fat people and planes

Murphy_The_Cat

malkie76 wrote: »

On many airlines the under 5s can travel at 10% of ticket price, but without any luggage entitlement - which would you prefer

Really ?!?!?!?!?! You don't happen to have any link for that, do you ?
I was aware that some airlines will allow a child under 2 to sit on an adults lap for 10% of teh ticket price (& have no luggage allowance), but I wasn't aware of anyone extending it to 5 years old.
From 18 months and older I've always taken the hit on my pocket and paid for a 'full price' ticket for my children to holiday with me.

BTW, I would absolutely HATE having a parent & toddler sharing the same seat next to me - taht is one of my ideas of hell on earth (well in a plane, anyway )

Innys

ALWAYS_POOR wrote: »

It sometimes crosses my mind that airlines should add passenger luggage to the passenger's weight. Why should someone who is 20 stone to start with have the same 20kg luggage allowance. Or maybe give everyone a set allowance to make up in bodyweight and luggage total (just a madcap thought really).

I recall reading somewhere that the luggage surcharge is a deterrent for the benefit of baggage handlers.

The argument goes that baggage handlers have to lift oversize luggage and risk doing themselves an injury. Whacking a surcharge onto luggage obviously reduces the chances of this - but only if there is also a limit on the number of bags that can be checked in per pasenger.

However, more often than not, a fatso will manage to drag themselves onto and off the plane - excluding those that are so big they need one of those passenger trolleys to carry them around the terminal.....

ALWAYS_POOR

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

What a cracking idea - does that mean that my 3 year old daughter can have an additional 12 stones worth of luggage ? She is , after all paying full price for her seat . Or is that different ?

Why not? You pay your money - you get your share!

The idea came to mind on a recent very cheap flight when I struggled to get a week's worth of bits and pieces into 15kg when the person waiting next to me in the queue weighed about 25 stone BEFORE their hand luggage (how some of those 'hand luggage' cases fit in that cage at the check-in beats me) and hold luggage was taken into account.

Innys

ALWAYS_POOR wrote: »

Why not? You pay your money - you get your share!

The idea came to mind on a recent very cheap flight when I struggled to get a week's worth of bits and pieces into 15kg when the person waiting next to me in the queue weighed about 25 stone BEFORE their hand luggage (how some of those 'hand luggage' cases fit in that cage at the check-in beats me) and hold luggage was taken into account.

I find the hand luggage rule is very similar to that prohibiting bikes being taken on trains at peak times......the organisation making up the rule take a great deal of time and effort in promoting the rule......and do nothing to enfoce it. Why bother?

photome

malkie76 wrote: »

On many airlines the under 5s can travel at 10% of ticket price, but without any luggage entitlement - which would you prefer



Excellent point, and a very tricky one. I'm 6foot4 myself, and the correct weight for my weight which results in a 36inch waist. I'm guessing you could be medically obese at 5foot1 with a 36inch waist, essentially taking up the same 'space' as me on a plane.

I imagine they'll have a airline seat at checkin (similar to the overhead baggage sizing tool), where everyone has to demonstrate they fit into without bending the armrests before being allowed on board!

Which airlines are those, I wasnt aware of any that had different rules for kids between 2 and 5

malkie76

I was thinking about BA, but having double-checked I was mistaken. Seems the 10% fare is for an under 2 on your lap (no luggage allowance). Apparently 2 to 12 year olds can fly on specially discounted tickets, however there was no definite information other than to call BA for specifics. 2 to 12 year olds on the discounted fares get full checked and hand luggage allowances.

Sorry for the confusions :A



On topic - fat people on planes - http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/articles/should-obese-passengers-pay-more-debate-continues fantastic photo in this one - it's a reasonably well balanced article, and the panel on the left shows various airline policies

Murphy_The_Cat

malkie76 wrote: »

I was thinking about BA, but having double-checked I was mistaken. Seems the 10% fare is for an under 2 on your lap (no luggage allowance). Apparently 2 to 12 year olds can fly on specially discounted tickets, however there was no definite information other than to call BA for specifics. 2 to 12 year olds on the discounted fares get full checked and hand luggage allowances.

Sorry for the confusions :A



On topic - fat people on planes - http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/articles/should-obese-passengers-pay-more-debate-continues fantastic photo in this one - it's a reasonably well balanced article, and the panel on the left shows various airline policies

no worries malkie.

As for the piccie, do you or does anyone else actually believe that is a real, non photoshopped picture, taken during a flight ?

As for the discussion, yep, it keeps on rearing its head, goes around in circles and then then disappears again

malkie76

Apparently the photo is genuine, however research suggests it's slightly misleading. The guy is sitting on the armrest of the seat, making him look taller and suggesting he's wider than he actually is.

However, no doubt the guy is huge, and I certainly wouldn't like to be next to him

Murphy_The_Cat

malkie76 wrote: »

However, no doubt the guy is huge, and I certainly wouldn't like to be next to him

Me neither.

On a flight to Cuba a few years ago, a huuuugeeeeee bloke was shoehorned int a seat next to me, given 2 seat belt extenders and settled in for takeoff. I really, really wasn't looking forward to a longhaul flight next to him. But as soon as the seatbelt sign went out, two stewerdesses pried him from his seat (no kidding) and guided him through to Business Class.

A very close call for Mr Cat

malkie76

You should have been offered the upgrade while large gentleman could have enjoyed the extra space of your unoccupied seat! Why should he get the freebie due to his size ??? Harsh!