Airlines to charge obese customers extra

[PhyllisG]

I just have to add something funny. I was boarding a flight once in India on a small prop plane. They made every passenger get weighed in. You had to step on the baggage scale and then he shouted your weight over to another guy further down the counter. The look on people's faces when this was announced was hilarious.

 

[fit44]

I just have to add something funny. I was boarding a flight once in India on a small prop plane. They made every passenger get weighed in. You had to step on the baggage scale and then he shouted your weight over to another guy further down the counter. The look on people's faces when this was announced was hilarious.

Why were they weighing the passengers?
I would NOT get on that plane! Sorry. I just couldn't do it. I'm so bummed when my doctor wants to weigh me.
My SIL will not weigh at the doctor's office. The doctor asks her weight, and she says, "too much."

 

[LauraMax]

I just have to add something funny. I was boarding a flight once in India on a small prop plane. They made every passenger get weighed in. You had to step on the baggage scale and then he shouted your weight over to another guy further down the counter. The look on people's faces when this was announced was hilarious.

Did they at least let you take your shoes off?

 

[Pearlstrand]

I like that idea! Also, maybe we should just be charged by the pound?

No way! My DH weights in the 190s, but is by no means fat (he's 6'2"). I don't want to pay extra for his ticket!

 

[complik8td]

Air Travel

This is a good post . . .

Very!

I just have to add something funny. I was boarding a flight once in India on a small prop plane. They made every passenger get weighed in. You had to step on the baggage scale and then he shouted your weight over to another guy further down the counter. The look on people's faces when this was announced was hilarious.

LMAO!!

 

[beth6395]

I am not going to answer my opinion but I am going to give you an example.

My mom left Atlanta to Michigan and was sitting next to an obese women. My mom was on the Window the women literally spilled into my moms seat she couldn't even put the arm rest between them she fell asleep pushing my mom up against the window when she woke up she couldn't bend down to pick up her bag she asked my mom to grab the BURGER out of the bag for her.

 

[LaughingWater]

Ha, I have to get on the scale every time I bring my dog into the Vet because my little guy won't sit still on it by himself. At first I was like, "Oh, great." Now I just don't give a crap anymore.

 

[andtckrtoo]

Having flown my share of flights with large people sitting next to me and feeling the affects (I'm not lightweight either, but I do fit in the seats comfortably), I think this is the only fair solution. I hate that it is embarrassing and cruel to the person who is overweight and cannot fit into the seat (that has to be the most embarrassing thing ever), but I don't see a way around it. If I am on a 5 hour coast to coast flight I do not want to be fighting for seat space, it's not fair.

 

[fit44]

I hate that it is embarrassing and cruel to the person who is overweight and cannot fit into the seat (that has to be the most embarrassing thing ever), but I don't see a way around it.

I know. Watching an episode with Ruby on a plane really broke my heart. I can't imagine the humilation. Really. I just hate the thought of someone hurting like that. I know it's not fair to the person sitting next to them.
I think it's unfair when I have to sit next to someone who smells really bad

 

[Evie]

I have a very dear friend who is terribly obese and has had to buy 2 seats for flights for years. It got to be so embarassing for him that he eventually decided to drive instead of fly whereever he goes, which really limits his vacations.

As for the prop plane in India - if the plane can carry only so much weight, and if it's a hazard to carry more, it is in the best interests of all the passengers, the flight crew, and the airline to have each person weighed in before takeoff. People lie about their weight all the time - it wouldn't be right if the airline just took their word for their weight, and found out it was really wrong once the place started falling out of the sky. and shoes weigh something, too!

I've had to weigh in on a ferry in the past - the boat could carry just so much weight.

 

[unfetteredpast]

A friend of mine is private pilot. When DH and I fly with him, he needs to know our weight and the weight of our luggage, and then he figures how much fuel he can carry, and if it's a long enough flight, where he will need to stop mid-flight to re-fuel. On a smaller plane, weight is critical.

Occasionally, I fly with a musical instrument that is too valuable to check. I buy a second ticket for it. You'd be surprised at the dirty looks I get from people as they board the plane who assume that I am just taking up the extra seat.

 

[ladysaraii]

Airline seats are really small to begin with, and
I think small people are the only people who can fit into them without parts hanging over!

I think this is a great point, I def notice the difference in some airline seats!

 

[Judy W.]

If an obese person knows the airline's policies and if that person wants to avoid being humiliated, all he/she need do is either purchase a 1st class seat, or, if necessary, purchase an extra seat in coach. Then they can check in and board without fear!

I've been "morbidly obese" and now I'm petite. Having been on both sides of the fence, I can tell you that a fat person is well aware they are fat! They typically make accomodations to avoid embarrassment whenever possible -- for example, many frequent flyers know that they need to request extenders, and they do so ahead of time. If it were me and I knew the policy, I'd purchase a first class ticket, because at my largest I was able to fit in a first class seat.

I think it's a good policy. Being obese is horrible, and I'm well aware that not everybody can lose those excess pounds! Many could, and they just might if their size inconvenienced them enough. Many never will. I feel for them because I've been where they are. But if they need a wider seat or 2 seats, they should pay for them.

