Model is too curvy, denied boarding. U.S. airlines will charge obese people extra for ticket
Airplane seats, especially if you are traveling in Economy Class, are not exactly the ultimate in comfort. First [...]
United Airlines
Qatar Airways
Star Alliance
Oneworld
Airplane seats, especially if you travel in class Economy, are not exactly the best comfort. First Class and many Business classes certainly offer more comfortable spaces, but most mere mortals travel in economy classes.
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For people with some kiletto in addition it is a greater challenge to be able to be comfortable, to remedy this the airlines suggest buying 2 places, in such a way that more space is available.
In fact, for airlines, it is not so much a matter of space as it is a matter of weight, planes are precisely calibrated, there is little room for approximation, and therefore the weight is also calculated so as to balance the aircraft properly.
For this reason there is a limit Of weight and number of suitcases that can be carried on board, as well as a maximum weight requirement for passengers as well: above a certain threshold, many airlines force overweight people to buy a ticket in addition.
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In countries where obesity rates are very high, such as the United States, Mexico, Canada and Australia, airlines are running for cover blocking some places at certain times of the year.
In fact, it is estimated that during the summer season the average weight of an adult male varies from 85 to 90kg, while in winter the average weight increases by about 5 to 8 kg per passenger. The change depends on a few factors, one above all the clothes which are heavier in winter, while in summer, short-sleeved swimsuits and T-shirts are preferred.
In the United States in particular, the percentage of adults considered overweight has increased from 30% in 1999 to 42% in 2020, with obesity rates in some states exceeding 35%.
For this, from November 1, 2022 until April 30, 2023, United Airlines will block some seats on its flights, specifically some middle seats on its Boeing 757s. The carrier sent a note to its employees telling them to "monitor these seats at all stages of the flight to ensure they remain unoccupied."
For airlines, the extra weight mainly equates to. fuel more consumed during flight and therefore more expenses. The average weight in 20 years has increased by about 2kg, for an airplane as large as the A380 turns into about 500€ extra fuel per route, not much? Multiply that by 3 routes a day for a year we have almost 1 million extra fuel, for one aircraft.
In addition to costs, we also cannot fail to mention theenvironmental impact that this implies, at a time when the topic of sustainability is hot, the our carbon footprint Is a burden we carry with us every time we travel.
Curvy model Juliana Nehme kicked off flight for being too fat
An example of what can happen in these situations is the case of the Brazilian Plus-size model Juliana Nehme to which Qatar Airways denied boarding because she was too fat.
https://twitter.com/a_petralha/status/1595452957318955011
"I paid a thousand dollars. I was there for almost 2 hours begging to travel. My mother tried everything. I was threatened when I tried to record what they were doing. The lady at the counter pushed me and nothing worked.
...They wanted my mother to leave and leave me here in Lebanon, but I don't speak English or Arabic. ...I was extremely humiliated in front of all the people at the airport! All because I am fat!"
Juliana had a place in Economy And Qatar at check-in told her that she would have to buy a seat Premium because of his size but Nehme could not afford him financially.
Qatar's response:
Qatar Airways treats all passengers with respect and dignity, and in line with industry practices and similar to most airlines, anyone who obstructs the space of a fellow passenger and cannot fasten their seat belt or lower their armrests may be required to purchase an additional seat both as a safety precaution and for the comfort and safety of all passengers.
The passenger in question at Beirut airport was initially extremely rude and aggressive toward check-in staff when she failed to show the PCR documentation required for entry into Brazil. As a result, airport security was asked to intervene as staff and passengers were extremely concerned about her behavior.
We can confirm that the passenger was rebooked on a flight Thursday evening from Lebanon.
In short, a rather unpleasant situation that would have put in difficulty anyone. Apparently the experiment of United seems aimed at trying to solve situations like this, we will see if it works.
