http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssAirlines/idUSN2039776920081120
This may not have a whole lot to do with the US directly, however, given how many obese people are in this country, it might be something to think about. Recently, Canada has declared that really fat people get to have an extra seat FOR FREE. People who are "functionally disabled by obesity" not get two seats for one fare and i cannot believe that this even happened. Like what, airlines have to accomate each individual now? Well, if fat people get an extra seat, what about tall people huh? what about them? I mean, shouldn't they get a longer seat or something? I find this to be a generally stupid decision because fat people should not be given given special benefits. i mean, its not like they're are retarded or something and can't help it and yet here people are accomadating the life choices of individuals making them more comfortable and giving them special privaleges. I certainly hope that such a law does not pass here in the US because the last thing we need to do to try and fix the obesity problems is give obese people special privaleges. Currently, roughly 60 percent of Americans are considered overweight and about a third of the US is obese so if they all gather, there could very well be changes just like the one in Canada. Anyway, what are your opinions on this topic? Should really really fat people get an extra seat for free?
http://www.obesityinamerica.org/bythenumbers.html
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I guess I have an issue with this, but only due to the blanket nature of the policy. As Jessie stated, some obese individuals are obese due to lifestyle choices, and I don't necessarily think they should receive preference, but there are also people whose obesity stems from diseases or genetic traits, in which case I do see the obesity as a form of disability.
So I guess it would be better if there were some way to distinguish who is naturally obese and who is obese due to lifestyle choice, but until there is I think erring on the side of accommodation is appropriate.
While the idea of giving obese individuals an extra seat is a funny issue to be discussing, obesity is a serious problem in America.
58 Million Americans are Overweight; 40 Million Obese
3 Million Americans are morbidly Obese;
Eight out of 10 over 25 are overweight;
78% of American's do not meet basic activity level recommendations;
25% of Americans are completely Sedentary;
76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990
Obesity is a serious condition that can lead to many serious diseases, and ultimately even to death. I think the government should do more to encourage citizens to live healthier lifestyles. On a smaller scale, Aragon should do a better job of encouraging students to participate in after school sports that will help them to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Ok, seriously... this whole discussion is really sort of disturbing.
The issue here isn't whether or not its fair or ethical to give an obese person a free seat (although its not free because they already paid for their one ticket for the flight), the issue is respect and common decency.
Have you considered that people who are obese don't particularly enjoy the embarrassment of having to pay for multiple seats, based on the fact they don't fit "FDA seating regulations?" Of course not! They realized a while before anybody else did that they are subject to ridicule and the only thing they want is to avoid as much public embarrassment as possible...
As for determining who is fat by choice and who is genetically predisposed to be obese... common people, if you really want to go on a witch-hunt to interrogate obese people as to the "cause of obesity" thats just ridiculous.
I can understand the reasoning behind this idea, but I am definately against it. I actually heard about this on the radio the other day and found it quite interesting.
I have sat next to rather corpulent people on the plane before. I survived. So will everyone else. As long as we don't have to climb over them to get out of our seats.
The idea that the extra seat would be given to them FOR FREE is ridiculous. I would still find it absurd if they had to pay for the extra seat. This would be especially frustrating for someone on standby... can you imagine not being able to get on the flight even though there are empty seats?Not to mention how much this will hurt the airlines financially. Providing longer seats for those who are tall is an argument that is much more reasonable.
If you are overweight and need to visit your sick grandmother on the other side of the country, shed those extra pounds before booking your flight... for everyone's benefit.
Wow one this comment was hillarious and I do agree about your comment about tall people. Countries should not be promoting obesity which they seem to be doing a great job on. That is like insulting your own country and is embarrasing why would you want others to know that people are so fat in your country that you have to allow two seats? I think the thinner people should be rewarded for taking care of themselves I mean some people are naturally more heavyset than others but you can still control yourself. There should be more ways to control obesity in Canada; maybe they should do the whole cutting back on super sizes or something because as far as I can see that whole country will soon be super sized with the growing obesity percentage.
I think that they should only be given to people that are obese due to illnesses or injuries. Some people gain tremendous amounts of weight due to injuries. If someone is on bed-rest or can't exercise for a few months, they are bound to gain weight. Why not give them an extra seat? We all have to pay for one seat, so why do they have to pay for two, and just like Patrick said, it is humiliating. I think that giving them an extra seat would make everybody more comfortable. I personally don't like it when someone is spilling onto my seat, and I'm pretty sure that it's uncomfortable for the other person as well.
We can put tall people, or people with extremely long legs, by the emergency exits.
I think that obesity is more of an issue in America than in Canada. I don't know...I never heard anybody say "Ooh Canada, the nation of fat people," but I have heard that about the US.
I agree with Jesse that giving obese people an extra seat for free is pretty absurd/ridiculous. However, you have to consider that not all people are obese because of unhealthy lifestyle, as Garret mentioned. Many are just genetically obese, you know.
I don't think giving them free seats is the key because you're just encouraging them to stay fat. If the government sincerely wants to fight obesity, it should spend more money on educating people about healthy lifestyle.
They shouldn't be forced to give free seats to anyone regardless. If they wanted to make this company policy that's their choice, but forcing them to do so is stupid.
