Plus-Sized Hosers Take Off in Two Seats in Great White North, Eh

"One passenger, one fare" is not quite as catchy as "one man, one vote," but Canada's new court ruling on the matter may finally convince ursine musical felon David Crosby to finally move to the Great White North.

Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

The high court declined to hear an appeal by Canadian airlines of a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are "functionally disabled by obesity" deserve to have two seats for one fare.

The airlines had lost an appeal at the Federal Court of Appeal in May and had sought to launch a fresh appeal at the Supreme Court. The court's decision not to hear a new appeal means the one-person-one-fare policy stands.

More here.

reason on obesity here.

Comments

libertarian democrat | November 21, 2008, 7:25am | #

As an obese guy (although one that can fit in most seats, as far as I know at least), this seems more ridiculous than most anti-discrimination things.

SLD of course. But even from a non-libertarian standpoint, a plain carrying all obese people (although these would probably have to be extremely obese people) would only get half as much money. This isn't like building a ramp or writing some braille on signs, this scales even more with how many obese people you take on the plane. Ridiculous.

anarch | November 21, 2008, 7:28am | #

Whatever happened to that fat man on the buffet line who used to post here?

Metal Messiah | November 21, 2008, 7:33am | #

I don't really understand why obese people need two seats.

If they were that big, wouldn't they spill over into the seats on both sides of their seats? Sounds like they'd need three seats instead of two.

armchairpunter | November 21, 2008, 7:59am | #

Along these lines, I think the government should seize the excess food consumed by the obese and redistribute to the hungry. You want a second seat? Say goodbye to that second cheeseburger.

DADIODADDY | November 21, 2008, 8:05am | #

How large was he? So large the plane circled the airport until they ran out of fuel...

Joel | November 21, 2008, 8:34am | #

Ah, the conflict of ideology and inclination...

Ideology: Two seats for one fare, are you mad? It's only one person, isn't it? It's not the airline's fault he's the size of two! Screw'em!

Inclination: Greedy bastards, packing passengers in like kippered herring and now they're upset that somebody bitches. Hell, I'm skinny and can't fit just because there's no place for my arms. Screw'em.

Episiarch | November 21, 2008, 8:42am | #

My ego is colossal. I need two seats to hold it. Time to sue.

YoungLiberal | November 21, 2008, 8:46am | #

Folks, calm down. It's not their fault they're obese. It's society's.

John-David | November 21, 2008, 8:52am | #

What does "functionally disabled by obesity" mean? People who are so fat that can't walk and have to ride around on those Rascal things? I can understand that.

John C. Randolph | November 21, 2008, 8:53am | #

So, double the price and offer discounts for people who can see their toes.

-jcr

Fluffy | November 21, 2008, 8:58am | #

By this logic, shouldn't restaurants also have to charge flat rates per person who enters, rather than charging by the item eaten?

Charging by the item discriminates against the obese person who wants to stuff themselves with two entrees.

oldtimer | November 21, 2008, 8:58am | #

Some of us are super sized vertically, rather than horizontally. What ? Nothing for us ? I'll sue for more leg room, damn it!!

bigbigslacker | November 21, 2008, 8:58am | #

Charge by the pound - passenger, luggage, and carry on bag. This would make loading and unloading go faster too if it encourages peoples to not travel with so much crap.

scared of you | November 21, 2008, 9:02am | #

I'm anthropophobically disabled. I want the whole plane to myself. One ticket, please.

Jerry | November 21, 2008, 9:07am | #

Why don't these cheesehuggers fly business?

Doug | November 21, 2008, 9:16am | #

I had to sit next to a sumo-sized passenger shoehorned into a single seat once. It was a traumatic experience I may never recover from. I, for one, applaud the decision.

