UA: Overweight Passeners charged 2 seats

rockin'robin

rockin'robin

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Overweight passengers hoping to travel on United Airlines may have to buy two tickets to fly the friendly skies.

The third largest U.S. airline announced Wednesday that it will join other carriers and start charging passengers for two seats if they can't properly fit into one.

United made the change as a result of the hundreds of complaints it receives each year from customers who "had to share their seat with the oversized guest," United Spokeswoman Robin Urbansky told Bloomberg.com.

According to the airline, the policy will be enforced only in the event that the passenger can't be relocated next to an empty seat. If the flight is full, the passenger will have to change their ticket to the next available flight and purchase a second seat for that flight.

United is the fifth major airline to adopt a policy of this kind.

The new rule applies to tickets purchased on or after March 4, 2009, for travel on or after April 15, 2009.

http://www.foxUSnews.com
 
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Maria said:
:eek3: Do you think it is fair ?
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Don't know if it's fair or not but it does come down to $$$. If an overweight passenger takes up two seats but only pays for one.. well, the airline looses money.

I'm not particulary suprised by this course of action. :shrug:
 
I'm not sure how I feel about this issue. I can understand both perspectives. Airlines do lose money when 2 seats are taken up by one person. At the same time, overweight passengers shouldn't be charged extra because of something they may be unable to help. The next thing you know, airlines will charge tall people for requiring more leg room.
 
I can see the logic, but America is getting fatter. I did read some theaters are widening the seats. Maybe airlines will need to do the same.
 
Bottesini said:
I can see the logic, but America is getting fatter. I did read some theaters are widening the seats. Maybe airlines will need to do the same.
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China will have obesity issue in near future because they have most fast food in world and obesity rate has skyrocketing.
 
Maria said:
:eek3: Do you think it is fair ?
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Its really hard to say, I was thinking of people who have a medical condition and under doctor's orders for a weight problem. I don't think it would be fair to those people to pay double. Maybe, they can prove it with the doctors note.
 
If they want to be fair, they should charge passengers by how much they weigh. Weight makes a difference in amount of jet fuel burned during flight.
 
Doug5 said:
If they want to be fair, they should charge passengers by how much they weigh. Weight makes a difference in amount of jet fuel burned during flight.
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That is how they do it in the Postal services. By weight. :lol:

what a thought! It cracked me up! but perhaps may happen one day.
 
Doug5 said:
If they want to be fair, they should charge passengers by how much they weigh. Weight makes a difference in amount of jet fuel burned during flight.
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How would they go about doing that? Require all passengers to submit medical documentation indicating how much they weigh? That seems like an unnecessary hassle.
 
Hear Again said:
How would they go about doing that? Require all passengers to submit medical documentation indicating how much they weigh? That seems like an unnecessary hassle.
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Probably... would do it the same way they do it at the post office. They will weigh you before purchasing a ticket.

Boarding a Plane now a days is already a hassle!! Since 9-11.

so it is a difficult subject.
 
Babyblue said:
Probably... would do it the same way they do it at the post office. They will weigh you before purchasing a ticket.
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The only problem with that solution is how to get this information when people purchase airline tickets online.
 
Hear Again said:
How would ticket agents recover additional costs if a person claims to weigh 125, but actually weighs 325?
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Then they should have not claimed to be 125 and weighs 325 online. Once you have verified, the online signature. They would be charged extra. or lose the flight. Since they have done an online verification.
 
Babyblue said:
Then they should have not claimed to be 125 and weighs 325 online. Once you have verified, the online signature. They would be charged extra. or lose the flight. Since they have done an online verification.
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How do you account for people's weight fluctuating? I see too many flaws with this scenario and think it's ridiculous not to mention discriminatory against people who cannot help how much they weigh.
 
I think it's fair to do this, but there also should be exceptions that can be explained with a doctor's note, like Oceanblue said.
 
Hear Again said:
How do you account for people's weight fluctuating? I see too many flaws with this scenario and think it's ridiculous not to mention discriminatory against people who cannot help how much they weigh.
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I never said I agreed to it... I just said it is possible that may happen.

Dang! They are looking for any ways to look to increase the cost... Extra luggage, etc.... increasing their price. Airline tickets are not cheap.


That is why I said, a Weight Range..... A person can weight 5 or 6 pounds less in a day. so they would have to set up a weight range from the weight a person claim to be.
 
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