Airline regrets kicking off an obese man AFTER learning he''s famous

[meresal]

Solution:

We take out all of the armrests and begin selling "bench space" by the INCH!

When you are purchasing you type in your wide'ness and only rows that still have that available space will show as available.

 

[Lauren8211]

The airlines are struggling. They can''t even give me a free 35 cent can of coke, but they''ll give 10% discounts on seats?

Maybe free beverages to those who fit in into one seat?

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:13:38 PM
Author: meresal
Solution:

We take out all of the armrests and begin selling ''bench space'' by the INCH!

Does that mean all of our booties have to touch??

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

It can be argued that a child (infant/toddler) as a minor does not have the same rights as an adult. For example, it cannot travel without the parent and is basically "attached" to them. It''s also for safety, a child needs to be with the parent, an adult in the event of an emergency. Therefore the parent pays a premium in purchasing two seats even though the child doesn''t need the whole seat and will most likely spend the trip on the parent''s lap. Personally I think if you''re going to discount the second seat for a large person it should be extended to anyone requiring a second seat for a reason outside their control, be it a small child, medical condition, long legs, big belly, etc.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:14:16 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/16/2010 4:13:38 PM

Author: meresal

Solution:


We take out all of the armrests and begin selling ''bench space'' by the INCH!

Does that mean all of our booties have to touch??

LOL

 

[meresal]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:14:16 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/16/2010 4:13:38 PM
Author: meresal
Solution:

We take out all of the armrests and begin selling ''bench space'' by the INCH!

Does that mean all of our booties have to touch??

If people measure their wide''ness correctly, there won''t be any touching. All flight crew will have tape measure on hand. If you type in a measurement that is not correct, you will be escorted from the plane and will be place on the next one that has your "space" available.

 

[lucyandroger]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:17:16 PM
Author: meresal

Date: 2/16/2010 4:14:16 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/16/2010 4:13:38 PM
Author: meresal
Solution:

We take out all of the armrests and begin selling ''bench space'' by the INCH!

Does that mean all of our booties have to touch??

If people measure their wide''ness correctly, there won''t be any touching. All flight crew will have tape measure on hand. If you type in a measurement that is not correct, you will be escorted from the plane and will be place on the next one that has your ''space'' available.

Or if you prefer, you could buy an extra couple inches to slide in some dividers/arm rests...

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:15:59 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
It can be argued that a child (infant/toddler) as a minor does not have the same rights as an adult. For example, it cannot travel without the parent and is basically ''attached'' to them. It''s also for safety, a child needs to be with the parent, an adult in the event of an emergency. Therefore the parent pays a premium in purchasing two seats even though the child doesn''t need the whole seat and will most likely spend the trip on the parent''s lap. Personally I think if you''re going to discount the second seat for a large person it should be extended to anyone requiring a second seat for a reason outside their control, be it a small child, medical condition, long legs, big belly, etc.

very good point.... although the parent with small child wouldn''t be kicked off for others'' discomfort if they had one seat, or if child is noisy, or happens to reach up and touch another person

In the end the large person is being required to purchase that extra seat based on their personal physical size... and if they don''t fit inside an arm rest they are being kicked off flights, but aren''t being offered much to help them out besides "hey pay full price and buy two seats since you''re too big". I just don''t see that as fair I suppose

Long legs is a whoooooole other ball field. THAT is something they really need to fit. I''m short and I barely have enough leg space on any coach seat

 

[meresal]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:21:03 PM
Author: lucyandroger

Date: 2/16/2010 4:17:16 PM
Author: meresal

Date: 2/16/2010 4:14:16 PM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/16/2010 4:13:38 PM
Author: meresal
Solution:

We take out all of the armrests and begin selling 'bench space' by the INCH!

Does that mean all of our booties have to touch??

If people measure their wide'ness correctly, there won't be any touching. All flight crew will have tape measure on hand. If you type in a measurement that is not correct, you will be escorted from the plane and will be place on the next one that has your 'space' available.

Or if you prefer, you could buy an extra couple inches to slide in some dividers/arm rests...

If you want to buy the whole row, then by all means! The airline is still getting paid by the inch, so they aren't losing any money!

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:17:16 PM
Author: meresal

Date: 2/16/2010 4:14:16 PM

Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/16/2010 4:13:38 PM

Author: meresal

Solution:


We take out all of the armrests and begin selling ''bench space'' by the INCH!

Does that mean all of our booties have to touch??

If people measure their wide''ness correctly, there won''t be any touching. All flight crew will have tape measure on hand. If you type in a measurement that is not correct, you will be escorted from the plane and will be place on the next one that has your ''space'' available.

What happens in turbulence ?

