Airlines to Charge Extra for "People of Size"

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

[angry elephant]

They have those slots that they can test your luggage to see if it will go through for carry-on. They should probably have a test seat for larger-appearing people to sit in and see if they are going to ooze over or not. That would make it standardized and not based on personal judgment of the clerk. Probably really skinny clerks would want to charge almost everyone extra, while larger ones would let almost everyone pass.

[lideric]

Don't the airlines have to use profiling to determine if someone is fat?

[StolarStorm]

If you don't like the policy you are free to fly another airline, like Continental. Southwest is cheap for a reason... they are no frills. You get what you pay for.

[Tallguy]

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

Being 6'5" and 220-lbs myself, I can relate to your husband's situation. Another discomfort factor is the seats themselves: the seatbacks aren't high enough and the contours aren't correct for anybody much over 6 ft. tall. Stiff-neck city...

[lonestar]

I wonder if the folks in front of him could buy another seat?

Your husband could buy the seat in front of him and adjust it to suit himself.

[Exit148]

Aren't the seats smaller than they used to be? Haven't they knocked off an inch or 2 or 3, just to put in more seats?

It's the seat that goes back that bugs the he** out of me!!! When someone puts it back all the way, then they are in MY territory, and I am p----- very angry!

[Sonny M]

I was on a flight, and the fat person next to me tried to pull the same crap. I said no, and made sure the arm rest stayed down. They did actually seem to be in some kind of pain but that is not my problem. She tried to give me the attitude, I ignored her (and the stupid moans she made from claiming to be in pain). When she tried to do a "I don't care, I'm lifting this up". I told her, nicely, that would not be wise, nor prudent, because it would get a lot more uncomfortable, very fast and I was not in the mood". Since it was a packed flight, she had to deal with it. NEVER EVER LET A FAT PERSON LIFT THE ARM REST UP, IF THEY TRY, YELL AT THEM, AND ALWAYS REFUSE. By the way, I only fly first class now.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

LOL so each one of Hillary's legs and thighs will be 4 different fares...that is when her broom is out of service.

[NRA2BFree]

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

Wow, you must eat a lot of Post Toasties. 8-)

[savedbygrace]

So here's the two-pronged approach that "people of size" can take to "help" SWAL reverse this decision.

1. Take it through the courts. SWAL will lose.

2. When forced to buy two seats, insist on using the seat right next to the other passenger in your row. You have paid for both seats and you should use them. Spread out.

LOL about these Unintented Consequences.

[Ditter]

I don't think your solution would accomplish much. I have never been crowded by a persons luggage. You would still have the same problem of too much lard in a too small space.

[NRA2BFree]

I can almost see the lawyers lining up to file discrimination law suits.

South West is going to "lose", and "People of Size" are going to "gain". 8-)

[boris]

"Airlines sell seats. Use more, pay more.
Airlines costs are of lifting weight. Weigh more, pay more."

Took a hot-air balloon ride with a lady friend. We are both large, around 240. Hefty, not huge. I told the pilot: "I sure am glad you charge by the head and not by the pound."

When we were at about 3500 feet, he kept calling my friend "Mrs. Boris". I told him, "Well, I proposed to her, but she said she'd rather jump out of a hot-air balloon!"

--Boris

[savedbygrace]

Unintented = Unintended

[My Favorite Headache]

ROFLMAO

[Republican Wildcat]

Weightism? LOL!

[Republican Wildcat]

And no, to answer your question, I am not a shareholder with Southwest. I do, however, try to use common sense in my observations.

[LoneGreenEyeshade]

Problem is...the seats keep getting smaller and smaller as the airlines keep trying to jam more people into every airplane...

With 60% of the American adult population now considered medically obese, and the airlines shrinking seat size....this is nothing more but a money-making scheme!

Might as well go to a "pay what you weigh" system. Maybe more people would stay away from the fast food restaurants they eat at continuously!!!!

[Ditter]

You are changing the subject, we are talking about fat people spilling over & under the armrest into your seat, not luggage in the cargo hold. The luggage issue has long ago been addressed. You can only have a certain # of bags & if you go over a certain weight you are charged extra. We are talking about doing the same with passangers & its about time.