Obese should buy two plane seats, says Australia survey

Originally posted by Lucky One
Some of you people just don't think do you? Eating is survival. Some people are made up in such a way that the survival mechanism over-rides all else and in modern times they end up with plenty and they get fat for winter survival. Its is a matter of the human mind advanced beyond the bodies ability to be able to regulate because those people are in survival mode all the time.

You ever see a barn cat get ready for winter? They get really fat and start moving slower to conserve calories.

That's the first time I've ever heard that, and I hope it's the last. Survival mode???? That's about as enabling a statement as there is. Look, there's no answer to this problem without someone getting their feelings hurt, or someone feeling like they're getting the short end of the stick.

Personally, if I ever have to ride in coach, I'd prefer more legroom and sacrifice the width, regardless if I'm sitting next to a fat person or not.

Peace

Originally posted by BlueRaja

Originally posted by Blaine91555
They should force the Airlines to deal with this.

They being who exactly?

The Airlines. You don't think their marketing people think this through? If Coach were comfortable, nobody would buy a first class seat.

The blood-clots in the leg issue is a real problem for millions of people. Lots of people don't realize that pain is from clots. I had to be told by my Doctor. That so called jet lag is no such thing. It is a hangover of sorts from being exposed to a pressure equal to 8,000 feet within minutes. 8,000 feet is just short of a level that could produce altitude sickness. Any older person is more prone to the symptoms. The reason we feel so sick and rundown is because of this. It is in fact a mild case of Altitude Sickness. In just the last two years I've seen an older person collapse shortly after take off. Why? Because the Planes are designed to accommodate young healthy people and no consideration is given to the people who fly the most. Look in First Class and you will find older people who can not afford it having to pay because of the health dangers of bad seating and to avoid the pain.

Someone above asked about seats in the past. They have slowly added rows over the years and retrofitted the Planes to hold more and more people until it has reached the point of things like this thread. I was on a Continental flight last year on a Plane that they had just redone. They put the trays in the arms and narrowed the seats by another two inches and they had reduced leg room by a couple of more inches. What's next? Sitting on each others laps?

I don't fall into the category you are talking about but I'm a large Man. At 220 you can't pinch an inch on me and I'm about 250 now due to age and health problems catching up with me. Coach Seats are miserable and long flights destroy me for a couple of days. Then to add to that I'm 6'2" and my legs do not fit. I'm fairly sure the seats are designed for someone under 5'9". Having your legs cramped like that causes health issues. Do I really deserve any less consideration because I'm tall and heavy muscled (from years of hard physical labor which caused my health issues in the first place)? Do the older people really deserve to risk blood-clots every time we fly so the Airlines can cram too many people into a Plane?

Instead of hating Fat People for something they often can not control, why not get upset at the Airlines for trying to cram the whole planet on one Airplane. That Flight Attendant is not much more than a Waitress or Waiter so why do they get paid nearly as much as a Pilot? Their Union is out of control just like the Auto Industry so the Airlines compensate by treating us like Sardines.

reply to post by mr-lizard


Thats actually a good idea Don't ever let that happen again

reply to post by urbal


You can add lack of self control to that as well. Move away from the buffet, and head straight to the salad bar- then get out and walk.

We're not talking about special seats or charging for two seats to fat people just for the sake of doing it, or for the sake of making more money off them. Therefor, this is not about discrimination.

This is about making people pay for the seats they take up.

And I agree that if somebody is charged for two seats, they should get two seats, all to themselves. And no, skinny people shouldn't get to just pay half, because they're still occupying one seat that nobody else should be occupying with them.

And let's clear one thing up. Airline seats didn't shrink, they've always been that size. That size is not "small," it's average size for healthy people. If people would take care of themselves, the seats wouldn't "shrink" back to "the size they used to be," but they would go back to being large enough -without ever being changed!

Oh. And winter survival my foot. They go into "instinct mode" and overeat during the winter? Well nobody shoved the food down their throat. They don't "feel" like working the weight back off in the summer? Well whose fault is it that they're lazy? In a case like that, more than in any other circumstance, It's pure lack of self control on that person's part and it's not my fault... so it should not be my problem.

And no, if I get on an airline, there is no excuse nor logic for making me pay more for a ticket to offset the extra cost of installing larger seats and operating lower-capacity airlines. Like I said, other people's eating and exercise habits should not be my problem.

OK, so they pay double and get two seats.

Does that mean that they also get two meals?

There should be an intermediate choice. My comments were in regard to the fact that Airlines purposefully don't give a middle choice to force anyone uncomfortable to pay 3 or more times as much for what amounts to 50% more space. Instead they should reconfigure and offer a third choice at a fair increase in price. I fly first class an if I calculate the space I use I'm subsidizing people sitting in Coach. That $20 worth of extra food and drink and the 50% increase in space don't justify the extra thousand or two I often pay. So who is really getting ripped off here? Why do you think there is such a huge price discrepancy based on the amount of space used. It's no accident.

Don't boo hoo for the Airlines either. These so called Bankruptcies are bull. Companies that are without resources don't pay their Exec's 8 figure Salaries with Golden Parachutes and their labor twice or three times a normal wage because they are destitute.

