Flap Over "Fat Fliers"

If you're overweight -- get ready to pay more to fly the friendly skies.

United Airlines says it will start charging passengers who can't fit in a single seat, can't properly buckle the seat belt using an extender, or who can't put the arm rests down when they're seated.

It's not sitting well with everyone, reports Mike Sugarman, of CBS station KPIX-TV in San Francisco.

United would join a handful of other airlines that could end up charging you for two seats.

It's for the other passengers' comfort, the carrier says, citing 700 complaints last year about uncomfortable rides next to large people.

"I think it's probably a sensible thing to do, because I've had some very unfortunate journeys back and forth from the States when I just sitting in a two-seat row with someone who is taking up three fourths of that space," said Daniel Evans, a passenger.

United didn't return Sugarman's phone calls.

But people of size say they're appalled.

"Who makes the chairs? United. Who gets the money? United," said Marilyn Wann, an activist for overweight people.

"If a fat person buys a first class ticket, the extra width of the chair is taken up by that little console," she said. "So basically, the airlines build the chairs and airplane to say we don't like fat people here -- and that's discrimination."

"What you are going to be charged for when you get there shouldn't be a surprise," asserts attorney Alexander Anolik, who wrote the book on travelers' rights.

"Subjectively, to say, 'I'm going to eyeball you, turn around, you're going to pay for two chairs'? That's terrible," said Anolik.

[ABChavez]

For weight and balance calculations in aviation, it is assumed that the average adult weighs 170 pounds. If one weighs significantly more than that AND can't fit into an airline seat, it's perfectly fair for an air carrier to ask for more money, since it costs more in fuel to transport a heavy person than a light person. Don't like it? Eat less and lose weight, or travel by train or bus!

[Letsgetfair]

I thought that personal attacks were prohibited on this site. Apparently, referring to an overweight person as a "fat pig", and implying that all overweight people smell bad, is not considered a personal attack? People who make comments like that are correct in adding the word "vain" to their usernames, but they obviously have nothing to be vain about. Such comments show only ignorance, insensitivity, and self-obsession, so please do not consider yourself as so much better than a fat person. I am sad and ashamed for you, that you have exposed yourself asa-- well, to be honest--a bigoted, rude, person who deserves the name "pig" much more than someone who is overweight. Why does everyone persist in thinking that overweight people are that way because we want to be? Who would ever purposely want to expose themselves to this kind of treatment? And why is it more OK to be an insensitive jerk than to have been born with a body type you didn't ask for? You have no idea how hard most of us have tried, how many physical ailments such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a hereditary syndrome which causes millions of women, including me, to gain weight much too easily and have an incredibly difficult time losing it--and there is no medicine or cure) can cause obesity, or how much pain and suffering we have had to endure at the hands of insensitive people like you. Cruel people like you are the ones who are pathetic, and you deserve to be leaned on in an airplane! The plain and simple fact of the matter is that in the U.S., discrimination is and should be unconstitutional, that an overwieght person has paid just as much as a thin person for their ticket and is probably enduring just as much discomfort from the ridiculous seating arrangement on an airplane, and that United is just plain wrong to submit an overweight person to unfair humiliation. I can still fit in one seat and use an extender (thank God!) but I will no longer fly United, and will encourage my friends not to fly with United, out of protest for my fellow overweight people. I'm sure all the vain, rude, people reading this will be happy to hear it, but if United gets enough bad publicity, I hope they will rethink their policy. Perhaps they should change their slogan to "Fly the Unfriendly Skies".

[vainedie]

I agree with the airlines charging for two seats i get tired of fat peoples arm digging into my breast area,making my flight miserable, flew to California about a year ago and was seated by a fat man with bad body odor also I felt like asking for a refund. its every where even at concerts you have fat people sitting on you.I think they should pay double. i would love to eat a lot of things but i do not want to look like a fat pig, get yourselves on a good eating program and get rid of those ugly pounds.

[SweetiePetey]

So what were the other customer complaints and how are they handling THOSE? Considering all the people transported in a year 700 complaints seems awful low for them to worry about. They probably had triple that amount of complaints for lost luggage.

[thinkb4speak]

How about having to sit next to smelly people on long flights? If the major gripe here is discomfort, shouldn't there be a surcharge for smelly or loud people too?

[oranthompson]

A few years ago, United chose a plane design that took out 2 comfortable seats and reasonable leg room, putting into the same space, 3 seats with almost no hip or leg room. If the person ahead of you leans back, you have no room. The aisle is narrower, the drink cart can cream your elbow. Two people cannot pass comfortably in the aisle, making walking difficult. This cramped situation leads to more of a risk for deep vein thrombosis.
I wish so much that the seating was the old, less crowded configuration. No friendly skies for the passenger's comfort, while United watches it's bottom...... line.
Riding a train is so much more comfortable.

[inventagod]

Yeah, I am fat. Go ahead, United - charge me for my second seat, I will pay it. However, when I need to take a dump after buying one of those awful air-meals, the bathroom had better accommodate my fat azz, or the cockpit will have to...

[SueBoo2]

I am appauled at how insensitive you people are. The name throwing that is going on here reminds me of third graders. Didn't anyone grow up? I can't believe that grown adults are calling names like juvenile children who don't know any better. That's the problem with society today. Obnoxious name calling people raising a whole new generation of insensitive children.

[texanforlogi]

Mine is the story of an individual with a peanut allergy. Rather than wear a face mask (i.e., rather than taking personal responsibility), . . .Posted by mitdgreenb at 8:48 AM : Apr 17, 2009

Not quite the same thing, mitdgreenb, because a peanut allergy is NOT self-inflicted and does not occur because of poor lifestyle choices. It's one of those things that the sufferer has no choice about and cannot help. Should they have to die because of it? Do you really want the plane rerouted to the nearest available city with a hospital? Do you feel good about that situation?

However, I do agree with you in that particular allergy sufferer was rude and unpleasant and discourteous. Her bad behaviour is inexcuseable.
I, too, have the peanut allergy and if you sat next to me and ate them we WOULD be rerouted to the nearest hospital because I would be in anaphylaxic shock. But I try to behave well and am always courteous and polite and bring snacks for seatmates who feel deprived with pretzels instead of peanuts.

[bluebird3028]

It never ceases to amaze me of how cruel people can be. Just because there is free speech it does not mean it shouldn't be tempered with tact. Of course most of you are correct and if you are taking up more than the allotted space you should just purchase two spaces. And perhaps the lady advocate for fat acceptance could use her time to address more pressing matters. We could get into the whole truth of why we have so many fat people. However, the truth is this is a huge issue even larger than the extremely, severely, obese people mentioned in most of your comments. It is amazing to me how bitter and virulent people are about the subject.

The other truth is airline seats are made for slim people so it will be snug even if you are mildly overweight but of course we have a private enterprise so they can do what they want. I'm sure it's not entirely because they want to help slim people. But if they help slim people they also make more money. You can't fault them for that because after all they are in business to make money.

But be that as it may all of the remarks about how much a person eats and other such cutting remarks is an affront to people who may have just read the article because it was interesting. They might be obese themselves or at least have a family member who is. This blog claims to prohibit personal attacks but actually it seems the blog is not being monitored because most of these comments are way over the line.