Jess Wilder | November 21, 2008, 9:25am | #

Weight is a factor when flying on a plane, weight and balance are crucial. I think if a 400 pound dude bumps another passenger because the weight level of safe flight has been reached then yes, the fat dude should pay for it! Fair is fair!

http://www.Privacy-Center.net

Ox Baker | November 21, 2008, 9:42am | #

Anyone know if seats are smaller these days? There sure seem smaller to me. I'm a big, broad shouldered guy and have no problem with my ass fitting in the seat but there is negative elbow room. Turning a page on newspaper results in my elbow being in the face of my neighbor so I stick to magazines now.....

Warren | November 21, 2008, 9:47am | #

Charge by the pound - passenger, luggage, and carry on bag. This would make loading and unloading go faster too if it encourages peoples to not travel with so much crap.

BINGO!
Sign me up for your newsletter bigbigslacker.

phalkor | November 21, 2008, 9:57am | #

It was a traumatic experience I may never recover from. I, for one, applaud the decision.


While i agree that it must be traumatic, I am concerned about the incentive it gives already overweight people to chunk up to the size where they are guaranteed 2 seats for the price of one. I mean, why not, it's way more convienient.

That said, this horrifies me.
"excuse me, your fat is spilling onto my lap"

Pro Libertate | November 21, 2008, 10:01am | #

So, what if you're just tall? Those seats are uncomfortable for me at 6' 2, 200 pounds. I'd like two seats as well. Who are they to deny my need? From each airline according to its seatibility, to each flier according to his need.

D.A. Ridgely | November 21, 2008, 10:03am | #

Whatever happened to that fat man on the buffet line who used to post here?

[bad Chinese accent]
You go now!
[/bad Chinese accent]

Fluffy | November 21, 2008, 10:11am | #

Anyone know if seats are smaller these days? There sure seem smaller to me.

You have to discount your perception of smaller seats by any increase in size, or decrease in flexibility, you have experienced as you've gotten older.

When I was 17 I weighed 140 pounds and could bend like Mr. Fantastic, and as a result most plane and bus seats felt like studio apartments to me. Now I'm pushing 40, weigh 180, and can only do toe touches if I'm in a blazing hot shower - so if you ask me if plane seats are smaller than they were when I was younger, I'm likely to be a little bit biased.

J sub D, in a pissy mood this AM | November 21, 2008, 10:25am | #

Will this fly in the Great White North?

I eat drink too much. I'm often functionally disabled by my obesity drunkeness. I therefore require two four seats on a flight so I can lay down and sleep off my inebriation.

As we all know, obesity alcoholism has a genetic component, so it is not my fault. The airlines should pay for it.

Kyle Jordan | November 21, 2008, 10:28am | #

You know what, this story pisses me off.

I'm fat. And I'm not talking slightly either. At my height I was near 600 pounds. Barring the pulmonary problems I was born with, and the SLIGHT, note I wrote SLIGHT, increase in weight caused by my original steroid inhalers, IT WAS MY FUCKING FAULT FOR BEING LAZY AND LOVING FOOD!!!!!

I nearly died in 2004 and that was my wake up call. I've dropped almost 300 pounds since then with no surgery and am still losing.

I had to take a flight to Virginia in '05 and one of my first thoughts was "I should pay for two seats." It wasn't because I felt guilt or anything like that. It was because those damn seats are small and uncomfortable! My fat ass don't like being uncomfortable!

I paid for two seats. In midflight for shits and giggles, I tried sitting in just one of them. There was no way in Hell I could have done that the entire time! Not only was it uncomfortable, but it was so discomforting that it really affected my over all, admittedly poor, system. My heart rate went up, I flushed crimson which is a sign my blood pressure has spiked, and I started having breathing difficulties.

The moral of my story is that if you're fat enough to need two seats, you should buy two tickets or be charged as such by the airline.

Or go with what bigbigslacker wrote and charge by the damn pound.

Tubby bitch...

bubba | November 21, 2008, 10:32am | #

YoungLiberal | November 21, 2008, 8:46am | #

Folks, calm down. It's not their fault they're obese. It's society's.


BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

POTD

phalkor | November 21, 2008, 10:35am | #

IT WAS MY FUCKING FAULT FOR BEING LAZY AND LOVING FOOD!!!!!

Are you for real? Accepting personal responsibility for your own actions?!?! Refusing and condemning special treatment?

You, sir, have restored a good bit of my faith in people. Thanks.

Episiarch | November 21, 2008, 10:38am | #

At my height I was near 600 pounds...I've dropped almost 300 pounds since then with no surgery and am still losing

Damn, dude. Good for you.

You have to discount your perception of smaller seats by any increase in size, or decrease in flexibility, you have experienced as you've gotten older.

I will conversely support Fluffy's assertion here. I weigh the same as I did when 17, and plane seats seem the same to me.

P Brooks | November 21, 2008, 10:49am | #

This is why I'm seeking investors for Rainbow Puppy Airways, the airline specifically targeted to fat, drunken, slobs who smoke cheap cigars. All the seats will be (open) window seats. Send me fifty billion bucks.

Hurry! Offer ends soon!

Bingo | November 21, 2008, 10:50am | #

As a lanky skinny bastard I want my freaking legroom! The airlines should be forced to stop discriminating against tall people and remove the seat in front of me to compensate for my longer legs. It's not my fault I was born this way!

phalkor | November 21, 2008, 11:04am | #

It's not my fault I was born this way!


lies

Dagny T. | November 21, 2008, 11:10am | #

So, I guess my recent business idea* for an airline that guaranteed no kids or fatties is a no-go in my native land.

*Amazing the innovation that comes from a 5 hour flight during which the moments when the little angel behind you stops pulling your hair and merely kicks your seat repeatedly seem like blessed relief.

R C Dean | November 21, 2008, 11:15am | #

ursine musical felon David Crosby

Isn't he more porcine that ursine?

short, fat bastard | November 21, 2008, 11:36am | #

Blame Canada!

Kyle Jordan | November 21, 2008, 11:38am | #

Epi,

Thanks. This shit ain't easy.

phalkor,

Yep, I'm for real. I came off really harsh in my post but it was also about as truthful as it could have been in my views. I'm lazy, don't like people, and hate working. That being said, I can't bring myself to leech off society. I'm not disallusioned with my fellow Americans enough to where my lazyness wins out over my not wanting to steal from them. Getting close though.

Pro Libertate | November 21, 2008, 11:40am | #

Good for you, Kyle. And that's exactly the right attitude. Unfortunately, too many people want to jump into the special class category when made available, either for the money or for other reasons.

An interesting thing that I've learned is that in employment law, the idea of specially protected classes (outside of the ADA) has mostly gone away. Everyone is in a protected class.

AlfromAlberta | November 21, 2008, 11:52am | #

The ruling not only applies to obese people, but also to those with disabilities. With the term “disabled’ being applied so generously , it won’t be long until most folks get a free seat for an attendant. More here.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/540345

H.F. Wolff | November 21, 2008, 11:52am | #

Charge by the pound, as was advocated above!!

Brilliantly simple.

Prior to obtaining his boarding pass the passenger stands on a scale along with all his "crap" he wishes to take on board.... multiply x $/Lb... voila, the fare.

Naw, much too logical and too easy to administer!

H.F. Wolff

PapayaSF | November 21, 2008, 11:52am | #

Episiarch: I was thinking something similar, but with modern PC terminology. Just claim that you "self-identify as obese" to get the two seats.

Pro Libertate: But there's still an official designation of "historically-oppressed minorities," correct? A friend of mine was surprised to find out that Jews aren't considered to be in that category. Sort of like the Spanish guy who the bureaucrats decided wasn't "Hispanic."

Balloon | November 21, 2008, 11:59am | #

What if I'm just not comfortable in one seat because I have broad shoulders? Where is my extra seat?

P Brooks | November 21, 2008, 12:08pm | #

What if I'm just not comfortable in one seat because I have broad shoulders?

Get an aisle seat, and lean out into the aisle, so the waitresses can ram that nine hundred pound warwagon into you shoulderblade. That's what I used to do.

