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

[deemabrouk 0]

I had a horrible experience flying to Italy..

I was on the row seat.. this guy in the middle and then his wife at the window..

This man was SO BIG.. he came over into my "space".. It was a over night flight of course.. It was HORRIBLE.. my R arm was hugged to my body (NO way did I ever get near the arm rest) the whole time.. I was smushed into my L side arm rest. IT SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was very very uncomfortable.. Airline tickets over sea's are expensive enough.. but to then BARELY have room in a already cramped area??!!!

IT SUCKED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

they just need one of those things at the ticket counter - the "can your bag fit in this" - same thing for butts. if not, pay for an upgraded seat. a person's rights end when they infringe on mine - everyone remember cigarette smoking?

LOL I don't think you read the whole crazy thread, didja?

It is the same principle. The expectation to unrestricted personal space is much the same as the right not to have to breath someone else's 20/day habit.

[Alex+R 0]

they just need one of those things at the ticket counter - the "can your bag fit in this" - same thing for butts. if not, pay for an upgraded seat. a person's rights end when they infringe on mine - everyone remember cigarette smoking?

LOL I don't think you read the whole crazy thread, didja?

It is the same principle. The expectation to unrestricted personal space is much the same as the right not to have to breath someone else's 20/day habit.

Oh jesus we've been here already. And secondly, nobody is saying you shouldn't have a right to unrestricted personal space. I feel like you don't understand the question, which is not "is it ok for someone to take all their seat and a third of yours too?"

[deemabrouk 0]

they just need one of those things at the ticket counter - the "can your bag fit in this" - same thing for butts. if not, pay for an upgraded seat. a person's rights end when they infringe on mine - everyone remember cigarette smoking?

LOL I don't think you read the whole crazy thread, didja?

It is the same principle. The expectation to unrestricted personal space is much the same as the right not to have to breath someone else's 20/day habit.

Oh jesus we've been here already. And secondly, nobody is saying you shouldn't have a right to unrestricted personal space. I feel like you don't understand the question, which is not "is it ok for someone to take all their seat and a third of yours too?"

After reading this.. I DID post my annoying experience.. AND voted.. (and I know your reply wasnt directed to me)

But I will further put.. YES.. they should pay for another seat.. Full price? maybe not.. Like how the kids get a discount.. OR maybe if there is a extra seat available.. change their seating around..

BUT why should the airlines loose their "precious" dollars cause someone IS over weight?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

they just need one of those things at the ticket counter - the "can your bag fit in this" - same thing for butts. if not, pay for an upgraded seat. a person's rights end when they infringe on mine - everyone remember cigarette smoking?

LOL I don't think you read the whole crazy thread, didja?

It is the same principle. The expectation to unrestricted personal space is much the same as the right not to have to breath someone else's 20/day habit.

Oh jesus we've been here already. And secondly, nobody is saying you shouldn't have a right to unrestricted personal space. I feel like you don't understand the question, which is not "is it ok for someone to take all their seat and a third of yours too?"

Should someone obese or just very large who does not fit in their seat be required to buy two? - Yes (along with 58 other people). Obese is in the wording of your question - I'm not surprised that the debate is revolving around the issue of obesity.

If you can't sit in your assigned seat or get the seat belt around your body - you're (first and foremost) a safety liability to yourself and other passengers. No I don't think they should make concessions to bigger people because it would be cost prohibitive to the airline - and would raise ticket prices significantly. I don't believe its fair to everyone else to have to pay extra to subsidise the cost of travel for a few large or obese people.

More than that - do we really want to broadly categorise the overweight with the disabled?

Edited June 30, 2007 by erekose

[no name 1]

More than that - do we really want to broadly categorise the overweight with the disabled?

Go back about 3-4 pages & read my replies to that (loaded) question....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It just seems that whatever anyone says the comments are being used as a judgement on people's perceptions of 'large' people.

Since we can't get off that argument - it would not be inaccurate to suggest that one of the leading causes of obesity (obesity being mentioned in the poll question) is poor diet and lack of exercise.

Perhaps I'm the only one wonder if anyone here was in situation where they had to buy a second seat? I'd really like to hear more about their experience. I'd also like to know how common this actually is.

Edited June 30, 2007 by erekose

[babybunny 2]

I think fat people should buy two seats. as a former gate agent. if we had extra seats I would not charge extra to the passenger.. but would advise them on their return trip they may have to purchase an extra seat.

[Ban Hammer 13,643]

they just need one of those things at the ticket counter - the "can your bag fit in this" - same thing for butts. if not, pay for an upgraded seat. a person's rights end when they infringe on mine - everyone remember cigarette smoking?

LOL I don't think you read the whole crazy thread, didja?

where didja think i got the idea from

[no name 1]

It just seems that whatever anyone says the comments are being used as a judgement on people's perceptions of 'large' people.

Since we can't get off that argument - it would not be inaccurate to suggest that one of the leading causes of obesity (obesity being mentioned in the poll question) is poor diet and lack of exercise.

Perhaps I'm the only one wonder if anyone here was in situation where they had to buy a second seat? I'd really like to hear more about their experience. I'd also like to know how common this actually is.

Told to buy 2 seats, Exeter woman sues Southwest, claims racial discrimination

Physicians concerned about obesity warn that expanding waistlines in America are posing an unexpected cost - to airlines.

The report, featured in this month's American Journal of Preventive Medicine, said that weight gain in the 1990s, estimated at approximately 10 pounds per person, required the use of an additional 350 million gallons of jet fuel in 2000.

That represents about 2 percent of the total volume of jet fuel used that year.

source

Older story but interesting:

http://www.naafa.org/Convention2002/airlines.html

Edited June 30, 2007 by devilette

[Scott & Lai 12]

Told to buy 2 seats, Exeter woman sues Southwest, claims racial discrimination

Yaaaay, the race card again

Edited June 30, 2007 by Scott & Lai

[Fandango 1,440]

Told to buy 2 seats, Exeter woman sues Southwest, claims racial discrimination

Yaaaay, the race card again

300-330 lbs and it's the race card...

Thompson, who got a refund, said she was humiliated and suffered emotional distress. “Southwest just asked me to get off the plane either because I’m too fat or too black or just a woman,†she said to people as she was being led to the ticket counter, according to court records.

Well seems like she has her bases covered!

Edited June 30, 2007 by LisaD

[Fandango 1,440]

actually, that pic wasn't too bad

[Alex+R 0]

Well that's completely ridiculous. Nobody is going to ask people to buy 2 seats because of their race.

[Fandango 1,440]

Jury: "customer of size" not victim of airline bias

"A jury on Friday said Southwest Airlines did not racially discriminate against an overweight passenger when she was asked to buy a second seat on her flight." Nadine Thompson of Exeter, N.H., CEO of a successful cosmetics company, claimed the airline applied its "customer of size" policy in a racially discriminatory manner. On Friday Joel Drake, a Southwest employee, testified that Thompson herself had"accused him of being a 'motherf------ racist pig' and wished that his family would die from cancer when he tried to explain the company's policy to her. ...Thompson testified that Drake was bullying her and she felt scared, so words were her only way to fight back. She said she felt cornered and powerless." (Kathy McCormack, "Jury: Southwest didn't discriminate against passenger", AP/Boston Globe, Feb. 10; "Told to buy 2 seats, Exeter woman sues Southwest, claims racial discrimination", AP/Manchester Union-Leader, Feb. 8). Earlier second-seat suits: Dec. 20, 2000, etc. More: Thompson says she won't appeal (AP, Feb. 15).

http://www.overlawyered.com/2006/02/jury_c...e_not_vict.html

Edited June 30, 2007 by LisaD