However, if I ever fly in Canada, I'm totally going to claim that I am morbidly obese and that I need two seats for the price of one.
Although i don't agree with free extra seats for those who are obese, I do not think that those who are genetically obese should have to pay double the price. It's unfair that someone has to pay extra becasue of a disease they were born with. In 2001, the percentage of obesity in America was 20.9%. This is a 74% increase from 1991, when many of us were born.
As of now, there is no efficient way that airlines can distinguish between those who have a genetic disease and those who are obese as a result of poor lifestyle choices so i support this recent ruling. Airlines and other transporttion companies will just have to deal with the losses for now.
I don't think obese people should get a free seat. I also don't think obese people should be forced to buy two full priced tickets. Maybe something in between, like 2 seats for the price of.... one and a half...? whatever...
But some people really can't help it. Genetics play a relatively big part in determining whether or not someone is overweight/obese. Lifestyle also has a huge impact... but regardless of what made people the way they are, I'd say giving obese people special benefits just feels like promoting the wrong thing.
This is a really weird topic.
*Airlines should just make bigger seats. In reality, not going to happen... But larger seats really would be nice. :D
Obese people should have to pay for two seats. By subsidizing obese people, prices are raised for everyone else (all the "healthy" people). Also the vast, vast majority of obese people are obese because of lifestyle choices.
Even if someone was obese 100% due to genetics, you can say that it's not fair for them to have to pay double, but that's too bad. It's unfair that short people, ugly people, dumb people, etc are the way they are because of genetics. It hurts the airlines profitability unfairly to force them to accommodate obese people, and brings higher prices for everyone else.
In fact, I would argue that this is discrimination against non obese people.
Look, I get it, some people are not fat by choice, but there is no way in Hades hometown to figure out effectively and fairly who is fat by choice, and who just can't help being fat. This whole thing is just ridiculous. And I know it is disrespectful to very overweight people to make them buy another seat, but it is more disrespectful to a person who sits next to a very overweight person and has to deal with the oozage rolling over onto their seat. When you go on an airplane, you pay for a seat, not the person who is going to be sitting in it. If you can't fit in the seat, you can't fit. I am sorry if my views offend, but the seats on airplanes are already crowded enough and I don't much feel like sharing what little room I have with someone's surplus of body mass that they can't fit into their own seat. By making extremely overweight people pay for an extra seat, it may also help them realize that they need to shed a couple hundred pounds.
Those who become obese because of their own choices should not be considered truly disabled. Though, it would be difficult to distinguish between those who are genetically obese and those who are not. Yet by giving obese people free seats, it ultimately encourages their unhealthy lifestyle. People cannot be truly motivated to switch to a healthier lifestyle when they are offered such "luxuries" simply due to their weight.
I think that people who need an extra seat should pay a little more when they buy their ticket. It would only be fair to everyone else. I also don't think that giving obese people special privileges like an extra free seat would be a big incentive for them to stay obese. This wouldn't get in the way of fixing obesity problems because people are obese for other reasons.
I think we're making this topic way to complicated. Being obese is obviously bad enough as it is for the individual. I think it also something needs to be looked down upon because I think its important for our society to be healthy. It's a sign of strength for our country. But in a situation like this, if it's possible to give them an extra seat then do it. If there isn't enough room because it will cost someone else there seat then they should not get an extra seat.
The issue isn't as complicated as many people are making it. The fact is that on most airlines, all passengers, regardless of size, pay for the same size seat. To give special or discriminatory treatment to passengers before they even set foot into the plane is ridiculous. It's like telling a midget that they must use a new, smaller midget-sized seat because they don't deserve a full sized seat. If fat people want to be treated with respect as a normal person, they get the same size seat as anyone else.
Of course, things are alot different when you actually board the plane. People switch seats to sit next to family and friends all the time, for more leg space for taller people, and usually not all seats are filled in the plane. If there are extra seats in an isle that are empty, I see no problem letting our slightly larger friends take two. The airlines don't care where or how people sit in the plane, they only care about how many tickets they have to sell to accommodate to all their passengers. Everything else can be worked out on the plane itself.
I definitely don't think obese people should get an extra seat for FREE. That is absolutely ridiculous. For most overweight people, being heavy is a choice. If you eat too much and don't exercise, you are bound to gain weight, and you shouldn't be rewarded for that by being given an extra seat for free. I know that there are some instances in which obesity stems from diseases or genetics, but for most people, this just isn't the case. I think that unless a person can prove their extra weight is due to a factor beyond their control, they should have to pay for that extra seat. Having to pay the extra money may actually discourage people from getting too overweight.
Really, this is kind of stupid. there is no reason that fat people should get extra seats. I understand that obese people have difficulties that are not really there fault, but they shouldnt be getting rewards for them. Think about garret getting extra seats becuase he's tall. futhermore it doesmt encourage obsese people to loose wieght.
I do find this very contradictoy. Some people are obese because of genetics and some by lifestyle choices. however, all tall people are tall becasue of their genetics. As someone relativley tall compared to the general population I have experienced how uncomfortable if is to try to fit in those seats for long flights. It seems unfair for those who are also uncomfortable to ge tthe short end of the stick and jsut suck it up.
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