Get Fat - Get Upgraded

[bambbbam2]

From an aussie IT forum.. I don't know the people involved, just the story:

Get fat and travel in luxury. - The Green Room - Forums - www.atomicmpc.com.au

"My wife’s cousin is a big boy; even for a Maori he’s big.

He and his wife just got back from a trip to Germany and England flying air emirates, with an overnight stop over in Dubai.

They had just taken off from Sydney and were just 15 minutes into the flight when the guy in front put his seat back just a little, but just enough to stop the cousin from been able to put his tray down to eat or play cards that he had brought with him.

He called the flight attendant over and told her the problem; she said she would be right back. She returned a little while later and asked him to go with her.

He had been gone for half an hour before his wife asked a attendant where he had going, the attendant told her to follow him, she did.

All the way to first class where he was laid out in his bed drinking Champaign and eating prawn sandwiches watching a movie.

He flew all the way to Germany, then on to England and back to Germany, and then all the way back to Australia in first class.

All that for cattle class prices.

I could say more but I’m on my way to McDonalds."

 

[one9]

From an aussie IT forum.. I don't know the people involved, just the story:

Get fat and travel in luxury. - The Green Room - Forums - www.atomicmpc.com.au

"My wife’s cousin is a big boy; even for a Maori he’s big.

He and his wife just got back from a trip to Germany and England flying air emirates, with an overnight stop over in Dubai.

They had just taken off from Sydney and were just 15 minutes into the flight when the guy in front put his seat back just a little, but just enough to stop the cousin from been able to put his tray down to eat or play cards that he had brought with him.

He called the flight attendant over and told her the problem; she said she would be right back. She returned a little while later and asked him to go with her.

He had been gone for half an hour before his wife asked a attendant where he had going, the attendant told her to follow him, she did.

All the way to first class where he was laid out in his bed drinking Champaign and eating prawn sandwiches watching a movie.

He flew all the way to Germany, then on to England and back to Germany, and then all the way back to Australia in first class.

All that for cattle class prices.

I could say more but I’m on my way to McDonalds."

Dont you hate the selfish fat people who know that they are very overweight, and yet still book and fly economy class, not caring about the passengers around them.

 

[bluRider]

Dont you hate the selfish fat people who know that they are very overweight, and yet still book and fly economy class, not caring about the passengers around them.

Thats probably one of the biggest drawbacks to WHY class - you never know who you'll get stuck next to. I'd be quite happy fly economy domestically if i was guaranteed my aisle seat and a skinny person, or an empty seat next to me each time...

 

[JohnK]

I know the selfish fat coughs very well! I am seated in the same seat as one when I travel alone!

 

[oz_mark]

In recent flights I have seen large people that have obvioulsy been seated alone due to their size, and they have certainly not been upgraded in the process.

(and they were much bigger than JohnK)

 

[one9]

In recent flights I have seen large people that have obvioulsy been seated alone due to their size, and they have certainly not been upgraded in the process.

(and they were much bigger than JohnK)

The problem is when the flight is full.

 

[kpc]

I know the selfish fat coughs very well! I am seated in the same seat as one when I travel alone!

JohnK is not fat!!

 

[262sammy]

I know the selfish fat coughs very well! I am seated in the same seat as one when I travel alone!

I know the feeling JohnK... But I'm not fat I'm just big boned...

 

[acampbel]

I think there are some posts here that are somewhat insensitive. As a nation we are getting larger each year, with subsequent health issues and other side effects. One of these side effects is that economy seats provided by most airlines are suitable for a shrinking percentage of their customers. Whether it be a length or width issue, I think that it is wrong to solely blame the customer for being the "wrong size". I think that the judgement of some airline staff to block seats or move customers is a nod to the fact that they pack us in like sardines to maximise their profits.

I used to work with a fairly young lad who was extremely overweight, and he took on a role that had him flying to Melbourne on a weekly basis. He would book economy flights (as per policy) and then personally pay for a business upgrade. He kept this to himself until we travelled together one day and then confessed that he felt guilty about compromising other peoples' space.

He could afford the cost between full economy and business, but is it reasonable for "selfish fat people" to pay 3 or 4 times the cost of discount economy? In economy there is always an issue of sharing space with the people around you - and most of the discomfort I have suffered has not been from obese people!

Maybe the airlines could help here by installing some wider economy seats where it doesn't impact aisle space (e.g. the rear of a jumbo) and then reserve them for passengers that need them - just like they supposedly keep exit row seats for very tall passengers.


Cheers,


Andrew

 

[one9]

I think there are some posts here that are somewhat insensitive. As a nation we are getting larger each year, with subsequent health issues and other side effects. One of these side effects is that economy seats provided by most airlines are suitable for a shrinking percentage of their customers. Whether it be a length or width issue, I think that it is wrong to solely blame the customer for being the "wrong size". I think that the judgement of some airline staff to block seats or move customers is a nod to the fact that they pack us in like sardines to maximise their profits.

