Obese to be charged once in Canada

StarAllianceFlyer · 11-21-2008, 04:52 AM

Looks like Canadian airlines cannot charge obese passengers for a second seat. Will be interesting to see if this trickles down to the US.

Obese have right to two airline seats | Oddly Enough | Reuters

Obese have right to two airline seats
Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:02pm EST

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

The high court declined to hear an appeal by Canadian airlines of a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" deserve to have two seats for one fare.

The airlines had lost an appeal at the Federal Court of Appeal in May and had sought to launch a fresh appeal at the Supreme Court. The court's decision not to hear a new appeal means the one-person-one-fare policy stands.

The appeal had been launched by Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet.

(Reporting by Randall Palmer)

Swami8 · 11-21-2008, 11:53 AM

Oh boy, if it's a documented medical condition, then yes, I can see where charging for only a single seat is fair. However, if someone is just lazy and sits on their *** all day while stuffing their face, whey should everyone else on that flight cover the cost of the extra seat they will need (and you all know the airline will simply pass the cost on to everyone else).

TigerAir · 11-21-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swami8

Oh boy, if it's a documented medical condition, then yes, I can see where charging for only a single seat is fair. However, if someone is just lazy and sits on their *** all day while stuffing their face, whey should everyone else on that flight cover the cost of the extra seat they will need (and you all know the airline will simply pass the cost on to everyone else).

A harsh perspective

But! I totally AGREE

Swami8 · 11-21-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerAir

A harsh perspective

But! I totally AGREE

LOL Sorry, it was a tad bit harsh. I've been surrounded by people seriously lacking in common sense all week and my frustration is spilling over. Thank goodness the weekend has arrived!

I think people have to start taking responsibility and suffering the consequences of their own actions instead of whining for the world around them to constantly adjust. Just my two cents...

captain adam w · 11-21-2008, 04:48 PM

yes like people say it is harsh, but i am also in agreement with swami8

vince1159 · 11-21-2008, 05:06 PM

What about people over say 6'4",thats not a medical condition but still have to sit with their knees wrapped around their ears.So does somebody tall pay for the seat infront of them and have it removed?..What was said by Swami8 was fair for actual medical conditions but where does it stop.

furryforest · 11-22-2008, 09:34 AM

I'm glad to see this to be honest. Airline seats are getting horrendous. I'm a tall guy. I MAY be packing some baby fat that i haven't been able to shift in the last 28 years but there are times that my hips hurt after sitting in airline seats for a while. Bloody sheep get more room when they are transported!

MD11Freighter · 11-22-2008, 12:10 PM

That is harsh but I can understand it

Captain Wahoo · 11-22-2008, 01:38 PM

I guess I won't be flying in Canada! HA!

Mudanglee · 11-22-2008, 04:19 PM

I think the seats these days are even too small for hobbits. I know some jets have added an extra seat in each row, and the number of isles has increased as well. Hey - the number of washrooms is another one! (or lack of) Oh - and where did the piano and bar go? They could upgrade the seats - they really are to small - considering I was tall for my generation and now high school girls tower over me LOL.

Swami8 · 11-24-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furryforest

I'm glad to see this to be honest. Airline seats are getting horrendous. I'm a tall guy. I MAY be packing some baby fat that i haven't been able to shift in the last 28 years but there are times that my hips hurt after sitting in airline seats for a while. Bloody sheep get more room when they are transported!

Ah, but do you really want to meet the same fate as the bloody sheep after they get off of their luxury transport?

You're either getting a bald head or that was your last ride...

DeltaFlyte · 11-24-2008, 08:33 PM

Obese people beware! Delta Air Lines will start outfitting it's entire fleet in 2010 with new Economy Class seats which will definitely not accomodate the "one seat per each cheek" guideline. The new "Cozy Suite" concept is designed with tall people in mind that generally don't fit within a 32" seat pitch. Although the seats will still be placed at a 32" pitch, the design allows for an extra 2 inches of leg room making it equivalent to a 34" seat pitch. I'm certain that Delta will provide a couple of extra wider seats somewhere in the Economy Cabin to accomodate severly obese passengers in order to avoid any legal litagation that would otherwise ensue. See pictures of this new concept below.

