United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

Airline Says Overweight Travelers Will Need To Buy Extra Seats Or Be Denied Entry To Planes

If "beefy" or "curvy" describes you, here is a word of warning: United Airlines will begin aggressively enforcing a new policy that allows it to charge heavier passengers twice to fly.

WBBM Newsradio 780 has learned that Chicago-based United has instructed its customer service representatives at O'Hare International Airport ticket counters and gates to be extra vigilant beginning Wednesday for passengers they deem to be overweight. Those unable to comfortably fasten a safety belt with one extension or sit comfortably with armrests down will be denied boarding unless they purchase an extra seat, even if they can be placed elsewhere in the aircraft next to an empty seat.

If no empty seat exists, the passenger will be forced to take a later flight.

Couples flying together who can fit in adjoining seats are exempted "unless one of them complains," a United spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said it is responding to complaints from passengers.

While the directive has some United customer service representatives questioning the wisdom or legality of such charges, the airline spokesperson told WBBM that the double charge has become common practice in the industry, and that United is the last airline to adopt such a policy.

O'Hare's other major carrier, American Airlines, begs to differ. American spokesman Tim Smith said that while the airline has the right to require a second ticket, it will do so only if it can find no other solution, such as re-seating the passenger next to an empty seat at no extra charge.

"I don't remember us ever having to impose such a charge," said American spokesperson Mary Frances Fagan.

The United spokesperson said it intends to impose the charge even when empty seats exist and passengers can be re-seated next to one. The spokesperson said United quietly adopted the policy earlier this year.

Southwest Airlines also is known to be aggressive about imposing the double charge.

http://cbs2chicago.com/business/united.ove...s.2.985271.html

[justashooter 430]

United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

Airline Says Overweight Travelers Will Need To Buy Extra Seats Or Be Denied Entry To Planes

If "beefy" or "curvy" describes you, here is a word of warning: United Airlines will begin aggressively enforcing a new policy that allows it to charge heavier passengers twice to fly.

WBBM Newsradio 780 has learned that Chicago-based United has instructed its customer service representatives at O'Hare International Airport ticket counters and gates to be extra vigilant beginning Wednesday for passengers they deem to be overweight. Those unable to comfortably fasten a safety belt with one extension or sit comfortably with armrests down will be denied boarding unless they purchase an extra seat, even if they can be placed elsewhere in the aircraft next to an empty seat.

If no empty seat exists, the passenger will be forced to take a later flight.

Couples flying together who can fit in adjoining seats are exempted "unless one of them complains," a United spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said it is responding to complaints from passengers.

While the directive has some United customer service representatives questioning the wisdom or legality of such charges, the airline spokesperson told WBBM that the double charge has become common practice in the industry, and that United is the last airline to adopt such a policy.

O'Hare's other major carrier, American Airlines, begs to differ. American spokesman Tim Smith said that while the airline has the right to require a second ticket, it will do so only if it can find no other solution, such as re-seating the passenger next to an empty seat at no extra charge.

"I don't remember us ever having to impose such a charge," said American spokesperson Mary Frances Fagan.

The United spokesperson said it intends to impose the charge even when empty seats exist and passengers can be re-seated next to one. The spokesperson said United quietly adopted the policy earlier this year.

Southwest Airlines also is known to be aggressive about imposing the double charge.

http://cbs2chicago.com/business/united.ove...s.2.985271.html

having flown 400K miles on united, I say it's way past time.

[dalegg 143]

Couples flying together who can fit in adjoining seats are exempted "unless one of them complains," a United spokesperson said.

[fozzie 41]

United To Charge Heavier Passengers Twice To Fly

Airline Says Overweight Travelers Will Need To Buy Extra Seats Or Be Denied Entry To Planes

Couples flying together who can fit in adjoining seats are exempted "unless one of them complains," a United spokesperson said.

http://cbs2chicago.com/business/united.ove...s.2.985271.html

That would be harsh

[mawilson 2,133]

Finally.

There was a thread about it a while back.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well to be honest it is a bit harsh and discriminatory to double-charge people for seats.

As irritating as it is to have someone encroach on the little personal space you have in a plane seat - you can't really do that.

[fozzie 41]

Well to be honest it is a bit harsh and discriminatory to double-charge people for seats.

As irritating as it is to have someone encroach on the little personal space you have in a plane seat - you can't really do that.

They should get an additional fuel surcharge if you weigh over a certain limit!

Short haul, I can deal with it. Long haul, I don't want some sweaty rolls of fat suffocating me 6+ hours!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well to be honest it is a bit harsh and discriminatory to double-charge people for seats.

As irritating as it is to have someone encroach on the little personal space you have in a plane seat - you can't really do that.

They should get an additional fuel surcharge if you weigh over a certain limit!

Short haul, I can deal with it. Long haul, I don't want some sweaty rolls of fat suffocating me 6+ hours!!!

Yeah probably. But those conditions are kind of imposed by the airlines squeezing as many people as possible into a cabin space to ensure lowered ticket costs.

[Peikko 1,575]

Hammer the fat people! Yay! Oh, wait...

No, what they should do is increase the seats to fit the new average obese size and charge everyone more.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hammer the fat people! Yay! Oh, wait...

No, what they should do is increase the seats to fit the new average obese size and charge everyone more.

Well the seats are small anyway for anyone who is tall, let alone wide.

But as far as this country goes - there's really no limit on how large a person can be, and while 200+ lbs might be a general working average, there's really no way to accomodate someone who weighs double that.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

BRAVO

[Peikko 1,575]

Hammer the fat people! Yay! Oh, wait...

No, what they should do is increase the seats to fit the new average obese size and charge everyone more.

Well the seats are small anyway for anyone who is tall, let alone wide.

But as far as this country goes - there's really no limit on how large a person can be, and while 200+ lbs might be a general working average, there's really no way to accomodate someone who weighs double that.

Well, we can't nanny the obese into being a more normal size, so it's either allow fat people to be discriminated against, or configure the aircraft to fit a larger size and charge everyone more.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The cost ratios are dicey as-is what with fuel and various other taxes that are factored into ticket prices.

What we could do of course - is to continue allow everyone to be uncomfortable. That was noone is being discriminated against.

Edited April 15, 2009 by Private Pike

[The_Dude 1,142]

It's not discriminating against obese people. The seats are designed to accomodate an average person. If your girth requires you to occupy 2 seats, then you should be required to pay for that extra seat.

[mawilson 2,133]

Well to be honest it is a bit harsh and discriminatory to double-charge people for seats.

I sort of agree with you there. Double-charging is too much, although I do like the idea of

charging people by weight.

Basically, instead of a 'two piece' limit or a 20kg/44lb policy for checked luggage, limit the total

passenger+luggage weight to, say, 220lb (180lb body plus 40lb for hand and checked luggage.)

If you weigh 180lb, you get 40lb more luggage; at 215lb you get 5lb to carry/check in, unless

you pay more.