Sunday, December 28, 2008
Two-for-One Seats for Obese Passengers in Canada
According to a Reuters report, obese passengers may still occupy two airline seats for the price -- on flights within Canada, that is. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday. The Canadian Transportation Agency had previously ruled that people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" are entitled to have two seats for the price of one.Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet appealed, but in declinng to hear the appeal, the ruling sands. This is the second ime Canada's airlines lost on this one. The Federal Court of Appeal heard the case and decided in favor of super-plus-size passngers back in May,
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Talk about discrimination! And I mean against those who stay fit, those who are traveling with a small child and have to have the child on their lap or pay for an extra seat, and so on. Most obese people are "functionally disabled" but that doesn't mean they didn't do it to themselves. A small percentage of people are obese for reasons not their own doing, but not the majority. Aside from the issue of whether or not they are disabled through a medical condition, this ruling singles out a particular group for special consideration not offered to others who might also benefit from having two seats for the price of one. For example, what about the elderly person subject to circulation problems--shouldn't they ALSO have two seats so they can stretch out more or put their feet up so as to avoid blood clots? I'm with the airlines on this one --
ReplyDeleteRosemary, I completely agree with you. Many obese people chose to stuff themselves and avoid exercise. We already pay extra for their burden on the health care system. Who's going to pay for the lost seat space - the remaining healthy, non-obese travelers. My mother, in her 80s , gave up traveling because of health issues (hip surgery, which made it painful to sit in one place too long).
ReplyDeletePeople who want two seats should pay for two seats - like everyone else.
Or take a train.
I think it's unfortunate that whenever this topic comes up, there's talk about the "causes" and a lot of people blame the obese traveler for being fat. Irrelevant. And kind of mean.
ReplyDeleteWith 30% of Americans suffering from obesity, what's critical here is that the average airline seat no longer sits the average Yankee flier.
As much as I want an extra seat because I'm somewhat claustrophobic, if I'm seated next to an extra large human, you're damn straight I want them to have an additional seat. And yeah, it's NOT fair that they can get a 2:1 deal, but it's WAY less fair when they DON'T get it and I have to accommodate the - um - overflow.
Rosemary, Sibylle and Pam - You all make valid points. Airlines have already accommodate XXXXL passengers with seatbelt extenders and, perhaps discreetly, with an aisle seat, preferably with an empty middle seat, when an agent sees a large passenger. Agents often do this for parents with lap childen too.
ReplyDeleteBut in these days of full cabins, there often isn't an empty seat anywhere on the plane, and with US airlines ready to squeeze every last penny out of all but premium fliers, they are not likely to start giving away seats.
Consider that checking a bag up to 50 pounds costs $15 and up for the first bag and $25 and up for the second bag. Yet the 300-pounder pays the same for a seat as the 90-pound waif of the six-year-old. What about a normal-sized passenger who is bumped so that a large one can have two seats (in Canada, where the two-for-one policy is now mandated)? Then again, ticket pricing is per passenger, not per pound. Whatever happens, it isn't fair to someone.
Ugh - A bit too much government intervention for me. My libertarian side comes out on this one. (Is there a Canadian libertarian party?)
ReplyDeleteI think Southwest's policy is fair: If the gate agent feels you won't be "comfortable" in one seat you are obligated to purchase a second. But if the plane is not full you get a refund.
I feel for folks who are heavy, ahve had an injury, and continued to gain weight for whatever reason. But there IS a threshold at which you have to draw a line. Should movie theaters, roller coasters, and stadiums have to do the same thing?
Seems like that could open a pandoras box of seating issues eh?
whats discrimination is having to read rosemary and sibyelles comments about this issue. for what ever reason someone is obese has nothing to do with this issue, my wife and i are average size people and barely fit in an airline seat if we had to sit with a 350 person it wouldnt work. let the person have the extra seat and everyone is happy including your ignorant asses
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in self-censorship, but I do believe in keyboard self-control. I wish that Jason had put a period on his post before he typed those last four words. He made his perfectly valid point eloquently without them.
ReplyDelete