I have discussed before the issue of airlines policy on morbidly obese people.
Here is an interesting ‘review’ of the current situation by Dietblog.
Some of my thoughts:
- I am talking about seriously overweight people here – not your average 115kg person who has enjoyed too many big dinners.
- To me a seat as something you rent off the airline for the set trip. Much like shipping cargo, it makes sense to have to pay when requiring additional area and weight. If you need more than one seat it only seems fair to the people that would have otherwise been squashed up next you that you pay for additional area.
- It is not an issue about discrimination, or the cause of being severely overweight. The PC response will be that charging more for overweight people on an airplane is outrageous. But what about someone with long hair paying for a haircut, someone with lots of hair getting a full body wax, and someone putting their dog in a kennel for a few nights while they are on holiday? In these instances we accept the additional financial costs when the service provided has to cater for specific (additional) physical characteristics. Why should it be any different with people and airplane tickets?
Some issues I have with the idea:
- What about pregnant women?
- What if the severely obese person is traveling with a 60kg person with no bags who is happy to sit next to them?
- Where would you set the specific cut off in area/weight?
- What if it results in obese people self-inducing vomiting, and starving themselves before flights simply to avoid additional costs?
December 26, 2008 at 3:06 pm |
Always was kind of offended by the charge twice thing. But I get what you’re saying. I lost 130 lbs. When I first sat down in a plane after all the weight loss, I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW BIG THE SEATS WERE.
I never went on a plane during the weight loss process so I was shocked. Much more comfortable. I always felt bad too, for the people sitting next to me. I mean my sides and arms rubbing all against them. Now that’s no fun. Leaning forward the whole trip just so I don’t rub on them.
Anyway, those times are over forever. Thanks for the interesting post.
http://run4change.wordpress.com Before and after pics here
August 31, 2009 at 6:28 pm |
It’s about being fair. Why should a 50kg women have to pay for 5kg extra baggage when they are sitting next to a 140kg person?
December 31, 2008 at 5:59 am |
You article is quite interesting. I wanted to let you know that a professor at the university of chicago wrote a blog on a similar subject that might be helpful for the points you make.
blog.sebastiengay.com
He actually talks about anyone that takes too much space. That’s so annoying!
December 31, 2008 at 5:36 pm |
thank you david yang for the website of sebastian gay. His article was very informative and made me look at the subjecdt differently. I think people should pay for the fact that they take more space on an airplane than others. I hope airlines will read the blog and implement the policy he recommends.
August 31, 2009 at 6:26 pm |
Who is Seb Gay and David Yang?