Obese have right to 2 airline seats: Canada court

Yeah, and we should stop providing space for people in wheelchairs! They can haul their ass into a regular seat like everyone else and their chair can be put in with the luggage.

No special considerations for ANYONE!

I dont believe obesity is an affliction, but there should be more space on planes especially for disabled and tall people after all these things cannot be altered. Not fitting into a seat because you consume far more calories than you need too should act as an incentive to lose weight. I honestly think life should be made more challenging for these people as its only by changing the mindset and tell them look its not okay for a normal sized human to weigh 30 stone will they change there habits. We shouldnt let obesity be seen as a normal thing or a life choice.

Im on about Obesity by the way not someone who is overweight but someone who is ridiculously overweight.

I'm not entirely sure where I stand on the issue.
I've seen many people claim their obesity is a gland issue, but gland issues are treatable in today's medical world... especially in Canada.

Heck, surgeries don't cost anything in Canada.
So I fail to see how people can excuse their obesity as a disability, when it can be fixed.

When I start gaining the pounds, I burn them off. Yeah, it takes effort... yes, most people don't have the willpower to do it... but I fail to see how that should be the airlines problem.


I was at Canada's wonderland this summer. The new roller coaster (Behemoth) has a test seat at the start of the line. It's there to ensure you can fit in the seat on the ride, and that you don't run the risk of slipping out.

I saw about 3 incredibly obese people sit in that seat during my line-up, the red light lit up each time because the lap bar couldn't go all the way down, then one by one each person started getting angry with the ride attendants saying "You saying I'm fat?!"

The problem being that they were so heavy, just the act of moving must be burning over 3000 calories a day... if they were eating anything shy of 10 big mac meals a day, they'd start dropping that weight at an incredible rate.

So have we all just excepted that obesity rates can just climb through the roof , and instead of pouring resources into remedying this social ill , we will redesign our society to accommodate our insatiable excesses.

There is an elephant in the corner that no one is addressing ! (pun intended)

So its bigger plane seats
bigger cinema seats
car seats
more heart disease
diabetes ...
...etc etc
Instead of greater quality and less quantity of food.

Trouble is , in our consumerist society , doing less of anything, is a concept diametrically opposed to consumerism .
The magic weight loss pills are in to pipeline , so instead of cutting our calorie intake , we can take a pill ....and we continue to consume.


spelling

[edit on 23-11-2008 by UmbraSumus]

reply to post by VelmaLu

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Stop using the wheelchair argument. They have courtesy chairs they use to take the person to the seat. The handicapped then sit IN ONE SEAT! Then the wheelchair is taken off the plane. No more discussion about wheelchairs, you don't have a real argument there.

reply to post by johnsky

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You sound like you have a definite stand on this issue. You seem to agree that it's a ridiculous ruling.

.................and really, really skinny people who only take up half a seat can share with another really skinny passenger and will only be charged for half a seat each

Eventually they will want 3 seats. Nobody understands me! (munching noises).

I don't believe that this thread is of any importance. Fat people getting 2 seats? That's pretty straightforward. They're fat, unless you give them 2 seats their flaps will be on you lap.

This is so not "Breaking" "Alternative" "News"

Without VelmaLu fanning the flames, this thread would have died a long time ago. Good job at beating this horse into mush.

Airlines used to be very highly regulated. In those days, people actually used to dress up to go on a plane. Even in coach, you got real china and crystal, good food, wines, etc.

Fares were high, and people rarely flew anywhere. In 1963, as an example, it cost $650 round trip to fly round trip from Germany to Los Angeles (that is equivalent to $6,500 today). They flew "over the pole" and all flights had to stop (usually in Greenland). I know, because I had to fly home on emergency leave in 63, and that was the lowest fare I could get

Then, they deregulated in the USA. Airlines went to significantly smaller seats, and more rows of seats. They cut the fares, and crammed in more and more people. As the competitors cut fares, those with union contracts had to save money somewhere, so they cut more seating space, cut out food services, etc, etc.

The vast majority of American airlines are not making any money today. They are losing money. They are still fighting super high wage union contracts, while competing against non-union airlines.

You all need to do some real research before you sound off on a subject you know nothing about.

reply to post by die_another_day

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The point is they get the second free! If they "need" two seats, they should pay, like the rest of us.

