I'm a rather large person, and I think that's crap.

Thin people should also have the right to have two seats for the price of one. This seriously make no sense. I hope there's more to it than just this.

So is there a scale to judge this or can a person just say "I eat lard for breakfast, can I have 2 seats for the price of one?"

Stop putting stuff in your pie hole!!!

Only people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" qualify. I wonder how that is determined?

I think that's total BS. I used to be on the hefty side also. You pay for the space. If your displacement takes up 2 seats you should pay for 2 seats.

@innout3x3: It's not Disneyland. You shouldn't get a 2fer.

Wait, so they get twice as much product, for the same price? Does Canada not understand that this amounts to simple discrimination against people who aren't morbidly obese?

I'm not saying anything about the causes of obesity, but the simple fact is that you're not just paying to get from A to B, but rather the space to get you from A to B. This is why you're limited as to your carry-ons, etc. By giving morbidly obese people two spaces for the price of one, you're (a) injuring the airlines for something they're not responsible for, and (b) devaluing the purchases by those of us who aren't morbidly obese.

The smart way to do it is what some airlines already do: force the person to pay for two seats, and if the plane flies with at least one open seat, they refund the second fare. That way, no one is injured or wrongfully benefited.

There should be more disincentives to obesity, aside from health and dignity. One less now.

I'd be interested to see how exactly they're justifying this decision. Personally, I think the fairest way to deal with passengers of wildly varying sizes is to base the ticket price on weight and body width. By not taking this into account, smaller people are subsidizing the additional costs of transporting large people.

I don't fly so often, but I've sat too many times already next to people who presumably paid the same price as me, but are occupying an uncomfortably large percentage of my seat.

I also find this objectionable. When you ship a package by UPS, they price is according to weight and size. Air transport is no different, it is about moving cargo, human and otherwise.

I weight 200 lbs and pay $300 for a ticket. My luggage weighs 50lbs and I pay a $50.00 surcharge. I pay $350.00 for a total of 250lbs.

My fellow passenger who weighs 300 lbs pays $300 for a ticket and has a 25 lbs carryon with no surcharge. His cost $300.00 to transport 325lbs.

Me $1.40 per pound
Him $0.92 per pound

Is this fair?

How can a society fight against obesity while giving perks to obese people? This is not just equal treatment...this is giving preferential treatment to obese people.

Also, does this mean a person with a small child should be entitled to another seat for no extra charge? That person would need the extra seat for baby stuff/car seat/carrier/etc...

if you read the article, the story is that the supreme court of Canada declined to hear the case, which can be for any number of reasons. So the lower court's judgment stands, which I would be curious to know on what grounds it was decided. If the decision is based on the particular condition of obesity, then are such people entitled to receive a large SUV when buying an econobox car? The reasoning is the same, is it not?

How is this going to work, practically? Will you have to provide proof of weight to the airlines so that they set aside two seats in their reservation system for you? I can't see this working on an ad hoc basis, where someone shows up at the airport, demonstrates his size to the gate agent, and they magically come up with an extra seat for him. This would create chaos in the seat assignment system. What if they don't have an open seat? Could they bump a non-obese person to make room? I say they would, and they'd point to the supreme court decision making it OK for them to do so in order to "make an accommodation".

I'm glad to see the courts recognize the reality of the situation (I've been trapped on long flights next to people who oozed into my seat many times) but I just can't see how they're going to handle this or make it work.

why would you think this is a "perk" for being obese?

it's like saying that you're going to become paralyzed to park in handicap spots, this is only for those who are obese to a point of being labeled as disabled.

@chikarin: hmm guess i clicked on the wrong person's reply button :(

Do they also get two meals?

Obesity is not a crime. Obesity's primary cause is not overeating. Obesity is a physical condition that should be accommodated.

What's next, are we going to criticise airlines for allowing a person extra leg room to accommodate her prosthetic leg? Or are we going to say that she SHOULD have been more careful in the first place, or she SHOULD pay extra for a higher-quality leg, if she has the temerity to even fly in such a condition!

I have a solution - make airline seats bigger for everyone, and increase the price of tickets for everyone. There, now y'all can put away your sense of superiority.

I think what's crap is the people up in arms over it "not being fair". Why exactly do you care? What does this take away from you? Whatta bunch of self-righteous (I'm assuming skinny little-) turds. So you'll complain if they sit next to you and their fatty arms touch yours in any way (or maybe if you are made to feel just uncomfortable by their very presence) and you'll complain if they get an extra seat to store their fatty bodies. Your indignation smacks of lifelong impotence. Go pick on someone your own size!

Obese is the new black.

PS May you dream of fat men chasing you long short hallways. forever.

I'd be happier if they let me buy two seats so I can have an empty one next to me. (I'm not obese) So now people who pay for two seats get one, and people who pay for one seat get two? That's unjust!

"...chasing you down long hallways"
Jeezus, you've gone and made me all mad and fucked up my rant.

I'm really tall. It's not my fault. I hope I can get two seats next flight (including the one in front of me) to make me more comfortable.

Harcourt: who exactly pays for two seats?

Here's a way to get around the ruling: Charging passengers for tickets by the pound.

It pays to lose weight.

@muddgirl: I don't think anyone is suggestion that being obese is a crime, but it doesn't mean that someone who is larger than most should be afforded twice the amount of real estate than others. If an obese person (or anyone else for that matter) wants two seats, then you gotta pay for them.

Furthermore, what exactly is the primary cause of obesity?

@muddgirl: Obesity is not a crime, but yes it's primary cause IS overeating.

