Too fat to fly?

humanji

ScumLord wrote:

How?

Maybe we should bring back communisim then the government could control every aspect of our lifes and we wouldn't need to tax any minority in socity.

Bring back communism?

miamee

Ruu wrote:

The only extension I ever heard about was the one if you have a babeh, perhaps I'm wrong.

Well I'm open to correction also, it's a long time since I've worked in the airline industry !

BuffyBot

Yes, airlines do have seat belt extensions

LundiMardi

Tauren wrote:

In fairness, i do not see how that is entirely relevant to the real issue. It states on their website that obese people should book a second seat and if they don't, they may either have to purchase one on boarding or possibly be denied access tot he plane. Just because this has not happened to the person beofre is no reason to say it should not happen ever.

Obese people would qualify a large percent of the population, including myself... Obesity does not mean your belly is dragging along the floor as your walk!!

If this person has flown with the same airline previously with no problem, why would he buy or even think of buying a second ticket on this occasion?

Tauren wrote:

People speed when driving, and mostly get away with it. I'm sre there are people that speed but have never been causght. If they do get caught do you think "But i have sped before and no one has said anything to me" should be an acceptable defence.

I know in one case it is illegal what the person has been doing and in the other it clearly isn't, but i think the comparison stands.

No, the comparison does not stand, obesity is not a cause for concern to anyone else except the person in question. Speeding can kill anyone... To compare the two is just rediculous.

Sam Vimes

LundiMardi wrote:

No, the comparison does not stand, obesity is not a cause for concern to anyone else except the person in question.

and the person attempting to sit next to him/her which is kind of the point of the thread

LundiMardi

Commander Vimes wrote:

and the person attempting to sit next to him/her which is kind of the point of the thread

i meant death!! Speading kills people, sitting next to an obese person doesn't!!!

I can see where you're coming from, i wouldn't like to be sat next to them either on a long haul flight, but i certainly wouldn't blame the person sitting there!!! It's preposterous to do so!

LundiMardi

LundiMardi wrote:

If this person has flown with the same airline previously with no problem, why would he buy or even think of buying a second ticket on this occasion?

Maybe he got fatter since the last time he flew?

LundiMardi

Deleted User wrote:

Maybe he got fatter since the last time he flew?

maybe he got thinner?

Sam Vimes

LundiMardi wrote:

i meant death!! Speading kills people, sitting next to an obese person doesn't!!!

I can see where you're coming from, i wouldn't like to be sat next to them either on a long haul flight, but i certainly wouldn't blame the person sitting there!!! It's preposterous to do so!

it doesn't kill people but a flight to australia with only half a seat that's small to being with would grate a fair bit.

and if it was in the terms and conditions that the person sitting there should have bought two seats i most certainly would blame him/her

LundiMardi

Commander Vimes wrote:

it doesn't kill people but a flight to australia with only half a seat that's small to being with would grate a fair bit.

and if it was in the terms and conditions that the person sitting there should have bought two seats i most certainly would blame him/her

How much would 2 seats to australia cost? Also having half a seat is a little of an exaggeration.

Maybe you should have to buy two tickets on a bus too?

Sam Vimes

LundiMardi wrote:

How much would 2 seats to australia cost? Also having half a seat is a little of an exaggeration.

Maybe you should have to buy two tickets on a bus too?

the cost isn't really the point. if i intended to take two seats on a plane i'd pay for two seats.

a bus is different because you're paying to be transported, not for a seat

LundiMardi

Commander Vimes wrote:

a bus is different because you're paying to be transported, not for a seat

What's the difference? If you're flying then you're paying to be transported, you just so happen to be allocated seats.

As i already said, it's a bit of an exageration to think you will only get half a seat if sitting next to a obese person on a plane... First of all, you have the arm rests which divide the seats, as long as the person sitting next to you, whatever the weight, is sitting up right and not to one side, then you will have sufficient enough space.

