As a tall woman, I am relieved when the seat next to me on a flight ends up empty, since the space I paid for is painfully too small. As of today, obese people flying Canadian airlines officially have a right to that extra seat, at no extra cost.
The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear airline objections to the Canadian Transportation Agency's regulation that states that people "functionally disabled by obesity" do not have to pay for an extra seat.
Earlier this year the agency implemented the nondiscrimination "one-person-one-fare" policy because those with severe disabilities had limited traveling opportunities due to the doubled price of travel. Do you think the decision is a blow against discrimination, or the beginning of a slippery slope for troubled airlines?
Torrini
Shudoo
Polo Ralph Lauren
I doubt many people are going to intentionally become obese so that they can sit in two seats on an airplane.
1I might wear a fat suit.
2I think it will be a very good thing to improve the comfort of air passengers. I hate to admit that I was annoyed by this, but I took a flight this month where I was seated next to someone who was literally overflowing halfway into my seat. Couldn't put the armrest down at all and spent the entire 5-hour flight wedged up against the window with his thigh pressing against mine.
I paid the same as that person, and while I don't blame him, I do wish there could be a better solution than what he and I had to deal with, uncomfortable for both of us.
3I think they shouldn't have to pay more for clothes either. I mean, who cares that it requires more fabric? It would be discrimination to charge them more for something that costs the business more.
4I might become an airline attendant and check extremities to make sure passengers are uniformly obese and not you in a fat suit.
5I don't agree with this. I think if you require 2 seats, you should have to pay for both of them.
And how does this work? Do people have to check a box that says they're so massive they'll require two seats?
I think next time I fly I'll tell them I weight 600lbs so I can use the seat next to me for my carry-on bag, so I don't have to rummage around in it overhead whenever I want my ipod.
6Why is your iPod in the overhead?
7don't know, just making up a hypothetical situation.
we can change ipod to book?
8I only think the idea is a good one because frankly when an obese person sits next to you on a plane, it actually impedes on another customer.
9So for a business to protect their customers that way is good. On the other hand this certainly costs a business more, and in a way they should not be responsible for...
I think I'm going to ask Air Canada if I can get get a discounted ticked price for being skinnier than their average flyer..
10Eh. I don't know how I feel about this. Maybe they shouldn't have to pay for a WHOLE extra seat, but there should be a charge of some kind to make up for money lost. There is nothing more aggravating than paying for an entire seat and being squished against the window because someone is taking up more than their allotted space. Ugh.
11Anyone watch that show "Airline"? It's about Southwest Airlines...stories about people traveling. People being denied boarding cause they're too drunk or smelly. People missing their flights. All the horrors of flying wrapped up into one neat little 30 minute show.
From what I've seen on that show, if you appear to be too obese to fit into one seat, the person at the ticket counter is advised to speak to you about purchasing another ticket. And it seems that you won't be able to fly until you do.
However, I have no idea if this is truly the case.
12This is absolutely insane. Being overweight isn't a disability in the way that being in a wheelchair or blind, etc., is. These people should have to pay for an extra seat. They should not be rewarded with the extra space at the cost of the business. Ooh, this gets me all riled up.
And yes I know that some people have glandular issues that create obesity but that is such a small percentage of the obese people of today.
13What is the legal definition of "functionally disabled"? You can't walk or go to work or do normal everyday life things because you are so fat?
14Ok I checked Southwest's policy on "Customers of Size", and they say that any customers who "are unable to lower both armrests (the definitive boundary between seats) and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating" are required to purchase another seat. They refund the extra seat if the flight does not oversell.
15I just don't understand why you'd put your book or iPod in the overhead. Don't you put everything you need during the flight under the seat in front of you?
I know it's not exactly germane to the post...I'm just puzzled.
16No, I don't.
17Isn't part of the problem also based with airlines whittling down seats and leg room to cram more people in over the years? The amount of space you get seems a lot smaller than it was years ago, even for lean people.
18anywho...I shrugged reading this! Ginger has a point that the seats are small enough as it is. I think the airlines should do it for everyone!
What about mommies who have to CARRY their 2 year olds and younger kids since they dont have to pay for a seat. It horrible! It's eaither pay for an extra seat or not pay and have him/her sit on top of me for hours...hmmm..
19many typos....sorry! I've been reading all night and I feel like taking my eyes out..
20I think the problem GS is how does an airline differ fat lazy obese people from people with genetic or hormonal problems. How much medical documentation to you have to bring. I also think it is the end result that matters not how you got their. Someone who is a wheel chair from being a dumb*ss dare devil is no less disabled then someone who was hit by a care or born paralyzed.
Anyways I do feel for airlines. I don't honestly think they should have to pay for someone's obesity, but I have been squished in half a seat. Obese people can purchase one seat and that becomes a problem for other passengers. I guess if they want to make all of their passengers happy they have to take some losses.