 

[monarch64]

Got it: the parent of the child and the obese person can SPLIT the cost of the extra seat. Neither of them requires the ENTIRE extra seat, so they can go halvsies.

Fabulous!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:21:53 PM
Author: dragonfly411

Date: 2/16/2010 4:15:59 PM

Author: Hudson_Hawk

It can be argued that a child (infant/toddler) as a minor does not have the same rights as an adult. For example, it cannot travel without the parent and is basically ''attached'' to them. It''s also for safety, a child needs to be with the parent, an adult in the event of an emergency. Therefore the parent pays a premium in purchasing two seats even though the child doesn''t need the whole seat and will most likely spend the trip on the parent''s lap. Personally I think if you''re going to discount the second seat for a large person it should be extended to anyone requiring a second seat for a reason outside their control, be it a small child, medical condition, long legs, big belly, etc.

very good point.... although the parent with small child wouldn''t be kicked off for others'' discomfort if they had one seat, or if child is noisy, or happens to reach up and touch another person

In the end the large person is being required to purchase that extra seat based on their personal physical size... and if they don''t fit inside an arm rest they are being kicked off flights, but aren''t being offered much to help them out besides ''hey pay full price and buy two seats since you''re too big''. I just don''t see that as fair I suppose

Long legs is a whoooooole other ball field. THAT is something they really need to fit. I''m short and I barely have enough leg space on any coach seat

Really? That''s actually not true. Here is an account where a family was kicked off because the mother refused to medicate her chatty son. He wasn''t even crying, just talking a lot http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19735896/ here''s another http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFamily/story?id=2815486&page=1

There are countless other cases, just google it.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 2/16/2010 4:25:24 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

Date: 2/16/2010 4:21:53 PM

Author: dragonfly411

Date: 2/16/2010 4:15:59 PM


Author: Hudson_Hawk


It can be argued that a child (infant/toddler) as a minor does not have the same rights as an adult. For example, it cannot travel without the parent and is basically ''attached'' to them. It''s also for safety, a child needs to be with the parent, an adult in the event of an emergency. Therefore the parent pays a premium in purchasing two seats even though the child doesn''t need the whole seat and will most likely spend the trip on the parent''s lap. Personally I think if you''re going to discount the second seat for a large person it should be extended to anyone requiring a second seat for a reason outside their control, be it a small child, medical condition, long legs, big belly, etc.

very good point.... although the parent with small child wouldn''t be kicked off for others'' discomfort if they had one seat, or if child is noisy, or happens to reach up and touch another person

In the end the large person is being required to purchase that extra seat based on their personal physical size... and if they don''t fit inside an arm rest they are being kicked off flights, but aren''t being offered much to help them out besides ''hey pay full price and buy two seats since you''re too big''. I just don''t see that as fair I suppose

Long legs is a whoooooole other ball field. THAT is something they really need to fit. I''m short and I barely have enough leg space on any coach seat

Really? That''s actually not true. Here is an account where a family was kicked off because the mother refused to medicate her chatty son. He wasn''t even crying, just talking a lot http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19735896/ here''s another http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmericanFamily/story?id=2815486&page=1


There are countless other cases, just google it.

I had never heard of that happening

That''s crappy

 

[AGBF]

I think everyone is losing sight of the larger issue-or what should be the larger issue for all of us who are not major stockholders in airlines-how to improve conditions for consumers. In graduate school I heard the slogan, "solo is dodo". If you want to see socal action, you need to organize and get a group together. Apparently an organization advocatinig for fat people is boycotting one airline. I think they should try to get together with other consumers and boycott all airlines that do not provide enough space for normal humans. Then I think they should reward the airlines that do. Even a short boycott-let''s say one daily for two hours of each day-would have ahuge impact on airlines. It could be well organized. But is would have to be done by a lot of groups acting in concert. Not by everyone, but by many people. I think we need a consumer revolt. Airlines will respond to pressure against their bottom lines...and only to that! People are getting blood clots from being confined in airline seats. Airlines don''t care. All they respond to is force. They are pigs.

AGBF

 

[Ella]

Please keep it civil and in the positive spirit of Pricescope.

 

[dragonfly411]

Date: 2/16/2010 5:27:27 PM
Author: AGBF



I think everyone is losing sight of the larger issue-or what should be the larger issue for all of us who are not major stockholders in airlines-how to improve conditions for consumers. In graduate school I heard the slogan, ''solo is dodo''. If you want to see socal action, you need to organize and get a group together. Apparently an organization advocatinig for fat people is boycotting one airline. I think they should try to get together with other consumers and boycott all airlines that do not provide enough space for normal humans. Then I think they should reward the airlines that do. Even a short boycott-let''s say one daily for two hours of each day-would have ahuge impact on airlines. It could be well organized. But is would have to be done by a lot of groups acting in concert. Not by everyone, but by many people. I think we need a consumer revolt. Airlines will respond to pressure against their bottom lines...and only to that! People are getting blood clots from being confined in airline seats. Airlines don''t care. All they respond to is force. They are pigs.


