United Airlines to charge obese passengers for two seats
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United Airlines has become the latest carrier to requireobese passengers to purchase two seats, according to a Reuters report. The UScarrier has said that should overweight travellers by removed from fullflights, they will be required to purchase two seats on a subsequent flight.
The change brings the Chicago-based carrier in line witheight other airlines including Continental, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest,United spokesperson, Robin Urbanski, was reported saying.
“Last year we had 700 complaints from passengers who had toshare their seats,” Urbanski said.
Under the new policy, obese passengers – defined as thoseunable to lower the arm rest and buckle a seat belt with one extension belt -will still be reaccommodated, at no extra charge, to two empty seats if thereis space available. If the plane is full however, they will be bumped from theflight and may have to purchase a second ticket, at the same price as theoriginal fare. If the passenger chooses to cancel the trip, the ticket will berefunded with no additional charge.
The policy is effective immediately and applies to bothinternational and domestic United Airlines flights.
So is this a victory of the majority of air passengers, ordiscrimination against a minority? TDA would love to know your views. Have yoursay by emailing us at info@traveldailyasia.com.
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