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United: Heavy passengers must buy two seats
United Airlines is implementing a new policy that significantly overweight passengers will have to buy two seats if there aren't two empty seats together on the flight.
The story was originally reported this morning by WBBM, a news/talk radio station in Chicago. But the story said United would double charge people, whether there were extra empty seats or not. United received a deluge of calls from reporters and posted the policy on its website to clarify that if there is an extra empty seat somewhere, the person won't be charged twice:
If no unused seats are available on the ticketed flight, then the customer must either purchase an upgrade to a cabin with available seats that address the above-listed scenarios, or change his or her ticket to the next available flight and purchase a second seat in addition to the one already purchased.
United says the policy pertains to people who can't fit into a single seat, can't fasten their seatbelt with one seatbelt extender or can't put the seat's armrests down.
A spokesperson said United was responding to complaints from passengers and noted that the double charge has become common practice in the industry. It's just practiced quietly. An American representative says she doesn't remember the airline ever having to impose such a charge.
Based on some of the comments I've read on this blog and others, a lot of people seem to approve of a tougher policy on this.
With so many flights full these days, I can't imagine they'll be too many circumstances where the person in question won't be required to pay for two seats, as pointed out on Marketplace PM this evening.
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I think the airlines have largely forgotten what business they are in. They think they are selling seats, because when their computer systems were created, it was an easy way to manage flights.
But they're not in the business of selling seats. They're in the business of carrying human beings from one place to another.
Selling seats implies a fixed amount of space into which the passenger must fit. Carrying human beings recognizes that those individuals are just that -- individual -- with a different set of needs, culture, experience level, and yes, feelings.
An overweight person isn't "stealing" another seat if they overflow into it. They are a person travelling to a destination. It is the airlines' fault for making seats that are not only uncomfortable, but inhumane, and then for overfilling flights without regard for the unique characteristics of each traveller they have offered to serve.
Computer systems have advanced greatly since the 60's. It is now possible to manage the customer experience in a completely personalized and customized way, including the amount of seat space required to make for a pleasant travel experience for each.
Raise your voices with me and say, "We are not cargo, we are human beings!"
In case anyone wants to know, I am heavy but fit very well into a seat with the armrest down. Sometimes I need an extender, sometimes I don't. I would probably not be subject to the extra fee on United, but I'm going to tell my travel agency to put United second-to-last on my preference list. (Southwest is last).
I only fly when I absolutely have to. When I was young it was a pleasure to fly. Now packed in like canned sardines, it is an act of endurance. There is no customer service, bags are ruined with the first flight, extra charges are levied for everything. It has become "poor quality bus travel". (Even worse because there is nothing to see on the way.) I agree with Christopher's comments that I would rather pay a little more for a larger, more comfortable seat. I am not interested in first class when I am just trying to get from point A to point B. I also agree with the other comments about babies, wheel chairs, etc. They are no different than the fat issue.
Seems to me that this is a violation of the ADA. What if someone is very large because of a side effect of a medication, or they are a giant, or what have you? There are plenty of medical conditions that would make it difficult for a person to sit in the small seats.
As for truly overweight people, I have little sympathy. But who is to say whose obese, and who has a legitimate medical condition?
you do not have to be morbidly obese not to fit in airline seats. in fact you don't even have to be fat. I'm very tall and muscular - and I have a horrible time sitting on a plane, unless it is first class or on bulkhead seat. Mostly it is legroom that's the issue, but two guys my size sitting next to each other is extremely uncomfortable. Given that half of our population is overweight I wouldn't say this policy affects a small number of people.
Yes, but you don't fall under the policy. The policy says "people who are too big to fit with one seatbelt extension.
Unless you need two seatbelt extensions, you don't have to buy a second seat.
And I agree with you on the seats: I'm normal height and weight and I feel cramped in an airline seat.
For that matter - how to do determine who is to be charged extra? Will the airlines measure all passengers and weigh them in addition to sending us through metal detectors?
perhaps this is an overall deterrent for obese passengers. they did some calculation and determined that alienating a portion of population is still better business if it makes the other customers happy. i'm not sure sympathy for the obese is strong enough to cause a backlash. maybe i'm underestimating the number of obese.
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