I'm tired that this society feels we all have the right to everything another person has. No thoughts of others. Like having a society of young teenagers. If you weight more or have a body that cannot fit into 1 seat you should pay more just like if the clothing you have to buy costs more it's a result of the lifestyle you lead. Society already has to pay for the lifestyle a obese person leads by increased health care use from diabetes, breathing problems, circulation problems. My occupation is one concerning health care. I am fit but the lifting of a 300+ person left me with bulging disks. Early in my career I saw morbidly obese patients on a rare occasion. Now it's a daily occurrence. What about getting out of that plane if an emergency? Paying more for the wear and tear on personnel and equipment is the cost of gluttony.

I have not been in this situation....yet....but I can imagine it being reallly gross with the blubber and everything...

Eating your ass off is not a disability, for you christians, being fat is actually a mortal sin, called gluttony.

If you cant fit it the seat, buy another seat.

I myself am overweight due to poor eating habits from stress, but I'm not huge. I have a single A55 and I fit into the seat without any problems with room to spare...

To be fair to ALL an not discriminate:
1. Airlines should design all seats that are comfortable for the average adult. Look at the difference in first class v. coach seats.
2. Airlines are limited by wieght and balance dynamics. Tickets should be predicated on the weight of the passenger, regardless of their age.

If your rear-end spills onto the next seat then you need more room and you are depriving the person who paid for seat. I don't think it's discriminatory at all. Not only would it be more comfortable for those next to you it would be more comfortable for you. If you paid for two seats you would be spared the embarassment of having the person next to you ask to move, or the looks you receive struggling to fasten your seat belt because the lock is UNDER you bottom and not beside it. As an FA no one wants to ask you to move or SUGGEST a seat belt extender. What happened to common sense and courtesy.

To people asking about stinky, talkative, or otherwise rude people on the plane...what is about the fact that obese people TAKE UP AN EXTRA SEAT don't you understand? Yeah, it may be uncomfortable to sit next to a rude person on the flight, but if they are taking up just their own seat we just have to deal with it: their seat, their right.

But if someone is taking up not only their seat but SOMEONE ELSE'S seat also that is a problem if they only paid for one seat. This is not discrimination, this is common frikkin sense!

UA's new rules make sense and are long overdue. As a person whose weight is within normal range for my height, I have to pay extra if my luggage is a kilo or two over the 28kg limit; however, obese people, who are clearly tipping the scales far in excess of what they should weigh, have not to this point been required to pay more (so long as their luggage is 'underweight')...so, me and my luggage COMBINED weigh less than these people and yet I have to pay a surcharge?? THAT'S discrimination. Additionally, the only people who would oppose this are either the ones at which the rule's targeted or someone who's never lived through the misery of sitting next to one of these individuals. To the former, I say that the responsibility of fitting into the seat is yours, not the airline's, and you get what you pay for - one ticket, one seat - not some of mine for free. To the latter, I suggest you spend a cross-country or international flight smashed in the window seat with your side completely touching the airplane wall, sitting next to a person who can't get the tray table fully extended because their belly's so large (so they end up eating their meal grasping onto the tray while it perches precariously at a 45 degree pitch on the partially opened tray table). Oh, and don't forget, while they're eating, their elbow is continually jabbing you in your ribs as they cut their food. I've been there and it is horrific.
About the naughty child comment...a passenger can always ask the flight attendants to confront the parent of the child. It's not possible to ask an obese person to quit being fat for the duration of the flight so that you can have sole access to the seat you paid for.

I am offended by the policy AND the posts on this blog. I am a full figured woman and have no problem fitting in one seat yet there is the possibility of being told I have to buy and extra seat because I'm a size 18 not a size 8? This is just another reason, among many, that I do not fly united.

I have a bad back. When I travel on public transportation, which is every weekday, and see a grossly large person approaching I worry. Obese people have difficultly lowering themselves and have a tendency to flop, sometimes right onto you. I feel some know this and use their gross tonnage to force their way onto "your side." I have been forced to raise my hands, quickly state my back problem, and, unfortunately, use a stern face and voice to explain that "You may not sit on me or force me to sit sideways to accommodate your physical problem."

Obese people should ahve to pay extra to fly. They should also pay more to use public transit like the C.T.A. When a oversize person rides public and private carriers, they snduld keep in mind that others utilize and pay for these services And, when a person spend there money they should get there "monies worth, by being comfortable. And ,if an obese person infringes on anothers "comfort zone" or space , the paying customer has not been provide with what they purchased.
An obese persons should be willing to pay extra, becuase if he/she pays for to seats, they get more "area" for themselves to stretch-out and make themselves as comfortables the average-sized customer.
Additionaly, If they are willing to pay extra for the "Super- Sized" portion of food at eateries, it should not be a "BIG" deal pay for a place to park themselves.

