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Wider Fliers Call for Wider Seats

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 9, 2009 9:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – So-called “passengers of size” have been irritating fellow airline passengers for decades, but lately the scales have tipped decisively against them, the Wall Street Journal reports. Many airlines now require wider travelers to buy two seats, a solution that pleases the skinny, but miffs advocates for the obese. Why, they ask, can’t airlines install some wider seats, like the seats with more leg room airlines offer to extra-long customers.

Seatbelt safety issues and arm rests that don’t fully retract make the two-seat solution uncomfortable, and almost no one requires that much space. So advocates have proposed adding a few rows of wider coach seats, and charging a 50% premium on them. “We’re willing to pay for what we’re rightfully using,” says a fat acceptance group spokesman.

Passengers wait in front of the Southwest Airlines counter at Baltimore-Washington International Airport June 20, 2002 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Passengers wait in front of the Southwest Airlines counter at Baltimore-Washington International Airport June 20, 2002 in Baltimore, Maryland.   (Getty Images)
It's no fun sitting next to an obese person, but they don't really need two seats.
It's no fun sitting next to an obese person, but they don't really need two seats.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
luluzz
Jun 10, 2009 4:38 AM CDT
My goodness, why didn't all of those obese folks never think about the simplicity of losing weight your way RQE. Thank goodness people like you are in the world to "help" the rest of the human population.
Rembrandt_Q_Einstein
Jun 10, 2009 3:24 AM CDT
One of the many pleasures I get out of life is making middle-aged bitter douchebags such as yourself angry and uncomfortable. For as long as you continue to post your fucktarded and backward "beliefs" and moronic attempts at humor I will be there to make you and other reactionary dumbasses like you look like the illiterate cretinous oafs that you are. Hugs, kthanksbai.
Are_you--Nobody--Too
Jun 9, 2009 8:51 AM CDT
I've been on flights where I swear they've added a row of seats at the last minute to accommodate overbooking. It can get pretty ridiculous, even for the skinny. I agree with the above "definition of torture" comment. Coach class is inhumane in my book!

 
obesity • airline industry • obese • airplanes

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