United Airlines could require obese passengers to buy a second ticket

[Liberal_in_LA]

United Airlines could require obese passengers to buy a second ticket
Under a new United policy, if flight attendants can't find two open coach seats together, large passengers must buy a second seat, upgrade to business class -- or even get bumped.

By Julie Johnsson
April 16, 2009

As the nation copes with increasing numbers of obese Americans, United Airlines has joined the list of air carriers making overweight passengers pay more to fly.

As of Wednesday, passengers too large to fit comfortably in a coach seat may be required to buy a second ticket or upgrade to business class, where seats are larger -- if United's flight attendants can't find two open seats for them.

The carrier, whose parent company is Chicago-based UAL Corp., said it decided to adopt the tougher policy after receiving more than 700 complaints last year from passengers "who did not have a comfortable flight because the person next to them infringed on their seat," spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said.

How to accommodate severely overweight passengers is an issue that has long rankled air travelers. Issues of weight and seat proximity have become more sensitive in recent years as airlines narrow seat widths and flights have become fuller.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-united-obese16-2009apr16,0,3361939.story

[Auggie]

1. I will do my damnedest never to fly United again

after being nickel and dimed to and from Hawaii. Screw them.

[Bettie]

2. So, what will they do about people doused in perfume?

Or how about those people who insist on jabbing their elbows into me because they are using their laptops the whole flight?

I'm a large woman and I don't fly often. When I do it is with my DH. The only person's space I infringe on is his and he doesn't mind. My husband is a "normal" size person and he has trouble fitting in some airline seats, since he is a bit broad in the shoulders.

I may be fat, but I'm a human being and deserving of the same respect and kindness a thin and perfect looking person gets.

[Rage for Order]

3. And you will get the same respect and kindness from the airline

They will kindly and respectfully ask you to pay for the total number of seats you are using. Large people who take up more space than the amount they purchased are stealing from the ticket holder who is sitting next to them. If you fly with your DH it would probably be fine for you to take the window or aisle seat and him to take the middle seat. The two of you purchase 2 seats, so as long as both of you can fit in the space of those 2 seats it doesn't sound like there would be any issues.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. ouch!

[Bettie]

14. I don't take up two seats, but neither do I

take up less than one seat.

If you sit next to me, you'd have a bit of contact with my hip or leg and probably once in a while, should I dare to move, my shoulder. I travel with my Dh because I hate touching or being touched by strangers and even before I was a larger size, I could not avoid being in physical contact with those I didn't know.

And let me tell you, its no picnic for those of us who aren't perfect and stick thin as you undoubtedly are.

And, no, they won't do it kindly or respectfully, they will do it in such a way as to humiliate and degrade because that is what our society deems acceptable for those who do not meet the standard of conventional beauty.

And I should never have replied here anyway, I forgot that at DU hating fatties is A-OK and even encouraged!

[ginnyinWI]

5. it's not about being perfect looking.

This isn't discrimination over how you look. It's about someone else not having a fair amount of the space--having to squeeze over to one side in their seat. It's not fair to have to do that when you've paid for a seat; you expect to be able to fit comfortably. It's no fun to have to sit next to a perfect stranger you can't avoid touching.

I had to do this at a music concert once. The seats were not generous and she spilled over. I'm not trying to sound mean--I've been on the other side--I've been 55 pounds heavier than I am now--and I still say it's not fair to the other person.

[Cid_B]

6. Agreed..

pay for what you use...

[LeftyMom]

11. Seriously.

I've been wedged in between a too-big-for-their-seat passenger and the window on a tiny corner of the seat I paid for on more than one flight, and that's not fair to me, as I'm not getting the seat I paid for.

If a person can't fit in one seat, than they need to pay for two, because getting half of mine for free just isn't acceptable.

[dustbunnie]

12. You wouldn't have a problem. Their policy makes allowances for a larger person...

traveling with someone else who would donate the extra space. I guess the issue is between lone flyers, and if they've received so many complaints, suppose they have to act one way or another. Other airlines already work with the same policy.

