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Obese passengers in Canada have the right to two seats for price of one
Obesity on airlines is becoming a big issue. Just a couple weeks ago a flight attendant was ruled too fat to fly, and of course the overweight passenger debate is always one that flares up people's opinions. There are two schools of thought. The first is from the view of the passenger stuck next to an overweight one who takes up more than their fair share of space; a lot of people believe that they should have to pay for a second seat. But the second opinion comes from overweight passengers themselves, who believe that they have a right to more space. According to Reuters, today the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in the direction of the latter, declaring that obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada. The original decision had been made by the Canadian Transportation Authority, who claimed that people that are "functionally disabled by obesity" deserve to have two seats for one fare. The Canadian airlines went to appeal, but the high court declined to hear it, meaning that the decision now stands.
Do you think the official decision is a fair one?
Filed under: North America, Canada, Airlines, News, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Stolen Nov 20th 2008 3:46PM
As an obese frequent flyer, it's not fair. They don't have a right to more space. If I was big enough that I could not fit in my own seat I should have to pay for two, luckily I can fit in my own.
Bert Nov 20th 2008 3:49PM
It's fair if other people can request and get full use of their own seat.
Nice pic of my hometown!
Tri Nov 20th 2008 4:33PM
So with the same logic, fat people has the right to eat 2 portions for the price of one?
Raymond Nov 20th 2008 5:48PM
Fat people get the use of handicapped spaces and other devices made for HANDICAPPED, not people that dont know when to put the fork down. I say this as a caregiver to someone who is truly handicapped. Its very frustrating to see those who can actually help themselves get away with using devices made for those who NEED them. How bout myself and wife totaling about 300lbs just buy one seat and squeeze into it? Would that be fair?
John Q Nov 20th 2008 5:57PM
I wonder what other self-induced 'disabilities' can garner such benefits.
Does this now mean people with long legs have the right to Business class where there is enough leg room?
Craig Nov 20th 2008 6:14PM
It's only fair if a passenger can get a doctor to officially declare him/her unable to achieve or maintain a normal body size. Otherwise passengers who can just barely shoehorn themselves into a single seat now can buy themselves a second seat for the low price of a bag of Cheetos.
This whole thing sounds like an incentive -- even for a fat person, two seats together affords one a bit of extra elbow room, another tray, etc.
Keith Nov 20th 2008 6:21PM
I agree with the part of the decision regarding truly handicapped individuals requiring and attendant or extra space but who is going to decide the threshold on obesity. If I am 6' 5" tall and 280 lbs I need a larger seat and more leg room so do I qualify now or do I still have to be shoehorned into a narrow seat on a 737. I'll be interested to see where this goes. As some of the obesity we are talking about is not a medical derived condition but a lifestyle choice we need a better interpetation.
LadyExpat Nov 20th 2008 7:20PM
If the person's doctor has deemed them disabled because of obesity, then yes. This could be a difficult one to police.
I wouldn't want to be the obese person sitting in two seats, while the rest of us struggle with our one that is tiny enough for the average person. This could lead to some nasty confrontations.
I'm not sure I want to say I'm a Canadian for this one........LOL
Evan Nov 20th 2008 8:55PM
I think this is a good idea. In all honesty, I'd rather the seats be free. If they had to be paid for, that might deter an obese individual from buying one, and causing discomfort for the person beside them.
David Tai Nov 20th 2008 10:15PM
I do not understand how this makes sense at all. With the new luggage fees due to so called excess weight causing more gas consumption and all the extra fees being charged, now airlines will have to give out a free seat to anybody that is obese enough. The cost of these free seats in the end will be passed onto "normal weight" flyers. I don't really have any suggestions as to what airlines can do to solve this problem but giving free seats away to obese people definitely is not the solution.
eerie quark doll Nov 21st 2008 3:12AM
This is an implementation nightmare:
. all online booking engines now must implement a feature to inquire about a passenger's fat-ness.
. Either
. all of the passenger storage databases (sabre, amadeus, ...) must be modified to include the fat data (including not breaking legacy systems)
. or seating chart data must be made available from the backing databases at booking time for all flights (which is definitely not the case presently) because even if there are 3 seats available to be booked for some class on a flight, it doesn't necessarily hold that the seats are bordering.
