Perhaps we’ve all been there at one time or another. Settling into your seat on at the beginning of a flight, feeling good, and then a really fat person sits in the seat next to you. First they have to squish themselves into the seat, then they need a seatbelt extension. There goes any portion of the armrest you may have been entitled to, and the “overflow” from their seat is pushing you to the far side of yours….. the next 2 hours are hell.
An Australian survey recently showed that over 60% of respondants felt passengers who were excessively overweight should be charged for an extra seat, so they dont take up space from the people beside them.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/071211/oddities/australia_airline_obesity_offbeat
The arguments around obesity and its related problems are as contentious as those facing smokers, and some have had enough. but when it comes to flying, doesn’t it make sense to charge the obese person more? Flying is all about weight : the weight of the cargo, the passengers - all these amounts have to be calculated in relation to the fuel carrying capacity. Passengers are allowed X amount of baggage weight- anything over and you get charged for that excess.
So explain this to me. A 130lb woman has 30 lbs allowed baggage, 10 lbs excess baggage, and is charged for it, say $5.00. Her total body weight and baggage = 170 lbs.
Next, we have the obese woman, who weighs in at 340lbs, and has the allowed 30lbs baggage, no excess. Her total body weight and baggage combined is 370lbs, but she doesnt get charged a dime. She is almost the size of two people, yet she doesnt get charged more. Fair? Why isnt she charged based on her obviously excess weight?
Obviously, this is a sensitive issue, but as the population is getting fatter and fatter, something has to be done. And I’ve heard the excuses- that “its a medical related weight gain, so its not my fault” or ” I like my size and I’m proud of it”. The actual percentage of medically caused obesity (is there such a term?) is very small, but the excuse is used far and wide by the obese as to avoid criticism. And if you are proud of your size, then be prepared to pay more for it.
Some say airlines should make a portion of bigger seats, and charge for them.Some say that no accomodations should be made, because it is an acceptance of the obesity problem, like plus size stores, or wide load cars.
I think at some point,enough is enough. Some people need a wake up call the reality of just how fat they are. Not fitting into an airline seat, or a restaurant booth, or a movie seat, should tell you something. When it comes to handling the issues surrounding obesity, we tend to be reluctant to act so as to avoid hurting feelings- but are we really helping the obese by making allowances , or hurting them? Where do you stand on this issue, and others surrounding the obesity epidemic?
I’m Laila Yuile, and this is how I see it.
Filed under: Blogroll, CKNW Talk SHow Idol, Credits, Laila Yuile | Tagged: airlines and bigger seats, CKNW Talk SHow Idol, fat acceptance, fat- related problems, Laila Yuile, obesity, obesity issues
I say charge them by the pound. Add a surcharge to the smokers for hospital costs as well. And a pox on people that bathe in perfume or after shave, or smell like an ashtray.
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Large passengers have the right to air travel. Be they fat, muscled, whatever. They do not have the right to encroach on the space that others paid for. Two seats. Don’t like it? Tough. Go on a diet. Save money on food AND airfare!
Right on! My husband is a private pilot, and the weight of passengers is extremely important when calculating the amount of fuel needed for any flight. You lie, you die…. thats how important the calculations are. Heavier planes use more fuel.
We all must pay extra for over-weight bags, so why not pay for overweight passengers? I’d like to see the scales at check in…although someone would inevitably start crying over a breach of their rights and freedoms- to be fat.
I have always wondered (while wedged between two obese people!) why the airline weighs my bag, but then turns a blind eye to how much weight is distributed in the passenger cabin. Surely a flight full of obese people is just as bad as a cargo hold filled with overweight bags. Anyone outraged should be forced to spend a six hour flight wedged like a sardine in between two overweight people like I did, spilling over into your seat and sweating on you and carrying on a non-stop conversation on top of /over you. They were a couple, but did not sit together because they knew they would have less space. I couldn’t eat my meal because I was disgusted by the sweat, and I could barely lower my tray, I couldn’t take a nap, couldn’t even raise my hands enough to read my book. Going to the lavatory was almost impossible, I had to jump over the mountain to get out because the animal wouldn’t get up and move for me. I finally couldn’t stand it any more and I broke down and spent the last hours crying uncontrollably. The obese people called the flight attendant to complain the I was disturbing them! These disgusting slobs were sweating profusely and had my blouse soaked on both sides, and I could not be moved because the flight was full. The flight attendant was sympathetic and asked them if they could sit together so I could have some room and they refused. The obese should not be charged more for one seat, they should be forced to pay for two or three seats if need be. Why should innocent people suffer? I am done with flying, it has become too uncivilised for me.