To those who obviously have a hate issue with fat people - Shame on You! Look inward for the source of your hatred. That is where it always lies. Hate is an expression of a lack of Self-Esteem being expressed. Your so worried about your own appearance you ridicule others because it makes you feel better. A Bigot is a Bigot no matter who the target is. You can say that people should pay by size and weight without ridiculing people. As to those who have medical issues as a factor ridiculing them is the same as making fun of the handicapped. Rest assured the rest of us don't want to sit near you and hear you complain the whole flight either. I fly a lot and I'd far rather have a huge person in the next seat than an jerk who complains the whole flight and looks down their nose at people.

[edit on 12/11/2007 by Blaine91555]

reply to post by Rasobasi420


If they feed them more, they may end up having to buy 3 seats.

reply to post by BlueRaja


Sounds like a good business model to me.

[edit on 12/11/2007 by Blaine91555]

Originally posted by mattifikation

And let's clear one thing up. Airline seats didn't shrink, they've always been that size. That size is not "small," it's average size for healthy people.

Not true. You need to research that a little. they have added many rows to some of the older Planes. That is a fact. Which Airline do you work for?

[edit on 12/11/2007 by Blaine91555]

DBATES you can split hairs all you like but you are still discriminating against a person because of their size and also pandering to those who seek to make profit out of anything they can.

It just goes to show how much hate and indifference there is out there, I wonder how many of you would turn away a fat doctor or nurse if you needed medical help seeing as some people despise fat people so much.

Question to all that think the airlines are making more money off this policy;

2 normal sized people=2 seats=2 fares

1 obese person=2 seats=2 fares

Where's the extra profit?

Here's another hypothetical question for ya. . .

A 747-100 has a max cargo weight of @167,800 pounds, and has a single class seating capacity of 539 passengers.

If all 539 passengers weighed 300 pounds this would equate to @161,700 pounds total. ( 167,800-161,700=6100 )

Therefore the passengers would only be able to carry @11.3 pounds of luggage each!

Would it be discrimination for the airline to tell them because they are all so fat that they can only take one 11lb bag of 22 Big Mac's, ( 7.8 oz each ), & they have to pay FedEx an additional charge to ship their luggage? Or tell them that the last 200 passengers to book the flight cannot fly to allow for the luggage weight for the first 339?

I know this is extreme, but where do you draw the line? This is not discrimination IMHO. . .

2PacSade-

reply to post by Karlhungis


i agree with the australian survey--------------not that its any of my buisness how big others are but when i pay for a seat on an aircraft and thru no fault of my own some official decides to plunk an individual next to me that takes up 1/2 my seat i figure i'm being ripped off----------and should only have to pay for the 1/2 seat i'm left with.

reply to post by magicmushroom


By this logic, should we allow alcoholics or dope addicts that are bombed or higher than a kite on board an airplane? No offense to you at all, but I don't see your logic here.

How about this? The airlines should charge a basic fee based on the average weight for an adult then add a per pound surcharge to it and have a few wider spaced seats available.

Originally posted by magicmushroom
I wonder how many of you would turn away a fat doctor or nurse if you needed medical help seeing as some people despise fat people so much.

*RAISES HAND* I'm really glad someone brought that up, I've been saying that for years. I absolutely would not choose a Dr. that's fat. That makes 0 sense to me. Would you take your car to a repair guy who's car doesn't run? Would you visit a dentist with rotten teeth?

reply to post by magicmushroom


Who hates fat people? I just don't want someone's body all up against mine when we're in cramped quarters as it is. If I was sitting on someone's lap, or leaning on someone's shoulder that I didn't know in a theater, I bet they'd be a little upset with me right? It has nothing to do with the fat, it's the personal space that's the issue.

That being said, I like the 2 seats, 2 meals idea. I think it would also come with a 4 drink at a time rule instead of the 2 drink per passenger rule that's around now.

Maybe we shoud just make concessions for everyone about everything
I mean why not that way everyone will be happy (get real never gonna happen)

I am not trying to be rude but if you can't control yourself and exercise then you should pay the extra after all criminals suffer from the same lack of control and they have to pay the price and you should too

that being said my sister is nearing obesity and I would say the same thing to her if she ever complained about in her defense she does take medication for her thyroid but still doesn't exercise and can eat in one setting what would take me two..

As far as being a disability that's crap if you can't take care of and or control yourself there is no excuse an example that comes to mind is a guy I saw in the store the other day about my height 5'9" (160lb for me) and about 300+ pounds he says hey you didn't happen to see any sugar free candy did you? my response was I don't eat candy I am buying this for my nephews.. his reply was I wish I could say he same to which I replied you can you just have to decide to do so...

at any rate you see my point just make the choice people if you don't want to be discriminated against then take a little initiative and responsibility for your own actions...if you eat to much you will weigh too much..


Respectfully
GEO

reply to post by DeadFlagBlues


Dude that was funny.
I'm here at El Paso Intl Airport waiting for my flight eating at the texmex restaurant getting ready to fly back to DFW and I'm reading your post and I'm just crackin' up. Then I get a funny stare from the people next to me because they think i'm listening to their conversation and I can think of is you did it again. Those awkward situations of yours are contagious.

Back to the thread; It's all about real estate. I say charge extra but just try collecting that from Samoans and Polynesians.