• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

US Airways: sorry, no more seats. Fly standing.

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
SagaLore said:
I used to agree with you.

But then I got older and more mature and knew more people and some of those people are big.

The point is, they're people.

The ticket is for 1 person to fly. The point of flying is to get a person from point A to point B, faster than by car, bus, or train. Its not to get a seat from A to B, and we just so happen to occupy said seat. The focus is people.

If people are generally bigger, then make the seats bigger. Yes obesity is an epidemic. Yes they have less will power than the person that exercises and diets religiously. That healthier person's reward is personally being healthy. Not that they are better than everyone else and infrastructure design should focus on them.
Click to expand...

They're not just buying seat, they are buying a certain amount of space in the plane. There is only so much space and much of the cost to fly a plane from point A to point B is fixed so the more people they can cram in there the cheaper it is per person. If they made all the seats bigger the cost would have to go up for everyone. It already costs enough to fly, I don't want to pay any extra. The vast majority of the world can easily fit inside the current seats. Why should you raise the rates for everyone else when the problem is a small percentage that have chosen to render themselves unable to fit?

I have no problem spreading the cost of supporting the disabled across the general population but I don't agree that we should support people that actively choose to cause their own condition and could fix it if they wanted. A paraplegic can't diet away his paralysis, a severely overweight person can.
 
Bignate603 said:
Why not? They use twice as much space, why shouldn't they have to pay for it?

While some people are naturally heavier or have some condition that causes them to carry more weight they are not the ones we're talking about. The people that are carrying a few extra pounds may weigh 200+, but they aren't the 300+ or 400+ people that spill over into your seat. Someone that large has made themselves that way, through their own actions (or inactions). If they don't like the consequences of their choices they need to change it.
Click to expand...

True story

I'm a big guy, and I know I'm a big guy. I've got to be close to 300 by now but I STILL fit in normal chairs and seats. You've got to be especially unhealthy to need multiple seats, and that's simply a lifestyle choice.
 
gorcorps said:
True story

I'm a big guy, and I know I'm a big guy. I've got to be close to 300 by now but I STILL fit in normal chairs and seats. You've got to be especially unhealthy to need multiple seats.
Click to expand...

Same; I like flying with my wife, she's significantly smaller and doesn't mind that I take-up both arm-wrests.
 
Eos said:
Looks like the skinny woman was kicked off so the kid could reach their destination as scheduled. The fact that she was overweight is secondary. Yet, it's what is being focused on.
Click to expand...

if the overweight kid didn't need two seats, the woman would not have been kicked off the plane. This is the fault of the gate agent and the parents of the kid who didn't purchase the two seats that the kid needed.
 
i would've tweeted, google+ed and facebooked pictures videos, etc everything.

I think if they compensated him $800 and gave him a free voucher for his next flight would be at least more appropriate. $200 is ridiculous. Comp the flight and apologize and set your policy straight dammit.
 
The power of the smart phone. I'd have video taped the entire escapade, including the take-off while standing, and sued the shit out of the airline.
 
He got to his destination and was offered $200 for the inconvenience - should not accept it as a voucher unless he flies USAir frequently.

Let the FAA handle the airlines;
 
EagleKeeper said:
He got to his destination and was offered $200 for the inconvenience - should not accept it as a voucher unless he flies USAir frequently.

Let the FAA handle the airlines;
Click to expand...

Are you really suggesting that he should be happy to be comped $200? For an $800 ticket and having to stand the entire flight because another inconsiderate passenger took over his seat and the airline refused to to anything about it?

Or did I misinterpret what you wrote?
 
It's US Air. What do people expect? It's Total Bastard Airlines IRL. And yes, I hate that acronym.
Fatties need two seats. And most fatties smell. They need to put them in a extra large garbage to keep the stink in.
They work up a sweat just walking up the aisle.
 
No airliner is allowed to take off with passengers not wearing seat belt. This guys story is highly unlikely but if it is true, the airline has exposed itself to some fairly expensive fines.
 
oldsmoboat said:
Recently there was a story about a woman that was seated. A fat person came on and sat next to her. She needed two seats too. The lady that needed one seat, that was there first, was kicked off the plane.
Click to expand...

It's much more efficient that way - if you kick the fatty off the plane, then it will fly with an empty seat. What a waste!
 
