zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jul 9, 2012 13:23:36 GMT -5
I always enjoy being asked to give up my aisle seat. Uh, NO!
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jul 9, 2012 13:26:45 GMT -5
I just killed a very weird 10 minutes reading about travel by cargo ship. What's the verdict?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 13:29:48 GMT -5
flying is a privilege, not a right. If people find that flying is problematic, there are other ways to get where you need to go. I just killed a very weird 10 minutes reading about travel by cargo ship. that sounds bitchin! Except for the possible pirate attacks....
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jul 9, 2012 13:31:22 GMT -5
I always enjoy being asked to give up my aisle seat. Uh, NO! that happened to me yesterday, actually. a couple had booked two middle seats and wanted someone to switch so they could sit together. um....not quite. they found some poor guy who agreed before he realized he'd be giving up his aisle for a middle. luckily, he turned out to be a decent guy to be stuck next to for a couple hours.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jul 9, 2012 13:31:26 GMT -5
They have bigger seats, they're called first class. And people that don't fit in the economy seats should buy them.
I dunno about you but there's a very good reason I've never purchased a first class ticket. THEY ARE TOO FREAKING EXPENSIVE. Which is why most people never buy them. Buying an extra seat, as much as it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, is still better than FORCING someone to pay thousands extra* for something they would never otherwise buy.
*Quick random search for fares from SFO to JFK next week - $621 for economy, $3,499 for business, $6,578 for first!!!!! Sorry but "fat people can just buy a seat in first class instead" isn't even close to an acceptable answer, at least not to me.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jul 9, 2012 13:32:04 GMT -5
I just killed a very weird 10 minutes reading about travel by cargo ship. that sounds bitchin! Except for the possible pirate attacks.... or tiger or hyena attacks when the cargo ship sinks. wait, sorry. that's MY book - I'm in the middle of "Life of Pi"
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jul 9, 2012 13:32:26 GMT -5
I don't see it as discrimination at all. If you can't fit in your seat, you dont' get to sit on top of the person next to you. I'm fortunate because I fly as a family so i am always in a row with my kids now so it hasn't been an issue. I'm just a normal size...not anorexic but not overweight...I do not have a problem fittign into my seat. I agree that someone who cannot fit into a seat shouldn't impose on the stranger sitting next to him or her. But what about the obese person flying with family members or friends sitting together? If Mom spills over into her skinny child's space, shouldn't she get a waiver on the extra seat requirement?
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jul 9, 2012 13:34:59 GMT -5
Absolutely. DF and I lift the armrest between us and sit by each other and probably in each others space but no way in hell am I doing that with some stranger. He doesn't realize it but I did aisles across from each other for our labor day trip!
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jul 9, 2012 13:35:24 GMT -5
But what about the obese person flying with family members or friends sitting together? If Mom spills over into her skinny child's space, shouldn't she get a waiver on the extra seat requirement?
I asked that earlier too. It's an interesting point. Obese passenger + skinny child can fit into two seats just fine, do they still need to buy three seats? What if the child complains that the parent is encroaching on their space?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 13:37:26 GMT -5
But what about the obese person flying with family members or friends sitting together? If Mom spills over into her skinny child's space, shouldn't she get a waiver on the extra seat requirement?I asked that earlier too. It's an interesting point. Obese passenger + skinny child can fit into two seats just fine, do they still need to buy three seats? What if the child complains that the parent is encroaching on their space? that it will be an interesting vacation!
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Jul 9, 2012 13:37:32 GMT -5
I don't think anyone is questioning whether or not people who buy a seat on a plane are entitled to their seat. I think what some people (at least I'm hearing) are saying is that it isn't ok to throw an immature, hurtful hissy fit when you don't get things exactly like you want them. Life sucks sometimes. Even when you pay for it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 13:38:06 GMT -5
<<<Re: Airline policy on obesity - fair? >>> Yes.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jul 9, 2012 13:39:49 GMT -5
My point is I want 100% of the area I've paid to sit in. Please explain to me how that is detrimental to someone else?
You want to utilize the seat that the airline offers you. So do they. What if they're spilling into the aisle instead of your side? Would that be okay? What if they can somehow make it through the flight without ever touching you, but the child on your other side is continuously setting up his little dinosaur battle on the armrest so that you can't use it? Should the child have to buy an extra seat?
