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

[doodlebug 3]

Surely the problem is payment-per-butt-in-the-seat, not weight. The reason the airline wants to make the fat person buy two seats is not due to the extra weight, but that they lose the ability to sell the seat next to the person and hence would have to run the flight 'empty.'

Why do they lose the ability to sell the seat next to the person? When I buy a ticket and select my seat it doesn't tell me if the person next to me is fat or not so I don't exactly have the option of saying, oh no.....I don't wanna buy that seat.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There is a very fat, very sweaty man who gets my bus to NYC every morning. The bus is always full - with at least 1 or 2 people standing. There's always one empty seat. Guess which one...

[Scott & Lai 12]

Surely the problem is payment-per-butt-in-the-seat, not weight. The reason the airline wants to make the fat person buy two seats is not due to the extra weight, but that they lose the ability to sell the seat next to the person and hence would have to run the flight 'empty.'

Why do they lose the ability to sell the seat next to the person? When I buy a ticket and select my seat it doesn't tell me if the person next to me is fat or not so I don't exactly have the option of saying, oh no.....I don't wanna buy that seat.

Granted, the seat will be sold since a potential passenger will not know ahead of time that they will have a large seatmate. But if the fat person is taking up part of a seat that someone else paid for, then the airline will likely have an irrate passenger on their hands. Personally, I do not want to be in intimate contact with a stranger throughout my flight. The only person I want pressed against me is Lai

[Caladan 19]

Surely the problem is payment-per-butt-in-the-seat, not weight. The reason the airline wants to make the fat person buy two seats is not due to the extra weight, but that they lose the ability to sell the seat next to the person and hence would have to run the flight 'empty.'

Why do they lose the ability to sell the seat next to the person? When I buy a ticket and select my seat it doesn't tell me if the person next to me is fat or not so I don't exactly have the option of saying, oh no.....I don't wanna buy that seat.

You do have the option of making a fuss and being refunded part or all of your money. If that happens enough, anyone who doesn't fit in the seat is basically costing the airline money.

[Fandango 1,439]

If weight limits are imposed, I see no reason for them to be sex specific.

It used to be the case that men were bigger and stronger (and therefore heavier) than women.

Is the stereotype no longer true?

Has nowt to do with the stereotype.

If the argument is for 'fuel consumption' then I can't put it any better than G Dawg...

Moving 1 lb of female over 1 mile has the same energy cost as moving 1 lb of male over 1 mile.

[Alex+R 0]

Yes the fuel consumption issue is really secondary and not really the point of the thread. Airlines haven't yet made an issue of it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Yes the fuel consumption issue is really secondary and not really the point of the thread. Airlines haven't yet made an issue of it.

But it does factor into the cost of a plane ticket - in much the same way that removing or enlarging seats would also raise ticket prices.

[SqdnGuns 21]

Found this, bit old, 2004:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/05/...ain653942.shtml

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2004Nov17.html

Woman won a suit for getting "crushed":

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2346319.stm

Edited June 26, 2007 by SqdnGuns

[smoke20 0]

you people gotta be kidding. you're sitting here justifying bashing over weight people with the front of it's costing the airlines money. no i'm not a "fat, sweaty, hanging over into your seat & all the other hateful #######"person you're insulting. & all of you doing it are pathetic. if it bothers you that much find a small person, find out where they are sitting & go to the ticket counter to get your seat changed. and concentrate your hate on other elitist moroons.

[Alex+R 0]

you people gotta be kidding. you're sitting here justifying bashing over weight people with the front of it's costing the airlines money. no i'm not a "fat, sweaty, hanging over into your seat & all the other hateful #######"person you're insulting. & all of you doing it are pathetic. if it bothers you that much find a small person, find out where they are sitting & go to the ticket counter to get your seat changed. and concentrate your hate on other elitist moroons.

I don't feel like there is bashing going on, but I do feel like people are being kind of callous. Talking about weighing people is ridiculous and would give your average woman a panic attack.

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't feel like there is bashing going on, but I do feel like people are being kind of callous. Talking about weighing people is ridiculous and would give your average woman a panic attack.

That's true - LOL

[In Gods Hands 0]

If we're going to charge "fat & lazy" people more money, I propose some other charges as well:

Women who wear perfume on an airplane: since flogging is illegal, charge them an additional $5000.

People with screaming spawn: $10,000 per spawn

People who snore loudly (guilty): $5000

People who talk too damn much and too damn loud: $10,000

People who complain about "fat" people intruding upon their seat space: $15,000

People who accuse large people of being "fat and lazy": $50,000

But then, what do I know? I'm fat and lazy. My house has apparently remodeled itself while I eat doughnuts and/or sleep.

HAHAHAHA!!! That was funny... (thank God I have a sense of humor..not all have).. I know you were joking (i hope).. but also trying to bring up a point.. and I got it.

[In Gods Hands 0]

Ive been veiwing more vj suggestions.. I have to raise my hand to increasing seat size (like on RJ)and leg space by maybe 3 inches more.. because I know on some airlines.. their not all the same in seat size and configuration.. seriously. .. Oh Oh Oh.. was it just me.. or did anyone who has flown RJ.. (maybe not all RJ planes are the same) experience having to create or learn the art of eating (with elbows tucked in..no matter who your sittin next to)from their trays with a 100 containers and wrapprs (exaggerated) and be able to eat successfully without dropping anything? I actually did pretty good.. but would have enjoyed it better if I could relax my arms a little more. Haha.. had to laugh and joke about it with my flight neighbor. Anywaaaay.. this has been an interesting topic.. guess just something to talk about to pass the time as we await being reunited with the one we love.. Now back to daily life and checking my mailbox, case online and seeking answrs to things Im not sure of in this visa journey.. Alhumdulilah!!!

[Scott & Lai 12]

you people gotta be kidding. you're sitting here justifying bashing over weight people with the front of it's costing the airlines money. no i'm not a "fat, sweaty, hanging over into your seat & all the other hateful #######"person you're insulting. & all of you doing it are pathetic. if it bothers you that much find a small person, find out where they are sitting & go to the ticket counter to get your seat changed. and concentrate your hate on other elitist moroons.

Excuse me? It's elitist and hateful to expect to be able to use the entirety of a seat I've paid full price for?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

you people gotta be kidding. you're sitting here justifying bashing over weight people with the front of it's costing the airlines money. no i'm not a "fat, sweaty, hanging over into your seat & all the other hateful #######"person you're insulting. & all of you doing it are pathetic. if it bothers you that much find a small person, find out where they are sitting & go to the ticket counter to get your seat changed. and concentrate your hate on other elitist moroons.

Excuse me? It's elitist and hateful to expect to be able to use the entirety of a seat I've paid full price for?

Also that making significant concessions for very large people would end up costing me money.

In a way this argument reminds me of the negative reaction from smokers to smoking bans in pubs and clubs - as though people offended by their filthy habit should just stay home, rather than for the smokers to concede that what they are doing actually impacts other people in a negative way.

Edited June 26, 2007 by erekose