Easing The Load: United’s “New” Weight Policy
So by now you have probably heard about United’s much publicized new policy on larger passengers. This new policy stems from 700 complaints United Airlines received last year about overweight passengers taking up a portion of their neighbor’s seat.
Basically the policy states that (and this is taken directly from United’s website):
“For the comfort and well-being of all customers aboard United flights, we have aligned with other major airlines’ seating policies relating to passengers who:
• are unable to fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin;
• are unable to properly buckle the seatbelt using a single seatbelt extender; and/or
• are unable to put the seat’s armrests down when seated.
If unused seats are available on the ticketed United or United Express flight, then a customer meeting any of the above criteria will be reaccommodated next to an empty seat.
If no unused seats are available on the ticketed flight, then the customer must either purchase an upgrade to a cabin with available seats that address the above-listed scenarios, or change his or her ticket to the next available flight and purchase a second seat in addition to the one already purchased. If a customer meeting any of the above-listed criteria cannot be accommodated next to an empty seat and chooses not to upgrade or change flights and purchase a ticket for an additional seat, he or she will not be permitted to board the flight.
This policy applies to tickets purchased on or after March 4, 2009, for travel on or after April 15, 2009.
Please understand that we care a great deal about all of our customers’ well-being, and we have implemented this policy to help ensure that everyone’s travel experiences with United are comfortable and pleasant.”
United is not the only airline with this policy, Southwest Airlines has received a lot of publicity for the enforcing of their overweight passenger policy and Delta Airlines also has a similar policy. So what are your thoughts? Do you think this is fair? In some ways weight can be seen as a disability- are the airlines going to charge people in a wheelchair extra baggage fees for checking their wheelchair? What about people who have to carry on oxygen?
But on the other hand have you ever sat in the middle seat on a five hour red-eye flight next to two bigger individuals? I have- and it was the most uncomfortable flight I have ever been on. I paid the same amount for my seat- as the two other individuals yet I had the least amount of room. Is that fair? Does fair really even exist anymore?
I’m curious to hear what your thoughts are!
April 21st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
As unfair as this could be viewed, I kind of agree with it. I mean, I’ve been in the situation where the person next to you is so overweight you are literally missing a quarter of your seat. Now, that’s not fair to me!
Really, I think any passenger whose inherent nature disturbs passengers around them should be charged extra, such as a smelly person.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I think the policy is fair, in that they only charge for the second seat if the flight is full and they cannot place the overweight person near a second empty seat.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Definitely fair. Whatever the reason, they are overweight and taking up more than their allotted space. I have also sat between two overweight people and it was horribly uncomfortable. I don’t appreciate not being able to have the arm rest down because someone won’t fit!
April 21st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
As someone who took a red-eye from Anchorage to Seattle in a window seat between the bulkhead and someone who was quite literally in my lap for the entire flight, I feel like it’s fair.
I agree with Dan though, being overweight isn’t the only way you can make someone else’s flight uncomfortable. I would also to charge the annoying, overly-chatty neighbors extra. Or while I’m at it, charge that kid that always sits behind me and kicks my seat. Punk.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Definitely fair. The difference between the overweight person and the other examples you gave is that the person with the wheelchair and the person with oxygen aren’t directly inconveniencing other passengers. The large person is taking up space I paid for and rightfully belongs to me during the period we’re on that plane.
April 21st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I like how they straddled the PC line and didn’t give any definite numbers or sizes. Only if they can fit or not. I think it’s a space issue (as Jan said), treating the customer like oversized luggage. Seems a bit unfair, but at the same time, I see the logic in it. This one is a mixed bag and must have involved lots of lawyers making sure United covered themselves against most lawsuits.
Dan does have a point about someone who’s not showered in days. That could be worse than an overweight person who bathes daily.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 am
I will agree with everyone so far. Consider it this way. When you are paying for an airline ticket, you are paying for a portion of space on a plane. If your portion is larger than the next person’s, then you need to pay for it. Until the day that they can dynamically re-size the seats according to the size of the person, and charge according to height/width/weight, you’ll need to pay for the increments that they provide: a seat. If you’re unable to fly due to your weight, even if you consider it a handicap, that is very unfortunate but not the airline’s issue or the person next to you.