Fahrenheit 900 Pounds

Augustus · Post by **Augustus** » 2004-11-05 06:11pm

WSJ wrote:"A recent government study reveals that airlines increasingly have to worry more about the weight of their passengers," the Associated Press reports from Atlanta:

Houston Chroncile wrote:America's growing waistlines are hurting the bottom lines of airline companies as the extra pounds on passengers are causing a drag on planes. Heavier fliers have created heftier fuel costs, according to the government study. . . .

The extra fuel burned also had an environmental impact, as an estimated 3.8 million extra tons of carbon dioxide was released into the air, according to the study.
At last, science proves that global warming is Michael Moore's fault!

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-11-05 06:26pm

Are you sure its not because of heavier luggage?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-11-05 06:28pm

fgalkin wrote:Are you sure its not because of heavier luggage?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

They already make you pay for overweight baggage. This is the fat we're all carrying up with us.

Maybe I should get a discount for being a healthy weight?

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-11-05 06:57pm

I doubt an airline would get away with discounts for less weight or fees for extra weight.

It'd be denounced as discrimination against the fat. I can imagine the lawsuits.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-11-05 07:01pm

neoolong wrote:I doubt an airline would get away with discounts for less weight or fees for extra weight.

It'd be denounced as discrimination against the fat. I can imagine the lawsuits.

Fuck 'em. The guy sitting next to me on my last flight was a frickin' fire hazard. He filled up the entire fucking aisle when he got up to go to the bathroom (constantly), he needed special assistance to get into and out of the frickin' aircraft, and had difficulty navigating the aisles. He also vociferously demanded additional in flight food, despite the fact that he could stand to skip his next hundred or so meals while training to run a marathon and still be overweight. When we got to the gate, he could barely fit through the fucking exit door (he LITERALLY touched both sides of the door with his gut while wiggling through), and complained about how airlines weren't built for the husky gentleman.

I was thinking, "If you can't fucking fit through the door to the plane, wtf would you do in the case of an emergency?"

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-11-05 07:03pm

Master of Ossus wrote:I was thinking, "If you can't fucking fit through the door to the plane, wtf would you do in the case of an emergency?"

In all probability, die trapped inside a burning airplane.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-11-05 07:08pm

Master of Ossus wrote:Fuck 'em. The guy sitting next to me on my last flight was a frickin' fire hazard. He filled up the entire fucking aisle when he got up to go to the bathroom (constantly), he needed special assistance to get into and out of the frickin' aircraft, and had difficulty navigating the aisles. He also vociferously demanded additional in flight food, despite the fact that he could stand to skip his next hundred or so meals while training to run a marathon and still be overweight. When we got to the gate, he could barely fit through the fucking exit door (he LITERALLY touched both sides of the door with his gut while wiggling through), and complained about how airlines weren't built for the husky gentleman.

I was thinking, "If you can't fucking fit through the door to the plane, wtf would you do in the case of an emergency?"

That is a problem. However, I was thinking more in terms of customers that are fat and don't cause problems like that.

And while extras fees, or a discount might make sense and should be there, the reality of how well they could be implemented is something else.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-11-05 07:11pm

neoolong wrote:That is a problem. However, I was thinking more in terms of customers that are fat and don't cause problems like that.

Fair enough.

And while extras fees, or a discount might make sense and should be there, the reality of how well they could be implemented is something else.

That's true. I don't know how you'd manage to implement it, but that guy seriously pissed me off. I've complained about overweight neighbors in airlines before (even joking about how people who can't fit in one seat may be fire hazards), but I've never actually SEEN someone that overweight on an aircraft. It was unbelievable.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2004-11-06 12:19am

Don't you have to be able to fit in the seat and buckle up? I remember that ever so wonderful Airline show where they would make you pay for a second ticket or something like that if you couldn't fit in the seat unassisted.

Not sure how that works from a safety standpoint, though. Can those seatbelts stretch across both seats to get to the other buckle?

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-11-06 12:42am

RogueIce wrote:Don't you have to be able to fit in the seat and buckle up? I remember that ever so wonderful Airline show where they would make you pay for a second ticket or something like that if you couldn't fit in the seat unassisted.

I have personal experience with this. I almost fit into a coach seat on a 757, but couldn't put the armrest down, and only managed to buckle the belt with considerable strain on my part. I had to get an extension to be comfortable. Luckily I wasn't slapped with an extra seat charge or anything like that, and there were enough empty seats that I didn't inconvenience anyone. You've no idea how burningly embarrassed and ashamed of myself I was that day, more than I am when the occasional prick mocks or insults me because I'm a fatass.

When I flew back, I went first class where I could fit into the seat.

RogueIce wrote:Not sure how that works from a safety standpoint, though. Can those seatbelts stretch across both seats to get to the other buckle?

No. The seatbelts only extend a certain distance (I assume to prevent them from being used as makeshift garrottes or something). If one needs something longer, they can ask for an extension.

Julhelm · Post by **Julhelm** » 2004-11-06 07:42am

Why fly when there are ships?

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2004-11-06 08:06am

Julhelm wrote:Why fly when there are ships?

You know, cruise ships don't help much if you need to get from East Coast to West Coast in few hours. Geographical Distances in Europe, for example between Stockholm and Helsinki, are generally much smaller than in USA.

SecondStorm · Post by **SecondStorm** » 2004-11-06 08:08am

Julhelm wrote:Why fly when there are ships?

The Swedes strikes back with stupid questions.

It just *might* have to do with that it saves time. ALOT of time.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2004-11-06 11:44am

Julhelm wrote:Why fly when there are ships?

Well, it is pretty hard to take a ship when going over land, I've found. It's that whole "lack of water" thing.

And yes, it is faster. Much faster than a car. Well, under normal conditions I suppose. Unless there are more 300mph capable cars and places to use them than I previously thought.