seats without increasing the cost to everyone else. Its admittedly selfish - but I dont' want to pay for it.