AGBF

I just wonder if it would be possible to organize that kind of mass revolt.

I''d almost like to see it done by more than just the oversized folks... just to help the issue gain some recognition. It''s not just them having the issue... like stated above... leg room... those with medical disabilities that might require extra room or a certain spot in a plane....

 

[AGBF]

Date: 2/16/2010 5:32:24 PM
Author: dragonfly411

I just wonder if it would be possible to organize that kind of mass revolt.

Indeed it is. Whether or not such a revolt is organized, one is most certainly possible!

I'd almost like to see it done by more than just the oversized folks... just to help the issue gain some recognition. It's not just them having the issue... like stated above... leg room... those with medical disabilities that might require extra room or a certain spot in a plane....

That was my point, dragonfly. The problem is really not fat people. The problem is greedy airlines that want to squeeze consumers for as much money as they possibly can. A lone consumer is powerless. A mass of consumers acting in concert is powerful.

AGBF

 

[dragonfly411]

Interesting idea....

organization of the revolts would be required though for the sake of making collective impact vs. sporadic. People choose not to fly every day b/c of prices, or timing or whatever else... so it would require collective large groups... which means that efforts like the original would need some serious mass advertising of some sort... blah....my mind is tired.

 

[decodelighted]

AHA!!! I *knew* it!!!!

An airline worker finally breaks the wall of silence

I work for an airline and have since the 1980's. I'm also a big guy. Not obese but tall and wide. I'd probably get fired for saying this, but my own airlines is very uncomfortable for anyone over 5 5 and 160 pounds. And if you try to use a laptop and someone has reclined in front of you, forget it. And if someone has a kid in their lap, it is insane. Don't frame this like it's just a fat issue. I'm not fat and I'd love to see more space mandated. I want to work on a plane, and can't. I practically have to fold myself in.

I've worked for the airlines business and traveled a lot and let me tell you, seats and space has gotten smaller in the last twenty years. It's not all about people getting fat. Almost no one who is a journalist has mentioned this, yet considering if they've traveled and over 35, they have to know.


LOVE THIS POINT ALSO:

"Customers of Size" policies are actually an enormous PR victory for airlines, making customers believe that their lack of personal space is due to the fatness of their seatmates and not to the actions of companies that consistently provide one of the worst services in existence (would we tolerate anywhere else the indignity and discomfort we pay through the nose for in the air?). This works because America's fat-phobia is so entrenched that even when airlines shrink seats, overbook flights, and generally dicks us around in every way, plenty of people will still say "perhaps one should be penalized for being overweight" and not "perhaps companies should be penalized for a shitty product."

ETA: Source

 

[dragonfly411]

 

[Lauren8211]

I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco''s article)

Some people don''t mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let''s incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:
Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:15:53 AM
Author: elledizzy5
I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco's article)
Some people don't mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let's incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:
Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

Also to get "niceness" discounts ... people who agree to sit next to:

* folks with babies
* children
* smelly people
* the disabled
* people wearing outfits that might get them double searched by security
* people who "don't look like you"
* chatty cathys
* molesters
* people who have a heart attack or seizure en route
* gum smackers
* smokers who reek
* people who talk to themselves

 

[dragonfly411]

elle - here''s the problem I see with this... they have no way of pre ordaining when a customer of size will buy a ticket, and if they decided to set aside certain seats, what happens if no customer of size purchases any of those seats?

 

[meresal]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:25:47 AM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 2/17/2010 11:15:53 AM
Author: elledizzy5

I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco''s article)
Some people don''t mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let''s incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:

Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

Also to get ''niceness'' discounts ... people who agree to sit next to:

* folks with babies
* children
* smelly people
* the disabled
* people wearing outfits that might get them double searched by security
* people who ''don''t look like you''
* chatty cathys
* molesters
* people who have a heart attack or seizure en route
* gum smackers
* smokers who reek
* people who talk to themselves

Deco, would you sign up to have the determining vote when any of these factors arise?

Or do we just start handing out survey''s at the end of each flight and you answer one for each neighbor. Then the airline starts a personnel file for each passenger?

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:25:56 AM
Author: dragonfly411
elle - here''s the problem I see with this... they have no way of pre ordaining when a customer of size will buy a ticket, and if they decided to set aside certain seats, what happens if no customer of size purchases any of those seats?

Obviously there''s no flawless way of handling this, but if you are willing to sit next to someone who is encroaching on your physical space, you get the discount. You may or may not HAVE to have that seating situation.

