Charge overweight passengers for an extra seat? Yes or no?

[Locutus]

[Locutus]

Yes. Definitely.

I was actually in an row on a US Airways flight from DCA to FLL one time with a guy just like that on my row.  It's simply a safety issue.  That guy in the picture above had no business with his arse hanging out into the aisle like that.  If there were a need to evacuate the plane quickly, he would have definitely been an impediment. 

[followsthewolf]

And what if the person is simply large, as opposed to obese?

Do we sell tickets according to poundage, or height, or width?

Do we have arbitrary standards of size?

What about children? I've been on planes that have so many young children on them that evacuation would have been extremely hazardous.

How about handicapped (either physical or mental) persons?

What about those in poor health?

How about mothers with very young babies?

And young children who are traveling alone?

I'm sure I missed a few.

Wondering how we handle these "problem" people.

You know, the ones like Stephen Hawking.

[Locutus]

And what if the person is simply large, as opposed to obese?

Generally, the airlines apply the "armrest test" to make that determination.  If the person can fit in a seat, and lower the arm rests completely, they're not required to buy another seat.

Do we sell tickets according to poundage, or height, or width?

Believe it or not, there have been some discussions in certain circles of doing just that. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/06/03/2008-06-03_will_airlines_start_charging_passengers_.html

And what would be wrong with it?   Airlines are already bumping up ticket prices to accommodate the extra fuel being burned by our increasingly large sized population.

Do we have arbitrary standards of size?

See my answer above regarding the "arm rest" test.

What about children? I've been on planes that have so many young children on them that evacuation would have been extremely hazardous.

I'm not really in the camp that children would pose a safety risk in the event of an evacuation.  Although they can be extremely annoying, I don't them as being a safety risk.  If you really want to have an interesting discussion, I'll share my viewpoint on the minimum age one should be before being allowed on an aircraft. 

How about handicapped (either physical or mental) persons?

What about those in poor health?

I view that in the same manner as I view the above.  First and foremost, safety must be considered.  If the person is able to move about and evacuate the plane, they get on.  Although the airlines don't currently view that as a safety factor.  I see plenty of people being pushed down the jetway in a wheelchair.

How about mothers with very young babies?

And young children who are traveling alone?

Again, in these two instances, I don't see where safety is in play.  These groups could evacuate quickly as long as mom did just that.  That being, evacuate and not try and grab all of the accompanying gear that goes along with the child.

I'm sure I missed a few.

Wondering how we handle these "problem" people.

You know, the ones like Stephen Hawking.

I think in each of these instances, the safety of the passengers should be the first and foremost consideration.   If you can get yourself out of the plane in a timely manner and not impede others, then you get on.  If not, you don't.

[Anne]

My husband is a large man, not as large as the man in the picture, but decidedly larger than most. If he could not fit into a seat (which he can) we would pay for a second seat (if it was next to the first) to accommodate him. I don't have a problem with that and neither does he. Just to charge someone extra because of their weight is not right. Some people who weigh 250 pounds would have no trouble getting into and out of an airline seat, others would. It would really need to be on a case by case basis and that leads to another whole can of worms.

[followsthewolf]

And what about alternative seating arrangements for the handicapped?

[Locutus]

Handicapped in what manner?

I've never seen an aircraft that has special seating for handicapped people.  Like I said though, I have seen plenty of people wheeled down jetways in wheelchairs. 

[Locutus]

Here is the policy of Spirit Airlines which addresses some of the issues that FTW has raised.



http://www.spiritair.com/Policiesspecialneeds.aspx

[followsthewolf]

Handicapped in what manner?

I've never seen an aircraft that has special seating for handicapped people.  Like I said though, I have seen plenty of people wheeled down jetways in wheelchairs.

Maybe they should.