Judy

 

[Jaffas]

I was a reservation agent for a major airline for over 10 years and this is one of our pet peeves. We had one top level frequent flier who always purchased two seats, it was such a rare thing that most agents didn't even know how to book it (if you get two seats you don't have to pay twice for all the fees). I had a couple of long conversations with this guy (being one of the few agents who could handle his request) and he was as frustrated as anyone about people being unwilling to buy two seats when needed. I like Southwest's policy. I've seen them make people pay for the extra seat and they don't mess around. It's pay up or step aside 'cause they're holding up the line. Unfortunately most airlines pussyfoot around on this one and are not consistent with their policy but in this day and age of full flights they will need to find a way to deal with it. As for not letting obese people on due to weight issues I don't think that will happen. The people you see not getting on are employees trying to fly on their flight benefits. One of the reasons I took the buy out was the fact that it is now next to impossible to use your passes. Even if there are empty seats they will deny boarding to employees so they can save on fuel.

 

[Stephanie0523]

I think singling people out because of their size and making them pay more is just wrong. And really, how does that solve the problem? I just think they should make bigger seats, but that's just me. I hate to fly, though and avoid it at all costs. It's not the big people that bother me as much as the people who fall asleep and slump over onto my side to where they practically are laying and drooling on my shoulder, or the people who apparently are opposed to deodorant/soap or the people who realize they must crawl over me to go to the bathroom because they didn't "go" at the airport. Or the overly confident loud talkers whose annoying conversations keep me from concentrating on my book. An encroaching fat roll has nothing on these people.

 

[Miss Lee]

The seats on airplanes have definitely gotten smaller over the years, and the rows are closer together, too, at least on Delta (we almost always fly Delta). We used to fly coach all the time but there is no way my 6'4" DH can tolerate a long flight when he can't even stretch his legs out! And I have been seated next to someone who was morbidly obese and it was pretty awful. This is not meant as a personal attack, but if you don't fit in the seat then you need to pay for 2 seats or find another way to travel. It's not fair to encroach upon the space of the person sitting next to you who also paid for a FULL seat. Honestly, there's NOTHING pleasant about flying anymore. It's an absolute miserable way to travel.

 

[kathryn]

This is a tricky question.

I don't like it when people who obviously need 1 1/2 seats (maybe not 2) sit next to me and take what should be my space. And heavier passengers do cost the airlines more, because their extra weight is making the plane burn more fuel (same with driving : vehicles get worse gas mileage if they are carrying a heavier load).

I suppose one way of doing it is to have a test 'gate' set up, and anyone who can't fit through it sideways while walking straight forward has to buy a larger seat. Frankly, I don't see how some people can even make it down the aisles on some of these planes, especially that awkward angle that is in some planes between first and second class. I sometimes barely can squeeze through with my carry-on.

Or maybe weighing not just the passengers, but everything that comes with the passenger? The passenger and his/her luggage would all get on the scale, and that total could indicate that they need to pay a supplement. I'd frankly like that, as I'm good at travelling light (well, at least on the way TO my destination!).

Someone up above mentioned seeing other passengers get on and hoping that some of them were not seated next to her. I feel the same way. But on the second leg of my trip to Paris last summer, I ended up sitting next to a very petit Italian woman who reeked to high heaven of BO. So size isn't the only inconvenience to a seat mate. (Ironically, when I sat down, she told me how thankful she was that I, a petit woman, was going to be sitting next to her!)

 

[fit44]

I ended up sitting next to a very petit Italian woman who reeked to high heaven of BO. So size isn't the only inconvenience to a seat mate. (Ironically, when I sat down, she told me how thankful she was that I, a petit woman, was going to be sitting next to her!)

This happened to my DH on a business trip. The person smelled so bad, he had to ask the flight attendant to reseat him. It was that bad!

I hate sitting next to bratty children, and then have to listen to their mother "try" to reason with them. Our last trip to Florida, my DH had a kid kicking the back of his seat. His mother did nothing about it, so my husband put his seat in the reclined position. We could hear the mother complaining about my husband's chair.

 

[marnapril]

My mom left Atlanta to Michigan and was sitting next to an obese women. My mom was on the Window the women literally spilled into my moms seat she couldn't even put the arm rest between them she fell asleep pushing my mom up against the window when she woke up she couldn't bend down to pick up her bag she asked my mom to grab the BURGER out of the bag for her.

OMG!!! she actually asked your mom to get her burger out for her??

 

[Miss Lee]

I hate sitting next to bratty children, and then have to listen to their mother "try" to reason with them. Our last trip to Florida, my DH had a kid kicking the back of his seat. His mother did nothing about it, so my husband put his seat in the reclined position. We could hear the mother complaining about my husband's chair.

This is probably my #1 complaint about flying!!! I've had to endure far more bratty kids than I have obese passengers taking up my seat. It REALLY bothers me when parents can't or won't control their kids! And we had the same issue on more than one occasion where a kid sitting behind us was kicking our seats. Or when the mom has bags and bags of CRAP spilling out all over the place. Don't even get me started!