. all airlines flying routes in Canada must now try to calculate what the average number of fat people will be per flight and adjust the general pricing accordingly
. how does one validate that a given passenger is indeed fat enough to deserve another seat? waist girth? weight? height? ... this needs to be agreed upon by all airlines who route through Canada now.
It's as if Canada wants to shun traffic into and through their country.
Joe Nov 21st 2008 5:20AM
I don't think it's any different that when a person rolls on board with a wheelchair. They inform the airline beforehand they are medically disabled, the airline will ask for a medical certificate and book them a bulkhead seat. If you are fat you can't just show up and say you want two seats. They are going to need to see the proof.
I also don't see anything about priority. I'm assuming on a full flight someone overweight might be bumped off because there isn't enough seats.
borkbork Nov 21st 2008 12:32PM
So can a very skinny person get one seat for half price?
J Tirmandi Nov 21st 2008 12:46PM
Hmm. I'm really torn on this one. On one hand it appears that collective passengers of Airlines are subsidizing obese or disabled individuals and their caregivers which is not really fair to "normally" sized individuals. On the other hand some (not all but some) people truly cannot help being obese or disabled, and deserve the same rights as all human beings.
The result begs the question, should we as a society make a concerted effort to equalize the playing field for those who are less fortunate? I believe in Universal Health Care, Social Services for all, Feeding the Homeless etc., so I suspect this would have to fit in the same category.
I guess whether self-induced or genetic obesity and physical/mental disabilities are debilitating and all efforts should be made to extend the regular comforts of life to individuals who suffer from these disorders.
Marcia Bilton Nov 21st 2008 12:57PM
I agree with the decision and applaud it. These biased people that think that obesity is a "self-inflicted" condition maybe think that if an obese person acquired diabetes II we should let him/her die? Or refuse to give him eyeglasses when his vision begins to been lost? Maybe cut his legs when he can not walk anymore because of obesity and so the society can be revenged. I hope legislators all over the world be inspired by that decision, especially in Brazil, where I live.
Julie Reade Nov 21st 2008 2:48PM
I totally disagree with the decision. Our country is full of people who believe in entitlement. They think "poor me, I'm fat. I deserve a second seat for free." No you don't. No one is making you fly. My husband is tall. Flying is very uncomfortable for him. But if he chooses to fly, it's his business. No one should collectively have to pay for the empty seat. We need to go back and read the bill of rights. Those are our rights. Comfortable flying because your obese wasn't mentioned.
alda pada Nov 21st 2008 8:49PM
If you are fat no matter what's the reason and need two seat,you should pay for two.
Melanie Nov 22nd 2008 10:28PM
As a flight attendant, I recognize this for the logistical nightmare that it is. Not to mention the finacial aspect of it. Airlines are struggling to stay in business and now government is forcing companies to give away their product for free. That is what each seat represents; the product the airlines sell is space onboard an aircraft to a destination at a certain time. It can't be resold once the aircraft is in the air so it has a limited shelf life. I liked the food analogy; should obese persons receive two meals for the price of one? The Canadian government should have to subsidize the losses incurred by companies for all free seats given away as a result of this ruling.
gladys Feb 10th 2009 3:22AM
WELL I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. THAT YOU KNOW HOW THEY MAKE PLUS SIZE CLOTHES FOR US FLUFFY PEOPLE? WHY DONT THEY MAKE PLUS SIZE PLANES. NO REALLY WHY CANT THEY DO THIS? AND THE SKINNY PEOPLE COULD HAVE THEIR OWN TOO. THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM.
GLADYS Feb 10th 2009 3:42AM
WELL I JUST FIGURED OUT A SOLUTION TO THIS MESS . WHY CANT WE HAVE SPECIAL PLANES FOR OBESE PEOPLE.ITS CALLED PLUS SIZE . LIKE WE HAVE PLUS SIZE CLOTHES. YOU JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE DONT EVEN KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE OBESE. ITS PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU THAT CONDEMN THEM FOR THEIR WEIGHT. IT COULD BE YOU BEING OVERWEIGHT, THEN WHAT HUH? IM OBESE SO I SHOULD KNOW HOW A OVER WEIGHT PERSON FEELS.