The main argument against the United policy s is “Discrimination.” “It’s discrimination!”

"Discrimination" is the race card of those who cannot make a logical argument. Discrimination means “The ability to make a distinction.” We “discriminate” against drunk drivers by calling out the difference between those who are impaired by alcohol versus those whom are not.

For those who think the new policy is bad, I pose this question: Why should I be forced to touch a stranger? And if forcing one to touch another is okay, can I have the lady in 14F?

Here's the problem, when United and Other Airlines make an overweight person, buy an extra seat because of their size. This is Discrimination.
The U.S. American Disability Act, makes it against the Law to Discriminate against the Disabled and an Individual might have a Medical Reason or Disability for being Overweight and/or Obese. An Example of this is a Tyroid Condition. Also, the American Disability Act, states that Private and Commercial Businesses and Government Agencies, etc., must provide Equal Access for the Disabled and pay for modifications, if needed.
Since being Obese can be caused from "No Fault" of an Obese Passenger, why should they be penalized and made to pay extra for another seat?
Why doesn't the Airline Companies make their Airplane Seats Larger to Satisfy their passengers?
Since, almost 2/3rd's of The World's Population are Obese and getting larger every year, the Airline Companies, are going to have to Enlarge their Airplane Seats Soon, or their Airplanes, will have a lot less Passengers Flying or being able to Fit, in Their Small Airplane Seats.
The Country of Canada, doesn't Discriminate against their Obese Passengers and I believe, it is a Bad Ideal for America, to Discriminate against, almost 2/3rd's of America's Flying Population.
Also, how Embarrassing, for the Obese Individual and/or their family and friends, to have to go through, buying an extra airplane seat and possibly, not being able to sit by their family and friends while flying, and this is, not even taking into account the Extra Costs, that a second airplane seat would cost the Obese Customer, in these difficult economic times.

FYI; The stall in the cattle cars measures 17 inches from arm rest to arm rest.
I was a million mile flyer, and have dealt with every purposefully disconsiderate situation. My company expected to pay overwieght fees for my tools, and the best revenge was to tell them it was expected and calculated in, here's my credit card, do you need me to spell that for you, can you get your supervisor, because that regulation is in your manual, page number..., paragragh... Don't swear, leave smiling, gets 'em every time.

This is a really sad blog, the airlines are taking advantage of people. Whether you are obese or not you should be outraged, next airlines will charge because you are too tall or because of this or that. If we start with charging because of weight it will only go downhill. Should you pay more for reclining your chair which invades the person behind you space. And what are we going to do when America is full of obese people, a women who is 5 feet 4 inches is considered obese at 175 pounds. She maybe 20 pounds over and you think its justified that she pays 300 for a 150 seat. We as travelers should say no before it gets out of hand.

If I pay for one cup of coffee, I should expect, and get, one cup of coffee. Not my cup plus some of the next guy's cup because I need more; and not 3/4 cup because the next guy decided to take some of mine.

What's so hard to understand about pay for one seat, get one seat?

The hard part will be enforcing this fairly, consistently, and as kindly as possible. I do not envy the flight attendants who will have to enforce this. I do think it makes sense. It's just a pity that it had to get to this point because 1) the seats are so small to begin with and 2) too many people assumed they had the right to take away space from fellow travels (who are already cramped anyway.)

I also disagree with this new policy. What's next? What if 700 people siad they feel uncomfortable sitting next to black people? Are they gonna make these people pay extra? I think not!

I also disagree with this new policy. What's next? What if 700 people siad they feel uncomfortable sitting next to black people? Are they gonna make these people pay extra? I think not!

Absolutely! I recently suffered through a 5 hour, cross-country flight next to a man that had absolutely no business attempting to occupy only one seat. He raised the arm rest between our seats, forcing me to sit CROSS LEGGED with my ARMS FOLDED for the ENTIRE flight simply so I could fit in MY OWN seat! At several points throughout the flight, I needed to leave my seat and stand in the aisle for extended periods. Needless to say, by the time our flight landed, I was seeing red. When I spoke to the airline agent I pointed out that the airline was more concerned with not offending the extremely overweight passenger than it was with ensuring my own comfort. We had both paid for a ticket. Why should I be forced to suffer through several hours of severe discomfort simply because the airline was concerned with hurting the feelings of an obese passenger?

I believe this is not fair! It is just another way for people to discriminate against one an other. Not just that but it is also another way for airlines to take advantage of the customers money. Whats next paying for three tickets for people who smell.

