Shouldn't they charge overweight people more for an airplane ticket?

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Slipper man

Do you think the Americans will be able to fly anywhere then?

I think the airlines should stop treating people like animals and start thinking more about giving the customer more room - the local carriers in South Africa are pathetic when it comes to the size of the seats and legroom...

Vango

While I have nothing personal against overweight people, I fully sympathise with you. I am tall-ish (6ft) myself, but lean and appreciate some personal space (for myself and others). I always feel slightly panicky when arriving at my seat and seeing I have a big overweight guy as neighbour. Maybe there should be body weight limits per length, and anything over that, the passenger has to pay up (like overweight luggage).
It can be worse though. On my last flight to SA from Kuala Lumpur, I was, at first, happy to see I had a small Chinese guy as neighbour ...until he continuously kept falling asleep on my shoulder and had a breath smelling like a week-dead rat! It was a long flight.

Alf Garnett

A personal hate of mine is to find some gross overweight slob spilling all over the seat you are supposed to be occupying. They should have a measurement scale through which they walk and if they do not fit then they should be offered a seat in the cargo area or to be upgraded to Business/First Class where they will fit - at their cost..

chickyboo222

I deffinately think they should have a weight limitation. Its not fair that we sit squashed up next to 2 fatties.

On discovery they had "air crash investigation" about over weight people causing a plane crash. Its quite possible since our luggage gets weighed but we dont??? And yet we pay extra for 1kg of luggage?

Snorkie

They actually do! My one friend is a very overweight auditor, he has to pay for 2 seats, but he is so big that he cannot (even if he tries), squeeze his 6 ft 3, 160kg body into one seat. when he goes overseas he always travel business class, because he fits into those seats, but not into normal "cattle class" seats.

Cat

Yes, they should have a pay as you weigh system. Also they should give you a total of 40kg's luggage. So if you only use 8 kg's going there you can have 32kg's coming back!

Reb Da Rebel

Have you watched "Why did I get married" by Tyler Perry where Jill Scotts character had to forfeit her seat because some larny old men thought she was too fat and couldnt sit. Its not only damaging to a big boned persons esteem, I think its demeaning really. I'm sorry for your experience really hlangane, but I just wish you could've been able to request a different seat, they should have that option if they value their clients/customer. Imagime if you were in that body and were told to pay more because there is more of you? I think its unfair... they need to make more seating space so everyone is comfy.

Tsepo

Best thing is to gain lots of weight yourself, of hoe? hahaha

Lulu V

I agree with Slipperman, my brothers are all over 6 feet tall and big huge guys with not an ounce of fat on them. They barely fit in an aeroplane seat, the seats are too small and there is not enough leg room for you average tall South African man. I also agree with Lise obese people are charged extra, they pay for 2 seats, I have sat next to a man and he had the arm rest up and was sitting on 2 seats. He told me he had to pay xtra to occupy both seats.

Pixel

To a certain degree I agree with Inno, it's not nice to call somebody fat....
If it's their own fault, then so be it...but what if it's a medical thing?

I also agree with Alf...they should be offered an upgrade into bus/first class at their own expense or the airlines should offer a special price for people of certain sizes and give them 2 seats for the price of 1 and a half.

And yes, it's ridiculous how little leg room and space in front of you there is...I was eating my meal the and dip wad in front of me decided to lie back....nearly had my food up my nose. I'm not a very tall person (5ft 7) and when flying, even my legs get cramped, especially when the seat in front of me goes down. My fiance is 6ft 2 and he sits with his knees by his ears.

Soon some country is going to build a bullet train underwater from country to country, then the airlines will struggle! I hope that day comes soon.

Just Q

the airlines should make bigger seats.

tincanpuller

Just be glad you weren't the third large person in that configuration. 8^)

Joppie

I think they should pay more if they take more than one seats space why make there problem ours to suffer for there problem

mixedcurlyfriesz

If a large person can't fit one seat then they should pay. I mean everyone has the rights to fly on a plane , no matter what size you are.

Mel

I watched a program on some american airport and they charged a guy for two tickets because he was too big to be able to sit in the seat and have the arm rest down and the seat belt on, in that case it is a safety issue and there is no way the other seat could be used.

Blouspook

Who the hell gives you, or anyone, the right to assume that "overweight people" should be victimised? People are people. Your question and all the answers here show that the "people" on this forum are pretension prudes. Hey, while you are at it, why not suggest that all stupid people should not be allowed to use air travel? Then you you could have your 'space' on the ossewa.

Pearl

What an interesting question. I also had a to travel on a five hour internaltional flight last week but the dicomfort was unbelievable. sitting right between some two well built people. The sizes of the seats, the space in between and the leg room in the economy class really are also something else.

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