Airlines charge overweight passengers double

[LolaCocaCola]

I caught this in the news and wondered what people’s thoughts are:

Southwest Airlines: Will They Charge Overweight Passengers More Money?

A Southwest Airlines (news - web sites) spokesman today denies any change in the airline’s practice regarding charging larger passengers for two seats. The Washington Times reports today that, starting June 26th, the Dallas-based low-cost carrier will charge passengers for two seats if airport agents conclude they couldn’t fit comfortably in one. The newspaper quotes Southwest spokeswoman Christine Turneabe-Connelly as saying there will be weight and height requirements to guide ticket agents – it’ll be a judgment call. She tells the newspaper that if the flight isn’t full, the double-charged passenger could request a refund for the extra seat after the flight. However, Southwest spokesman Ed Stewart in Dallas denies any change in Southwest policy. He says larger passengers have always been charged for two seats if they couldn’t fit comfortably in one.

Is this the usual procedure for overweight passengers?

[Johnny_L.A]

If a passenger is so large that he or she cannot fit into a single seat, then it doesn’t seem unreasonable to charge them for the extra seat. But if the passenger can fit into a single seat, then they should not be charged double simply because they are overweight.

[beagledave]

I started a GD thread you may wish to check out.

[Tedster]

Seems kind of silly reasoning. Does this mean if we can fit two people into one seat, we only have to buy one? I rather doubt it. Fat people (Sorry, “People of Mass”; notice how silly PC-speak is) do need to realize how uncomfortable it can be seated next to them. I suppose it’s quite embarrassing as well. But perhaps a compromise could be to weigh passengers prior to boarding and charge by the pound…, with extra charges for ‘wide loads’

[Xema]

*Originally posted by Tedster *
Does this mean if we can fit two people into one seat, we only have to buy one?

This is true in the case where one of the two is a parent and the other an infant. Otherwise, FAA rules require a separate seat (with seatbelt) for each passenger.

[zen101]

There are probably safety issues preventing two persons sharing one seat Tedster, so that’s probably not going to work out. But I do have to agree that it’s logical to charge people on a basis of mass or volume. After all if I want to ship more baggage then I have to pay added freight, so why not pay more for added personal bulk?

And I have been seated in crowded flights next to people overflowing their own seats and taking up room in my own paid for space. That sucks. I’m not saying they have to lose weight, but why not pay for their added bulk? It strikes me as similar to dividing a check at a resturant, whoever ate the most pays that share.

[LolaCocaCola]

*Originally posted by beagledave *
**I started a GD thread you may wish to check out. **

Oops! Sorry, beagledave! :smack:

I missed that one.

[Briny_Deep]

According to many of the ladies at work, what they always do is ask to sit in first class. They seem to be routinely accommodated, without being charged, unless the first class section is full.*

This strikes me as sneaky, somehow. If they know in advance they can’t fit in a coach seat, I think they might ought to buy a first class ticket (or use miles for an upgrade). Of course I didn’t say that to them.

::looks around nervously::
::wanders off to lurk discreetly in the GD thread::
(*of course SWA doesn’t have a first class section)