Obese Pax
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: any where that will have me.
Obese Pax
Reported on Sky News UK
Obese pax flying on US Airways to be charged for a second seat.
full details:-
United Airlines Says Obese Passengers Have To Buy Two Tickets If They Can't Fit Into One Seat | Home | Sky News
Obese pax flying on US Airways to be charged for a second seat.
full details:-
United Airlines Says Obese Passengers Have To Buy Two Tickets If They Can't Fit Into One Seat | Home | Sky News
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 35
From: Hong Kong
Good. Fit in or get off. Unlike people with disabilities or genetic disposition to being 7'8" or such it''s all about pies. No harm if there is available space but an 'average' person should not have to suffer some sweating pile of lard having to ooze over them into their seat. Obese punters could always lose weight. It's about choice. They choose to eat shed loads of food - ipso facto - they choose not to fit on a 'plane.
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,011
Likes: 1
From: Hampshire, UK
Why ever not? You carry a bigger bag, you pay more. You carry 100lbs of fat on the flight with you, you should pay more, whatever the reason. You need half of the next seat to merely sit down, why should you not pay for it? Who cares if it's 'for medical reasons'? Pay for the resources you are using. Otherwise every other passenger is paying for the fatty.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,235
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From: UK
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Munich, Germany
Yes, charge them for two seats and supply them with a extended seat
belt. But wait until the new " U.S. Disability Rules " are in force ( May 09 ),
when they manage to reach a disability status, which they eventually will,
it looks very bad for the airlines.
belt. But wait until the new " U.S. Disability Rules " are in force ( May 09 ),
when they manage to reach a disability status, which they eventually will,
it looks very bad for the airlines.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,117
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From: On the western edge of The Moor
Couple of quotes from the article
Of course Southwest have been doing it for years, check the details on their website!
United Airlines is falling in line with eight other carriers that have already put similar policies in place, it said
"It is in response to the 700 complaints received last year from customers who did not have a comfortable flight because the person next to them infringed on their seat."
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 49
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From: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
But I've never seen a tiger wearing contact lenses or glasses.
Does that mean that all tigers have perfect eyesight?
Does that mean that all tigers have perfect eyesight?
Or a rhino in a wheelchair,
or an elephant with a sling,
or an anteater with a toupee,
or a crocodile on crutches!
or an elephant with a sling,
or an anteater with a toupee,
or a crocodile on crutches!
As far as I'm concerned, being fat is not a disability - yes certain people may be more inclined to increase in size compared to others, but then that's life and you just have to watch what you eat.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 98
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From: Southern UK
Never seen a skinny hippo either - so I guess there may be something "genetic" as a cause for some people.
Most however, will be caused by a combination of too many calories and too little excercise - and the problem is only going to get worse, given all of the labour saving inventions nowadays, just think, it wasnt so long ago that you were scrubbing clothes by hand (replaced by washing machine), walking or cycling everywhere (replaced by mass car ownership), sweeping and scrubbing floors (replaced by vacum cleaners) - even walking through an airport doesnt have to be done nowadays, `cos of those bloody "travelators".
Add to this the constant pressure to work harder/longer (sat at a desk/flight deck) - and a lot of people either dont have the time, or a just too plain knackered to do any propper excercise, or to cook a decent meal - far easier to stick a pile of processed crap in the oven for 20 minutes - which will contain high calories in quite small portions.
My other half has just been advised to give up sugar totally - you have no idea what sort of stuff contains sugar until you start reading the packets carefully - and we basically have to now cook everything from scratch - which is way more expensive (tastes great though).
Out of interest, whats to stop aircraft makers building aircraft a little wider, giving everybody an extra couple of inches in seat width, efverybody I know would gladly pay a little more (£10 shorthaul - £20-£30 long haul) for the extra comfort.