RandolphEsq

ScumLord wrote:

How?

Maybe we should bring back communisim then the government could control every aspect of our lifes and we wouldn't need to tax any minority in socity.

I don't really mean taxing them directly as in 'fat tax' which they pay along with the other taxes. I mean like taxing junk food so people are hesitant when they buy it and think "do I really need it?"

Sam Vimes

LundiMardi wrote:

What's the difference? If you're flying then you're paying to be transported, you just so happen to be allocated seats.

exactly, you have allocated seats. a plane ticket reserves a seat just for you on the airplane. if somebody is in your seat you can tell them to get up. the response would be quite different if you went up to someone on a bus and said they were sitting in your seat. a plane ticket books a seat, a bus ticket does not. that's the difference

LundiMardi wrote:

As i already said, it's a bit of an exageration to think you will only get half a seat if sitting next to a obese person on a plane... First of all, you have the arm rests which divide the seats, as long as the person sitting next to you, whatever the weight, is sitting up right and not to one side, then you will have sufficient enough space.

well that depends on the size of the person. if someone was small enough that sitting up straight put him entirely on his side of the seat i'd have no problem sitting next to him. but what about the situation in the pic? sitting there for a few hours would get fairly annoying don't you think?

Kipperhell

BrightEyes wrote:

Obesity is a disease. Obese people should be taxed and treated for their physical and psychological problems. The man's weight is affecting on other people,its time for him to pay

No it is not a desease! It is a condition , maybe as a result of something else but over eating is the main casue AFAIK. From what I have read the vast majority of people with obesity are physically able to manage the problem by controlling their diets. Now if somebody is doing nothing to manage a health issue that causes them to need special accomadation on a plane then they should pay extra although I think a reduced rate for the second seat makes sense. Don't they charge a reduced fair for children even though they take up a full seat?

There is only one obesity realted problem that I am aware of where the person is truelly unable to control their eating but these people are noticable. They certainly wouldn't be a writer. There are people who are addictied to eating

JC 2K3

If you buy a lot of food(let's be simplistic and ignore nutrition etc.)

Then:
-Clothes cost more.(bigger sizes)
-Seats on planes cost more.(you'll need 2)

Therefore the amount of food you buy and consume is directly proportional to the amount other things in life will cost, it's not discrimination.

Sam Vimes

Kipperhell wrote:

There is only one obesity realted problem that I am aware of where the person is truelly unable to control their eating but these people are noticable. They certainly wouldn't be a writer. There are people who are addictied to eating

i saw something similar on oprah a few years ago. these kids who were missing a gene that told them they were full

biko

Too fat to fly
Hush hush, eye to eye
Too fat to fly
Hush hush, eye to eye
Too fat to fly
Hush hush, eye to eye
Too fat to fly
Hush hush

LundiMardi

LundiMardi wrote:

maybe he got thinner?

If that were the case I doubt he would have had to pay for two.

LundiMardi

way to miss the point.

Fanny Cradock

Simple economics: he uses two, he should pay for two. Spilling onto another seat constitutes the use of that seat.

The guy is fat and he's pissed off that someone brought attention to it. Boo-ho! Instead of channelling all his time, money and effort into fighting this 'injustice' he should do something constructive and lose the weight.

LundiMardi

Fanny Cradock wrote:

Simple economics: he uses two, he should pay for two. Spilling onto another seat constitutes the use of that seat.

The guy is fat and he's pissed off that someone brought attention to it. Boo-ho! Instead of channelling all his time, money and effort into fighting this 'injustice' he should do something constructive and lose the weight.

Maybe, just maybe he's happy with how he looks?

Fanny Cradock

Good for him. However, his farcical reaction would tell me otherwise.

Seats are sold as individual units. If someone is large enough that they require two - they should have to pay for two. It is that simple.

