22 January, 2010 | Leave a Comment

I was just reading an article in the Telegraph called Air France to charge obese passengers for two seats.  I was reading the comments for this article when one of them made me burst out laughing.  From someone called ‘Airline Executive’:

The extra revenue generated from the additional seat purchases should go to a special fund.

This fund could be used to eventually dispose of the larger passengers all together.

France established close ties with Germany in world war II and Germany has shown great success in similar situations.

Maybe they could be helpful in developing a plan for this.

I say that gets right to the heart of the matter!

Air France = body fascists.

1. Comments RSS

1. Meggie Says:

   January 22nd, 2010 at 9:39 pm

   I’m sorry, but I disagree. I do not think that it’s right for me to be forced to sit next to a passenger that takes up part of my seat/armrest what have you–airline spaces are cramped enough as it is and I deserve to have the space I paid for. Additionally, I don’t think that obese passengers should be given an extra seat for free! If obese passengers weigh as much as two people (and take up similar space) that weight impacts the mileage and therefore the fuel costs. An airline should not have to suffer lost revenue for a seat that could have been used by another passenger. This is just something that they need to take into consideration when planning their trips.

   I understand that obesity is a personal health issue but it is one that can be taken care of on a personal level. Even genetically prone individuals can manage to take care of this problem. I know individuals who used to be obese and have worked very hard to regain their health and they agree! In fact, a couple even said that things like this give them even more incentive to stay on top of it.

   I also don’t understand where this commenter is getting this idea of “extra revenue” it isn’t extra…if they weigh the same as two average people and take up that much space on the seats then they should pay for it.

2. Anglofille Says:

   January 22nd, 2010 at 10:03 pm

   Human beings come in all shapes and sizes – short, tall, thin, fat, able-bodied, disabled, etc. Why should everyone have to fit into the same size seat? Why don’t the airlines offer a variety of seat sizes to reflect the variety of humans?

   As for the commenter, s/he was being sarcastic and making a sick joke about how throughout time, different groups of people are hated for different reasons, these people are dehumanized as a result and violence soon follows. That’s what this ‘obesity’ witch hunt is all about.

3. Lulu Says:

   January 22nd, 2010 at 11:19 pm

   In answer to Maggie: maybe the obese passengers take more “room” than others, but even if they purchase two seats they are not allowed to bring extra luggage, they only eat one meal like everybody else, and they they use the bathroom as much as you. I don’t see where the lost of revenue is, exactly? If I weight less than the average, should I have a discount, then?

   As you said, obesity is a health issue: it is recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization. And it does not only take “will” to loose the weight. This disease can actually be linked to several factors. And implying that you just have to “work very hard” on it to loose weight, as you say, seems a bit reductive to me.

   What’s more, Air France deals with passengers with special needs on a daily basis. I have in mind parents with young children, people who have to travel with music instruments or disabled people for example. Specific seats exist for disabled people, in each Air France plane. Why can’t the airlines just deal with obese people like if they were humans, and not just bulky luggage?

4. Anglofille Says:

   January 22nd, 2010 at 11:49 pm

   Why can’t the airlines just deal with obese people like if they were humans, and not just bulky luggage?

   Exactly.