Comments on: Will Airlines charge obese passengers?

By: Darren Cronian

Darren Cronian — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:36:05 +0000

I think we have discussed this topic as far as we can take it.

I have therefore closed comments on this post.

Please feel free to participate in our online poll

By: Maria

Maria — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:10:17 +0000

Thank you Scott, for talking sense. You are one of the very few who understand the predicament of the overweight and obese people. I too (and I have said this already) would pay for an extra seat if necessary but not for the comfort of the ignorant but for my own comfort. People should try and imagine themselves in the shoes of the overweight, etc and try to realise and imagine what it is like. There are many reasons for obesity as you said, medication, medical conditions, it can also be genetic especially in disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome. As for medication – steriods and some antidepressants may cause obesity too. I’m not saying that every single obese or overweight person suffers from any of these conditions, but there those who do, so before anyone else insults big people just stop and think if there obesity is due to medication or medical condition!!!!!!!!

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By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:37:40 +0000

I am still dumbfounded by how many people are stupid enough to believe every stereotype out there. Fat people just need to put down the fork, they need to stop supersizing meals at McDonald’s, only a few obese people have medical issues, etc… I have known many obese people in my life and only a handful of them even come close to the gluttonous couch potato stereotype that is crammed down our throats by the media. I can’t believe how many sheeple buy that inaccurate stereotype.

It seems that many larger folks would be willing to pay a little extra for more room IF the seats were comfortable and they would actually get the extra space. To all the whiners, I would like to know how you would feel if you paid $1000 for 2 seats on a plane and you were still very uncomfortable because the seat is designed for a much smaller person. Or, worse, how would you feel if you paid $1000 for 2 seats and didn’t get the second seat because the flight was overbooked, had to spend the entire flight listening to some idiot loudly complain about how much space you are taking up AND the airline wouldn’t refund you for the second seat?

After reading all the venom here, I hope I am seated next to an obese person next time I fly. I will gladly raise the armrest and let them use a few inches of my seat. I am smart enough to know I am given many breaks in this society because I am “normal” weight and I am open-minded, non-judgemental and nice enough to be civil to my fellow passengers. I would MUCH rather sit next to an obese person than a bigot.

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By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:57:13 +0000

First, I want to say that overweight people have just as much rights as everyone else. I am a big tall guy and will always be a big guy i eat right but the there is no way that I will ever be shorter or my shoulders will ever be narrower. When I Fly I do everything I can to not discomfort the people next to me. Maybe the problem is still with the airlines because they want to cram as many people in as possible to get as much money as possible. Sure I would fly first class if I could afford it but I can’t and the fact is most people can’t. I personally will gladly pay more if I got more room. Maybe the airlines should start offering wider seat rows in coach that why all you people are disgusted by fat people don’t have to look at them. But the fact is that airlines that charge overweight people for a second seat, don’t give that person the second seat, they are still cramed in next to you. All I have to say is put yourself in their shoes. You don’t know what their circumstances are and you wouldn’t want to be judged either so what makes them any less of a human being than you are. And maybe stop being self centered and realize that they are probably just as uncomfortable as you. And on the overweight not a disease maybe you should start looking things up with out talking out of ignorance. The are quite a few diseases out there that cause you to gain weight, and also many medications.

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By: Maria

Maria — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:22:19 +0000

If you read my last comment, Sandra, you will see that I for one would pay for an extra seat if I needed it even though I wouldn’t really be able to afford it, I would pay for one and find the money for it somehow. I, along with many people I should imagine, cannot afford a business class seat or a first class seat. As for clothes, ever heard of catalogues? They’re really good because you can order clothes and pay for them weekly, fortnightly or monthly….great invention and great idea! As for McDonalds, I rarely eat from there (ive in the UK) cos I’m not a great fan of their food and even if I was I certainlywouldn’t ‘supersize’ my meal as I’m sure a lot of overweight people wouldn’t either. As for those who do, maybe there is a bonafide medical condition for their obesity.

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