Ignoring the simple economic truth outlined above above, I'll grant that his feelings of humiliation are understandable given the situation. Yet, his pursuit of a court case shows a total lack of regard for the person(s) whose comfort would otherwise be sacrificed for the sake of his wallet.

I would be sure that most people would be mightily pissed off if they were on a long haul flight next to a guy like this. Everybody knows that aeroplane seats are small enough as it is without sacrificing YOUR space. If he bought to seats there would be no problem.

RainyDay

JC 2K3 wrote:

If you buy a lot of food(let's be simplistic and ignore nutrition etc.)

Then:
-Clothes cost more.(bigger sizes)
-Seats on planes cost more.(you'll need 2)

Therefore the amount of food you buy and consume is directly proportional to the amount other things in life will cost, it's not discrimination.

Ever heard of Prader Willi syndrome? Do you still think that it's not discrimination?

Faith

RainyDay wrote:

Ever heard of Prader Willi syndrome? Do you still think that it's not discrimination?

PWS website wrote:

About 1 in 14,000 people in the U.S. are estimated to have PWS

.

Approximately 69 million adults in the US are either obese or severely obese (http://www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/obesity_US.shtml) out of a population of 295,734,134 (www.cia.gov). That's 23.3% of the population. The percentage suffering from PWS is about 0.007%. I don't think that really has much bearing on the topic at hand.

CathyMoran

There are a few medical conditions that can cause people to be overweight - having an underactive thyroid is one, I do not know the prevalance of that but would imagine that it is relatively common. I find this debate hard as I have a lot of sympathy for those who are overweight even though I would be medically classified as underweight/normal weight.

LundiMardi

LundiMardi wrote:

way to miss the point.

Ok obviously Im very slow. Explain it to me.

LundiMardi wrote:

Maybe, just maybe he's happy with how he looks?

And maybe, just maybe, THE AIRLINE CANT PUT UP WITH HIS FAT ASS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE IS HAPPY OR NOT.

Seriously are you a fúcking troll or something? Its very simple, the fat shít cant fit in the seat, he has to buy two to accomodate his size.

Wheres the problem? Its the most logical, practical solution.

Kipperhell

RainyDay wrote:

Ever heard of Prader Willi syndrome? Do you still think that it's not discrimination?

As pointed out very few people have this. If you have certain medical conditions and need special care you pay extra. You can argue that this is unfair but it is paying a way for your needs. It is not discrimination because anybody taking up more space has to pay extra. In fact airlines charge more for more room as a rule which is a big point in first class.
THis is the only illness which is near impossible to control via dieting due to the persons in ability to control themselves. Now there are addictions to food but nobody is suggesting an alcoholic should be drunk on the plain or certain mental illnesses should be accepted on a plain. If you havea condition it restricts your life.
I still think the issue about cheap childrens seats indicates there should be some allowances made for obese people.

RandolphEsq

RainyDay wrote:

Ever heard of Prader Willi syndrome? Do you still think that it's not discrimination?

Was it named after the guy who had all those things? Mr. Willi

NeMiSiS

They shouldn't give him any money, he will just spend it all on pie.
TK

thefinalstage

Maybe he flew first/business class the other times and he flew coach on the mentioned occasion?

Fanny Cradock

If he buys two seats he gets two dinners. Everyone's happy!

Pigman II

Would you like to be stuck sitting beside a seriously obese person
if there was need for an emergency evacuation of a plane?

Hell no!

A body like that is going to up like a roman candle when the plane crashes and whilst you're trying to escape the plan thru a cloud of smoke of & screams of terror the charred corpse beside you is burning out of control, spattering you in the eyes you with its boiling hot fat.

Blut

Ideally in airports theyd have large weighing scales that could accomodate you AND your bags at the same time. That way youd get an overall allocation of weight for the plane, much fairer than the current system. Plus women wouldnt be shamed by it, they could blame the weight shown on their heavy bags and nobody would be the wiser.

