'Person Of Size' Angry About Need For Spill-Over Ticket

Sacramento Bee via Scripps Howard ^ | June 18, 2002 | Bob Shallit

[Paul Atreides]

My favorite is Bachrach.com. Check out their clearance page. I have bought a lot of shirts on clearance for nine bucks. They also have retail stores as well. Thanks for your recommendation of K&G, I have seen their ads and wondered how they are.

[Freebird Forever]

I did that, once, on a Northworst Flight; I scoped it out, called the FA before she closed the door, and said, "No." This is not what I paid for."

Got a 1st class-upgrade on the next flight, and 2 free flight coupons.

BRAVO SIR!

You have set a pattern that I intend to follow.

[Hunble]

Hope my wife does not read this, but that is why I always insist that we both have isle seats.

That way, only the stewardess has to worry about the overflow.

[mamelukesabre]

What good is it to make the big people buy two seats? What are they gonna do? Sit on the crack between two seats? THey should just ban all big people from the economy class. Make them fly first class or not at all.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

What are they gonna do? Sit on the crack between two seats?

It would be easy to design the seats so that they could be converted into becoming a one seater or two. Then the person of size, or anyone for that matter could have a large one seater but pay more for it. I'm suprised some enterprising businessman hasn't already thought of that, unless the airlines intentionally want to squeeze as many people on a plane as possible. But then why make a large person pay double? Doesn't make sense.

[Hacksaw]

What I'm about to say is not making fun, it is just an honest life observation; Why do enormously overweight people buy tiny cars? I cannot count the number of times I have seen some 400-500 pound person driving something the size of a Yugo, with the steering wheel digging into his/her gut. On the same note, why do tiny blue-hairs buy cars the size of an ocean liner. I get behind them and it looks as if the car is driving itself.

When I was working as a groundskeeper during college, we had a supervisor on the construction crew who was al least 6'8" and probably tipped the scales over 300 lbs. He drove a little Ford Ranger around. It was quite a sight to see that huge neanderthal get out of that small cab.

[DontMessWithMyCountry]

Yes, i agree. even though i'm not 'large' at all, i have very long legs...even i am very cramped sitting on an airliner. But, that article was not addressing 'tall' people or 'long' people ;-) Never had a TALL person crush me out of my seat; yes, we might have played a few rounds of 'footsie', but no harm done to one another ;-)

Actually, all that aside, i don't intend to fly again until the airlines starts treating us (you know, Americans) like Americans again (free, safe from unreasonable search, right to eat like civilized human beings with a fork and a knife, etc., etc.). They haven't made me feel 'safe', but, rather 'violated'. This utter absurdity of frisking and strip-searching American citizens (don't care what your age or ethnicity) is outrageous because it will do absolutely nothing to ensure our safety on a flight.

Btw, I wonder if possibly the real rationale for the flack that commuter got was because the airlines are hurting so much now for cash flow (i know full well i am not the only person who has chosen to drive--it's actually rather enjoyable if you have the time--and, with all the extra security b.s. they put us through at the airports, it probably takes no longer to drive (unless you have to do a coast-to-coast trip). Until the airlines divest themselves of the U.S. gubmint interest (or would that be the other way around? oh well), and while they *still* are publicly traded companies (yea, commercial enterprises they tell us) i'm not going to patronize them as a private industry. Bad enough we're paying for their stockholders' interests now every April 15th...they got the cheap labor they needed to turn over a profit...compliments of the U.S. gubmint interference, so let them figure out a way to make a real profit for themselves (with far less patrons.) That's *my* "real" issue, anyhow ;-)

[cidrasm]

On the same note, why do tiny blue-hairs buy cars the size of an ocean liner. I get behind them and it looks as if the car is driving itself.

Well... My mother, who is almost a blue hair, has a Yukon because she feels safe in it. As anecdotal evidence, she was T-boned by a kid in a sports car who didn't look before pulling out of a gas station and suffered no injury (the sports car suffered much more damage, luckily he and his passenger were unhurt also). I suppose, as long as blue hairs are still safe drivers who cares what they drive?

[Paul Atreides]

I suppose, as long as blue hairs are still safe drivers who cares what they drive?

Note, I said "tiny blue-hairs". You know, the ones who are eye-level to the horn on the steering wheel.

[SWake]

I had a math teacher in 8th grade about that size that rode a ~175 motorcycle around town. The poor little thing (the motorcycle, not the teacher) would just about disappear under the bulk. One of those things you have to see to believe.