<p>I’m also in favor of one pound one vote (though I just lost 17 lbs. in 33 days.)</p>
<p>If I have to pay by the pound, I want a seat that can be adjusted to fit me. They can put on some little bitty seats for the smaller people who are paying less.</p>
<p>I’d prefer an itty-bitty seat. I demand one in which my feet touch the floor.</p>
<p>ZM I wanna be in the seat next to you the next time I fly :)</p>
<p>I like this new policy. You can’t help being tall - that’s genetics. People that are tall shouldn’t have to pay more because they don’t fit in a seat, and should be given the exit row at no charge, if they’re squished in a seat. I don’t want the exit row - I’m 5’1"!</p>
<p>Unless you are overweight/obese for a medical reason that can be qualified with a doctor’s note, charge them. I cannot count the number of flights I’ve been on where I’ve been smushed and uncomfortable because someone didn’t want to pay for two seats and is now oozing into mine.</p>
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Smile pleasantly (but not intrusively), and at least give the appearance of sharing, and I’ll curl myself up, give you the arm rest and we’ll both be happy.</p>
<p>I like zoosermom’s comment about men who sit with their legs like they’re wishbones. How about it guys? Can you sit with your legs together?</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to reconcile the conflicting positions enunciated, and have concluded it’s impossible. As life’s inequities go, this is a comparatively small one. Yes it’s gross to be rubbing sweaty thighs on a transcontinental flight. Yes the seats are smaller than they used to be. Yes some jobs require air travel, regardless of employee girth. I sympathize, really I do. But in a couple hours it’s over. Travel is as much a social activity as much as it is a work requirement. As many prior posters have noted, their worst experiences involved inconsiderate travelers.</p>
<p>
I would like to take this opportunity to prove that I can resist a really good straight line.</p>
<p>Good for you Hunt, otherwise we’d have to demand proof. Or at least an affidavit. Notarized.</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.”</p>
<p>I don’t think that it is easy for anyone unless you’re under 25 and have easy access to working out and healthy food.</p>
<p>“Poor metablolism, hormonal problems, thyroid issues and other health issues effect everyone differently. Economics and heredity play a part as well.”</p>
<p>Running is a great way to lose weight and get a healthier heart but if you have lower joint problems, it may cause more problems in the near-term. I started running with some knee problems but I monitor them very carefully and I’m doing weights to strengthen core muscles and muscles controlling the kneecap. Walking is great too as are other low-impact exercises.</p>
<p>If one can’t exercise, then there is cutting calories. I saw a documentary on a prison where they give you a set amount of calories per day. One prisoner that was a little overweight lost a fair amount of weight. If you cut calories, you lose weight. It works everytime in an involuntary situations. But most of us aren’t in involuntary situations.</p>
<p>An overweight society is expensive to provide heathcare for. There are countries that do something about it. Ours isn’t one of them for the most part. Some companies do something about it. Other than that, there is peer pressure. Perhaps we just need financial incentives from employers or on our tax returns.</p>
<p>Rather than charging the obese person for two seats, they could give the person next to him/her a voucher for a free flight. Some people would then clamber for the privilege of being “oozed” upon.</p>
<p>Sounds good ZM…I always bring a book and/or Kindle so after that first smile I’ll leave you alone. The only problem is that we live on opposite coasts so the odds of our ever flying together might be slim…
Bay, interesting idea but I for one would not take the voucher. When DH suffered on that SW flight, the attendant laughed, said “you guys are going to get to know each other” and quickly hurried up the aisle never to be seen again. They just don’t want to deal with it.</p>
<p>On a transatlantic flight, I would not accept a voucher for a free flight in exchange for sitting for 6 - 9 hours next to someone who is oozing into my seat.</p>
<p>And for all those complaining about the size of the seats, how much more would you be willing to pay for airplanes with bigger seats? I think airlines should offer that and see how many people buy them. I would not. I only need a standard size seat.</p>
<p>“Rather than charging the obese person for two seats, they could give the person next to him/her a voucher for a free flight. Some people would then clamber for the privilege of being “oozed” upon.”</p>
<p>LOL - I might! I sleep like the dead on airplanes anyway!</p>
<p>We just went to FL over spring break, and our flight was wildly oversold. They were offering a $300 voucher. I told the gate agent that we (4 of us) would bump ourselves for the right price. We wound up getting $400 apiece – that’s $1600! – of vouchers for a several hour delay. Were I flying by myself and planning to sleep, yeah, I’d be oozed upon for a voucher!</p>
<p>Our flight was also oversold–they started at $200 but we were able to get them up to $300 voucher/person for getting on a later flight for the two of us from Dallas to HNL.</p>
<p>They charge O2 patients for an extra seat on some airlines just to put medically necessary equipment where the patient has access. THAT is discrimination, but has been perfectly legal.</p>
<p>I know it won’t happen, but…</p>
<p>How about a weight limit, including baggage? Instead of getting 51 pounds for one suitcase, you’d get the difference between 200 pounds (or some such number) and your weight including the clothing you’re wearing–heavy coat, etc.–and all your carry-ons. </p>
<p>No discrimination–everyone has the same “weight allowance.”</p>
<p>My earlier post asks the question about weight on an aircraft–if airlines are so concerned about baggage weight, then why aren’t they just as concerned about passenger weight? There must be all kinds of issues w/regards to weight on a plane-safety and crashes because the plane is too heavy, fuel issues-I would imagine planes burn more fuel when overweight, etc. I do not know enough about planes, and maybe weight of passengers has never been much of an issue before the last decade or so because more people are overweight now, fuel costs seem to be volatile and more people are flying. Maybe someone with experience about aircraft and weight can comment as to luggage weight vs passenger weight? You offer an interesting suggestion, though^^^!</p>
<p>I’ve never had to sit on a plane where a person had to put their arm around me in order to fit in a seat, ebeeee. That’s a first!</p>
<p>I’ve sat next to a man who needed an extender on his seat belt. He definitely oozed and touched. Sometimes you just have to suspend that personal space requirement. </p>
<p>I’ve always been a skinny minnie throughout my life, but I’ve put on weight after menopause. So I suspect that I am approaching the other end of the spectrum. That’s why I love to travel with my skinny minnie D–I know I can get close and personal with her and she won’t mind.</p>
<p>Here here…I am the largest person in my family…including my husband. I weigh 130 pounds and I’m only 5’4" (husband is taller but weighs the same). I hate to be the bearer of bad news…but airline seats aren’t all that comfy anymore for even folks of our size. My knees bump the seat in front of me and the tray tables when they are down. Even when three of us smaller folks sit in a row together it’s mighty crowded…and we are mighty slim. Sorry…planes are just not made like they used to be. They cram in as many folks as possible…I think the seats are smaller and the rows closer together. </p>
<p>Re: a fee for the “larger folks”…what do you do??? Put your weight and height on your ticket request??</p>