RainyDay

Kipperhell wrote:

THis is the only illness which is near impossible to control via dieting due to the persons in ability to control themselves. Now there are addictions to food but nobody is suggesting ano alcoholic should be drunk on the plain or certain mental illnesses should be accepted on a plain.

I assume that you are a medical doctor with many years of experience in treating obesity - right? No amateur could make such a general claim about this being the 'only illness' and expect it to be taken seriously - right?

And in relation to banning people with mental illnesses, are you suggesting that the psychologist who checks for depression, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia etc should be located before or after the weighing scales?

Capt'n Midnight

thelastangryman wrote:

Maybe he flew first/business class the other times and he flew coach on the mentioned occasion?

yeah the seats there must be wider since there are less of them.

It's common policy on US internal airlines that "people of size" have to buy an extra ticket. Also the airplane will have to burn a lot more hydrocarbons to cart around his hydrocarbons so every Kg he looses will save many many Kg of CO2 so maybe larger people should have to pay a greenhouse tax ?

I heard that airplane seats are rated to 5g but on older aircraft floors are only rated to only 2g or 3g. If someone weighs over twice the average or design weight then there is a real danger of the seat coming away from the floor if the pilot has turn the plane sharply to avoid a collision.

JC 2K3

Fanny Cradock wrote:

If he buys two seats he gets two dinners. Everyone's happy!

rofl!

cournioni

Imagine how fat he'll be if he is actually successful...

He would cause other passengers grief with his size, he would cost the plane more money not only because he is taking up two seats but the fact that the amount of extra fuel that they would use with him in tow. Which in turn would cause more pollution. If Air France aren't allowed to say that he's fat, I will do it for them.

cournioni

LundiMardi wrote:

i meant death!! Speading kills people, sitting next to an obese person doesn't!!!

What if the plane crashes and is about to explode, and you're trying to get to the emergancy exit. The fat person is out cold and is in your way. That could kill someone.

BuffyBot

PORNAPSTER wrote:

What if the plane crashes and is about to explode, and you're trying to get to the emergancy exit. The fat person is out cold and is in your way. That could kill someone.

If the plane crashes or explodes, one person, not matter what the size, will be the least of your worries should you manage to survive

RainyDay

PORNAPSTER wrote:

What if the plane crashes and is about to explode, and you're trying to get to the emergancy exit. The fat person is out cold and is in your way. That could kill someone.

It is more likely that a very tall person would block your way than a very fat person. Should we stop tall people from flying in planes?

Fanny Cradock

RainyDay wrote:

It is more likely that a very tall person would block your way than a very fat person. Should we stop tall people from flying in planes?

Yes

Kipperhell

RainyDay wrote:

I assume that you are a medical doctor with many years of experience in treating obesity - right? No amateur could make such a general claim about this being the 'only illness' and expect it to be taken seriously - right?

Very very sorry I forgot to put in AFAIK. Name another that you are aware of then if you are so up on the subject. I personally looked up the subject due to a family memeber and to my knowledge obesity is not an illness but a condition related to another illness. If you know more please tell us. Quite rare for it not to be controlable if a diet is adheard to.

RainyDay wrote:

And in relation to banning people with mental illnesses, are you suggesting that the psychologist who checks for depression, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia etc should be located before or after the weighing scales?

Sorry if you didn't understand what I meant. THe point is if you have certain medical conditions the care of which will limit your life and increase the cost of some things. No mention of all mental illnesses been restricted by me either but you decided to think I said that. As I said you may have a medical condition but it doesn't mean you get to pay the same as all other customers or your behaviour should be accepted just becasue you have an illness. Are you saying a drunk alcoholic should be allowed fly because it is an illness? Personally I don't and I think if you have a problem with your size you need to understand you need to pay more.

Pigman II

Fanny Cradock wrote:

Yes

I'd go one step further. Fat people and tall people should all be murdered at birth.

