Airbus propose Fat Seats

[JamieLei]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/trave ... llers.html

Interesting. Apparently, Airbus planes are 5 inches wider, so this would make the 'slim' seats the same as Boeing seats. In the US, you often have to buy 2 seats if you can't fit into one, which is a scheme that seems to work fine. Of course, this is all about money - some people pay more for more legroom, others will pay more for wider seats.

[orudge]

I'd rather the airlines just gave everybody slightly wider seats (compared with the equivalent Boeing plane or whatever), and force overweight passengers to purchase two seats (or a businss class seat, on long haul flights) as at present.

That said, seat width in economy on BA's Airbuses at present seem to be just the same as on their short-haul Boeings, at 17".

[oleinves]

"So we have an idea to offer extra comfort for people who want to pay for it and generate additional revenue potential for airline."

i wonder how much more expensive it is going to cost me and how many of these seats will be installed

“Over the last 30 years, human bodies have changed"

hmm, i wonder if they are going to continue to change

[John]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/trave ... llers.html

Interesting. Apparently, Airbus planes are 5 inches wider,

For short haul (i.e. A320 vs B737). Longhaul it varies.


Unfortunately fuselage diameter is one of the main drivers of drag (and thus fuel burn). And while people continue to shop purely on price, the planes aren't going to get any wider.
And when they do, they simply stick in an extra seat.

I'm sure if you find a graph of seat widths over the past 30 years, you will see it is slowly declining, while our waistlines slowly expand.

[SquireJames]

If this goes through, will we need to add a new passenger cargo to TTD?

[DeletedUser14]

If you look at it really bluntly, you could fit more skinny people in an aircraft than fat people, meaning that fat people would have to pay more if you were to send them on seperate flights. Also (again, blunt) fat people are ofcourse heavier, affecting fuel economy; if you pay extra for luggage, why not for body weight? Especially when you need two chairs instead of one, you then also take up a space that the airline could've used for another passenger.

[John]

Especially when you need two chairs instead of one, you then also take up a space that the airline could've used for another passenger.

And US Airlines will force the person to pay for two seats. They do however get a refund if the flight is under 80% full or something.

On a slide aside, while volunteering with a first aid charity during the Olympics, I heard of a lady becoming stuck in a cinema seat and the fire brigade had to cut the seat apart to get her out...

Not sure if it made the news of not - will see if I can find anything.

[SquireJames]

It might have been here that I mentioned it, but I had an idea ooh, a while back, to solve this sort of problem.

You give every passenger a set weight and dimensions limit that includes themselves and any baggage they have. If they exceed this either through their own personal weight and size or the weight and size of their luggage, then they pay an excess or are unable to fly. Solves any accusations of "fat prejudice" as everyone is allocated the same space and weight.

Also means that if it's just me travelling and I happen to have a bag that is overweight by current regulations, then it's now fair as I can offset my own weight with that of the baggage. I think it's massively unfair that my bag that is 20lbs over costs me a ridiculous overweight fee and well, lets be honest and blunt here, a person that weighs twice my weight and is twice my bulk pays the same as I do.

My way, it works out for everyone.

[FooBar]

I had a similar thought a while back, too. But only regarding weight, not size. It however will make airline prices even less transparent as they are now. The current scheme of things is probably just as fair: everybody is allowed to carry the same amount of luggage and as long as you fit in a single seat every human is considered equal. People who can't fit in a seat, should either purchase two seats, lose just enough weigth (or rather: width), or use a different means of transportation. I find the refund if less than 80% of the aircraft is full a bit silly, so if the aircraft is not full you somehow fit in one seat? So if the aircraft isn't full I can bring someone else who doesn't have luggage for free too?

[APDAF]

What would happen it the person it too tall and/or broad shouldered? i.e basketball player or heavyweight boxer or simuler builds

[JamieLei]

I did hear an airline justify it by giving the example of a group of people all travelling back from a "fat convention". If they were all allowed to take up one seat, then the plane would be dangerously overweight.

[YNM]

What would happen it the person it too tall and/or broad shouldered? i.e basketball player or heavyweight boxer or simuler builds

Then try to get a seat on the wing or on the top of fuselage. Even an elephant can sit.

[SquireJames]

What would happen it the person it too tall and/or broad shouldered? i.e basketball player or heavyweight boxer or simuler builds

As I said, everyone would get the same restrictions. So, everyone is treated equal (perhaps equally badly but, equally!)

[FooBar]

I did hear an airline justify it by giving the example of a group of people all travelling back from a "fat convention". If they were all allowed to take up one seat, then the plane would be dangerously overweight.

True, but try to fit three seriously overweight people side-by-side in three seats. I think you'll find that one has to leave the middle seat empty anyways.

[doktorhonig]

This could result in a lot of discrimination of tall/wide/overweight people in jobs where travelling is required and paid by the employer.

[APDAF]

What would happen it the person it too tall and/or broad shouldered? i.e basketball player or heavyweight boxer or simuler builds

As I said, everyone would get the same restrictions. So, everyone is treated equal (perhaps equally badly but, equally!)

So if a basketball team needs to go transatlantic for a tournament they cannot fly?

[orudge]

Clearly, if you're too fat to fit in the seat, you should just go in the cargo hold.

[SquireJames]

What would happen it the person it too tall and/or broad shouldered? i.e basketball player or heavyweight boxer or simuler builds

As I said, everyone would get the same restrictions. So, everyone is treated equal (perhaps equally badly but, equally!)

So if a basketball team needs to go transatlantic for a tournament they cannot fly?

They would probably be alright, as it's more about bulk and weight than height. I mainly added a dimensions thing to stop twats bringing skis on an airliner for free whilst my slightly heavy bag is apparently needing a charge. If they were somehow monstrously tall 8ft 5 people, then they'd pay an extra charge.

Then again most basketball teams would travel in Business anyway, where it isn't really an issue.