You consume more calories than you expend and you gain weight. Period.

Most medical problems do not cause obesity, they are the result of it, (bad knees, heart conditions, diabetes, etc. etc.).

Yes, a few conditions can cause obesity, thyroid and hormone problems, etc., but that is the minority of cases.

Airline transport costs are a function of size and weight and nothing more. If you take up more space or weigh more, then you cost more to transport. This is not discriminatory, it is based on fact and actual costs.

How about a seasonal analogy? You and I both ship Christmas presents to our relatives, you send a large flat screen TV to your brother. I send two coloring books to my niece. Should UPS charge us the same amount to ship?

So when I go to McDonalds, I should be able to get 1 meal for 1 price - not pay for MORE FOOD or to UPSIZE!

@stchoo: I think your doctor can "prescribe" (lack of better word) it. You can get a handicap tag for being too fat.

I don't see what the big deal is. You Americans get two Dodge Rams for the price of one. ;)

Seriously, though, it would make sense for the obese (or tall - or anyone who wants extra wiggle room) to buy two seats and, if there are extra seats left over on the flight, they get the second seat refunded. It's a lovely compromise, in my opinion (and, being Canadian, I'm all about lovely compromises).

What airlines do this? And why don't they all?

@Jackasimov:
I care because a fair portion of the time I fly I end up sitting next to someone who's literally spilling over into my seat because they're too cheap to pay for an extra seat. Now the same people are entitled to an extra seat for free (and by free I mean the cost will be distributed to the rest of the passengers).

Obese is the new black? Don't get me started.

Well, I'm 6'5'' and 380lbs. I've flown quite a few times before, and it is, indeed, a pain in the ass for fat folks. The problem with this ruling, is actually that giving fat people two seats will do absolutely NO good. Every single plane I've ever ridden on had 'armrests' (yeah, right - if you're 4 foot tall) between the seats that either didn't fold up, or only partially folded up. What's the point of having two seats if you can't really SIT in two seats.

Total bull. You pay extra if your luggage is overweight, but if you're overweight you get a two for one special. I think it's crap. And discriminatory.

@muddgirl:

Yes, let's make all the chairs bigger to accomodate the fat population. Then let's choose upholstry covered in crosses for the christians, ice-cool the seats for penguins lest they break a sweat, and make the tray tables taste of lollipops for children who might want to lick them. This kind of shit would never be discussed in a bus or a train, why does the population have such lofty and romantic notions for air travel?

@Tsiroch: BTW, despite being fat, my biggest problem is actually leg room. I fit in the seat admirably, but unless I'm in First Class, my legs are literally jammed against the seat in front of me - Six foot five and all.

I am neurotic and believe that my best friend is an imaginary chicken named Horace. Since this is not something I can willfully control (I'm a VICTIM, I'm a VICTIM), this means I get an additional seat next to me at no cost, to the inequity of others and cost to the airline, right?

@BobCoyote: So, wait a second. My mom is 5' even and overweight, but takes up less space in an airplane, because of her build, than I do at 5'8" and a healthy weight. I have broad shoulders, broad hips, and long legs. Her ticket should cost less than mine, when purchased at the same time, to get to the same destination?

I don't think so.

@GothamGal:

Being terrifically well-endowed, I think the airlines should offer me a retractable stool, ledge or sling while seated in-flight to relieve the weight and pressure on my groin area.

@Jackasimov: Clearly you are a troll.

Rather than reply with your uneccesary hostility, let's respond with facts, that you could have gleaned from other posts.

People are upset because airline costs are a function of the weight they transport in a finite amount of space. Airlines charge by weight for cargo and luggage, but not for passengers. That means that heavy people fly for less per pound than smaller people.

YOU are choosing to make this some sort of anti-fat issue. Others of us do see this as a consumer issue of people being charged fairly for the services received.

And to take away the fat / skinny anger you seem to have, what about buying a seat for a child? Is it fair to pay the same to transport a 60 lbs child that it is to transport a 200 lb adult? Yes, they take the same space (fill one seat) but their weight variation means the fuel cost to transport them is not equal.

There - you have just received a far more dignified response than your post deserves

You turd.

@muddgirl: People who need more space can pay and SHOULD pay for it.

@muddgirl: Make seats bigger and make everyone pay more. This is a fair solution? How is making the majority of people pay more for air fare more inherently fair than making the minority of people pay for the space they're using?

Life is not fair, and usually attempts to make it so via legislative fiat are expensive and wind up being more unfair on the whole than the original situation.

@Jackasimov: gluttony is nothing to be proud of.

So does this mean that someone 6ft 7 won't be charged more for having the seat with more legroom?

@Jackasimov: the rest of the normal sized passengers via higher fares. if 10 morbidly obese people board a plane, that's 10 seats that must be made up with higher fares for everyone.

@INsano: You have the winning post of the day.

IMHO as long as Horace goes through normal security screenings and does not have more than one carry one and one personal item, I'm fine with it.

So start charging by weight. Say that a ticket is for 250lbs of transport, including luggage. If you want to bring more you pay overage.

@SkokieGuy: Dont you know logic has no place in Canadian courts...

But in all seriousness, I totally agree with you.

It means they'll raise their prices for everyone to cover the cost of the occasional broad-bottom...

@hopson77: Would you rather have someone sitting next to you complaining about you during the flight or to the whole interwebs afterward?

I think its courteous. Surely it kinda singles people out, but at least you're comfy AND ITS FREE!

@mattharvest: Technically isn't this safer though? Instead of packing the airplane like a cattle car, it actually gives *everyone* personal space and room to maneuver.