Personally, I love the idea of this new concept and welcome it being 6'-4" tall and weighing in at 193 pounds. Especially since I will no longer have to deal with someone's flab flowing over the armrest and onto my lap during a long-haul or trans-oceanic flight. More importantly, these seats will accomodate a semi-protective barrier for people much like myself that are afflicted with the "severe nerve disorder" known as "Reflex Symptomatic Dystrophy Syndrome/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome" (RSDS/CRPS). There is no pain comprable to that caused by someone touching or accidently bumping into an affected extremity of someone who has RSDS/CRPS. Many of our veterans recently disabled in the Gulf War are being diagnosed with this disease at an alarming rate which is sometimes triggered by damage to the para-sympathetic nervous system as a permanent secondary injury resulting from gunshot and I.E.D. wounds.

hikouki · 11-25-2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vince1159

What about people over say 6'4",thats not a medical condition but still have to sit with their knees wrapped around their ears.So does somebody tall pay for the seat infront of them and have it removed?..What was said by Swami8 was fair for actual medical conditions but where does it stop.

That's the point! People who are tall are tall because they were born with genes that make them tall. It's not quite a "medical condition" but a "genetic variant." Those are two different terms we use. So why punish someone for being born with long legs? I think airlines are correct in accomodating them say in exit rows, etc.

Obesity, on the other hand is a whole different matter. While it is true that there are certain genetic aberrations that lead to metabolic defects, most obese people are the product of their own lazy *sses.

Obesity, is the result of various lifestyle choices. So why ask an airline to pay for one's poor lifestyle choices?

Believe it or not, obesity, together with diseases like most cases hypertension and heart disease, are classified under "lifestyle diseases." In fact, we always advise patients a trial of so called "lifestyle modification" prior to starting on various maintenance medications.

No one should punish someone else for eating too much.

Darien Red Sox · 12-02-2008, 10:13 AM

Who decides if they need two seats? Is there a set size for "large" passengers.

StarAllianceFlyer · 12-02-2008, 10:24 AM

I've seen Southwest do it twice on their A&E show. Essentially they pulled the passenger aside before boarding, informed them of the situation, and asked if they would mind to "try-out" the seat and brought the passenger aboard to sit in a seat. One of the two passengers was fine, the other had to squeeze himself into the seat and it was quite apparent that he was going to encroach in the other passenger's space...so the Southwest manager informed him that he is going to have to buy another seat.

11-21-2008, 04:52 AM	#1
StarAllianceFlyer RJ Second Officer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 114	Obese to be charged once in Canada Looks like Canadian airlines cannot charge obese passengers for a second seat. Will be interesting to see if this trickles down to the US. Obese have right to two airline seats \| Oddly Enough \| Reuters Obese have right to two airline seats Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:02pm EST OTTAWA (Reuters) - Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday. The high court declined to hear an appeal by Canadian airlines of a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" deserve to have two seats for one fare. The airlines had lost an appeal at the Federal Court of Appeal in May and had sought to launch a fresh appeal at the Supreme Court. The court's decision not to hear a new appeal means the one-person-one-fare policy stands. The appeal had been launched by Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet. (Reporting by Randall Palmer) __________________ Attention ... announcing the arrival of: BB400 Japan Asia Airways B747-200 JA8129 DW AirAsia A320-200 9M-AFC ~ United Airlines B747-400 N188UA Jet-X EVA Air MD-11 N105EV ~ United Airlines DC-10-10 N1807U ~ United Express BAe 146-300 N611AW, N615AW ~ United Express BAe 146-200 N290UE, N292UE ~ United Express BAe 146-100 N246SS on December 21st, 2008 from AirParadigm.com

11-21-2008, 11:53 AM	#2
Swami8 Senior Captain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Age: 34 Posts: 1,862	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada Oh boy, if it's a documented medical condition, then yes, I can see where charging for only a single seat is fair. However, if someone is just lazy and sits on their *** all day while stuffing their face, whey should everyone else on that flight cover the cost of the extra seat they will need (and you all know the airline will simply pass the cost on to everyone else). __________________ "I just wanna fly"

11-21-2008, 04:48 PM	#5
captain adam w RJ Captain Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: newcastle Age: 16 Posts: 566	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada yes like people say it is harsh, but i am also in agreement with swami8 __________________ need more charter airlines in 1/400 THOMSON-FLY NO.1 my 1/400 airport: www.freewebs.com/adamw09

11-21-2008, 05:06 PM	#6
vince1159 RJ Second Officer Join Date: Aug 2007 Age: 43 Posts: 156	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada What about people over say 6'4",thats not a medical condition but still have to sit with their knees wrapped around their ears.So does somebody tall pay for the seat infront of them and have it removed?..What was said by Swami8 was fair for actual medical conditions but where does it stop. Last edited by vince1159; 11-21-2008 at 06:08 PM.

