Thread: Fat shamed or fair enough?

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

I think airlines have to be dragged into the current times. People are getting bigger. There are lots of big people out there not just the overweight and obese. The Japanese population has increased in height a foot since WW2. The Oz born children of the 1970's - 1980's Vietnamese refugees are significantly taller and broader than their parents and grandparents. Go to the USA and look around you. Americans are the best fed people on this planet and there are lots and lots of big ones. I am 6'1", size 12 shoes, xxxl Shirts, 100 kilos and don't fit comfortably in airline seats. I don't consider myself a real big man. I have known lots bigger. much bigger. I wonder how some of those guys fitted in airliners. I maintain the airlines have to change their seating to accommodate real people not just Asiatic and Mediterranean dwarfs.

I'm only a little fella' but completely agree.

And then we have the issue of baggage (not the partner).
Given airlines are correctly paranoid about weight, how can you justify charging for minor excess baggage, when the biggest differential is the weight of the person. If you want to charge by the kilo, then the total of person and baggage should be the deciding factor!!!

Originally Posted by LRJim

Heard about this on the radio today, a large man was not allowed to sit in an emergency exit row due to his size.

"The CASA's website says passengers seated in exit rows must be "able bodied" and "appropriate" passengers who are able to help in an emergency.

Qantas' own guidelines online adds passengers sitting in the exit seats must not require the use of an infant or extension seat belt."

Melbourne airport: Qantas passenger claims he was fat-shamed over seat - News Australia

I have a mild hearing loss and now wear hearing aids - officially I shouldn't be in the exit row either as any degree of hearing loss is deemed to make you not able bodied. Am I being hearing-shamed?

Originally Posted by gavinwibrow

I'm only a little fella' but completely agree.

And then we have the issue of baggage (not the partner).
Given airlines are correctly paranoid about weight, how can you justify charging for minor excess baggage, when the biggest differential is the weight of the person. If you want to charge by the kilo, then the total of person and baggage should be the deciding factor!!!

I have often wondered about this also! At least these days just about all major carriers allow 30-32kg rather than the good old 23kg. I think the US may have started this.

When I lived on Norfolk Island, they often weighed the passengers if the plane was fully loaded.

remove the fat part.

is there a risk to other passengers safety?

Originally Posted by p38arover

When I lived on Norfolk Island, they often weighed the passengers if the plane was fully loaded.

Yep, often used to be the case - I was informed to ensure they didn't exceed take-off weight, especially in smaller planes. They also used to sometimes balance the load both sideways and front to rear.

As a kid my parents lived in the Solomon Islands for a while and we 10 went to boarding school in Charters Towers. Ex Townsville by TAA (with once via a DC3), overnight stop in New Guinea, then ETA home pm the next day. Initially went home once a year at Xmas (and N Qld camp for the other school vacs), then towards the end we were allowed a 2nd trip.

Sorry for highjack!

This is a touchy issue but I don't care.

I once asked to be reseated on a Q flight because a very obese person squeezed themself into the seat alongside and then spilled out all over my seat claiming my shoulder area, the armrest entirely.I could not sit upright due to this persons invasion.

When I called the flight attendant and voiced my issue, the person alongside me proceeded to loudly vent their disgust at my request and that they had never been so publicly humiliated etc etc.

I was given another seat in business class amid the other person protestations that they were the one insulted and they should have the better seat.

During the flight, the attendant came and spoke to me and said the same situation rears it's head on a regular basis and there is nothing they can do about it except try to resolve the problem by reseating.

Fancy having to deal with that as part of your job.

I wonder what airlines would do with a couple of guys I knew in Sydney in the 70's. Large Morrie, known mostly as Large was 7'2". He went on a fitness kick about 1973 and got down to a roaring fit 160 kgs. About the size of a telephone booth with legs. A true giant. Then there was "Big Eddie" who was a "Bad debt collector" for one of Sydney's gang bosses. Only 5'10" but 5'10" square with arms and legs like power poles. Only 125 kilos.