<p>I use the armrest as a test. I don’t care to use them and if the man is courteous, it’s all his. But if he is aggressive, I just swoop in and push him off. Seriously. Also, when I get squished, laid on, whatever, I generally say “in case you haven’t noticed, I’m an actual human being here and you need to get off me.” If the person is courteous and considerate but needs more space, I move over and give as much as I can.</p>
<p>I also have mixed feelings on this. On the one hand,
<- no, that’s the whole point. The thin person sitting next to you is sharing your discomfort. </p>
<p>But I can’t help feeling this issue would be much less of a problem if the seats weren’t so darn small. I am tall but not a giant (6’2") and I have to fold myself up into a pretzel to fit into most economy seats. I like the small jets with 1 seat on one side and 2 on the other. You either are by yourself next to a window or you have a window or you have the aisle - no more stuck in the middle! The only problem is getting on or off the plane I can’t stand up straight in the aisle!</p>
<p>I know I’m in the minority, but I think it’s wrong to charge overweight passengers more for their seat, fit or no fit. If their business is transporting people, then they should accomodate all people, with whatever disabilities they may have, and I think being extremely overweight is a disability. The airline could find a way to accomodate those who can’t fit. Perhaps there could be a couple of seats in the back of the plane that are bigger than most, reserved for those who need the space, or the airline could just take the loss on the seat next to the overweight person and not put another passenger next to them.
To not accomodate them is discriminatory, humiliating and cruel.
And I agree with the above poster- if the seats were actually built for the true average person’s comfort, they wouldn’thave this problem.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>See, this is what concerns me. I do believe people do hold most of the responsibility for their weight, but not everyone can manage it. Right now, I have a family member who is undergoing treatment for cancer, and she has some edema. Now, because she was rather slim to begin with, this wouldn’t be an issue if she had to fly somewhere. But what if she were borderline overweight prior to her diagnosis, then put on weight with the edema. So then you end up discriminating against someone for having cancer. I don’t think anyone here would like that to happen.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I absolutely abhor United with a passion, even if they hadn’t instituted this rule. H and I were delayed a day coming home from a trip to Mexico last month. We both sent in the same ‘redemption’ request that was given to us by the flight crew. H got $150 in credit; I got $100. And I guarantee you our last name is not common. Did they not think we were related, as we were also assigned seats next to each other?</p>
<p>Weight discrimination is the one type of discrimination that is still socially acceptable, unfortunately. How can I, as a slim person never weighing more than 120 lbs in my life (and being able to eat anything I want)be in a position to judge that a severely overweight person is just not trying hard enough?
No one in my family is heavy, but I believe the luck of the genepool (combined with economic good luck) has a lot to do with that. I’m willing to bet that if it were not extremely difficult for the truly obese, they would not be.</p>
<p>The article at USA Today says that United’s policy is to offer the passenger a later flight with two seats at no extra charge. This is more generous than other airlines. If the passenger doesn’t want the later flight, then they have to buy an extra seat or move to business or first class.</p>
<p>The first paragraph in the article implies that passengers have no option but to buy a second seat or upgrade in the first two paragraphs. The option for a later flight is in the sixth paragraph. I guess you grab attention by putting the most sensational stuff first.</p>
<p>“But I can’t help feeling this issue would be much less of a problem if the seats weren’t so darn small.”</p>
<p>In the old days, airline travel was very expensive, passengers dressed well on flights, seats were bigger and service was great. Then we had deregulation and flying coach became steerage. Those that want a bigger seat have the option of going business or first class. We now have an additional option that wasn’t really available before: the coach seat at a big discount to flying costs 30 years ago.</p>
<p>“and I think being extremely overweight is a disability.”</p>
<p>If you eat fewer calories than you burn up, you will lose weight over time. A pound of fat has 3,500 calories which is enough to run a marathon for most people. A moderately active person can burn 2,600 to 3,000 calories a day. If you take in no calories, you should lose 2/3rds of a pound or more per day. You can do the computations for eating 1,000 calories a day or 2,000 or 6,000.</p>
<p>If you add exercise, you can burn 100 calories with light exercise for a short period of time or 1,000 if you go for a medium-length run.</p>
<p>Being overweight is a function of net calorie intake. What you eat and the amount that you eat is a choice for most. Those that don’t have a choice usually have the opposite problem.</p>
<p>“but not everyone can manage it.”</p>
<p>Stuff happens. It take some level of mental focus to lose weight. Going for hours or days feeling hungry and passing by a pizza shop can make things harder. It’s still a choice but it can be an impaired choice.</p>
<p>“I absolutely abhor United with a passion”</p>
<p>I was happy with United on my last flight. They lost my luggage on the way out but they got it to me within 12 hours.</p>
<p>Looks like UAL is late to the party: [United</a> Air to Charge Obese Fliers Twice on Full Jets (Update2) - Bloomberg.com](<a href=“Bloomberg Politics - Bloomberg”>Bloomberg Politics - Bloomberg)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If there’s any big-league pilots out there, maybe they could chime in, but I’m wondering if it isn’t part safety issue as well. Something about weight and fuel? I’ve been on hoppers numerous times when a pilot or flt. attendant has asked passengers to change seats to “balance” the aircraft.</p>
<p>United is one of the last carriers to allow portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) aboard their planes for those who need it to BREATHE–this is a disability that many of us have–some through no act or omission of our own. I have not flown United out of principle because of their refusal to allow these devices, especially now that I have to fly with supplemental O2. It is only recently that the FAA & DOT have even required ANY accommodation to be made for those of us who need supplemental O2. Now THAT is discrimination. We have to bear all the costs associated with the O2–whether we get it from their airline & rent a POC & bring it aboard. Airlines are NOT required to provide O2, POCs or even any outlet for charging any POC. <sorry for=“” the=“” soapbox,=“” but=“” it=“” does=“” get=“” old=“” and=“” expensive.=“”></sorry></p>
