If obese passenger requires two seats on an aircraft who should bear the cost?

If an obese passenger requires two seats on an aircraft, who should bear the cost?

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I remember a few years ago Southwest Airlines started charging people that bought their tickets in person for two seats if they looked obese. It was legally challeneged, but the airline won.
 
Neither. The airline should be accessable for all passangers. It's only 1 seat.
 
Chieftess said:
Neither. The airline should be accessable for all passangers. It's only 1 seat.
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Do you want the state to pay, then? Someone is gonna.

Unless we legislate that airline seats has to be big enough for arbitrarily fat people. That's gonna eat into operating profits bit time ...
 
The Last Conformist said:
Do you want the state to pay, then? Someone is gonna.

Unless we legislate that airline seats has to be big enough for arbitrarily fat people. That's gonna eat into operating profits bit time ...
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No, airlines will make sure that there seats are big enough (even for very fat people) and change their prices accordingly. The result : All passengers will approximately pay a doubled price for their seats then.
 
There is always the cargo hold. :p

I agree that the obese person should have to pay for their seats.

But, by this logic, we should also all agree that we should NOT have to pay medical expenses of those that do not take care of themselves, too. Or higher insurance premiums for bad drivers. Or government-backed insurance plans for those that build expensive houses in high risk areas (like on cliffs overlooking the oceans). This list could go on for awhile.

I'm all for making those folks accountable for their freewill choices, but it does not always work in practice.

edit: spelling
 
What if I'm small, and my whole family decided we can all fit in one seat. Should we pay only one seats worth?
 
stratego said:
What if I'm small, and my whole family decided we can all fit in one seat. Should we pay only one seats worth?
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No. According to airline safety rules you all need a seatbelt, flotation device, etc, for each of you. You still have to obey the safety rules.
 
What if I bring my own floatation device, and seatbelt extention.
 
IglooDude said:
The passenger should pay for however many seats they require. I'm waiting for an imaginative attorney to invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act on this one, though.
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You dont even need the disabilities act ( or discrimination law in canada), why ?

Just read/listen to publicity , it is always stated that it cost xxx$ PER PERSON, so the contract is very clear, it is cost per person, not by weight, like freight, neither by occupying surface area.

And you will never saw a new marketing trip publicity, saying 25 $ per pounds to travel to europe, :lol: .
 
stratego said:
What if I bring my own floatation device, and seatbelt extention.
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There's only one oxygen mask per seat. Your family may be extraordinarily small, but one oxygen mask will not accomodate you all. :p
 
We'll bring our own oxygen tanks.
 
AVN said:
No, airlines will make sure that there seats are big enough (even for very fat people) and change their prices accordingly. The result : All passengers will approximately pay a doubled price for their seats then.
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Which will cause fewer people to fly, which will eat big holes in the airlines operating profits. QED.
 
stratego said:
We'll bring our own oxygen tanks.
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....which will require an extra seat to accomodate. :lol: Thanks for playing.
 
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