I get that it's uncomfortable to get cozy with a stranger on flights. Frankly, it's an issue for almost everyone (as many have pointed out) not just obese people. The armrests, for starters, aren't built to accommodate more than one arm - which totally makes sense when two people need to share it.
So, we can agree that it's an issue. I don't dispute that. I dispute the part where we can't possibly figure out a solution that doesn't involve kicking people off planes, humiliating them, and ruining their travel plans.
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jul 9, 2012 13:40:38 GMT -5
I don't think anyone is questioning whether or not people who buy a seat on a plane are entitled to their seat. I think what some people (at least I'm hearing) are saying is that it isn't ok to throw an immature, hurtful hissy fit when you don't get things exactly like you want them. Life sucks sometimes. Even when you pay for it.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jul 9, 2012 13:40:41 GMT -5
When was the last time you saw a fat mom with a skinny kid? I always feel so sorry for those kids, not even a chance for a childhood like others. I've watched these kids come through the school system and always felt so sorry for them. They want to run and play like other kids but they look like they'll have a stoke if they do.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 13:40:45 GMT -5
There have been several instances where [moms with crying kids] have gotten kicked off the plane.Really?! I've never heard of this happening. Do you have a link? How can you kick someone off the plane for this if the kid starts crying after takeoff or during flight? (I thought most kids began crying after takeoff because their ears hurt.) I have heard of it too. I don't have the link but if you can get your kid to shut up during the take off instructions or sit down, you get kicked off.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Jul 9, 2012 13:43:15 GMT -5
No one is forcing anyone to buy anything, though. If you don't want to travel by plane, there are cars, trains, buses, and yes, cargo ships Now, if an obese person booked a single seat - and the airline then charged them for an extra seat (or a first class seat) without prior notice, then yes, that's a problem - but IMO if you fit in one seat, buy one seat. If you fit in two, buy two. And so on. Full disclosure, I'm scared to death of flying and haven't been on a plane for 4 years.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jul 9, 2012 13:44:47 GMT -5
I hate it myself and so much would rather drive but DF isn't willing to.
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moxie
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Post by moxie on Jul 9, 2012 13:46:50 GMT -5
I like chubby people.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jul 9, 2012 13:48:09 GMT -5
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jul 9, 2012 13:48:37 GMT -5
Plus, how much revenue is the airline losing from obese passengers who are pissed off about this policy? Probably not very much because it sounds like pretty much every airline has this policy. While I'm sure some people choose not to fly at all because of it, I doubt they are the majority. If this was a big enough PR issue, then they would change the policy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 13:49:12 GMT -5
If you don't like riding the bus in the air, don't. If you don't like blanket policies from the airlines, don't use their service. It's pretty simple.
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moxie
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Post by moxie on Jul 9, 2012 13:49:31 GMT -5
I miss Chris Farley. He was a funny chubby person. RIP
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Firebird
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Post by Firebird on Jul 9, 2012 13:51:29 GMT -5
No one is forcing anyone to buy anything, though. If you don't want to travel by plane, there are cars, trains, buses, and yes, cargo ships Sometimes fat people have a need to fly because other forms of transportation won't work, just like skinny people.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jul 9, 2012 13:52:24 GMT -5
HAHA!! I'm flying with the kiddos to CA next month. It might be a nice plane trip if someone else has to sit next to my 4 yr old & 22 month old. I bet they will be willing to let me trade seats to sit with my kids. I'm not going to pay extra for that opportunity.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 13:53:10 GMT -5
Then it looks like 2 seats is a real deal!
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moxie
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Post by moxie on Jul 9, 2012 13:54:50 GMT -5
"It might be a nice plane trip if someone else has to sit next to my 4 yr old & 22 month old." I would do it! I always bring kid snacks and little games/activities along in my carry on.
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Jul 9, 2012 13:55:10 GMT -5
My only problem with this policy is what do we do with tall people? Someone who is 6'5" doesn't have to be overweight to have trouble fitting into an airplane seat and it's not like you can control your height like you can control your weight.
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moxie
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Post by moxie on Jul 9, 2012 13:56:54 GMT -5
Can you imagine sitting next to Shaq? He'd be in first class, but still...he is a big guy with HUGE feet!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jul 9, 2012 13:57:05 GMT -5
I'm thinking if you are sitting down, you don't heat the overhead. As far as their legs, they must have figured out a way by now because I'm sure they've been tall for a very long time.
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