Most however, will be caused by a combination of too many calories and too little excercise - and the problem is only going to get worse, given all of the labour saving inventions nowadays, just think, it wasnt so long ago that you were scrubbing clothes by hand (replaced by washing machine), walking or cycling everywhere (replaced by mass car ownership), sweeping and scrubbing floors (replaced by vacum cleaners) - even walking through an airport doesnt have to be done nowadays, `cos of those bloody "travelators".
Add to this the constant pressure to work harder/longer (sat at a desk/flight deck) - and a lot of people either dont have the time, or a just too plain knackered to do any propper excercise, or to cook a decent meal - far easier to stick a pile of processed crap in the oven for 20 minutes - which will contain high calories in quite small portions.
My other half has just been advised to give up sugar totally - you have no idea what sort of stuff contains sugar until you start reading the packets carefully - and we basically have to now cook everything from scratch - which is way more expensive (tastes great though).
Out of interest, whats to stop aircraft makers building aircraft a little wider, giving everybody an extra couple of inches in seat width, efverybody I know would gladly pay a little more (£10 shorthaul - £20-£30 long haul) for the extra comfort.
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Problem is that I don't think it would be a case of just another £20 or £30 - you've got all that extra metal (or carbon fibre if you will) - then you need the extra lift, so larger wings, then more fuel, and more fuel to carry the extra fuel, etc.
Besides in time the airlines would only think "well we can lop those 3 inches of all the seats and put another column in" so the benefits would be short lived...
Short of legislation, I doubt it would happen
Besides in time the airlines would only think "well we can lop those 3 inches of all the seats and put another column in" so the benefits would be short lived...
Short of legislation, I doubt it would happen
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1
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From: England
In some cases, it may be as simple as basic physics - they put more in one hole than comes out the other!
Out of curiosity, is anyone able to confirm whether or not such things are considered when determining if regulatory evacuation times are met?
Out of curiosity, is anyone able to confirm whether or not such things are considered when determining if regulatory evacuation times are met?
Bludger extraordinaire
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 194
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From: London/Frankfurt
uniform_775
If you don't do that, I suggest you seek medical attention.
It's a vexed question - if you're tall you use up more room but won't overly inconvenience the person in front (you'll just have your kneecaps dislocated when the seat goes SLAM! into recline), but if you're broad or fat, there's nothing to divide you from your neighbour.
I would happily pay a surcharge or bribe for having an empty seat next to me, or for that matter, an exit row in a 747. In the latter case, being sober and polite usually works.
BOFH
they put more in one hole than comes out the other!
It's a vexed question - if you're tall you use up more room but won't overly inconvenience the person in front (you'll just have your kneecaps dislocated when the seat goes SLAM! into recline), but if you're broad or fat, there's nothing to divide you from your neighbour.
I would happily pay a surcharge or bribe for having an empty seat next to me, or for that matter, an exit row in a 747. In the latter case, being sober and polite usually works.
BOFH
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: South Warwickshire
Lets stick skinnys two per seat then,
Oh and charge veggies double for having to carry different meals for them, based upon a food choice not a medical reason.
Heres an idea, make seats with proper width and legroom the norm airlines!
Oh and charge veggies double for having to carry different meals for them, based upon a food choice not a medical reason.
Heres an idea, make seats with proper width and legroom the norm airlines!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: London
Ever seen a 'medically fat' tiger or a 'medically fat' owl? No -
This could be due to the fact that any tigers or owls that have a genetic defect would be very unlikely to ever survive in the wild.
I agree that probably 99% of obese pax are that way due to a lifestyle choice, but I would like to hear a qualified medical expert state that there are no genetic or medical conditions that can lead to obesity.
Don't forget that psychological conditions are medically recognised, and some of these can cause over eating through no fault of the person concerned.
This could be due to the fact that any tigers or owls that have a genetic defect would be very unlikely to ever survive in the wild.
I agree that probably 99% of obese pax are that way due to a lifestyle choice, but I would like to hear a qualified medical expert state that there are no genetic or medical conditions that can lead to obesity.
Don't forget that psychological conditions are medically recognised, and some of these can cause over eating through no fault of the person concerned.