11-22-2008, 09:34 AM	#7
furryforest Bronze Wings900 Supporter A Wings900 Supporter Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Northern Ireland, UK Age: 28 Posts: 2,884	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada I'm glad to see this to be honest. Airline seats are getting horrendous. I'm a tall guy. I MAY be packing some baby fat that i haven't been able to shift in the last 28 years but there are times that my hips hurt after sitting in airline seats for a while. Bloody sheep get more room when they are transported! __________________ But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory

11-22-2008, 12:10 PM	#8
MD11Freighter Master ATP Captain Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lowell, MA 01852 Age: 30 Posts: 4,112	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada That is harsh but I can understand it __________________ Lowell International Airport (KLOW/LOW)

11-22-2008, 01:38 PM	#9
Captain Wahoo Operations Director Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Marquette, MI 49855 Age: 44 Posts: 7,080	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada I guess I won't be flying in Canada! HA! __________________ If Chicago sports teams were as good as Chicago food, they would never be beat!

11-22-2008, 04:19 PM	#10
Mudanglee RJ Second Officer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto Age: 40 Posts: 174	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada I think the seats these days are even too small for hobbits. I know some jets have added an extra seat in each row, and the number of isles has increased as well. Hey - the number of washrooms is another one! (or lack of) Oh - and where did the piano and bar go? They could upgrade the seats - they really are to small - considering I was tall for my generation and now high school girls tower over me LOL.

11-24-2008, 08:33 PM	#12
DeltaFlyte RJ First Officer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gulf Breeze, Florida Posts: 232	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada Obese people beware! Delta Air Lines will start outfitting it's entire fleet in 2010 with new Economy Class seats which will definitely not accomodate the "one seat per each cheek" guideline. The new "Cozy Suite" concept is designed with tall people in mind that generally don't fit within a 32" seat pitch. Although the seats will still be placed at a 32" pitch, the design allows for an extra 2 inches of leg room making it equivalent to a 34" seat pitch. I'm certain that Delta will provide a couple of extra wider seats somewhere in the Economy Cabin to accomodate severly obese passengers in order to avoid any legal litagation that would otherwise ensue. See pictures of this new concept below. Personally, I love the idea of this new concept and welcome it being 6'-4" tall and weighing in at 193 pounds. Especially since I will no longer have to deal with someone's flab flowing over the armrest and onto my lap during a long-haul or trans-oceanic flight. More importantly, these seats will accomodate a semi-protective barrier for people much like myself that are afflicted with the "severe nerve disorder" known as "Reflex Symptomatic Dystrophy Syndrome/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome" (RSDS/CRPS). There is no pain comprable to that caused by someone touching or accidently bumping into an affected extremity of someone who has RSDS/CRPS. Many of our veterans recently disabled in the Gulf War are being diagnosed with this disease at an alarming rate which is sometimes triggered by damage to the para-sympathetic nervous system as a permanent secondary injury resulting from gunshot and I.E.D. wounds. Attached Thumbnails __________________ DeltaFlyte *20,000 Gulf War Veterans diagnosed with RSDS/CRPS; Help them put out the fire within: www.rsdhope.org*

12-02-2008, 10:13 AM	#14
Darien Red Sox Earning My Wings Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Darien, CT Posts: 11	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada Who decides if they need two seats? Is there a set size for "large" passengers.

12-02-2008, 10:24 AM	#15
StarAllianceFlyer RJ Second Officer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 114	Re: Obese to be charged once in Canada I've seen Southwest do it twice on their A&E show. Essentially they pulled the passenger aside before boarding, informed them of the situation, and asked if they would mind to "try-out" the seat and brought the passenger aboard to sit in a seat. One of the two passengers was fine, the other had to squeeze himself into the seat and it was quite apparent that he was going to encroach in the other passenger's space...so the Southwest manager informed him that he is going to have to buy another seat. __________________ Attention ... announcing the arrival of: BB400 Japan Asia Airways B747-200 JA8129 DW AirAsia A320-200 9M-AFC ~ United Airlines B747-400 N188UA Jet-X EVA Air MD-11 N105EV ~ United Airlines DC-10-10 N1807U ~ United Express BAe 146-300 N611AW, N615AW ~ United Express BAe 146-200 N290UE, N292UE ~ United Express BAe 146-100 N246SS on December 21st, 2008 from AirParadigm.com

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