Now, I drive.

SugarFree | November 21, 2008, 12:09pm | #

How about just putting in bench seats? Then you could match fatties with skinnies in a Tetris-like fashion to get them all in.

Ravac | November 21, 2008, 12:50pm | #

Kyle,

Kudos to you sir.

Ox Baker | November 21, 2008, 1:26pm | #

No more aisle seats for me, either. Not only banged by the bev cart but by every person that passed by. I always try to get a window seat and lean against the bulkhead. For the record I think the seating is more cramped than 20 years ago. You people who weigh less than 180 probably don't notice. USMC boot camp failed to get me under 200 lbs. and I didn't make the mandated 30 inch waist size, either. And believe me, they tried. I just have a large frame.

Neu Mejican | November 21, 2008, 1:33pm | #

Related to the eHarmony agreement.

Discrimination laws are based on a claim that the reason a person is being excluded, over-charged, denied service, denied access, etc... is unrelated to the service, access, job, whatever.

In other words, it is not discrimination if you exclude, charge extra, deny service, deny access for a legitimate reason that is related to the service, access, job, whatever.

In the eHarmony case, their exclusionary rule was directly related to their service: providing hetero-sexual singles with a dating service. They also had the additional relevance factor that the matching was based on scientifically (ish) determined factors that applied only to heterosexuals. For those reasons, a claim of discrimination is invalid because the discrimination is reasonable and based on relative factors.

In this case as well, the size/weight of the passenger is reasonably related to the charge. The service that the airline is selling is directly tied to the amount of space you take up and your weight, so it is invalid, despite what the court says, to make a discrimination claim here, because the airlines were not arbitrarily charging more based on an irrelevant factor.

As far as "disability" accommodations as they relate to this issue, they must be reasonable and should not lead to an "undue burden" on the, in this case, airline. In this case, the loss of an entire fare to accommodate seems to be an undue burden. The additional costs for accommodation should be carried by the person needing accommodations when those accommodations involve an undue burden.

I support anti-discrimination laws, but they require clear thinking to serve their purpose.

Neu Mejican | November 21, 2008, 1:39pm | #

Charge by the pound, as was advocated above!!

Brilliantly simple.

Prior to obtaining his boarding pass the passenger stands on a scale along with all his "crap" he wishes to take on board.... multiply x $/Lb... voila, the fare.

Naw, much too logical and too easy to administer!

Sorry, the difficulty you miss is that airline tickets are not purchased at the point/time of service, but are purchased from afar at an earlier date (for the most part).

Of course if you publish a chart of rate by weight and include a clause that you will be weighed in the manner described above to determine what charge applies, I guess it could be implemented.

I think an easier way to do it is to set a weight limit per fare and clearly state it...with additional weight incurring an additional charge

ed | November 21, 2008, 2:33pm | #

What happens to all that liposuction fat? Shouldn't we be running our cars on it? Methinks Hollywood and its immediate environs could be contributing to greater California's energy needs, inasmuch as shallowness converts to BTUs. Any bio-engineers present? How far may one expect to go on the excess fat of a 300-pound Hollywood ex-actress?

strat | November 22, 2008, 2:39am | #

In fairness to David Crosby, while technically correct, "musical felon" is misleading. He is musical and a felon, but I think that appellation is better applied to any of a myriad modern post-grunge rock bands who overdrive their amps producing a hash of clipped over-compressed crap that all sounds alike.

SpongePaul | November 22, 2008, 9:39am | #

Wow, Then a 6'3" 220 lb hockey player I can now get 2 seats, By reading this i can claim the seat in front of me has to be mine, because i am disabled by having long legs, and the discomfort of the kid or guy in the seat in front of me throwing his seatback back crushing my kneecaps must now move. i am entilted to the extra seat. SEE HOW STUPID THIS SOUNDS! I do not know the answer to fat guy in a little coat, but entitiling people to extra seats is not the way!