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Travel Forum / Travel Types / Air Travel / July 2008Paying Extra For Being Fat
Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. For Southwest, a plane ticket is like real estate: You get only the space you pay for. (Passengers must buy an extra ticket if their girth prevents them from lowering the armrest that divides the seats. If the flight is not full, they qualify for a refund.) Southwest representative Ashley Rogers says the airline instituted the policy because of complaints from adjoining passengers. “We want to give everybody the room they need,” she says. “People should be able to breathe a little without their neighbor encroaching.” But in Canada, a new government policy prevents airlines from charging extra for passengers who are considered disabled by their obesity. The policy will cost Air Canada $7.3 million a year. As our nation’s collective girth increases, the debate about the rights of overweight people is also playing out in the courts. A Michigan law protects overweight people from job discrimination; Massachusetts is considering similar legislation. And overweight people claim that a federal law preventing airlines from discriminating against people with disabilities should apply to them, too. So far, their lawsuits have been unsuccessful. —Lori Andrews http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_06-29-2008/Intelligence_Report In message <42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> >Paying Extra For Being Fat >As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will >be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second >ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the >airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue >of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? > In message > <42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Isn't the problem the width, not weight? Wider people weigh more. >> In message >> <42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Wider people weigh more. They might or might not. A 5'0 individual weighing 200 lbs will likely be wider then a 6'0 individual weighing 250 lbs. Both weight and width are potential issues, depending on whether you care about fuel or passenger comfort. >>In message >><42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Wider people weigh more. So do tall people. >>>In message >>><42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >So do tall people. Well, screw them too then. And charge the short ones more because they are wasting space not filling up the seat. Or put two to a seat. Or something I also know a famous dating sites for big boob women, big booty and big manful guys. It's seekingbbw.com and it's models on the hoem page are very sexy! >>>>> Paying Extra For Being Fat >>>>> As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will >>>>> be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second >>>>> ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the >>>>> airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue >>>>> of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. I'm not a lawyer but as I understand it being extra large is not a protected right under Federal Civil Rights laws in the USA. IMHO if you overflow into my space on a plane then maybe one of us should pay for two seats of space. What gives a large person right to the space I paid for. If you need my space then pay for it. .led > I'm not a lawyer but as I understand it being extra large is not a > protected right under Federal Civil Rights laws in the USA. > IMHO if you overflow into my space on a plane then maybe one of us should > pay for two seats of space. What gives a large person right to the space > I paid for. If you need my space then pay for it. What discussions like this always seem to ignore is the fact that the airlines are NOT out to enforce anyone's idea of what their "rights" are or what is "just" via their pricing schemes. The bottom line is that they are always, always going to try to set up their pricing to maximize revenues/profits, just like any business. People can whine all they want about what others "should" pay for, but it will have exactly zero impact until and unless the business in question - in this case, the airline industry - comes to believe that the proposed change will have a net positive impact on their bottom line. Which, you know, is exactly how it's supposed to be. Bob M. > >>In message > >><42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > So do tall people. Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to their expanded girth. >Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to >their expanded girth. At the same BMI and the same % of body fat, the taller person will weigh more. > >Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to > >their expanded girth. > > At the same BMI and the same % of body fat, the taller person will > weigh more. True, but the taller person won't encroach into an adjacent passenger's seat. >>>Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to >>>their expanded girth. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > True, but the taller person won't encroach into an adjacent passenger's > seat. Where will he put his elbows? >>>>Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to >>>>their expanded girth. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Where will he put his elbows? The same place everyone else does? > >>>Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to > >>>their expanded girth. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Where will he put his elbows? Next to his body, same as anyone else. Your point though about charging for weight makes sense. Either way, a taller passenger will pay more than a shorter passenger of the same body mass. >Next to his body, same as anyone else. Your point though about charging >for weight makes sense. And why is it fair to penalize someone for their height? >Either way, a taller passenger will pay more >than a shorter passenger of the same body mass. >>Next to his body, same as anyone else. Your point though about charging >>for weight makes sense. > > And why is it fair to penalize someone for their height? Not only that, Shawn quoted me and said "Your point". I made no such point. I didn't say charging by weight was a good idea. >>>>>Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to >>>>>their expanded girth. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > for weight makes sense. Either way, a taller passenger will pay more > than a shorter passenger of the same body mass. What point did I make? I was suggesting it didn't make sense. >>>>In message >>>><42c77f62-b5a6-4641-9fc5-27b1ea33ab55@v1g2000pra.googlegroups.com> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to > their expanded girth. So, what does this have to do with paying by weight? IMHO obese people should pay for two seats, and also be able to fit in the lavatory. When I worked for a major carrier we had an obese lady flying from west coast to east. When nature called she was too big to fit thru the lavatory door. She attempted to relieve herself in her seat in an airsick bag. A f/a held up a blanket to try and give her some privacy. Let us just say the aircraft cleaners really earned their money! > As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will > be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second > ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the > airline against the dignity of overweight fliers Let's make this clear - they aren't singling people out just because they have a beer belly or a few love handles. They are referring to the type of people who are GROSSLY OBESE and have their flab and fat singificantly intruding into the adjacent seat, inhibiting the airline's ability to sell the seat and generate revenue. I can assure you that you have not been in airline hell until you have been wedged in a middle seat next to two sweating, overweight porkers on an international flight. As far as their "dignity" goes: I have been overweight at times in my life, but when I got to the point where my pants stopped fitting, I realized it was time to hit the gym, back off the snacks, and lose a few pounds. Lardasses who aren't embarrassed enough to do something about their weight even when they can't fit in an airline seat have NO grounds to blame Southwest (or any other carrier) when they stopped caring about their own dignity a long time ago... :O| and raises the issue > of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. > For Southwest, a plane ticket is like real estate: You get only the [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2008/edition_06-29-2008/Intel... > > As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will > > be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second > > ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the > > airline against the dignity of overweight fliers Good for Southwest Airlines, now the other Airlines should do the same. > Let's make this clear - they aren't singling people out just because > they have a beer belly or a few love handles. They are referring to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > in a middle seat next to two sweating, overweight porkers on an > international flight. Not to mention that they usually smell like they haven't bathed in quite a while. >> > As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will >> > be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Good for Southwest Airlines, now the other Airlines should do the > same. What's the big deal all of a sudden? Southwest has had this policy for years. It's nothing new. > Not to mention that they usually smell like they haven't bathed in > quite a while. They're not the only ones. I've had quite a few skinny rails near me that smelled awful. >Not to mention that they usually smell like they haven't bathed in >quite a while. It's not just those who are overweight who can have serious odor problems. >>Not to mention that they usually smell like they haven't bathed in >>quite a while. > > It's not just those who are overweight who can have serious odor > problems. Have you ever sat next to someone who just tried to cover it up? Perfume and BO is not a pleasant mixture. >Have you ever sat next to someone who just tried to cover it up? Perfume >and BO is not a pleasant mixture. No it isn't. >> Not to mention that they usually smell like they haven't bathed in >> quite a while. > > It's not just those who are overweight who can have serious odor > problems. That's true. I don't doubt the airlines would boot a passenger of any size off a plane if the passenger stank. Airlines already have booted passengers for wearing clothing with offensive text on them, and the text wasn't even what might have been deemed obscene. Foul odor shouldn't be a problem at all for them to exclude. Rube Canoza <unstable dwarf> exuded foul odor : > I don't doubt the airlines would boot a passenger of any > size off a plane if the passenger stank. Airlines already have booted > passengers for wearing clothing with offensive text on them, and the > text wasn't even what might have been deemed obscene. Foul odor > shouldn't be a problem at all for them to exclude. Were that the case, Rube, then neither your foul dwarfin self nor the stale lardy oaf known as Stain de STD should expect to be flying anywhere, anytime soon. Except maybe into jail. . . . > Rube Canoza <unstable dwarf> exuded foul odor : > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Except maybe into jail. Somehow I figured that you would show up here with your usual injection of bile, Slurry Mouth... > Paying Extra For Being Fat > As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will > be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second > ticket. Good. They're taking up twice the space. > This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the > airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue > of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Lumbering blowpigs who take up two seats have little inherent dignity. They should pay for the space. There is nothing unjust about this. > Paying Extra For Being Fat > As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will > be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second > ticket. Good. They're taking up twice the space. > This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the > airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue > of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Lumbering blowpigs who take up two seats have little inherent dignity. They should pay for the space. There is nothing unjust about this. |
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