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Airlines may start weighing plus size passengers

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  • Posts: 1 Member
    Back in the early 70’s, a barber was charging me more than his posted rates. His reason was because I had more hair. It’s all about the $$$.
  • Posts: 4,877 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    I had a slightly bad experience at DisneyWorld because of sitting next to an obese person. So we didn't rent a car (4 families on vacation) and since we were all staying at the same Disney resort, we all rode the buses. On our way home one day, my brother in law was sitting on my left, and I was in the seat next to him against a pole (we're facing inward to the aisles). A lady and her family got on board and the bus was pretty packed already. She headed with her kids down the back where we were. She had to be at least 250+ on a 5'2 frame. I was just about to get up when my BIL pushed me back down and offered his seat to her. She gladly obliged. So now at EVERY STOP where the driver braked, she slid into me (remember I'm against a pole). My BIL totally did this on purpose and I saw the stupid smile on his face everytime we braked.
    I owe my BIL back. Still trying to figure out how to do it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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    Oh no!!
  • Posts: 15,512 Member
    edited May 2021
    So as a (now) normal weight person who has been glorying in the (now) remarkably comfortable economy cabins of the various Canadian airlines (air canada and westjet), I recently had the experience of flying in a brand new 737 Max.

    The particular airline's 737-700's have cabins that are a bit "older" and "tired" with... no chargers! The 737-800 are glorious examples of comfort and modernity for economy seats. Chargers and screens even. Oh, I am sooo checking in to flights that are using them if I can!

    The 737 Max so shiny and new... is a *kitten* piece of uncomfortable *kitten*. Jeez. Forget the row of soldiers where I expect to be able to sample everyone's halitosis as soon as masks are no longer "in".

    No screens of course... there would have been no room for a flat one! Entertainment is on your smartphone! The aisle seat only has partial under the seat storage. The middle seat has the best storage, but... well, it IS the middle seat. The window seat "appears" to be nice and roomy due to the curvature (under seat storage more generous than aisle but less normal than middle seat)... but it was utterly uncomfortable if you were TRYING to do anything other than primly hold your knees together! Because the curve is at elbow high... not where your feet are. And most certainly a plus person would not be able to navigate the aisle without wafting some "kitten* to the people they move their *kitten* in front off!

    All in all, as a just below average tall male (172.25cm)... apparently I need to move to below my current BMI 23 to comfortably fit in a 737 Max as configured....
  • Posts: 976 Member
    This issue has been debated for years. I can remember back in the 90s when this was one of the hot topics on talk radio that was sure to generate a lot of calls (especially on a slow news day).

    If ever such a rule or regulation was implemented, the only people who would benefit from it are lawyers.
  • Posts: 28,055 Member
    yirara wrote: »

    Been on a flight as well where passangers were weighted, to Alderney. I think the plane was for 10 people.
    To be honest, it might not be a popular opinion, but very obese people should always buy two seats. There's nothing worse than sitting for hours next to a person who flows over into your seat. And it's double terrible when you're on the spectrum. I don't want to touch people. They should stay away from my seat.

    I'm not sure how unpopular that opinion is. I agree that if you don't fit into the seat, you should buy two seats. I paid for my seat and don't want someone else in it.

    But also the airlines are trying to cram too many people in.
  • Posts: 3,982 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »

    I'm not sure how unpopular that opinion is. I agree that if you don't fit into the seat, you should buy two seats. I paid for my seat and don't want someone else in it.

    But also the airlines are trying to cram too many people in.

    The cramming of more people into the plane seems to be done via reduced seat pitch, the width of the seats of the seats hasn't changed. While I'll blame the lack of sufficient leg room on the drive to add more seats to the plane, spilling into the seat next to you is due to our increasing width.
  • Posts: 3,982 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »

    And how much more are you willing to pay for "unpacked" flights? 10%, 25%, 50%?

    We can complain about the lack of room on airlines, but the fact of the matter is, we are voting with our collective wallets for this. The market is providing other options for those willing to pay a higher price, such as Economy Plus seating.
  • Posts: 6,721 Member
    For the record I've been weighed getting on a flight. I think the plane ended up being smaller than they had anticipated and they had a lot of cargo and needed to make sure they would have enough fuel to get us from Vancouver to Hawaii.

    I didn't read he article just saying I have seen this happen and it wasn't in private you basically stepped on a scale as you walked away from the gate.
  • Posts: 16,769 Member
    Years ago there was a Candid Camera episode where passengers were weighed along with their luggage. If they were found to be too heavy, they either had to leave their bag or forfeit their in-flight snack.

    I know most of you are probably too young to remember this show.
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