Nat – Yes, I left the “otherwise disabled” out of the debate deliberately because I wanted to keep the focus narrow, but you raise some good points about where the line would be drawn. I guess the difference is that the person with brain damage is now permanently disabled – he can’t do anything about it. And while there are certainly some people who are obese due to a metabolic disorder, they are very rare. The thinking is that obese people choose to be obese. I think there’s a lot more involved. In the end, though, I think if airlines want people to keep flying they need to figure out a way to accommodate ALL people a bit better. Like I said, even having 2 seats doesn’t address most of the comfort/health/safety issues.

Kimberly – Agreed. It seems like every time I fly they’ve managed to squeeze a couple more rows of seats in the planes and hired only the most disagreeable staff available.

Friar – Welcome. And yes, I’ve sat next to squirming, screaming (shrilly), barfing, seat-kicking, running up and down the aisles kids on a plane before. I was pretty sure that was going to be the plane that went down and the kids’ parents would die and I’d be stuck on a desserted island dragging their nasty offpsring kicking and screaming to survival. If it had been a movie, that’s definitely what would have happened.

Lesley – I know, eh? I’m an evil genius.

Yeah, that’s great that it saves the parents the price of getting another seat. But what about the poor bastard who has to sit NEXT to them?

I’m sorry. There are TWO passenger here. There ougta be a law. Shouldnt’ the parents have to pay for two seats? (even if the one next was left empty)? Why shoudl the other passengers be penalized?

If anyone thinks I sound mean, well, just try to sit 5 hours next to a fidgeting kicking screaming kid, and then come back and me know what you think.

I’m a petite person (5′3″, size 4/6) and I still find the seats uncomfortable. I’ve been squeezed next to obese people and it’s hell. I actually do think they should have to buy an extra seat for their own comfort and safety as much as for those around them.

But that said, the airlines sure could do a lot more to make flying a more pleasant experience.

Some how, that doesn’t seem nearly so awful. Perception is that the obese a bit more room. I mean the obese like to eat and they are lazy aren’t they? Yet, who knows why they need an attendant. What if buddy had 12 beers, got behind the wheel of a car and killed three people and now has a brain injury and needs an attendant? Does that change how we view the need for the attendant to fly free? And surely that’s worse than like chocolate chip cookies a bit too much.

The obese person could have any number of genetic metabolic disorders which makes it incredibly difficult to lose weight. (I was speaking to a doc, an endochronologist, who said he gets some of his patients down to 450 calories a day and they don’t lose weight even when they try.) So in that situation, this person is clearly sick. Do we owe it to them to make travel bareable?

Then the slippery slope begins of who deserves a free extra seat.

I do know that if it means that I don’t end up smushed next to two obese people on a flight, it might be worth it. (Also if they stopped those seats from reclining — that would make it so much better.)

Obesity… it’s the new smoking.

i am all for the jet packs tho

Bob – I think Ottawa would be a spectacular place with the entire population jet-packing about willy-nilly.

The Maven – I was wondering where you were going with the hair dye thing. Why are you dying your hair? What’s the natural colour? And you’re right, there are a lot of reasons why someone might not fit into the standard airplane seats because the standard airplane seats suck watermelons. Buying the seat in front of him isn’t going to solve too-tall Mr. Maven’s problems either, I suspect. Stupid airplanes

I’m overweight. My father’s side of the family is overweight. I didn’t grow up with them or him, but when I met them as an adult I realized we all had the same body shape. This was a bit of a relief for me, considering that my skinny mom and skinny stepdad produced my three skinny step-siblings. I also have a documented hormonal disorder that came prior to the weight and caused the weight gain. It also makes it very difficult to lose. All those excuses aside, I do like to eat and I overeat sometimes, too. So do my siblings, but they’re skinny. I also exercise every day and they don’t at all. Funny, that.

However, if I were large enough to require two seats (which I’m not, thankfully) I suppose I would understand if I had to pay for them, just like I have to pay for the extra dye. But should my too-tall husband have to pay for the seat in front of him because he keeps hitting his knees on that person’s chair causing them to be uncomfortable?