Comments on: Should obese fliers have to pay more?

By: Mummy Barka

Mummy Barka — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:56:51 +0000

I don’t care if they’re obese or if they have a parasitic twin.
You take up two seats, you pay for two seats.

By: Chris in NC

Chris in NC — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:58:39 +0000

Dang, can you imagine what his carbon buttprint must be? Wow.

By: Miguelito

Miguelito — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:35:05 +0000

As someone that was previously close to that size (but not quite as big as that guy) and who did NOT fit in one coach seat, I can say that if you don’t fit, you should definitely be required to pay for a second seat. I flew several times while larger and hated it. It was so uncomfortable that I drove from San Diego to SF twice for conferences because I wanted to avoid flying.

When I did fly, I made sure to check the airline for their rules first. I actually thought that Southwest had the best overall rules (possibly gate attendant issues aside). At the time, you were required to buy a special 2nd ticket. You’d get a reserved ticket/print-out to put on the seat (yeah, it was embarrassing, but duh.. so was being that fat) and if the flight wasn’t full, you could call them up and get that 2nd ticket refunded. I could swear the old Airline shows on Bravo (or whatever) that followed SW people around continually showed them following the same guidelines: Either the seat arm goes all the way down, or you buy another seat.

A group of us flew to Houston then Austin once on Delta. Their policy sucked. They basically ignored size or fitting into seats completely, and I had our dept secretary check up front. On the way to Texas my boss and I were wedged together. For the flight home, I went out of my way to upgrade to 1st class (which, surprisingly really didn’t cost much because the flight wasn’t booked up) which was a lot more comfortable. I still had to ask for the extender belt though, that sucked.

By: lazlo

lazlo — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:59:30 +0000

Rob, think of the candles we could make! We could play backgammon all night for months!

By: Roxeanne de Luca

Roxeanne de Luca — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:37:46 +0000

There are a handful of people who have health issues and have to take up more room, such as those with PCOS and pregnant women. As genetics obviously have not changed over a generation but our waistlines have, it’s obvious that most people who have obesity problems have some measure of control over the situation.

To me, it’s not a nanny-state thing; the airlines, not the government, would be regulating this. It’s a basic free-market issue: a company should give its customers what they pay for. I’ve had the misfortune of spending flights in awkward, contorted positions because the person next to me physically could not fit in a seat. Politeness isn’t going to make the seats bigger or make people healthier; having people pay more, though, will actually help one, if not both, of those situations.

By: Larry Sheldon

Larry Sheldon — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:36:55 +0000

It occurs to me that the solution is as simple as the “Your Bag Must Fit Here” gauge at check-in.

Or the “You Must Be This Tall” ……

By: Expatriate Owl

Expatriate Owl — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:35:30 +0000

Obese fliers (my wife included) should pay more! For obvious reasons, I cannot discourse any further on this.

[Here is an airline that gets the idea: flyderrie-air.com . Alas, it is a fictional airline.]

By: The Watcher

The Watcher — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:21:44 +0000

I think the FAA should pick a method of determining ‘obesity’ and enforce it among the airlines. I think they’d have two choices: will will the passenger fit in a coach seat, or to use a BMI calculator as seen here: http://www.freebmicalculator.net/ . Problem with the calculator is it’s going to label folks obese who would fit fine in a coach seat – like myself, even back when I was 350 pounds (at 6’2″. I’m down to 250 pounds now and I still am considered obese by the calculator, though you wouldn’t say I am to look at me). A positive for using the calculator is that the ticket agent can say, ‘Well, it’s company policy and this is what the machine says…’.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:44:01 +0000

Whooooooaaaa nellie, he’s a biggun’! Make that guy pay for an extra seat. Cut the compassion BS.

One question though, “How did double-wide walk down that narrow aisle?

By: Rob Farrington

Rob Farrington — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:36:47 +0000

Lazlo, personally I prefer my meat to be lean.

But needs must, I suppose *does that Hannibal Lector thing with his teeth*, although he might be more edible along with some fava beans and a nice Chianti…

Scott, exactly the same thing is happening over here on Airstrip One (formerly known as the UK) – the government is paying fake charities to lobby them about controlling through regulation and taxation how much fatty food we eat, whether or not we smoke, and how many (pulled completely out of thin air) alcohol units it’s acceptable for us to drink. It’s getting so bad here that although naturally a Conservative Party voter, I’m now tempted to join the UK’s Libertarian Party.