I think I have claustrophobia because I don't like to be crowded. Can I get two seats for the price of one?

reply to post by RogerT

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Thyroid problems, cushings syndrome, tumors on the pituitary gland.
In fact in autopsies, one out of five people have a tumor on the pituitary gland that went un noticed.This also can happen when there are tumors on the adrenal glands. It messes with the metabolic system, first. Many people could have major hormone secretions that they don't know about, most doctors don't know to look for it.
Like the PP said, steroids make you gain weight, and they make you want to it. And it is almost impossible to ignore.

Of course when you live in a place where there is no food available you don't gain weight. They also don't have medical care and checkups and most people are dead and buried before they even have a chance to gain weight.

I fly all the time. I am often amazed at the number of whiners who fly. I see them complain about all sorts of things.

Airlines MUST deal with the laws of physics. It takes a certain amount of fuel to lift a specific weight. Sure, airline seats are not as comfortable as your couch at home, but in order to load a plane with enough passengers to be profitable, limits have to be imposed. If the plane is not sold out, and there is extra space, then airlines tend to be accommodating. If, however, the plane is full, then anyone wishing to utilize more than the normally alloted space, should be required to compensate for that over use. I would love to see air fares based on weight. Begin with a standard fare for a general weight allotment. If you wish to go over that number, then pay more. Simple. We pay for excess baggage, why not pay for extra space?

I am quite tall. Yes, the seats are not super comfortable. Yet, I made the choice to fly and my momma did not raise no whiners. I deal with it. I do not intrude on the serenity of others while I fly. I am not one of those people who overstuff the overhead luggage compartment by bringing on way too much personal baggage. I never talk loudly on a cell phone while the plane taxis to the runway. I do not lean on others when reading or napping on a plane. I keep my elbows to myself. I maintain a healthy lifestyle so that my life is more enjoyable, and as a side benefit , my weight does not become a problem for others.

I could choose to yell while using my cellphone. I could choose to regularly kick the seat in front of me simply for fun. I could spread out my arms and elbow people next to me. I could be self centered and be an ass who cares nothing of how I effect those around me. If I did that however, my life would suffer considerably. If I could not consume a responsible amount of calories, and thus ended up intruding on the serenity of others, I would either choose to compensate the airlines for taking up extra space.... or I would be an ass.

I am flying to Hawaii for business next month. I will not complain about the poor seats and bad food. I will not complain about the ineffective "security theatre" that causes long lines for little safety benefit. I wont even complain about luggage that arrives late. But if someone parks their supersized butt spilling over into my seat, expect me to have a sharp object in my pocket positioned in such a manner that it defends my space from intrusion.

Obesity is a disability so I have no real objection to it.

But what if they start to ask for more seats? -_-'

On Page 13 no less- *screeeech, all typing suddenly stops and everyone moves on to another thread*


I agree that we have to stop enabling the morbid obesity that is taking over America. I don't know how Canada compares. The women in my old office used to constantly call a certain 5"7" 130 lb woman "anorexic." Yeah, she is thin but when I was a kid and even a teenager that would be pretty normal. These women were way too heavy and playing Russian roulette with their lives- mothers who need to be there a while longer to raise their children. They were in total denial of their obesity. I see commercials and read articles about women "embracing their curves" and the women are very overweight, not curvy. The spare tire curves outward but isn't what they mean by curvy. I don't believe in mistreating overweight people, but the denial is getting ridiculous. I can tell when I gain weight by the tightness of my waistband. If my pants magically expanded with my girth I would be the size of a barn. If things keep getting larger to accommodate folks they will never feel like there is a need to do something about it.

They do have seats that cost more with more legroom, I suggest they have seats that are wider for fat people or people who want more side room to curl up. Tall people have to pay for seats they can comfortably fit in!

The worst is when I book a flight late and all they have left is the super roomy seats because I have to pay for them and I hate them. (I'm 5', 100lbs)

Sucks.

What about people who want to have sex in their seats?? I can't help it I love sex should I be made to go to the bathroom to have sex?? They should have sex seats for those of us that are tired of getting yelled at for being in the bathroom for 45 minutes.

mikell

( Not mikeeel Jackson )