Should obese people have to buy 2 airline tickets???

Question

I think they should, and it's about to take effect b/c rising cost of jet fuel.

How do you feel about this???

Should we, non obese people, have to pay for their eating habbits???

Answer 1

I don't think it would be entirely fair to make people over a certain weight buy two tickets and in any event the human rights issues would create a legal nightmare - no airline would risk offending fare-paying passengers like that... or would they???

I think there's a definite argument in favour of taking into account the combined weight of the passenger AND their luggage and basing excess baggage surcharges on that weight. This would also enable a more accurate calculation of the 'plane's takeoff weight to be calculated - which may be useful in working out how much fuel is needed for the flight.

Perhaps if the excess baggage charge was above a certain point it might actually be cheaper to buy two tickets...

Answer 2

Absolutely! Most airlines already make people that can't fit in a single seat pay for two. The series "Airline" had several cases of Southwest passengers being asked to buy another ticket.
Simple math--take up two seats, pay for two.

However, as I think about it, we have areas for handicapped people everywhere. Why not have a section (or sections) for obese people. They could have bigger seats and feel more comfortable. Just a thought from an average sized guy.

Answer 3

I think if they fit in the seat they purchased they need one ticket....however if they use two seats...thats two tickets. Should someone that brought on heavier luggage have to purchase a higher rated tickets because they would effect the rising fuel cost as you put it. Airlines are in the business of making a profit. I am sure that they add in the different factors it costs to run the airline into the price of a ticket. If I was so skinny that I only needed a half a seat....can I get a ticket at half price?

Answer 4

I do think so. Even if they only take up half a seat more, that's still invading into someone else's plane space. So yes, they should get an extra one, but it should be discounted since the person could be fat for medical reasons or whatever. Or maybe airlines should start making designated seats for plus-size people. I mean severe plus size. Like...instead of 4 regular seats, 2 wider seats, for example. Like in the front of each section or something. It'd save more people money AND solve the problem of uncomfortable situations.

Answer 5

It depends on your definition of the word obese. If you check with a medical Doctor, a lot more people are over-weight than they think and many people who think they are over-weight are obese.

I would say that if a person cannot sit in the middle airline seat comfortably, and the people around him or her not sit in their seats comfortably next to the first person, than that person should have to pay for more space.

I do however, doubt that will happen. The moment airlines start making people who take up more than normal space purchase more than one ticket or charge them extra, there will be a whole slew of litigation flying around dealing with discrimination and such.

Answer 6

If you use 1 seat, you should only have to pay for 1 seat. If you use 2 seats, you should have to pay for 2 seats. Otherwise, if they are concerned about fuel, everyone should have to pay their weight plus the weight of all of their bags times some predetermined amount. That would encourage people to travel light and it would make it easier for families with children over 2 to be able to afford plane tickets. Setting some arbitrary weight over which you must pay double is not fair unless people are paying by the seat and those people take 2 seats.

Answer 7

I am split between this:

on one hand, those damn seats are too small. I am 120, and i'm sorry, but I like my personal space. it is rather uncomfortable sitting that close to anyone, let alone someone who is obese. You would think they would want their own space

on the other hand, it is not fair to make them pay double for the same trip simply because they are larger (for whatever reason). Some people simply have medical conditions that prevent them from losing weight like most people. It is prejudice and should not be tolerated.

I think the airlines should accomodate everyone, obese, disabled, whatever...the same.

Answer 8

Are you aware that there are people in this world that have a severe medical condition which causes them to be that way? My mother for instance is one of those people. She is a truck driver that has bad knees and a bad back from driving the truck but you probably do not care about that case either. Oh well I am not one of those people I am 6'4" 245lbs and I exercise every day. I would love to see you say something like to my mother in front of me. Probably never happen though you are probably just an internet tough guy. I doubt very seriously you would say that to someones face. Just my thought.What do you think. Oh I am sorry you probably do not have a brain. I on the other hand will be happy to buy you a plane ticket to come here and see if you have the nerve to say that to someone I know.

Answer 9

So should the tall person who takes up all the leg room have to buy two tickets? Or the skinny woman who spends the flight half in the seat next to her sleeping on that person?

Or the person with the small child that can't be still?

Answer 10

No, since obesity is a disease and those people are handicapped, airlines should have larger seating available just as they acomodate people with other "special needs". It's just not good business to single out people and risk embarrasment and harassment by making it an issue. People who require more space should be able to mention while making their reservation that they will require "large seating" or "extra space" in flight.