InFront

Well said Kipperhell. There is too much political correctness surrounding obesity. It is very controllable, and it is a behavioural problem, not a disease. It is not OK.

Feral Mutant

BuffyBot wrote:

If the plane crashes or explodes, one person, not matter what the size, will be the least of your worries should you manage to survive

Not really, if your plane crashe you have a relatively good chance of survivng the impact, the biggest problem is smoke so you need to get out as fast as possible.
Edit: I can't remember where I heard this, pretty sure it was reliable, can't be sure. People would die though but more would survive, hence the word relatively.

NeMiSiS wrote:

They shouldn't give him any money, he will just spend it all on pie.
TK

Incredibly immature but that hasn't stopped making me laugh since I first read it.:D

RainyDay wrote:

It is more likely that a very tall person would block your way than a very fat person. Should we stop tall people from flying in planes?

How is a tall person more likely to block your way? You should be getting around them or infront of them not scaling them.

InFront

Feral Mutant wrote:

Not really, if your plane crashe you have a relatively good chance of survivng the impact, the biggest problem is smoke so you need to get out as fast as possible.

You think smoke inhalation is the biggest cause of mortality in plane crashes? If youre plane crashes, you have a very high chance of being killed, I cant see how smoke inhalation, once on the ground, could possibly be a problem. Anyway, obese people should still have to pay extra, I just dont agree with "blocking the aisle" reasoning

Tar.Aldarion

He should tust pay the extra tenner per kg that he is over the weight that is called 'obese'.

RainyDay

Kipperhell wrote:

Very very sorry I forgot to put in AFAIK. Name another that you are aware of then if you are so up on the subject. I personally looked up the subject due to a family memeber and to my knowledge obesity is not an illness but a condition related to another illness. If you know more please tell us. Quite rare for it not to be controlable if a diet is adheard to.

Have a read of the comments earlier in this thread about underactive thyroids for a start.

Kipperhell wrote:

Sorry if you didn't understand what I meant. THe point is if you have certain medical conditions the care of which will limit your life and increase the cost of some things. No mention of all mental illnesses been restricted by me either but you decided to think I said that. As I said you may have a medical condition but it doesn't mean you get to pay the same as all other customers or your behaviour should be accepted just becasue you have an illness. Are you saying a drunk alcoholic should be allowed fly because it is an illness? Personally I don't and I think if you have a problem with your size you need to understand you need to pay more.

Let's look at exactly what you said. You said 'Now there are addictions to food but nobody is suggesting an alcoholic should be drunk on the plain or certain mental illnesses should be accepted on a plain' (sic). So please do expand on what mental illnesses should not be accepted on a plane? Your point about the 'drunk alcoholic' misses the point entirely. It is completely irrelevant whether the person is alcholic or not. The important question is whether they are drunk or not. No-one who is seriously drunk should be allowed on the plane, but whether they suffer from alcoholism or not is moot.

InFront wrote:

Well said Kipperhell. There is too much political correctness surrounding obesity. It is very controllable, and it is a behavioural problem, not a disease. It is not OK.

I'm sure the families of the 12 people (aged between 22 and 53) who died over the last 3 years while waiting to get appointments at the country's only obesity clinic will be delighted to hear that it is so controllable. See http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2005/0531/3820212721HM1FAT.html for more details. In fact, I'm sure the medics at the clinic will be delighted to hear it, as obviously there is no need for them to continue their work at the clinic. They should simply tell their patients to eat less food, and then they can switch careers to another branch of medicine.

Feral Mutant wrote:

How is a tall person more likely to block your way? You should be getting around them or infront of them not scaling them.

The only way that any person could block a route to the emergency exit is with their legs. A tall person (like me) is likely to leave their legs sprawled across the path to the exit if asleep. How could a fat person block an emergency exit?

LundiMardi

There is a lot of ignorance surounding obesisty on this thread with a lot of holier than thou responses. It's quite sickening to be honest.