Air travel and the calorifically challenged...?

Question

This question probably wont go down too well but please understand this is not a slight on our larger chums. I travel on planes a lot and recently have ended up sitting next to a number of fat people. This has made me uncomfortable in my own limited space and on one occasion made my flight unbearable. It is no secret that we are getting bigger (certainly in the west) so...

My question is, is this fair on normal sized people (i.e the non obese) or should the bigger clients pay more for a set of larger seats aimed specifically at giving them more comfort and those who aren't so big more room in their own area?

Or should they not travel in the air at all?

Answer 1

Maybe they should have one or two seats on a plane set aside for them, kind of like the seats for disabled people on trains.

Or, maybe they should be made to pay more for seats that can accommodate them. Its a tax on being overweight. And, no insult is intended by that. Its the same as the idea to levy a higher tax on sugary drinks like sodas and sport drinks, to discourage people from buying that unhealthy stuff.

I'm flying this afternoon. My remarks will probably result in me getting stuck next to an overweight person. At least I'm in an aisle seat!

Answer 2

Well, Fun Luvin` Criminals sang " everybody knows fat birds don`t fly" so maybe they should be restricted to land or sea.
There may be a case for them to be seated at the back but if the weight isn`t spread evenly the aircraft may not get off the ground?
That said, they would be closer to the emergency exits although on some aircraft that would put them closer to the food!
You certainly have posed a difficult question.
Maybe they should have their own plane but that could be seen as discrimination?
I suggest you re-post this in the Health & Safety section due to the fact that obese people sweat more and the air is recycled on aircraft.

Answer 3

I bet if you said that crippled people have no business on airplanes because they block you from getting out of your seat to go to the bathroom, it wouldn't be very cool.

From someone who is 415 lbs and has to travel economy overseas EVERY two weeks, I say that perhaps you need to ask yourself how uncomfortable and embarrassed WE FAT PEOPLE are and is it fair for airlines to build seats that are only comfortable for skinny people.

Let me tell you what it's like... When we get on the plane, we are stared at by other passengers and we know what they're thinking ("I hope he's not sitting next to me!").... Quite often, we can't eat, because the tray table won't fold all the way down.... It's impossible if the passenger in front reclines his seat. We are so concious of our size, that we quite often have to sit the entire flight with our arms crossed out in front of us so we don't encroach on your space any more than we can help. When we can eat, we often eat like some kind of wierd praying mantis because whe have our elbows tucked in front of us so we don't encroach on your precious space. They put the seat entertainment controls on the inside of the arm rest where we have absolutely no hope of retrieving or using it and it ends up leaving a bruise on our thighs. We are often chastised by flight attendants on take off as our thighs are always pushing the recliner button making it a physical effort to keep your seat back up on takeoff.

People like you tick me off. We do our best to be as unobtrusive as possible. It's amazing how hypocritical society is. An idiot could get drunk and drive his car off the road and wind up crippled and we'd be holding doors open for him for the rest of his life. Yet a fat person isn't allow the common decency of mutual human respect... as if we're less than human.

We aren't gluttons... We aren't pigs... We are handicapped by our weight and we don't want to be this way ... and our obesity gives you no right to be rude. How bout a little tolerance... Afterall, we have learned over our lives to tollerate rudeness of those who think our condition is funny or a joke... who laugh at us when a chair breaks... and who write idiotic comments like the one you just made.

I hope I sit next to you on a future flight. I'll make sure you're as comfortable as possible.

Answer 4

I agree it's not fair to the normal sized person sitting next to them. The airlines should set a standard, such as "anyone over 225 pounds (Calorically challenged? ;-) ) must buy a first class seat."

Answer 5

I think some larger people do have to pay extra (ie if they can't fit into one seat)
I don't think its fair to exclude people from flights just because they are fat though - they make the rest of us look good on holiday (only joking!!)

Answer 6

This question is a bit harsh dont you think?

Why should bigger people have to pay extra for bigger seats? If the person in question is too big for a seat, I do know that they have to purchase 2 seats on the flight to accomdate themselves.

But why should they have to fork out more money, for somebody else's comfort? Think about what you're saying.

If the person next to you paid more money for a bigger seat - they are still sat next to you.

Answer 7

At some point they do need to buy or split another seat with other fat people.

Answer 8

Fair point.

A 60lb child and a 600lb behemoth are both allowed the same luggage allowance and get charged the same air fare.... I say get a set of scales, weigh passengers with their luggage & bill them accordingly!!

....and will somebody PLEASE tell that old guy to stop farting.....we're all in a sealed tin can!!

Answer 9

We need another 9-11 styled attack so air fares will drop. That way the "calorifically challenged" (nice one) can afford first class (bigger seat).