Aug 1st, 2010 at 4:00PM: In the United States, finding ways to accommodate oversized passengers may be the subject of uneven enforcement, but in Australia, it's uncharted territory. In fact, this in-flight service problem is so ignored that the terminology isn't even standard. According to Virgin Blue, being too grande for the seat is considered an impairment, while Tiger Airways isn't sure if it's a "comfort" issue or a ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
obese posts
Australian airlines see obese passengers as growing problem
Aug 1st, 2010 at 4:00PM: In the United States, finding ways to accommodate oversized passengers may be the subject of uneven enforcement, but in Australia, it's uncharted territory. In fact, this in-flight service problem is so ignored that the terminology isn't even standard. According to Virgin Blue, being too grande for the seat is considered an impairment, while Tiger Airways isn't sure if it's a "comfort" issue or a ...Air France goes prix fixe, not buffet
Jan 21st, 2010 at 2:00PM: Starting in April, Air France is going to make you pay for what you consume. If you consume only one seat, that's all you'll have to buy. But, if you require more than one seat, expect to whip out your plastic. For some reason, airline spokesman Nicolas Petteau calls it "a question of security," but I don't think so. To me, it seems more like a question of getting what you pay for ... and asking ...Flight attendant photographs obese passenger / safety hazard
Dec 1st, 2009 at 9:30AM:
The story behind this photo is that a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight pulled out her camera phone to show how airlines deal with the problem of obese passengers. As you can see, no amount of seat belt extenders is going to help this fellow "of size".
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/travel_places/Fly_BIG_Obese_Airplane_Passenger_Needs_More_Space_PIC'; The photo was sent to ...SkyMall Monday: Waistband Stretcher
Jun 22nd, 2009 at 1:00PM: Here at the SkyMall Monday world headquarters, we eat a lot. Moderation is a four-letter word, as far as I'm concerned. How can anyone expect me to eat responsibly with all these zig-zagging brownies and giant cupcakes laying around? So, as you can imagine, I'm not exactly in bikini shape this summer. Which is fine, since I'm a dude, but it also means that I'm not in old-timey bathing suit shape ...United airlines "fat passenger" policy prompts plenty of backlash
Apr 17th, 2009 at 11:30AM: On Wednesday, I posted about the new United Airlines policy for charging "passengers of size" for 2 seats, if they are unable to fit in one seat or use a single seatbelt extender. Now, whether this new money maker is a good idea or not, is besides the point, at least for United, because the PR backlash is already starting to hurt them and has forced them to change the wording in their rules. The ...United Airlines to charge obese passengers for the extra space
Apr 15th, 2009 at 6:00PM: United Airlines just announced their plans to charge obese passengers for the extra seat they take up on their planes. They are not the first airline to do this, and most likely won't be the last. That said, their definition of obese means that readers with a bit of a beer belly won't have to worry too much. Only passengers who need more than one seat belt extender, or who can not sit in their ...Jetstar charges passengers by the pound
Feb 8th, 2009 at 9:00AM: The debate has gone on for years. Larger people have had to deal with shrinking plane seats. We all complain, with the svelte arguing that the not-so-trim should have to purchase an extra seat. I have to be honest, here. I believe that you should pay for what you consume. If you take two seats pay for them. Apparently, low-cost Australian airline Jetstar agrees, with much more zeal than I would ...Flight attendant ruled too fat to fly
Nov 2nd, 2008 at 3:00PM: A 20-year legal battle between Philippine Airlines and flight steward Armanda Yrasuegi has finally ended with a Supreme Court ruling that grounds Yrasuegi for good. The airline dismissed Yrasuegi in 1989, because the 5'8 217-pound man had failed to lose weight, as required in his contract. Yrasuegi cried discrimination, stating that his weight was a "sickness and physical abnormality" beyond his ...No way! Australia beats US as world's fattest nation
Jun 20th, 2008 at 5:30PM: This is hard to believe, but I don't think The Sydney Morning Herald would make it up just to beat the US at something. The Herald reports that, according to a new report, 26 per cent of adult Australians - almost 4 million people - are now obese, 1 million more than the last calculation in 1999. The findings mean Australia is the world's most overweight nation, ahead of even Americans, who have ...World's Fattest Places/World's Skinniest Places
Feb 26th, 2007 at 10:52AM: I'm 5'10", and I weigh about 150 pounds. I am by no means fat. However, when I lived in Zambia, I was routinely called fat by my neighbors. At first, I found it insulting, but I quickly got used to it. After all, compared to them, I was fat.
According to a recent survey by the World Health Organization, 8 of the top 10 fattest countries are located in the South Pacific -- ironically, right along ...