[dustbunnie]

13. dupe n/t

[Merlot]

7. I once had to sit in the center seat between two very overweight men

They probably booked their seats expecting that the middle seat would stay empty (they were traveling together and spoke over me the entire flight). If one of them had at least given me the window seat, it might have been ok. But being squeezed between these two, I lost space on both sides, neither would give up the arm rests. It was miserable and unfair. Would have been better for all concerned if between the two of them they had purchased the middle seat and had the extra space.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. They anticipated the middle seat empy or a small person (you in it). That kinda of sucks

They gave themselves extra room by anticipating taking some from the middle seat whether is was empty or not. Yeah, they should have sat together.

[hyphenate]

8. Considering how damned small the frikkin seats are already

I think it's criminal that they can get away with the prices and other "amenities" they get away with.

NO meals, even if the flight is over 4 hours;
NO movie, unless you want to pay ad additional $5 to watch this little teensy screen that is smaller than almost any portable DVD player;
NO ability to move around at all, especially since more and more of the larger planes are being replaced by such crappy airplanes like the MD-80;

And anyone who travels on a regular basis as I used to, knows that even one fucking sneeze or coughing passenger means a miserable vacation or business trip for the whole manifest.

I despise United for a host of other reasons as well, but I had a run-in with a flight attendant once, some time ago now, and I have never forgotten it. I was going home to CA from MA and had my carry-on that I wanted to put in the space above me, but as usual, I had a problem because I'm short. Usually I don't have to ask for help because someone always sees how difficult it is for me to reach into the compartment above, but this one time there didn't seem to be anyone to help me, so I asked the attendant to help me. She told me that if I couldn't reach the compartment, why did I bring something that would require help from someone else? So, I get such shit from someone who is supposed to be in the "hospitality" business? I called United immediately when I got home and lodged a complaint. It did little good, though, but I always think twice now when I consider my options to travel.

It's a crime that the most uncomfortable mode of transportation is also the most expensive, and as we ALL know, they were the first of a list of many that GWB paid corporate welfare to. Really, they should lower fares, fly bigger planes and serve something to eat once again. I have one economic plan and that is, sell more for less, and i don't think it's unreasonable to say we all need a fucking break from the corporate welfare and "poor me" attitude that is pervasive in business nowadays.

[ginnyinWI]

10. I hate air travel, too.

Everything you said: you can't move, you can't say certain words, you can't look cross-eyed at anyone. Your bags get searched and you have to worry about everything you pack. But we still do it--we have to if we want to visit our kids and grandkids.

Amtrak is no prize, but it's ten times as much fun as flying. If you don't have to go overnight, that is! I took a six hour trip a year ago--Milwaukee to Detroit. There was so much space! And you could get up and walk around, and no seat belts, and no long list of rules. Nobody searched my bags or gave me the evil eye.
I brought my own lunch so I didn't have to eat the junk food they sell and I was very happy to sit and read and look out the window and talk to the lady next to me. Because when you don't feel boxed in, you don't feel as threatened and can relax and talk and be yourself.

I wish there was better rail service in this country. I'd take high-speed rail cross country any day over flying.

[hyphenate]

18. When my mom and I went to Britain

back in the early 90s, we traveled with the Brit Rail Pass. And it was sooo much better! We met some really great people on the train, we had complete control over our itinerary, and we actually got to see some of the country and cities that we weren't going to get to see otherwise. One elderly woman who got on in Yorkshire was going up near Edinburgh to see her son and grandkids, and it was the first time she had ever gone beyond 50 miles to her home. Wonderful to talk with her. One thing my mom and I couldn't get much of beyond London was iced tea--we introduced her to it!

We used to go back and forth between Boston and NYC all the time, and couldn't ask for a better time! Glad to see Obama is trying to get high-speed rail going--it will be a nice change if I can get the opportunity to travel again.

[Lex]

15. Even sitting beside regularly-sized adults is uncomfortable

in some of those seats.

[L0oniX]

16. Next time don't take a bath and wear the same cloths for a few weeks before you fly..

that'll make em sorry they sat next to ya.

:evilgrin:

[blaze]

17. There must be another solution!

I don't know what it is... but this just isn't right.

I understand the complaints of "normal" sized people who complain that they aren't getting their "full" seat. I would be uncomfortable as well.

But really. Should an obese person have to pay DOUBLE because of their size? My sister is obese. We were raised in the same house... fed the same food... she has always been overweight and I have never been. It's not just a matter of diet. So a person should have to pay double because genetics has made them larger than the majority of the population?

Some thing's not right here.