Supersize Me!!!!!

[Final 3 Greens]

have you somehow got access to my roster?

Rumbled....

[Ten West]

I probably have actually. Depends on who you fly for of course. Pink or Blue?

[nebpor]

I believe Billy Connolly had the best explanation for the obese - "it's not glandular, it's chipular"

[TightSlot]

Depends on who you fly for of course. Pink or Blue?

Teal, actually

[clareprop]

F3G
"I'm now opening a personal book on whether F3G says again "this is my last word on the subject..."

Don't you mean Rainboe?

Ah...no...

Rainboe,

I'll stop here too,

.....said F3G in post #36
We know what you're trying to say
If we're fat and we sit next to you, you'll happily pay for an extra seat.

[west lakes]

Of course what makes discussions such as this interesting is the missed points

From the newspaper report in Post #1

The agency recommended that the airlines adopt a policy used by the American carrier Southwest Airlines, which stipulates that people who are too big to lower the armrest should be given an extra seat.

Which is a bit different to what is being argued about.

It seems to work like this: -

Passengers of size pay for 2 seats prior to the flight

Customers who are unable to lower both armrests (the definitive boundary between seats) and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed prior to travel. This purchase serves as a notification of a special seating need and allows us to process a refund of the additional seating cost after travel (provided the flight doesn’t oversell). Most importantly, it ensures that all onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating.

At the following costs

What is the cost of the additional seating?
If the Customer is holding an advance purchase, discounted fare, the second seat will be sold at the same discounted fare. If the Customer has purchased one of our low, unrestricted full fares, the second seat will be sold at the Child's Fare.

If flight is oversold the cost stands, if it is not the cost is refunded.

How do I qualify for and request a refund of the additional seat purchase?
As long as the flight does not oversell (having more confirmed Customers waiting to board an aircraft than seats on the aircraft), we will refund the additional seat purchase after travel. A Refund Advice Slip, a guide for conveniently requesting refunds (via telephone or letter), is provided to the Customer of size at checkin. And, if it appears a flight will oversell, the option to purchase a second seat and travel on a less full flight is available.

Can't see what the argument is about if this policy is used.

Quotes from: -
Southwest Airlines Travel Policies - Customer of Size Q&A

[Memetic]

Equality

So would a Canadian judge rule that it would be discrimination for an airline to say no when an average sized person demands to be treated equally well as a "Person of Size" and hence be given two seats for the price of one?

I say bring on all up weight allowances, passengers pay for a standard sized seat and a total mass to be moved (Pax+hold baggage+hand luggage+dutyfree goods) go over the mass or the seat allowance - pay more, go under the mass, be credited in FF miles.

[Final 3 Greens]

So would a Canadian judge rule that it would be discrimination for an airline to say no when an average sized person demands to be treated equally well as a "Person of Size" and hence be given two seats for the price of one?

I interpret the decision as meaning that two seats for a 'person of size' equals one seat for a 'person not of size', so your question is invalid (in the eyes of the decision makers.)

One can argure till the cows come home about the rights and wrongs of this view.

Having taken a lot of stick on this thread from people like Rainboe, who cannot assemble a proper argument, let me state this.

I don't generally believe in rewarding anti social behaviour, so if we categorise obesity through over indulgence as anti social, then I would be against subsisiding extra seats, in the same way that I agree with taxing sales of tobacco and alcohol, due to the subsequent health and other problems created by their use, for which we all pick up the tab.

In the event of obesity being due to a genetic or mental problem, I would then say that, as is the case with children, disabled etc, they should be a special case and they should receive an extra seat.

Travelling society in general can afford the minor incremental cost, in the same way that we can afford to pay Ryanair 72c to provide wheelchairs.

It may be difficult, practicality, to prove definitively who should and should not receive an extra seat, so no doubt if people who cannot get the arm rest down (and you do have to be pretty huge not to) will be allowed an extra seat.)

Pragmatically, if in practice we end up having to pay a little more and one outcome is a de-stressing of the flight experience, then I accept that, although I have always thought Southwest's scheme is well thought through and demonstrates a level of competence that gives an insight into why the company has performed so strongly.

Of course, their solution is specially crafted for the US market, where social values are somewhat different to Canada or Europe and therefore allow different solutions.

Equally, perhaps it is also time that a ruling was made to recognise that tall people should not be crammed in.

In short, as the dimensions of the population increase, seat pitch has been downsized.

I am lucky that I can afford to travel C/J, but reflect that the seat pitch on European services is pretty much the same as it was in economy in 1978.