Paying Extra For Being Fat
Paying Extra For Being Fat
As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. For Southwest, a plane ticket is like real estate: You get only the space you pay for. (Passengers must buy an extra ticket if their girth prevents them from lowering the armrest that divides the seats. If the flight is not full, they qualify for a refund.) Southwest representative Ashley Rogers says the airline instituted the policy because of complaints from adjoining passengers. “We want to give everybody the room they need,” she says. “People should be able to breathe a little without their neighbor encroaching.” But in Canada, a new government policy prevents airlines from charging extra for passengers who are considered disabled by their obesity. The policy will cost Air Canada $7.3 million a year. As our nation’s collective girth increases, the debate about the rights of overweight people is also playing out in the courts. A Michigan law protects overweight people from job discrimination; Massachusetts is considering similar legislation. And overweight people claim that a federal law preventing airlines from discriminating against people with disabilities should apply to them, too. So far, their lawsuits have been unsuccessful. —Lori Andrews http://www.parade.com/articles/editi...ligence_Report |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
In message
Ablang wrote: Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
In message Shawn
Hirn wrote: In article , DevilsPGD wrote: In message Ablang wrote: Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? Wider people weigh more. They might or might not. A 5'0 individual weighing 200 lbs will likely be wider then a 6'0 individual weighing 250 lbs. Both weight and width are potential issues, depending on whether you care about fuel or passenger comfort. |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
Shawn Hirn wrote:
In article , DevilsPGD wrote: In message Ablang wrote: Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? Wider people weigh more. So do tall people. |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:59:47 -0700, mrtravel wrote:
Shawn Hirn wrote: In article , DevilsPGD wrote: In message Ablang wrote: Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? Wider people weigh more. So do tall people. Well, screw them too then. And charge the short ones more because they are wasting space not filling up the seat. Or put two to a seat. Or something |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
In article ,
mrtravel wrote: Shawn Hirn wrote: In article , DevilsPGD wrote: In message Ablang wrote: Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? Wider people weigh more. So do tall people. Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to their expanded girth. |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:37:31 -0400, Shawn Hirn
wrote: Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to their expanded girth. At the same BMI and the same % of body fat, the taller person will weigh more. |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
Shawn Hirn wrote:
In article , mrtravel wrote: Shawn Hirn wrote: In article , DevilsPGD wrote: In message Ablang wrote: Paying Extra For Being Fat As summer vacations begin, some passengers on Southwest Airlines will be pulled aside and, because of their weight, asked to buy a second ticket. This controversial policy pits the commercial interests of the airline against the dignity of overweight fliers and raises the issue of whether anti-discrimination laws should be applied to obese people. Isn't the problem the width, not weight? Wider people weigh more. So do tall people. Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to their expanded girth. So, what does this have to do with paying by weight? |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
Shawn Hirn wrote:
In article , Brian wrote: On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:37:31 -0400, Shawn Hirn wrote: Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to their expanded girth. At the same BMI and the same % of body fat, the taller person will weigh more. True, but the taller person won't encroach into an adjacent passenger's seat. Where will he put his elbows? |
Paying Extra For Being Fat
In message mrtravel
wrote: Shawn Hirn wrote: In article , Brian wrote: On Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:37:31 -0400, Shawn Hirn wrote: Not necessarily, but wider people can take up more than one seat due to their expanded girth. At the same BMI and the same % of body fat, the taller person will weigh more. True, but the taller person won't encroach into an adjacent passenger's seat. Where will he put his elbows? The same place everyone else does? |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:20 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
TravelBanter.com