Melissa wrote:
> http://boards.msn.com/Travelboards/thread.aspx?threadid=791963>1=41000
>
> Planes are expected to be more crowded than ever this fall, so coach
> passengers can’t expect to have very much elbow room. For most of its
> history (and especially in the past few years), Southwest Airlines has
> required passengers who can’t put down their armrests to pay for an
> additional seat, to ensure (it says) that everyone has access to “safe and
> comfortable transportation.” (The cost of the second seat can be refunded
> if the flight is not oversold.) Should every airline follow suit? How
> should carriers determine who’s obese? Take a side and make your argument!
>
> Yes, obese passengers should pay extra:
> With all the extra fees being piled on to fliers these days, it’s
> surprising that an “overweight” fee has not yet been standardized. Not only
> is this an issue of comfort for adjacent passengers, it’s also an economic
> issue. As a recent Newsweek article pointed out, the more weight planes
> have to carry, the more fuel it takes to fly. I don’t advocate having
> passengers step on a scale at the check-in counter, but I think if people
> can’t fit between their armrests then they should pay for the extra space
> they take up. – Heidi
>
> No, they shouldn’t pay extra:
> Asking someone to pay an additional fee because of his shape or size feels
> as discriminatory as charging more because of someone’s skin color or
> ethnic background.
what a foolish statement
They are being asked to pay more because it takes more fuel to fly these
300 lb lardasses thru the air than it does a 160lb human.What a lame
attempt to ntie obesity to racism, you're a true idiot.
Southwest says that fewer than one in 200 passengers are
> affected by its policy, and that 98 percent of those charged for two seats
> get a refund. So why embarrass someone who’s obese over an issue that
> matters only once for every 10,000 travelers? If I’m stuck sitting next to
> someone who’s unable to lower the armrests, I’m not likely to be thrilled
> with the situation. But it’s just as likely the person sitting next to me
> will be wearing heavy perfume, or snoring, or eating a smelly sandwich. Are
> we going to ask those folks to pay extra, too? (Now, there’s an idea …) –
> Jon
>
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