United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly
 

United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly
Airline Says Overweight Travelers Will Need To Buy Extra Seats Or Be
Denied Entry To Planes
CHICAGO (CBS) --

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If "beefy" or "curvy" describes you, here is a word of warning: United
Airlines will begin aggressively enforcing a new policy that allows it
to charge heavier passengers twice to fly.

United will now implement new policies for passengers they deem to be
overweight.


Under the rules outlined by United, passengers who "are unable to fit
into a single seat in the ticketed cabin; are unable to properly
buckle the seatbelt using a single seatbelt extender; and/or are
unable to put the seat's armrests down when seated" will be denied
boarding unless they purchase an extra seat.

If no empty seat exists, the passenger will be forced to take a later
flight.

"The seat purchase or upgrade must be completed for each leg of the
itinerary," the United policy states. "If a customer meeting any of
the above-listed criteria decides not to upgrade or purchase a ticket
for an additional seat, he or she will not be permitted to board the
flight."

The policy applies to tickets bought on or after March 4, for travel
on Wednesday or later, according to the United Web site.

"Please understand that we care a great deal about all of our
customers' well-being, and we have implemented this policy to help
ensure that everyone's travel experiences with United are comfortable
and pleasant," United said on its Web site.

While the directive has some United customer service representatives
questioning the wisdom or legality of such charges, the double charge
has become common practice in the industry.

The other major carrier at O'Hare International Airport, American
Airlines, begs to differ.

American spokesman Tim Smith said that while the airline has the right
to require a second ticket, it will do so only if it can find no other
solution, such as re-seating the passenger next to an empty seat at no
extra charge.

"I don't remember us ever having to impose such a charge," said
American spokesperson Mary Frances Fagan.

Southwest Airlines also is known to be aggressive about imposing the
double charge.

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