Wow, Millie, that sounds like THE flight from hell. These people obviously knew that their weight was an issue, but as I have commented before, refused to address it. Some people are so damn confortable in the “rightness” of their choices that I just have to shake my head.
With ever increasing fuel costs, something has to be done, and I see this particular issue ending back up in the courts. Obese people on planes is not merely an asthetic issue, it affects the entire flight capacity and fuel consumption. Like you pointed out, a 747 with a full load of obese passengers only sounds like a disaster to me. What would they do, load the passengers, but tell them no baggage…?
Most know that I was previousy very obese, and lost it all. I was always conscious of my weight, but refused to acknowledge it, as many other fat people do. WE pretend we are happy that way, that we have it all going on, etc etc. It is simply not true. Obese people cant fit into booths, some chairs, fair rides, airline seats, washrooms…. the list is endless. no fat person is unaware of the limitations of being that way. its just easier to pretend we dont.
Recently I was on the bus with my almost 4 year old son. Being full term pregnant, he clearly does not fit on my non-existant lap, and so sat in the seat beside me. That being said, I always have a policy of offering my seat to elderly or disabled passengers, as well as those carrying babies. Its not only considerate, its commen sense.
This particular day, a really , REALLY huge woman got on the bus, at least 400 lbs, and started down the aisle, but was stopped by the all the passengers who were standing. She huffed and puffed, and started looking around, obviously not caring to stand with her massive bulk. She looked at me, saw my little guy in the seat next to me, and hollered ” Hey maam, I’l come sit down and put your son on my lap ! ”
” No, I dont think so “, I replied, giving her a look like she must be dreaming. She asked me if i paid for that seat for my son, and I said I wasnt required to because hes under 5, but that he is still entitled to that seat. She wasnt old, or infirm, she was merely fat, and the fact is she wouldnt have even fit beside me, she would have required both seats. My poor son would have been squished on her lap, or beside her!
She started pushing people down the aisle, heading towards me with a determined look. ” Just get him up and I’ll put him on my lap! Let me sit down!”
“No” , I said firmly, ” That is NOT going to happen. It is not even appropriate for you to suggest that he sit on a strangers lap!”
I refused to move, and stared right back at her, much to the amusement of our fellow passengers who were by now supporting me. She was loud and belligerant and grossly fat, and shouted ” I’m not a stranger, ohmy god, you are so stupid. I’ve had back surgery and I cant stand up! ”
Sure you have, i’m thinking, no doctor would even touch this woman until she lost 200 lbs, becuase it would be like puttin a new axle on a 1 ton truck that was carrying a load fit for a semi.
She carried on in all her sweaty, fat glory for a few moments,thinking she could shame me into moving, and I just ignored her, but some other people were telling her to shut up and be quiet.
One old man in his eighties, who was obviously enjoying the fact I refused to play into her bully fat tactics, held his hand up and chirped it like a birds beak in her face, to mimic her yakking and complaining. Finally, somebody was sick enough of her that they got up and told her to sit down and shut up, and yet she continued her complaining for another 4 blocks.
Believe me, we ALL suffered that day.
You all are being really rude about all this were all human… get real seriously
Hmmm, whats your objection Heather ? Are you one of the people who, according to my ‘Search Engine Terms’, googled ” What if I’m too fat to sit in an airplane?” , last night ?
Let me answer that for you, or whoever asked that question….. If you, or anyone else, are too fat to sit in an airplane seat, a restaurant booth, a movie theatre chair,or an amusement ride…. you need to lose weight. It is that simple. Talk about a wake up call, Hello!!! Not being able to fit into normal size chairs is clearly a sign you are too fat, straight up. If you can’t handle the truth, dont get mad at me for calling it like I see it.Fat costs us all a lot of money, along with all the other social maladies plaguing our cultures.