When it comes down to it, if someone needs a second seat to fit safely, and there is no room, SOMEONE would have to be removed regardless. This seems like it could help to eliminate that problem, and the awkward discussion that goes with it.

And yes Deco, it would be nice if everyone smelled nice and stayed quiet throughout flights. I guess my view is I''m paying for that PHYSICAL space, and should be entitled to it 100%. I realize that other things could make people uncomfortable. I care most about my physical space. I never considered myself to be buying quiet or nice smells, but I suppose others may view that as a priority.

 

[princesss]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:25:47 AM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 2/17/2010 11:15:53 AM
Author: elledizzy5


I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco's article)
Some people don't mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let's incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:


Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

Also to get 'niceness' discounts ... people who agree to sit next to:

* folks with babies
* children
* smelly people
* the disabled
* people wearing outfits that might get them double searched by security
* people who 'don't look like you'
* chatty cathys
* molesters
* people who have a heart attack or seizure en route
* gum smackers
* smokers who reek
* people who talk to themselves

I've had to sit next to all of these people! That's it. I'm petitioning for my retroactive discount RIGHT NOW.

Also, can I get a discount for sitting next to anybody that leaks bodily fluid (whether slowly or in a violent explosion)? I've had that lovely experience, too.

(Elle: I totally agree about purchasing physical space - no matter how small or cramped that space may be. But seriously, if the airlines ever decide discounts are the way to go, I'm totally making a list of all the awful stuff I've had to experience and seeing what I can get for it.)

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:36:20 AM
Author: princesss

Date: 2/17/2010 11:25:47 AM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 2/17/2010 11:15:53 AM
Author: elledizzy5


I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco''s article)
Some people don''t mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let''s incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:


Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

Also to get ''niceness'' discounts ... people who agree to sit next to:

* folks with babies
* children
* smelly people
* the disabled
* people wearing outfits that might get them double searched by security
* people who ''don''t look like you''
* chatty cathys
* molesters
* people who have a heart attack or seizure en route
* gum smackers
* smokers who reek
* people who talk to themselves

I''ve had to sit next to all of these people! That''s it. I''m petitioning for my retroactive discount RIGHT NOW.

Also, can I get a discount for sitting next to anybody that leaks bodily fluid (whether slowly or in a violent explosion)? I''ve had that lovely experience, too.

...dare I ask?

 

[princesss]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:38:24 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/17/2010 11:36:20 AM
Author: princesss

Date: 2/17/2010 11:25:47 AM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 2/17/2010 11:15:53 AM
Author: elledizzy5



I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco''s article)
Some people don''t mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let''s incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:



Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

Also to get ''niceness'' discounts ... people who agree to sit next to:

* folks with babies
* children
* smelly people
* the disabled
* people wearing outfits that might get them double searched by security
* people who ''don''t look like you''
* chatty cathys
* molesters
* people who have a heart attack or seizure en route
* gum smackers
* smokers who reek
* people who talk to themselves

I''ve had to sit next to all of these people! That''s it. I''m petitioning for my retroactive discount RIGHT NOW.

Also, can I get a discount for sitting next to anybody that leaks bodily fluid (whether slowly or in a violent explosion)? I''ve had that lovely experience, too.

...dare I ask?

Do you want the blood story, the urine story, or the vomit story (btw - the last two are the same story)?

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 2/17/2010 11:40:17 AM
Author: princesss

Date: 2/17/2010 11:38:24 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 2/17/2010 11:36:20 AM
Author: princesss

Date: 2/17/2010 11:25:47 AM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 2/17/2010 11:15:53 AM
Author: elledizzy5




I like this solution (pulled from the comments section Deco''s article)
Some people don''t mind sitting next to large people. Some people do.
So, let''s incentivitize being nice and implement the following pricing structure:




Customer of size ticket: $230
Regular ticket: $200
Next-to-Customer-of Size ticket: $185.

Also to get ''niceness'' discounts ... people who agree to sit next to:

* folks with babies
* children
* smelly people
* the disabled
* people wearing outfits that might get them double searched by security
* people who ''don''t look like you''
* chatty cathys
* molesters
* people who have a heart attack or seizure en route
* gum smackers
* smokers who reek
* people who talk to themselves

I''ve had to sit next to all of these people! That''s it. I''m petitioning for my retroactive discount RIGHT NOW.

Also, can I get a discount for sitting next to anybody that leaks bodily fluid (whether slowly or in a violent explosion)? I''ve had that lovely experience, too.

...dare I ask?

Do you want the blood story, the urine story, or the vomit story (btw - the last two are the same story)?

Ohhh I''d love to hear them all!

New thread? Maybe with a poll of some sort?

 

[princesss]

Poll: How much should passengers be discounted for sitting next to a potential biohazard?