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United Air to charge obese double on full flights
Reuters ^ | 04/15/09

Posted on 04/15/2009 7:33:49 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

United Air to charge obese double on full flights

Wed Apr 15, 5:29 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, will require obese passengers bumped from full flights to purchase two seats on a subsequent flight, matching the policy of some other carriers.

The change brings the Chicago-based in line with eight other airlines including Continental, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said on Wednesday.

"Last year we had 700 complaints from passengers who had to share their seats," she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airlines; extracharge; obesity; ua; ual; unitedair
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We have more pressing obesity problem: hopelessly obese government.
1 posted on 04/15/2009 7:33:50 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Will they charge kids or anorexics less?


2 posted on 04/15/2009 7:36:15 PM PDT by coloradan (The US has become a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

United will soon be history anyway, while Southwest, which doesn’t hassle their passengers, is growing. Surprising, huh?


3 posted on 04/15/2009 7:37:04 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (The beginning of the O'Bummer administration looks a lot like the end of the Nixon administration)
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To: coloradan

I suppose they would if you put them in an overhead compartment.:-)


4 posted on 04/15/2009 7:38:48 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (from "Irrational Exuberance" to "Mark to Zero": from '96 to '09)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
Under the new policy, obese passengers -- defined as unable to lower the arm rest and buckle a seat belt with one extension belt

Sounds like a reasonable definition. Very unlike the CDC definition which even includes people who you wouldn't normally think of as particularly fat.

5 posted on 04/15/2009 7:38:55 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: editor-surveyor
"Last year we had 700 complaints from passengers who had to share their seats," she said.

Ever had someone sit next to you so big that they took up part of YOUR seat, too? If you are going to take up two seats, then pay for two seats unless the plane isn't full.

6 posted on 04/15/2009 7:39:56 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Socialism is the belief that most people are better off if everyone was equally poor and miserable.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster; coloradan

Maybe they could have a long bench down the side of plane, and arm rests that move such that people can be charged by how many inches of bench they take up.


7 posted on 04/15/2009 7:41:23 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: TigerLikesRooster

If they take up more than one seat, yes.


8 posted on 04/15/2009 7:41:47 PM PDT by Perdogg (University of North Carolina - 2009 NCAA basketball champs)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

The only complaints I have received about my size have been about my shoulders being too big for the seat back. But, I would pay more for more leg room.


9 posted on 04/15/2009 7:42:09 PM PDT by crazyhorse691 (Now that the libs are in power dissent is not only unpatriotic, but, it is also racist.)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

What about the guy whose legs are SO LONG that they flop over on my side or into the isle???
What about that?
Hunh??
Hunh??

(ok...my husband is one of these guys..so, I had to bring it up!)


10 posted on 04/15/2009 7:45:00 PM PDT by M0sby (T)
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To: AndyTheBear

The FAA has a definition for average passenger weight. It is 170 lbs. If you arew double this benchmark, you need to buy two seats.

Aircraft structure is designed around this weight. Seats, seat belts, and floor structure are designed with this load as the normal. Exceed it, and the parts will fail.


11 posted on 04/15/2009 7:45:28 PM PDT by wrench
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To: Blood of Tyrants
Ever had someone sit next to you so big that they took up part of YOUR seat, too? If you are going to take up two seats, then pay for two seats unless the plane isn't full.

Whenever I get between people on a plane seat, I have to hunch my shoulders forward so arms don't violate the other person's space. Nothing to do with my tummy or having extra pounds, some of us just have shoulders that are too broad for comfort in those narrow seats.

If I get a aisle seat I'm good, so I always request them.

12 posted on 04/15/2009 7:46:26 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: coloradan
Will they charge kids or anorexics less?

I assume so if their blubber spills over into the 1.5 cubic feet afforded to you for your $850 flight from Tuscon to Wichita.

Barely abstract mathematics includes the difference between ordinal and cardinal. 

What's wrong Big Guy, America not yielding you the "freedom" to be a nuisance?

13 posted on 04/15/2009 7:47:49 PM PDT by Harrius Magnus (LIBERALS: We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.)
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To: wrench
The FAA has a definition for average passenger weight. It is 170 lbs.

Hope they aren't applying this to football teams...or on planes heading to a sumo wrestler convention.

14 posted on 04/15/2009 7:49:37 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: editor-surveyor

Uh...doesn’t it say above that Southwest already does this?


15 posted on 04/15/2009 7:50:50 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Say NO to the $10 Trillion Ransom to DC)
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To: M0sby

Wht about guys with a big hump on their backs that take up the space of the guy right behind them? =)


16 posted on 04/15/2009 7:51:48 PM PDT by Redcitizen (December 21, 2012; there's change for ya!)
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To: coloradan

That’s their business. Whoever doesn’t like it can fly on another airline. I, for one, HATE sitting next to someone who’s disgusting blubber is rolling over onto my seat. Why is that fair to me? I’ve paid the same amount...


17 posted on 04/15/2009 7:52:59 PM PDT by Hildy (Dr. King had a dream. Obama has an ELF who has a “plan”.)
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To: goodnesswins

Southwest does not do it!

Southwest doesn’t give their passengers any grief at all; that’s why they’re the only airline that is growing.


18 posted on 04/15/2009 7:53:40 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (The beginning of the O'Bummer administration looks a lot like the end of the Nixon administration)
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To: wrench
Exceed it, and the parts will fail.

Well then, at 250 I may be posing a danger. If I trimmed down some more, I might get to 220, which is probably my ideal weight--and I would still be dangerously big.

19 posted on 04/15/2009 7:55:17 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: AndyTheBear

A few years ago, I’m pretty sure a college football team was travelling on my flight. I was seated between two fellows who were surely offensive linemen—huge men. They tried to make it as comfortable as possible and were pleasant company. But it was a very long flight—there just wasn’t room for the three of us in the three seats.


20 posted on 04/15/2009 7:55:20 PM PDT by ModelBreaker
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