On the other hand I am a petite woman and am never uncomfortable in airline seats, but I have traveled with my male roomate who is 6'4" he isn't fat but he's a big guy. They've made seats so small he is always uncomfortable. Maybe they should increase the average size of their seats and create a few large seats in front and them handicap, like they do for parking.
21Oooh the typos...sorry guys.
22I think I agree with comment 4.
23
stephley your first comment was prime! I personally would appreciate if they would give obese
"fat" people an extra seat, because it is really the person sitting next to them who ends up paying if they don't!! ...as nicely stated by Jude [comment 3].
24Maybe they should make the seats roomier or something. I see both sides of the story, but as a pretty small person I hardly have enough room as it is in those little sardine boxes. I know it is "mean" and might hurt their feelings to make them pay for another seat, but like some of you were saying, it is the person sitting next to them paying the price of comfort.
25I thought the rule of thumb was to put stuff that fits under the seat. That way people don't have to end up checking a small suitcase because there's enough room in the overhead.
26slippery slope! slippery slope!
27As long as we're on the slippery slope idea, I'd like some extra room at 6'2.
28I know, krae. They give an extra seat to obese people and next thing they'll be forced to allow dog marriage.
29Ditto Org! Being 6'2 myself and having a giant of a husband we should get free seats too! We didn't choose to be this tall.
And Jessie, I totally see where you are coming from with your comment. I just think, if someone wants something for free, the burden of proof should be on them. They should have to bring some form of doctor's documentation that says their obesity is medical and not gluttony.
30"What is the legal definition of "functionally disabled"? You can't walk or go to work or do normal everyday life things because you are so fat?"
I'm going to be politically incorrect here, and apologize in advance, but the truth is, a majority of overweight people have the option of losing weight and establishing a realistic goal for themselves. We can't all be skinny, but this is a global issue and has been for the past decade now. Allowing for obese air travelers to request a free seat only encourages them that there are benefits to eating your way into a heart attack. As opposed to people who are blind, deaf, or have other medical issues that aren't a result of their lack of self-care?
31Maybe the fat person should pay ME for taking up 1/2 of my seat.
32How about they just pay for their extra seat, or they fly first class because those seats are bigger. I just typed a whole rant but I really don't feel like hearing all the stories about how its "genetics." so i'll just leave it at this: i believe that if you need two seats, you pay for them.
33Umm wow. So it's OK to be judgmental against and make obese people into jokes. Everybody has issues, some show on the outside and some don't. Nobody WANTS to be obese. I don't think they should pay extra.
34True Song, I don't know, I've been on a plane only twice in the last two years so I don't have a "rule of thumb" for air travel.
I am baffled by your needling me on the subject though..?
Wren, .. oh nevermind I don't want to start this. Someone else do it.
35I don't think the airlines are making obese people into jokes. I think they're looking at the bottom line. If someone is taking up two seats, they need to pay for two seats. It's unfortunate, but I think it's necessary. And hey, if I were obese enough to require two seats, I'd definitely try my hardest to fly underbooked flights on Southwest since they'll refund your extra ticket!
And I totally would've worn the fat suit during my last trip to Mexico if that meant I had more room. Instead, I sat next to my mom with her freshly broken elbow. Ugh. Talk about uncomfortable!
36I don't think the airlines are making jokes. I'm referring to the comments here.
37but some of the jokes are really funny!
38Today in my school's paper there was an ad to participate in a nutrition research study being conducted at the university. The requirement was that you had a BMI between 25 and 30, and the title of the ad was "EAT FOR FREE!!!"
You have to laugh at the effort of attracting their target audience =p it IS funny
39It also includes people with disabilities that may need two seats...
40How about the airline has to give a couple of free drinks to anyone who's jammed into half a seat because of the person next to them? I know that would make me feel better about the situation.
41Yeah I'd probably feel a lot better if I was too drunk to realize how uncomfortable I was
42It's difficult when you sit next to someone on an already sardine packed flight and your space is encroached on even further. It seems like a win-win situation to me. If it makes a heavier person more comfortable - why not? If it makes me more comfortable sitting next to them - great! It's not up to me to judge how they became overweight or if they are disabled or not.
43I want a partial refund from my flight last year where some big businessman dude and his ubiquitous newspaper insisted on taking up not only more than his chair but more than his viewing space in our immediate vicinity.
44They should just make the seats a little bigger so everyone will be more comfortable.
45"but some of the jokes are really funny!"
So that makes it OK to make fun of obese people?
46Well being this is Canada, and I'm not sure how Canada has, in the past, defined discrimination. If this was an American policy though, I don't think this type of argument would hold much weight (no pun intended), simply because being overweight is not an immutable characteristic. I do see the potential for the slippery slope effect to occur.
47I love it when a fat person sits next to me, i just wrap myself up in thier extra skin and they make lovely pillows.
48OH MY GOD!
49Other than CG's comment up there I dont see anyone else making jokes and poking fun at fat people...
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