Facts are facts. Size and weight are hugely important issues in air travel. In reality, it becomes a safety issue. For their comfort and safety, obese people require additional space. If everyone wants to keep airfare affordable, every inch of space on the plane needs to bring in revenue. Two seats for a body which pays one standard airfare pushes up prices for everyone. A plane designed for 100 which carries 80 "Average" people and 10 obese people requiring two seats loses 10% of it's revenue. If tickets average $400 and those ten extra seats are "given" away, the passengers each end up paying additional money to cover the revenue lost on those 10 seats. Do those who feel the seats should be free to be "fair" to the obese prefer to pay the airlines this money out of the goodness of their hearts? Until the subject becomes money out of your own pocket, it's easy to say the big, bad corporations should foot the bill. Well, they don't foot the bill. It gets passed on to every one of their customers. Now- are you willing to pay an additional $40 or $50 bucks on each flight so the airlines can continue to graciously offer an unpaid seat to someone who should really be paying for two seats?

What is wrong with the world? No tolerance. I would rather sit alongside someone who overfills their seat than 1) someone who doesn't know the meaning of personal hygiene and smells of old b.o., 2) reeks of perfume and/or aftershave trying to cover up their b.o., 3) coughs and sneezes in my face without covering their mouth and nose, 4) talks incessantly, 5) reclines their seat into my face, 6) can't keep their obnoxious children under control, 7) kids/people who kick the back of my seat, 8)passengers sitting next to me who think I'm they're personal pillow., etc. Get my drift? If the airlines would stop putting more seats in coach, the seats would be a reasonable size and the issue raised by UAL today wouldn't be an issue. Flying used to be an enjoyable experience. Nowdays planes are nothing more than cattle cars.

about time i work there and its a real problem.

You should only get what you pay for not 3/4 of a seat nor a seat and a 1/4. The obese require the aircraft to use more fuel so why shouldn't they pay more. We are too politically correct. This isn't a socialist country yet so why should I pay the same as another person who is carrying so much extra cargo that he/she can't fit into their space. Of course they should pay more. This is a no brainer.

ABSOLUTELY! On more than one occasion, I have had obese people want to raise the arm rest between their seat and mine, so they can spill over onto my seat. I refuse politely, each and every time. Here is what I want to say: Your weight problem gives you no right to my seat, or to any part of it. And before you tell me it's not your fault, I used to have a weight problem, too. I changed my diet and I exercise every day. I got my weight down, and I keep it where it's supposed to be. If you can't do the same thing, it's your problem, not mine.

I do not like overweight people sitting on me druing a flight. I support the requirments to purchase two seats.

Are you kidding? Comparing being overweight with people who stink, get up a lot or snore?

NONE of these things take up the seat SOMEONE ELSE HAS PURCHASED.

We have to deal with people who stink, move a lot or snore elsewhere in our lives, not just on airplanes.

The key here is EVERY person pays for THEIR space/seat. When someone is so large that they TAKE UP SOMEONE ELSE'S SPACE, it is unfair to the other traveler.

We rent that space on that plane. It is not for anyone else to take away from us at their will for ANY reason.

And what's with calling people "skinny bastards". Ignorant statements like this say so much more about the author than the subject.

Mike

I feel that the airlines make more than enough money to expand their seats. I feel that making an obese person pay for another seat is discriminatory act upon airlines. Most of the time they are probably sitting with family. So basically who is it to complain!!!!!

Overweight people should pay more. Think about it - they take up "the entire space allotted to them" with the purchase of their seat! They take a portion of their neighbor's space as well.

HELL NO we should not pay more i weight 308 and have a 44 weist since the airports are making so much money such as O'Hare and Midway they should expand the size of the seats to make those "SKINNY" bastards feel much more comfortable. Now since is a problem more obese are protest and stop paying money to these airflights consideration in words weren't taken before they televised this so i don't know what to tell them. No one is complaining about space needed on public transportation no one pays for the passenger and their bag what the hell man fat people will always be around!!!!!!!

People are complaining that larger people made their flight uncomfortable. What about people who:

1. Stink
2. Get up a hundred times
3. Snore loudly
4. Try to talk to you the whole flight

I have been on many flights where the items listed above have been more disturbing than someone larger sitting next to me.

Airlines are understandably concerned about weight. I weigh 175 lbs and have a 34” waist. Yet, someone that is obese, pays the same amount for a ticket and yet we both pay for luggage. Thin people pay for obese people because airlines use luggage weight to make up for excessive weighted people.
I think the luggage AND the person should be weighed together and the cost of the ticket should be adjusted. That way all parties are treated equally. Thin people pay for obese people because airlines use luggage weight to make up for excessive weighted people.
Also, if their waist is excessively large for the seat, then they should have to purchase 2 seats.