Airlines to Charge Extra for "People of Size"

http://www.msnbc.com/local/knsd/A1232224.asp ^ | June 19, 2002 | Barbie Doll

[11th Earl of Mar]

"People of size"?

What's next, "people of duh!" for the less intelligent?

[CecilRhodesGhost]

Sheila Allen should find a good trial lawyer and sue Herb and Southwest Airlines for all they can. This is discrimination and likely will not stand in court. Overweight people are being unfairly punished and singled out for an unfair financial penalty, not to mention the emotional shame and mental pain suffered.

[the]

Combine this new item (#1) with this news item (#2), and voila, the perfect solution to airlines' problems:

Fatties can provide anti-hijacking airliner security while riding in the comfort of free first class upgrades, so long as they promise to sit on the bad guys. (Value carriers, shuttle flights, and other single class flights will need another plan.)

From Item #1:

While buying a ticket for a Southwest flight from Sacramento to Burbank, Calif., he was told he'd need to buy an extra ticket.

The reason? He's what the airline calls "a person of size" - the PC term, evidently, for someone so large he may need more than one seat.

McAllister is, in fact, a big man - 6 feet 2 inches, 350 pounds. But the former college football player says he's never been accused of taking up more than a single seat on a flight.

From Item #2:

Police in Maryland say a man who tried to rob a store died after a customer sat on him.
...
He was sat on by a six foot two man who weighed 280 pounds after he was spotted stuffing packs of cigarettes into a bag.

---

Originally posted on my pitiful blog.

[Post Toasties]

I'm 6'6", 270. To me, that's average size:)

[stanz]

Hillary, watch out!

[lonestar]

"Who's going to decide who is going to have to pay for the extra ticket? Do we have to get on a scale?" asked Sheila Allen of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. "My weight is private medical information. It's not for anybody else's knowledge."

As long as you keep your private medical information in your own seat, I don't care, Sheila. But I don't want part of you in my seat!

I was on a four hour flight once, and the fat slob in the seat beside me was too fat to allow the arm rest down. I was miserable for four hours and didn't appreciate his lap in mine. I couldn't move and was very uncomfortable.

I think the airlines owe some consideration to their other passengers. If a body hangs into the next seat, why shouldn't they pay for it?

[the]

BRAVO!

[billhilly]

What if the "people of size" also happen to be people of color? Or maybe, "people with other abilities." They may be friends of Richard Simmons. When this all gets to the "People of Robes", aka "The Supremes" the fat may be in the skillet.

[Voltage]

It they take up 2 seats they should pay for 2 seats!!!! I don't want their excess blubber rolling over onto me!

[Britton J Wingfield]

Unfair? If you take up 2 seats, you should pay for both of them.

Do you expect to mail a 100-lb package for the same price as a 10-ounce one?

[CecilRhodesGhost]

I think it is likely offending some on this board when you compare humans to cargo or mail. This policy is going to make a few heavy people very wealthy if they can find a skillful attorney.

[KirklandJunction]

Airlines sell seats. Use more, pay more.

Airlines costs are of lifting weight. Weigh more, pay more.

You don't like it? Drive. You'll buy more gas and your car will wear sooner. Tough.

You think lawsuits are answers? Bovine excrement.

You want to beg Big Brother to handle your whines, go away.

You think you got a better way to run an airline? Go do so.

[Sonny M]

I'm assuming you have never been seated next to "somone of size". If you can not fit in one seat, then buy a ticket for another seat. I was on a place, a large mammoth woman sat next to me, and wanted to raise the arm bar. I knew what would happen next, and refused. She was all insulted, and did appear to be in some kind of pain from the arm bar. To damn bad. Now I only fly first class, but if it happens, its not my problem.

[the]

If they don't like the way an airline does business, let 'em Vote With Their Feet.

[Britton J Wingfield]

You are your own cargo when you fly. Those easily offended should get a life. BTW, United has been doing this for some time.

I pay more for clothes because I need extra long, fitted ones. Am I the victim of discrimination? No. It costs more to make them and they sell less units. Doling out 2 seats to one person means less units sold, and a revenue penalty for the airline. Airlines are a business, just like clothiers. Neither has an obligation to enforce an egalitarian market at their own expense. If you want that you can move to Cuba.

[MasonGal]

My husband is not overweight, but he is tall - 6' 4" - and his complaint is usually about how folks who sit in front of him - always recline their seat - right on his knees - and talk - about uncomfortable -I wonder if the folks in front of him could buy another seat?

[the]

"Would you mind if I lift the armrest?"

[Britton J Wingfield]

They have a box that your carry-on luggage needs to fit into. Looks like they need one for passengers, too. If you don't fit, you get 2 seats.

If anyone sues over this and wins, I'm suing Magic Mountain for that time they discriminated against me for being short, and not letting me on the good rides. Size is irrelevant, right?

[Criminal Number 18F]

Sheila Allen of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance:"My weight is private medical information. It's not for anybody else's knowledge."

Translation: "I'm ashamed of the number. But if I were livestock it would be way past market time."

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F