United Airlines to Charge Overweight Passengers for Two Seats

[Strangler Lewis]

I don't think this about passenger comfort at all. The airlines have been jettisoning all sorts of things trying to shed weight and save on jet fuel. The reality is that one obese person forced to buy two seats will generally mean less overall weight in those seats than two average overweight Americans.

If it was about passenger comfort, there would be all sorts of different fares, classes and cabins:

"Won't shut the f*ck up" class.
"Won't turn off cell phone until threatened with arrest" class.
"Insists on looking important by calling someone to say they've landed as soon as the wheels touch the ground" class.
"Last to board with a carryon that requires reshuffling of all overhead bins" class.
"Stows bunched up sweater in overhead bin on crowded flight" class.
"Blares music through headphones that I can hear three rows up" class.
"Falls asleep against window during drink orders" class. (Tap. Tap. "Excuse me, did you . . .?)

And so on. These people should all be charged extra. Or just given a good horsewhipping on the spot. Which I would pay extra to administer.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

These people should all be charged extra. Or just given a good horsewhipping on the spot. Which I would pay extra to administer.

That's worth at least a hundred bucks on a flight from LAX to SFO. Where do I sign up?

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I guess "broad shoulders" could be a problem, though I think they'd have to be abnormally large for it to really intrude upon the neighboring seat. Like, Mr. Universe or something.

Yeah, I've been concerned about being charged for two seats for that very reason, CP.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Shoulders, not ego.

[scaeagles]

If that were the case many here would have to buy out the entire plane.

[Alex]

Sadly, this is why I likely will not be able to fly again until the A380 is in wide use.

[JWBear]

He said "wide use". hehehehe......

[dlrp_bopazot]

i'm a big guy i'm correct by fitting on a Plane seat but they will charge me because im tall ? lol we ll see we live in crazy world .

[sleepyjeff]

If another two or three airlines do this that will make the remaining few that don't loaded with a lot of extra weight(in that heavy people will shy away from the airlines with the restrictions and shift their weight(yeah, it was intended) over to another airline).........will we see a plane fail to get off the runway sometime in the near future

[Andrew]

I was on a plane twice over the last few days (round-trip SJC-LAX for MouseAdventure) so I have fresh perspective. I'm of average male height but have very broad shoulders and long legs, neither of which are accounted for in airline seat design. If I can't get the exit row (more difficult now that SWA has joined other airlines in upselling them) the flight is usually completely miserable.

On the return flight we had a large woman take the window seat (I had the aisle, Jennifer had the middle) and she spilled over quite a bit. There was no mention from airline staff of having her pay for an extra seat or anything like that. These policies don't have any effect if they're not enforced. Were we supposed to complain?