<p>I personally am tired of being squashed in airplanes and elsewhere because of folks who overflow from their space. Our season opera seats are right beside someone who is morbidly obese. He sits sideways so he can fold himself into his seat. It seems quite reasonable to me that people who don’t fit into their seats have to bear the cost or inconvenience rather than making everyone share in that cost and inconvenience. Honestly, it really does get old having folks around always assuming it’s OK for them to take their space and a good portion of yours because they’re heavier than you.</p>
<p>
The cost is passed on to the consumer. Why should we all have to pay? And why should we suffer because somebody else is inconsiderate?</p>
<p>I just flew United out of Dulles to the Midwest. I almost got bumped off the flight so I was feeling relieved just to get on. The flight was full and I was assigned the aisle seat next to a very large woman. She tried to put the armrest down but was it was a struggle. I told her not to bother, and yes I was pushed halfway into the aisle and the flight attendants kept bumping into me. But really all I could think was that I’m glad I can fit into an airline seat and how difficult everything must be if you’re that big.</p>
<p>“Not surprised United is the instigator of all this.”</p>
<p>No, Southwest in particular has been doing this for years.</p>
<p>ZM - #21 – I knew I liked you!</p>
<p>I’m of a size that enables me to relate to both sides of this issue: small enough to get the the armrest down and not “spill over,” but tall and broad enough so that economy seats are really, truly, too small. I guess seats are designed to be reasonably comfortable for the average customer, but they’re pretty bad if you are in the larger end of the typical spectrum.</p>
<p>I agree w/a prevous poster-how does weight affect the flight of the aircraft? We are now being charged a luggage fee based on weight and in some instances, large pieces of luggage are delayed on flights due to smaller aircraft. Should someone’s weight also be taken into consideration? I don’t know enough about planes, but I do know that a plane can carry only so much weight and that weight needs to be evenly spaced. I assume that heavier planes burn more fuel as well.</p>
<p>Sorry but I don’t buy the petite people will want to pay less and what about tall people argument. Those people don’t impact other passengers. The petite person fits in one seat, the tall person takes up space the other passengers won’t be using. We flew on SW once and DH was seated next to someone who absolutely did not fit in the seat. He had to use an extender, the arm rest had to be up, and he had to put his arm around DH because it was the only way they could fit. His legs and thigh had to touch DH’s at all times.
Luckily, DH just decided to make the best of it, started up a conversation with the guy, took it in stride. I’m honestly not sure I would have been as gracious. It clearly impacted DHs ability to rest during the flight, to read a magazine, to do anything. It was a fairly short flight.
After that I definitely changed my viewpoint on this one. If you don’t fit in one seat, you should have to pay for two.</p>
<p>There are all kinds of costs that the airlines, and any business, has to spread out among its customers. Even if we all have to pay a bit more for comfortable seats for all, it seems like a reasonable trade off. A couple more inches all around per seat would do the trick.
Airline travel has become such a miserable experience (and I’m on the small end of the weight spectrum) that I avoid it whenever I can. If we can’t afford the extra grand or have enough air miles to upgrade to fly business class to go cross-country, then skip the trip. </p>
<p>And while most healthy folk can lose weight by merely cutting calories and excercising, for the morbidly obese, it’s not necessarily that easy. Poor metablolism, hormonal problems, thyroid issues and other health issues effect everyone differently. Economics and heredity play a part as well. While it may be a matter of will-power for you , that’s not the case for everyone. And if weight is an issue for airplane safety, all the more reason to cut out seats, take fewer people, and make coach seats roomier. Maybe it’s time we all pay a little bit more to allow airlines to stay in business and provide basic comfortable seating for everyone.
The last time I took a plane, the petite woman in front of me put her seat back for the entire trip. There was no way I could move my legs at all, much less cross them to get comfortable. It’s ridiculous. But it wasn’t her fault. People should be able to put the seat back without crowding others.</p>
<p>I do agree that the airlines seem to have reduced seat size and leg room to pack in more people. My sons are not exceedingly tall, only about 6’3" but they have difficulty getting their legs in that space. For that matter, only at 5’9" I find my knees pressed against the seat in front of me and if that person wants to recline their seat, it is miserable. </p>
<p>Personally I find air travel the most uncomfortable way to travel and avoid it whenever possible.</p>
<p>Okay. Charge us tubbies for two seats. But realistically, think of all the flights that are overbooked. Can’t you just see that sweet stewardess saying, “Sir, or ma’am, do you mind if we put this young lady/gentleman in the seat next to you, so he or she can get home to his family/make his important meeting?” Wonder if they’ll add at this point, “Oh, and we’ll compensate you for the second seat you paid for with a free flight voucher.”</p>
<p>I could definitely see that happening.</p>
<p>“I agree w/a prevous poster-how does weight affect the flight of the aircraft?”</p>
<p>Remember when you used to be able to go on a flight and they would carry all kinds of different magazines you could choose from, not just that airline’s in flight magazine? Those were reduced because of the weight of the magazines. Remember when all classes had meals that were served on trays as opposed to little packets of trail mix? Those were reduced because of the weight of the trays / silverware. Weight is a huge issue in running an airline. I understand why the airlines charge more for baggage that weighs over X amount, and I think United has a point here. Come on, when you’re heavy enough that you can’t fit into an airline seat, you impede on others.</p>
<p>If it takes twice as much fuel to move that 220 lb man compared to a 110 lb woman–well I think his ticket should cost twice as much. What we’re really talking about is discrimination against skinny people–and kids. Let’s pay by the pound–just like airmail.</p>