Do you think airlines should have the right to overcharge obese passengers because they require an extra seat?

[littlemissamber]

Should airlines be allowed to charge extra, or should obesity be covered under the disabilities act that allows disabled passengers to pay regular fare for their flight?

[candlewax]

Yes and no.

If they have medical clearance that they cannot help their condition -i.e. metabolic disorder or something related, fine. AND they couldn't just get that clearance at the drop of the hat because some doctor just signed it for them. Some sort of guidelines need to be made like specific tests proving that it's a disorder that they cannot help, etc.

As for the rest who got themselves into that mess, yes, they should. I'd say that most disabled people didn't put themselves in the position they're in. So WHY should these obese people, who have nobody to blame but themselves, be privy to the rights that disabled people are given? They should have thought twice before letting it get so bad that they need special accommodations like this.

[candlewax]

PS- Self inflicted type 2 diabetes will not count as a "disorder," either. I could see people easily throwing that out there as a loop hole. They'd have to make getting special clearance a total bitch for everyone involved.

[Konnour]

Is it a trend or something to give so extremely vague answers like "yes and no"?

[candlewax]

How is it vague if I followed through for reasons why? Reading comprehension skills needed much? :/

[candlewax]

Also wanted to add (MadMissKelly's response made me think of this) that if this trend keeps up, there's potential for ticket prices rising. So in turn, WE'RE going to be picking up the additional cost incurred by loss of seats/increase of plane weight. So worst case scenario, it's either us or them that pays the extra cost incurred by this issue. :/ In regard to the issue, you have to ask yourself - would you pay higher ticket prices due to obese people not picking up the tab?

[rachiee]

I don't think its a disability because its something that you can change. A little motivation and knowing what to do will make you lose weight. However, I think its the airline companies job to assist and accommodate their guests. I don't think they should pay extra just because of their weight. But if there is no seats available for that and you have to take another person's seat to get the two seats then I think the overweight person should weight for the next flight.

[theydidntnameme]

Airlines are businesses, and most (read: all) of them are out to make as much money as possible. It's a competition, which means if one business allows obese passengers to pay for only one seat, the other companies will lose business. But if none of them offer that option, all of them get to charge for two seats. And I think they could care less about an act as long as they can get away with it. One possible solution I think is to have special seats that aren't as expensive as two seats, but have more room. It would probably be at a premium price however, as it's a special service, special people have special needs, and that costs money, money which has to come from somewhere, which ties back to the first sentence :-\

[gotc147]

They already have those larger seats with special services, they're called first class seats.

[theydidntnameme]

ah then I guess our forward thinking airliners have solved our problems for us! :D

[G-Daz]

Before this happened to me I would have said no... but I had to sit on an 8 hour flight sat between two MASSIVE people, they were fat as hell (with all due respect) I hardly had any room for my feet because their legs were so big and NO shoulder space. I sat cramped for the entire flight with my shoudlers hunched forward over them.

I think if there is a genuine medical conditon then they should be given specifically designed seats JUST for them only and their partner but some people really do eat more then they should withotu workign it off. I have no doubts some peopel genetically just struggle to lose weight, that's understandable but some people don't help themselves

[nathanalbright]

I absolutely think so. Mind you, airplanes don't have a lot of room even for skinny but tall people like myself (I never have enough leg room), but if you take up too much room you should have to pay for taking up an extra seat. It's sort of like an "excess baggage" fee for people. That said, a wise airline might find ways of having slightly fewer seats but more room to allow people to pay a little more for one seat rather than having to pay for two seats. I'm surprised this hasn't been done yet.

[gotc147]

If an airline raises its prices much more than its competitors travellers won't even look at them. American Airlines tried something like this in the late 90s, they removed a couple rows of coach seats to give more leg room. They have yet to put these rows of seats back in and look where they are now, bankrupt.

[Alexeiv]

People thinking it's a disability are disillusioned.

Here's the thing, there are indeed people who are overweight due to lack of mobility.

But obesity is near impossible to achieve unless you're really munching on the hay.

Look at it this way, an individual who consumes 2,000 calories a day and makes minimal movement is usually not going to exceed 20BMI.

Obesity is 35+.

Look at it another way, if you have mobility issues, you don't require as many calories because you ain't burning them!

Simply put, it's impossible to be obese if you aren't eating more than you burn!

[gotc147]

Most airlines will make a very obese person buy a second seat right before departure at "the lowest currently available fare" if they in fact, can not fit in a single seat and give them a seatbelt extender.

I fail to see how this is unfair, if you're going to use two seats why should you be able to only pay for one? If fat people don't like it, loose some weight or take the train.