Seriously, “getting real “means dealing with the reality of being obese. Cant deal with it, lose the weight, I say. This is a compelling argument, and one the airlines arent letting go of anytime soon, considering rising fuel costs.
I am in no means fat i am a great size for my height i am 6′6 370 lb basketball player. I cannot what so ever fit in my seat on the airplane i have to buy an extra seat everytime i go on. The problem i have with you is ya they need to buy an extra seat or go first class.
Dont you think they fucking know they are fat? If there buying two seats
If someone is addicted to drugs do we say fuck it let them die , or do we help them. You have no right too put them down or tell them how to change there lifestyle people have problems anxiety depression that is why people get fat because something is takeing over there will power yes they do need to buy an extra seat but in no way do they need people like you rubbing it in there faces. So ya grow up and have some compassion for the human race , we all are human lets take care of each other not hurt each other.
Hey Derek, take a pill!!! We are all entitled to an opinion, even if you don’t like it. Ever heard of tough love? Sometimes people need to hear what they know inside is true, yet refuse to face it.
The trouble is, I don’t have sympathy for anyone who makes excuses for whatever choice they have made. While some obesity is casused by depression, the truth is that like drugs, eating to satisfy some inner problem is a vicious circle. I know, I used to be over 340 lbs. Most people just hink theres a magic cure to lose it, drugs, drinks, whatever, but it turns out to not be true.
If someone is addicted to drugs,no one can change that except them, so unfortunately, yes, sometimes we have to let them die. Hoe many families have had to sit arond and watch a family member literally sit around and eat themselves to death? heart attack, stroke, you name it. Many times no one ever says a thing to show the fat person how much harm they are doing, and then when they are dead, its ” woulda, shoulda, coulda…” . People dont want to hurt anyones feelings, but sometimes it has to be said. The choice to quit must come from within, and until it does, the addiction will not be conquered.
I’m not putting anyone down, I’m telling it like it is. Sometimes the truth is what we need to hear to make constructive change. Mollycoddling fat people, drug addicts, or anyone else doesnt help anyone to be a better person – it only allows for the excuses to continue.
I am a woman. I am not fat, but I have difficulty with airline seats. First my inseam is 32″. That is the same length as my husbands inseam. I fit my husband’s 42″ jacket. I have difficulty with airline seats. Put me in the middle with 2 men that have 42″ shoulders – and none of us are comfortable. Put me in a standard economy seat, and my legs are too long, and my knees press against the seat ahead.
While I am not addressing the question of severely obese people, there is a problem with airline seats period. The airlines are packing so many people into airplanes that very few people are comfortable. This is also a safety issue, as leg thrombosis is on the rise – in some cases leading to death.
While I understand the issue of rising fuel cost, airlines should have to provide SAFE seating. That means enough space to allow normal size people to fit in the seats, and be able to get up quickly if there is an emergency evacutation.
I would be willing to pay more (in proportion to the reduced “people capacity”), but I cannot afford a first class seat. It is time to address the problem with the FAA. We are the consumers and we should revolt over the “mashing” too many people on airlines!
And yes, if you cannot fit into a “reasonable size” (width seat), you should have to pay for a second seat. This is unfortunate (for people of size, many of which have a genuine problem losing weight), but it is a safety issue for the passengers in the same row.
For someone who used to be obese, you seem to have forgotten your roots and become very stuck up.
Yes they should be charged..
I fly a lot and numerous times had to suffer with someone who couldn’t fit into the next seat because they were fat and there arms/legs would be into my seat area.
Why should anyone be uncomfortable in such a confined space because another person can’t keep from eating tooooooo much?
The women they had on TV complain isn’t just fat she was OBESE !
I once had a couple of her size who purposely booked the window and aisle seats and I had the middle one, they did this so they could be comfortable. When I asked about whether they considered if the person who sat between them would also be comfortable, they bluntly said they didn’t care.
Your fat and don’t post the usual health excuse for it, as 97% of these huge,fat people don’t take care of themselves .Eat less and exercise!
This is more then airplane problems, this about people who are along with smokers and other risky behaviors costing our health system billions of dollars because they won’t be responsible for their own behavior.
People are beautiful in all sizes of heights, shapes, colors,etc…. But being really fat is that persons problem, don’t make it everyone’s by imposing it on us.