Obese have right to 2 airline seats: Canada court

Actually, compared to most Asians, you're fat. You're fat compared to 80% of the world's population. If you eat more than a bowl of rice a day, you're terribly overfed compared to everyone else.

So if you're in a first world country, eating first world food, you're fat.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS

---

I agree that People doesn't come in the same one size fix all, I agree also that seats should come in different sizes for people with larger size.

That is only fair.

But to expect two seats for the price of one is a littler bit to much.

And here in America with all the loses the Air lines are experiencing is not going to happen.

reply to post by VelmaLu

---

Ok,compared to poverty Im fat. But 6'2'' 200lbs with 7% body fat is not fat sir. Not in the real world view.

This will have no bearing at all outside of Canada. International flights are goverened by the Treaty of Warsaw, and no one country can impose their own rules on international flights.

Keep in mind, this is the same court that decided that the treaties that ended the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812, have no legal meaning. By their reasoning, a state of war still exists between the US and Canada.

They reached that decision in a decision denying their indians any rights that were granted by those treaties (the US honors those treaties in full by the way).

And before you think Canada is so enlightened, keep in mind that in Canada a person can be fined, and/or jailed, for saying something that offends another person. There is no such thing as "free speech" in Canada.

This is also the country that has legally discriminated against women, Indians, and other minorities, and still does.

Just in case anyone wonders, I am a dual citizen of the USA and of Canada (from birth)

reply to post by OldMedic

---

One less reason to move to Canada. So far, less freedom of speech, this airline fiasco, and bad weather.

Not compared to "poverty", compared to the majority of the rest of the world -- you are a fat, overfed American. You do realize this don't you? You're just not as fat as other Americans. . . yet. Your comments seem to make me think you don't feel like people living in second or third world counties matter.

Should someone who weighs less than you do pay less? Like a 5' tall woman? How about children? Should they pay full fare? Or is it that you secretly want to punish fat people because you hate them so much?

reply to post by VelmaLu

---

Lol, I dont hate fat people. Sheesh, talk about spin. It's simple. I think if you take up more than one seat on a plane, you need to pay for that. I take up one seat like the tiny 5' 100lb person. Again, I am not fat as measured by my body fat % , im at 7%. Overweight is considered 25%.

So, Im gonna defend when I am right. It is not showing off. Plain and simple, at 7% body fat, I am not fat.


I hate fat people?... cmon. Gimme a break.

Wow, you're really proud of that 7%, as if it is something akin to a virtue. Does that make you a better person than someone who has a higher percentage?

What if the airlines decide to make all seats fit a 5' tall woman, everyone else must buy two seats? Would you agree to that?

Its only a matter of time before , passengers , as well as carry on luggage are weighted at check in . The airline industry is as cut throat as it gets and weight on board a craft trying to better gravity will always be a priority. !!

Unlike a ship , space is at a premium , what do you suggest should give first .......the girth of a passenger or the girth of the aircraft ?

Hey dude, I think you are confusing muscularity, good health and a high standard of hygiene with being fat. Even in India, where intestinal disorders are a cultural artefact, an increasing middle class has resulted in increasing average heights. The same goes for China and Japan. Have you seen the Chinese national basketball team?

Incidentally, children are a necessity and future tax payers, size 56 trousers is a gross waste of airline fuel.

So should people in motorized wheelchairs be charged more due to the weight of them? What about fat people in wheelchairs?

I have a huge beef with this. With the very small percentage of obese people with a legitimate excuse for being so obese, ie. thyroid problem, they should get a note from the doctor saying so and they should get two seats for the price of one. EVERYONE else should have to PAY for the second. I am tall and barely fit on an airplane so I do my best to get an emergency exit aisle. Should I have the right to two seats for a genetic issue because I am tall and do not fit in a regular seat? But obese people can get two for a self-imposed problem that they CAN control? Real fair.

I think that they should have a narrow gate that is as wide as the seats before you get into the terminal. If you can fit, great, one seat for you. If you cant, sorry, you have to buy two seats. It is incredibly unfair for a normal sized person to have to give up a single inch of his/her space to someone that can't manage their own weight so must impose on others.

I also think that there should be XL seating. These would be wider, and more leg room but still in coach. Of course you would pay a little more for them.

Only if its a plane full of motorised wheelchairs .




Only if they are in fat wheelchairs.

Come `on ..... please.

I smoke therefore I might die from cancer or heart disease.

I'm 20lbs overweight because I eat more than I exercise.

If I can't fit into a seat I obviously eat FAR more than I exercise.

I am sick and tired of people not taking responsibility for their actions, and wanting others to pay the price for something that they did to themselves.

Ticket prices will probably go up because these people could not stay out of their refrigerators while normal sized people have to pay more because of them.

I don't care what health "problem" or excuse they have..... if you weigh 400lbs maybe it's time to look at a diet and be healthier.

Actually, I'm trying to determine where you draw the line. Is it the excess weight, size or just fat people in general? Or is it based on body fat percentage?

Should a very short 5' tall obese woman who fits in the seat be charged the same as a very tall body builder who weighs 250 lbs but doesn't? If his chest and back are so big and muscular that they extend over the sides of the seat, should they be charged for two seats?

I'm asking you to be specific. Obviously, if you believe your solution is fair, you should have no issue applying it to real world examples.

Some of the posts in this thread are quite disturbing - people can be very cruel. I had an aunt that died from wieght-related complications and just because she was very big doesn't mean she wasn't a superb human being that deserved just the tiniest bit of compassion and not be looked at like a freak.

I only have a couple of things to add to this discussion - the first being that these airlines are subsidized by the government and will never be allowed to go out of business, so I'm not worried about this killing them.

Number two is that this ruling applies to disabled persons in wheelchairs - which is how this whole thing got started. Two wheelchair-bound people brought the complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency that resulted in this ruling, not 'fat people'.

I'll not get bogged down in defending my country, but let's just say we are a heck of a lot less litigious than our neighbours to the south.

[edit on 21-11-2008 by Duzey]

reply to post by VelmaLu

---

Actually like others has said, people do not come in one size fit all, It will be just fair that if a person can not fit in regular seat in an air line plane it should be required either for the airlines to make adjustments to their seats or charging money for extra space.

But like the article said they want to give two seats for the price of one.

That is kind of to much to ask and obviously lost of profits for the airlines.

To me is not an issue about been fat but more of accommodation for the different sizes of people.



[edit on 21-11-2008 by marg6043]

reply to post by VelmaLu

---

Ill reply to that Velma,

If you are going to infringe on the space of another, you should have to pay more. This would apply if you are a 320lb body builder or a 5ft morbidly obese woman.

All this could be avoided if there were different size seats in airlines available in coach for a little extra $$.

Should this guy pay for two seats? His size is self-imposed.

reply to post by VelmaLu

---

Yes definitely, he should if he is gong to invade the space of another passenger do to his massive body, this no about fat or muscular is just about how comfortable you should be at the expenses of others.