AC/WJA/Jazz Get Saddled with the Supersized

[Airband]

Today's CTA ruling on freebie seats for the obese:


2. Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet

[25] The carrier respondents shall not charge a fare for additional seats provided to the following persons with disabilities:

- those persons who are required, under the terms of the carriers' tariff, to be accompanied by an Attendant;

- those persons who are disabled as a result of obesity; and

- those other persons who require additional seating for themselves to accommodate their disability to travel by air.

[26] With respect to the implementation of corrective measures, in recognition of the need for the respondents to, in the case of the carrier respondents, develop new or modify existing eligibility screening mechanisms so that they can properly apply the new policies, and, in the case of the Gander Airport Authority, establish a procedure to determine how to identify those persons with disabilities who are required by air carrier domestic tariffs to travel with an Attendant, the Agency determined that a twelve-month period is reasonable for the finalization and implementation of the corrective measures ordered.


http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/rulings-decisi ... e.html#116

[twinpratts]

[Dave T]

Don't really know what to think about that. I thought airlines all had the policy that if a person could not fit safely in a seat that they needed to purchase another seat (anyone watch the show airline?). I think Southwest's policy was that the person had to purchase another seat but they were only charged for it if the flight was full.

Now I know some people's obesity is actually a disability and you need to be fair to them but the people who have simply eaten to many burgers should be paying for another seat. It is a safety issue and a comfort issue for fellow passengers.

[1900guy]

What about the poor person that is sitting beside them that has also paid for a full seat but is only able to use half? Do they get to take the overflow percentage off their fare?

[Legacy]

If there is ever and accident and they need and immediate evac, these "obese" people are toast.

[picwally]

Everyone together...
Hip hip hourray for the dumbass judge and his stupid ruling...

if this all happens to be true of course

[bcflyer]

I think the key word in the statement is "disabled" due to being obese. If I was an airline I would would require a letter from a Doctor saying that they are in fact "disabled", otherwise you will have every fat person who reads this, demanding an extra seat for free!!!

[WJ700]

If there is ever and accident and they need and immediate evac, these "obese" people are toast.

Well... to be accurate, not 'toast' but more of a large splattering grease fire. Something similar to bacon cooking I'd think.

[yycflyguy]

Mmmmm bacon.

[EI-EIO]

So this doesn't apply to Skyservice/Sunwing/Porter etc or have they just not been sued yet?

[Airband]

So this doesn't apply to Skyservice/Sunwing/Porter etc or have they just not been sued yet?

Nor to Air North or First Air. Applies only to point to point within Canada for AC/WJ/Jazz (not Int'l or transborder or domestic sectors thereof).

.

[Phlyer]

I'm okay with this - big people get a free extra seat - as long as alchoholics get free drinks.