[curiouschica]

I know it might sound cruel but I think airlines should be allowed to charge extra...I mean, if the person is very big (due to unhealthy diet/lack of exercise), the person sitting next to them will be cramped during the flight duration! Plus, it might serve as motivation for that person to become healthier...

[superinlove1]

Yes I think air lines should make the obese person pay for the 2nd seat if they are over hanging. If a parent has to pay for a seat his/her 1 year old + child than the fat ass should pay to use 2 seats.

Disability and obesity is an hole other topic and has nothing to do with air lines charging a fee for the use of two seats.

[Catie101]

i think they should be allowed to charge them extra because they are losing money because that person is taking up a seat another passenger couldve paid for. also obesity has a lot to do with diet and exercise or lack there of. if obesity in a certain circumstance cannot be avoided do to a certain medical condition I think they can get a doctors note or record confirming the condition allowing the seat to be covered under some sort of plan or just free.

[madmisskelly]

Its not overcharging them for the sake of doing so. If they require two seats, they should pay for the second, simply for the fact that airlines need to make their money for the seats on the plane. If you're a company like Southwest and you don't charge for bags- you gotta make your money back. If you have multiple obese customers, each taking up 2 seats, that could end up losing a great deal of money. Its not a punishment for being obese.

[candlewax]

That and it increases the weight of the plane. They all have a weight limit in order to get the plane off the ground. Recently, it was either boats, or planes (whatever it was) that changed the amount of passengers per plane/boat because of weight. There's something wrong if they have to do this. To top it off, the decrease leads to potential ticket increase. So why should the non obese passengers have to pick up the extra cost because of others' bad lifestyle choice?

[gotc147]

Southwest is able to not charge fees for bags and changing flights because of the way they run their airline. They keep their employees moral high which keeps the customer happy, but they also do not continue to fly unprofitable routes, for example they are cutting a signifigant number of flights in and out of Philadelphia over the first few months of 2012 because they aren't making money.

And yes, they do charge fat people for a second seat if they require it.

[madmisskelly]

I never said they didn't charge obese customers for a second seat if they require it.

[cristinaboss]

Absolutely. If they have to take up two seats.. they should pay for both of them. They're taking away a seat that somebody else could be sitting in. They overcharge people for having their lousy luggage being 5 lbs over... why shouldn't they charge people who are overly fat that they have to take up more than one seat.

[bellybuttonlint]

If anyone has ever sat next to a fat person in a seat (much less two of them when you have the window seat)...you'll realize it is a major pain. Not trying to be mean or funny, but realistic. Those who are in control of their weight should not be punished.

I think they should buy two plane tickets or at the very least not take the aisle seat.

[Prof_Don]

The reason that I say "no" to obese people be considered disabled passengers, is because OF the fact that the person is taking up two seats.

Imagine an airplane with 200 seats. If 50 passengers are obese to the point of needing 2 seats, that's 50 less seats that are unpaid for.

That's bad business, especially, unfortunately, obesity is common in the USA.

Therefore, yes, obese people should pay extra. Maybe not the full price of two tickets, but one ticket and a surcharge.

[wallaber]

No that wouldn't be fair, they are people too! You could look at it the other way, should an underweight skinny guy or a midget pay half fees because they take up half the seat? No! Everyone is equal! :)

[gotc147]

One seat allows up to so much room, you can use up to and including as much room as that seat allows for the standard price. You do not need to utilize every square inch of space that seat gives you, but if you take up more space than it allows, you need to buy more space.

Would you buy a car you can't fit in? No, you'd pay more for a larger car.

[wallaber]

So using your argument, technically two midgets who are small enough to just use one seat could just pay for one ticket between the both of them?

[sixstring]

Yes. Being obese isn't a disability. Unless the obesity is fully caused by a medical issue.

[raptor]

If the price is based on seat and not person, absolutely. If they require two seats, they should pay for both. The airline could lose money if they didn't make the charge.

[TurbulentDan12]

Yes. If you have to reserve twice as many seats you should pay twice as much. No different than if you eat twice as much you should pay twice as much.

[martyfellow]

Yes, and also because they cause navigation problems by bending the earth's magnetic field.

[sweet_18]

Yeah well I've never met and spent any amount of time with an obese person who didn't eat an insane amount of food. Just saying. Just been my experience though.

[heyyy]

oh gosh

No...but as I see I'm the only one here XD

[Kain6th]

Only one here what? lol

[heyyy]

only one thinking they shouldn't chare gatties for two seats

[Nyc10001]

Yes, you should pay for the amou t of space you take.

[Ezmotts]

Disability my ass, they should be charged for being a fatass.

[larry69]

Yes...people pay for each seat, if a passenger takes 2 seats then there needs to extra charges for otherwise lost revenue!

[Anonymous]

absolutely. If a person needs 2 seats they should have to pay for them.

[starlight124]

I don't think they should but that's just me