I used to work with a fairly young lad who was extremely overweight, and he took on a role that had him flying to Melbourne on a weekly basis. He would book economy flights (as per policy) and then personally pay for a business upgrade. He kept this to himself until we travelled together one day and then confessed that he felt guilty about compromising other peoples' space.

He could afford the cost between full economy and business, but is it reasonable for "selfish fat people" to pay 3 or 4 times the cost of discount economy? In economy there is always an issue of sharing space with the people around you - and most of the discomfort I have suffered has not been from obese people!

Maybe the airlines could help here by installing some wider economy seats where it doesn't impact aisle space (e.g. the rear of a jumbo) and then reserve them for passengers that need them - just like they supposedly keep exit row seats for very tall passengers.


Cheers,


Andrew

Has it got to the stage where overweight people no longer blame themselfs, but justify it as being OK because more and more other people are becoming overweight: "As a nation we are getting larger each year."

As a paying passenger, I do not think I should compensate overweight people. The weight of a person and their baggage directly impacts on the large fuel cost of a flight. Living in a market economy, the fairest way would be to weight each person at checkin and then each person should pay a per kg charge if over a certain weight. But this would be politically incorrect.

It is good to see the young lad pays extra for the business class. If he wants to remain largely overweight, then I believe this is what should be expected of him. It is good to see that he is considerate to his other passengers.

Because of the large costs of space and weight in flights, the average persons weight is not appropriate for calculations. Airlines are commercial entities. Thus the larger the average seat in economy, the larger the average ticket price. I believe it is perfectaly reasonable for airlines to use a seat size that most people COULD fit into if they actually wanted to maintain a slim figure. Otherwise healthy people are simply compensating unhealthy people.

My comments above may be quite strong, but (1) It is my belief that problems should be faced and not ignored and (2) My worst flying experience in economy ever was because of a very inconsiderate and overweight person being seated next to me.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I believe it is perfectaly reasonable for airlines to use a seat size that most people COULD fit into if they actually wanted to maintain a slim figure. Otherwise healthy people are simply compensating unhealthy people.

Just being devil's advocate but isnt it possible that some fat people are actually subsidising the skinny folk? Anyone that buys business class or 2 economy seats, due to their size, is contributing more to revenue and profits than someone who buys 1 economy seat. Additionally, as a society we provide more than just catering to the lowest common denominator. Eg those disabled are provided for to a certain extent. You could argue that some disabled are being subsidised by abled bodied - extra baggage allowance (for chair/crutches/etc) plus other extra costs being incurred by the airline. Yet I don't see a call to make disabled persons pay their share (quite the opposite - any infringement of their rights is taken very seriously).

My worst flying experience in economy ever was because of a very inconsiderate and overweight person being seated next to me.

I'm sorry about that, but at least some of the problem could easily be alleviated by the airline.

 

[cabbage74]

<snip>
He could afford the cost between full economy and business, but is it reasonable for "selfish fat people" to pay 3 or 4 times the cost of discount economy? In economy there is always an issue of sharing space with the people around you - and most of the discomfort I have suffered has not been from obese people!
<snip>

Is it reasonable for the public pay hundreds of thousands of dollars treating the gangrenous limbs of fat people?

M.

 

[aus_flyer]

Perhaps he pays extra for business class so that he can get a bigger meal

 

[one9]

Just being devil's advocate but isnt it possible that some fat people are actually subsidising the skinny folk? Anyone that buys business class or 2 economy seats, due to their size, is contributing more to revenue and profits than someone who buys 1 economy seat. Additionally, as a society we provide more than just catering to the lowest common denominator. Eg those disabled are provided for to a certain extent. You could argue that some disabled are being subsidised by abled bodied - extra baggage allowance (for chair/crutches/etc) plus other extra costs being incurred by the airline. Yet I don't see a call to make disabled persons pay their share (quite the opposite - any infringement of their rights is taken very seriously).
.

My guess based on my flying - which could be purely wrong - is that the average weight of first class passengers is less than the average weight of economy class passengers. And I guess the same for business vs economy, but not to as much extent.

The government provides a lot of the subsidies/support to disadvantaged people and usually the net social benefit to them doing so outweights the cost (eg. a disabled person doing nothing on the dole). It should be considered that most disabled people are not able to solve their disability, unlike overweight people who are overweight by choice/lack of discipline.

Furthermore, private companies who provide benefits to disabled people can usually receive a benefit from doing so (such as by being seen as a caring and contributing member to society). Private companies who subsidise overweight people may be seen as discriminating against slim people, by forcing them to subsidise overweight people.

There is nothing wrong with being overweight, but I think, overweight people must be considerate of other people, and in my belief, this includes not flying in a class that is not suited for them.

