Obese have right to two airline seats

[Lester]

Obese have right to two airline seats
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEno ... G020081120

[CoolBreeze]

That would be like the government forcing Canadian gas stations to sell them 2 gallons of gas for the price of one, because they have all that extra weight to haul around.

This is exactly what's happening to the airlines. They sell seats based on people VS weight. They are giving them 2 gallons of jet fuel for the price of one. (We naturally, only get the one )

[Arp2]

That would be like the government forcing Canadian gas stations to sell them 2 gallons of gas for the price of one, because they have all that extra weight to haul around.

This is exactly what's happening to the airlines. They sell seats based on people VS weight. They are giving them 2 gallons of jet fuel for the price of one. (We naturally, only get the one )

No, the math doesn't work like that.....

While there's no doubt that incremental weight has an impact on the fuel cost of a flight, it is, on a percentage basis, small. Many other factors go into how flights get priced....like radio, it's quite the combination of science, psychology, and art.

The solution is for airlines to stop worrying about "leg room" so much and for planes to have seats with extra hip, gut, and shoulder room. Should such a thing become law here, airlines could have a row or two of wider seats (2x2 vs 3x3, 1x2 vs 2x3, or 1x1 vs 2x2 in narrow-bodies, for example) and even ghettoize 'em to the back of the plane to maintain a slight stigma, maintain safety for those more able to quickly exit, and provide comfort for all. "Customers of size," as many airlines euphemistically call them, could indicate a need for the seats during the reservation process just like some indicate special dietary needs or children accompanying, and gate agents could confirm or deny the request (possibly even penalizing customers who needlessly request the seats in the hope of getting more room) just prior to boarding.

The result is more comfort and safety for all, a slightly easier job for flight attendants, and the loss of no more than a seat or two on most planes.

[CoolBreeze]

Ok, so you're saying that an airline owns an airplane that carries say... 100 passengers, and each passenger pays $100 for a flight... is no different to the airline than if 50 fat people boarded and only paid (in effect) $50 for the flight? I think the airlines would disagree with you. Sure, I'm aware of all the baggage and freight involved on any given plane, but I seriously doubt that ANY airline would be willing to fly for what amounts to be half price tickets... ever.

[Hoosier Daddy]

The airlplane manufacturers (and the airline companies that write the specs) need to stop making seats that will only fit someone under 175 pounds. I realize there has to be an upper limit, but a 6'2", 220 pound man isn't fat or exceptionally tall -- yet he's uncomfortable in any coach class seat on a commercial airplane. Be realistic about the comfort of the average traveller and stop shoehorning people into a sardine can.

[CoolBreeze]

I agree with that 100%! It's almost criminal how they pack em in on U.S. air carriers. I now only fly to Europe on foreign carriers like SAS because they do in fact have more room for that long trip.

The issue of heavier people came home to roost some years ago in Charlotte when a plane (Commuter that I had ridden on previously) went down on takeoff because the weight standards had never changed in 50 years and the plane was vastly overloaded due to the weight of today's people. Weight & balance is much more critical for a smaller plane than a large.

[genlock]

That plane had a woman pilot.

[Ace Purple]

The solution is for airlines to stop worrying about "leg room" so much

I'm 6'2", and save for the one time I flew first class (due to being bumped from a flight while on my way to broadcast a basketball game in Wichita, KS), I've never flown on a flight that had comfortable leg room. And if I have someone in front of me who decides to recline his or her seat, it's even more unpleasant. If I flew often (which I haven't in the past few years), I might be tempted to invest in this interesting device.

but a 6'2", 220 pound man isn't fat or exceptionally tall -- yet he's uncomfortable in any coach class seat on a commercial airplane.

That's the truth.

[CoolBreeze]

That plane had a woman pilot.

That plane had TWO women pilots. I flew with them once. They even allowed me to bring aboard a large dinner plate that I had bought in Germany for my Aunt, because I was afraid it would get broke in the Hold. I doubt a man would have allowed that.

[AmpedNow]

Coach seats are even uncomfortable for "normal"-sized people. There's just not enough room there.

However, this won't change anytime soon because:

1. That's a major selling point for first and business class.

2. There would be less seats to sell. They still come out ahead even if they must occasionally accommodate large people.

3. If you have ever flown, then driven cross-country, you will gladly accept 4-5 hours of discomfort for the time savings (3-4 days driving, one way. Train is not much faster). Unless sightseeing is part of the trip, flying is the only way to go cross-country.

[Ace Purple]

Unless sightseeing is part of the trip, flying is the only way to go cross-country.

On top of a lack of leg room, I suffer from motion sickness. The upside: Dramamine has a great "Go To Sleep" effect on its users, and that in tandem with xanax can make a flight pass by in no time. I always go for a window seat, not for the view but because I know I can sleep without someone waking me up so they can get up to use the bathroom or whatever.

I go to sleep on the plane and, *poof*, I wake up in another city. Grogginess after the flight can be a problem, but as with most things in life, there are trade-offs.