Should obese passengers be required to buy an extra seat? It's a question we've asked before around here, and one that people feel very strongly about. Today, CNN tackles the subject once again, citing policies from both Southwest and United.
According to their article, "U.S. obesity rates have mushroomed during the last 25 years, but the width of a coach airplane seat has changed little, remaining between 17 and 18 inches in most commercial planes."
The article also goes on to point out that economy seating is cramped for average-sized passengers too (you probably knew that) and most "seat space invasions" are due to wide shoulders. We can certainly vouch for that, what with all the millions of beverage cart wackings our poor shoulders have suffered through the years. Ouch!
So does more to love mean more to pay? Comment below.
This a great opportunity for a "big and tall" airline to be started and for current airlines to retrofit seats/aisles in their planes. I appreciate JetBlue's extra legroom for a reasonable fee. Can an airline provide extra seat width for a reasonable fee?
"I for one am all for charging overweight passengers extra. As mentioned above, these days every pound counts. So, I propose that tickets now be sold "by the pound". Think of it-There would be an option to estimate your weight when you first purchase your ticket. Then, when you get to the airport, you step on a scale and pay extra for any "overages" or get a refund for "shortages". It could even be extended to baggage, making it "total weight" checked onto the airplane. As a larger flier myself, I think it would even out. During my trip to Ireland, I wouldn't have had to pay that 10% for my 3 month old daughter sharing my seat. No more would those outrageously sized carry-ons get to sneak past the gate agents.
But seriously, why stop there. If we're going to charge for all inconveniences, there should be a charge for talking on your cell after landing. Or having your laptop on the tray table making passengers have to wait for you to put it away before shimmying past. Or an extra charge for people not sitting on the aisle if they need to use the restroom more than once every 3 hours. Perfume charges, body odor charges, loud talker charges, overheard headphone charges, snoring charges, the list could be endless."
FYI- By my calculations, anyone with a 36" Waist or Hip size would be over a 17" seat. That would include Size 16 Women, and possibly size 14 depending on hips. Think of that before casting stones.
I was on a flight from New York to Frankfort several years ago, sitting in the middle seat. A really large man got the isle. Large? You betcha! Not an ounce of fat on him that I could see, though, just really extremely muscular and broad. But his hips fit in the seat, so...... Should he have paid for a second seat b/c his shoulders are too wide? I'd say yes, but would someone else who was smaller than me be as bothered with being bumped on the shoulder from the cart going by?
So, who decides? And by what criteria? Too big to fit in the seat? Or how about just too wide, period? How about really tall people who have to bend sideways, even a little, to fit their legs into their space? I really understand people's frustration, but what is a workable, fair solution? I don't know........
It should be a rule that people should pay more if they obvioulsy will occupy more than one stea. But they should get those tow setas, even the whole Row if they purchase it. Not sure about pitch...it is pretty narrow for a big belly.
Please try to avoid High Fructose corn syrup. That is the culprit of a big % of the enormous obesity problem in America