 

[acampbel]

My guess based on my flying - which could be purely wrong - is that the average weight of first class passengers is less than the average weight of economy class passengers. And I guess the same for business vs economy, but not to as much extent.

What the frag is this supposed to mean?

The government provides a lot of the subsidies/support to disadvantaged people and usually the net social benefit to them doing so outweights the cost (eg. a disabled person doing nothing on the dole). It should be considered that most disabled people are not able to solve their disability, unlike overweight people who are overweight by choice/lack of discipline.

Ahhhh... now I understand where you are coming from.

Furthermore, private companies who provide benefits to disabled people can usually receive a benefit from doing so (such as by being seen as a caring and contributing member to society). Private companies who subsidise overweight people may be seen as discriminating against slim people, by forcing them to subsidise overweight people.

Yes - no reason for a private company to provide the same level of comfort to fat people. Unless, of course, they want to fool us into thinking that they really care.

There is nothing wrong with being overweight, but I think, overweight people must be considerate of other people, and in my belief, this includes not flying in a class that is not suited for them.

So we should rename Business Class to be Bargearse Class, and First Class to Fatso Class? [ I preferred the old name of cough-Me-I'm-Up-Myself Class, but nevermind. ]

Then we can relocate the skinny beautiful people to the new Elite Class at the back of the plane, and we can all just get along famously.

But there's one thing I don't understand .... how do you find time to run the country and post to this forum?


Cheers,

Andrew

P.S. I should probably declare that I am 175cm (5'9") tall and 82.5kg (13 stone). I don't smoke or have bad BO but do fart occasionally. I rarely put the seat back and try my best to share armrests, and usually don't check any bags unless I am travelling for more than a week.

.

 

[Yada Yada]

Is it reasonable for the public pay hundreds of thousands of dollars treating the gangrenous limbs of fat people?

The government provides a lot of the subsidies/support to disadvantaged people and usually the net social benefit to them doing so outweights the cost (eg. a disabled person doing nothing on the dole). It should be considered that most disabled people are not able to solve their disability, unlike overweight people who are overweight by choice/lack of discipline.

Personally speaking, I have a problem with views such as these. Is it reasonable for the public to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars treating children with rare diseases who may not survive? I have a godson and a nephew both with CF. Who knows how long they will live? Should we stop treating their symptoms and let them go as early as possible because we don't want to waste taxpayer's money?

Is it reasonable for the public to pay millions of dollars fighting a "war" in Iraq, the reason for which has since been proven baseless?

I guess it all boils down to the fact that we are living in a society, not an economy, so if we want to enjoy all the benefits of a society then we have certain obligations and can't be too selfish about where our tax dollars are being spent, especially when it goes to help those who are in need.

BTW, I know an overweight person who is not like that because of choice or lack of discipline. It is a genetic disposition not at all related to over-eating.

There is nothing wrong with being overweight, but I think, overweight people must be considerate of other people, and in my belief, this includes not flying in a class that is not suited for them.

I agree that sitting next to a very overweight person in Y is not fun. However I would blame the airlines. They have made economy seats way too small for the average size of the population. I am 185cm tall and approx 96kg. While I'd like to lose some weight I am not actually overweight and am in proportion for my height. However if there are two others like me sitting in 3-across seating in economy, it's bloody squishy! Economy seats these days are just not made for guys with broad shoulders.

So we should rename Business Class to be Bargearse Class, and First Class to Fatso Class? [ I preferred the old name of cough-Me-I'm-Up-Myself Class, but nevermind. ]

Then we can relocate the skinny beautiful people to the new Elite Class at the back of the plane, and we can all just get along famously.

I really like your style Andrew!

p.s. Saw the following (relvant) story while Googling the other day:
Excess baggage leaves stewardesses grounded | Aviation | The Australian

 

[trippin_the_rift]

At least the benefit of being upgraded offsets the fact they're dumber.

Telegraph | News | The greater your weight, the lower your IQ, say scientists

 

[NM]

IMaybe the airlines could help here by installing some wider economy seats where it doesn't impact aisle space (e.g. the rear of a jumbo) and then reserve them for passengers that need them - just like they supposedly keep exit row seats for very tall passengers.

Some airlines do install wider seats. They call it things like Economy Plus, Premium Economy or World Traveller Plus in BA's case.

Perhaps there is valid reason why such wider seats are generally installed near the middle of the aircraft. Here is an example if they put them too far aft. Or too far forward.

 

[aus_flyer]

Perhaps there is valid reason why such wider seats are generally installed near tyhe middle of the aircraft. Here is an example if they put them too far aft. Or too far forward.

Brilliant!!

 

[Groundfeeder]

Maybe the airlines could help here by installing some wider economy seats where it doesn't impact aisle space (e.g. the rear of a jumbo)

That is so good , its going straight to the pool room!!!