SagaLore said:
I used to agree with you.

But then I got older and more mature and knew more people and some of those people are big.

The point is, they're people.

The ticket is for 1 person to fly. The point of flying is to get a person from point A to point B, faster than by car, bus, or train. Its not to get a seat from A to B, and we just so happen to occupy said seat. The focus is people.

If people are generally bigger, then make the seats bigger. Yes obesity is an epidemic. Yes they have less will power than the person that exercises and diets religiously. That healthier person's reward is personally being healthy. Not that they are better than everyone else and infrastructure design should focus on them.
Click to expand...

I agree they should be treated with dignity but if their biomass spills over into the next seat it's on them to purchase that seat and treat other passengers with respect too..
 
apac said:
Are you really suggesting that he should be happy to be comped $200? For an $800 ticket and having to stand the entire flight because another inconsiderate passenger took over his seat and the airline refused to to anything about it?

Or did I misinterpret what you wrote?
Click to expand...

The story has to many holes. One sided at this point 🙁

His flight was on a 757. I would be very surprised if it was completely full.

Second, as others stayed, the flight would not have taken off if he was not seated.

Third, overweight people that need a second seat at last minute have already paid for the primary seat . Gate agents to not have the time to check on full flights. They do not know the seating chart, only flight attendants.

He may have gotten out of his seat and wanted something that was not a middle or hoped for a class upgrade. With nothing but center seats, he chose to stand when allowed. No rules aslong as he does not interfere with crew. He most likely had an window originally and did not want a middle, he still would be crowded.
 
Last edited:
SagaLore said:
If people are generally bigger, then make the seats bigger. Yes obesity is an epidemic. Yes they have less will power than the person that exercises and diets religiously. That healthier person's reward is personally being healthy. Not that they are better than everyone else and infrastructure design should focus on them.
Click to expand...
Sure. Replace the 3-wide coach configuration with a first class-like 2-wide configuration using wider seats that are otherwise still coach. Charge 50% more (2x1.5 = 3x1), and you'll break even on ticket prices and still come out ahead on luggage and beverages.

The problem of course would be that the airlines would just consolidate it into business class, and then you'd be back at square one.
 
What about all the other people that cause passengers to be uncomfortable? Babies, kids, chattermouths, people that get up out of their seat 5 - 6 times in a 3 hour flight, people that bring food on the plane, the person that hasn't showered... ever. These can all make someone as uncomfortable as the fat guy... perhaps they should be charged more as well.

Hell the banks nickle and dime people just to use their own money... charge a "sent tax" for those that stink, or a "talk to much tax" for those that won't shut up...

I think I've found the way for airlines to make money again. 🙂
 
theknight571 said:
What about all the other people that cause passengers to be uncomfortable? Babies, kids, chattermouths, people that get up out of their seat 5 - 6 times in a 3 hour flight, people that bring food on the plane, the person that hasn't showered... ever. These can all make someone as uncomfortable as the fat guy... perhaps they should be charged more as well.

Hell the banks nickle and dime people just to use their own money... charge a "sent tax" for those that stink, or a "talk to much tax" for those that won't shut up...

I think I've found the way for airlines to make money again. 🙂
Click to expand...

Not showering before boarding a plane is an example of man's inhumanity to man, I got delayed by a storm while departing Philly, it was 99 on the tarmac as it took 45 min to get off, the planes AC system was not up to the task, I couldn't imagine that scenario with some shithead who didn't care to bathe before boarding..
 
SagaLore said:
Airlines are going to have to start replacing a small set of seats with larger seats to accommodate larger people. Unfortunate reality is that there are a lot of really big people, and they need to travel too, and we can't expect them to pay double for everything because of it. I don't think its that much safer to have them span 2 small seats designed for 2 separate people.
Click to expand...
The airlines would want it that way though; why would you want to sell two seats at half price? In effect, that would be what happens if you accommodate fatties that way.
 
3chordcharlie said:
It's much more efficient that way - if you kick the fatty off the plane, then it will fly with an empty seat. What a waste!
Click to expand...
Wrong. Whether skinny or fatty stays, the airline sells the same number of tickets. But, flying with the skinny guy will consume less fuel. Now that's not a waste.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top