Should Obese People Pay for Two Seats?

This is a paper I wrote for my English class. Your thoughts on this topic?

Commercial Air Travel for Larger Passengers: Should an obese person be required to purchase two seats on an airplane?

            Obesity is becoming a growing worldwide epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States alone over the past 20 years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as cited in Overweight and Obesity, 2010). “Similar increases in the prevalence of obesity have been reported in developed countries such as England and in countries where obesity was formerly rare” (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, 2010). People who are considered obese often face prejudice or discrimination in the job market, at school, and in social situations. They are most likely to have experienced feelings of rejection, shame, or depression on a regular basis (WIN, 2008).  If they choose to travel by plane, they may require additional space. Therefore, companies should make reasonable accommodations to continuously meet the needs of their changing customer demographics, particularly airline companies.

 An obese person should not be required to purchase two seats on an airplane. If they happen to fit in more than one seat it is considered discriminatory and unfair to make them purchase additional airplane tickets. Imagine how you would feel if someone demanded that you give up your paid airplane seat and go pay for an additional ticket for yourself. How would you feel if an airline attendant told you to catch the next flight that has empty seats? Would you agree that this brings up a number of human rights issues?          

            Discrimination is defined as treating or acting differently towards a person or group of people (Merriam-Webster, 2010). All airline passengers are basically treated the same except in instances when a customer needs more space. If an airline wants to impose a policy requiring only a select group of individuals to pay for additional tickets, is this not categorized as discrimination? If this same policy was required of all women, or all African Americans or all gay and lesbians then it still would be discrimination. In order to prevent any bias, discrimination, or unfair treatment, then all passengers must be treated equally. Agreed? This means one passenger pays one ticket in order to travel.

            A growing number of airline companies are demanding that obese passengers pay for a second seat. However, with national records and trends reporting the increasing rate of obesity, this in effect should be a concern for any company as these are current or potential customers. In other words, has the airlines failed to keep up with the growing size of their fliers (CBS, 2009)?  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the governing agency that regulates and inspects aircraft manufacturing for civilian air travel. Since the FAA does not place restrictions on plane seat sizes, airline companies have collectively maintained basic seat sizes at 17 or 18 inches for years (Chen, 2009).  The purpose of an airline company is to transport passengers safely from one destination to the next. This means making the necessary accommodations and adjustments to ensure passenger comfort.

             These adjustments are needed immediately because it is a safety concern for everyone. Consider this event:  “In 2003, the issue of passenger weight surfaced when a commuter plane crashed on takeoff from Charlotte, North Carolina, because of excess weight and a maintenance error” (Chen, 2009). In response to this incident, Les Dorr, a representative for aviation safety at FAA stated, "We realized after that accident that the weights we were using probably didn't reflect the current state of the American traveling public (Chen, 2009).”

            Current airline policies are basically vague on the issue of transporting larger passengers. Southwest Airlines has a “customer of size” policy in which they ask people who cannot lower both armrests of seats to purchase additional seating (Southwest, 2010).  United Airlines has a policy for passengers requiring extra space. If a customer cannot fit in a regular seat or use a seatbelt extender then they must upgrade their seat, pay for an additional one or catch another flight (United, 2010). Some airlines do not openly address this issue or do not allow their flight attendants to address a large person in fear of being sued for discrimination.

When airline staff or representatives improperly handle sensitive situations, it can present a negative image for the airline company. The staff and company representatives are suppose to maintain and provide good customer service at all times. When incidents or occurrences happen involving a specific company, it can greatly impact sales and decrease the number of fliers for that company. Poorly handled situations can also present an emotionally unpleasant experience for the customer. Consider this story: Jean-Jacques Jauffret, who travels often, is considered an overweight passenger weighing about 353 pounds. In 2005, Jauffret was at the New Delhi Airport when an Air France staff publicly measured his waist, decided he was too fat to fit in a regular seat and told him that he would have to pay for an additional seat in order to travel. Jauffret stated that he was shocked and publicly humiliated (AirWise, 2006).  

            From the perspective of larger customers, being singled out to pay for additional plane tickets feels unfair.  It seems retaliatory because most airline policies are not enforced until the passenger physically arrives at the airport. Mary Wann, a frequent flier stated that “instead of us feeling welcome by this entire [airline] industry, we're made to feel very unwelcome; in fact, to the point where we're not supposed to participate in the kinds of activities that everyone else does by traveling (CBS, 2009).  While it is uncomfortable to have someone encroach into your seat, it is most likely even more uncomfortable for the obese individual.

            Yes, is the majority response to the question on whether an obese person should pay for an additional seat (CreateDebate, 2010). In a personal and informal Facebook poll, most people felt that if someone needs more seat space then logically they should pay for it (Waller, 2010). Larger passengers can potentially cause a safety hazard if the passengers around them cannot escape swiftly should an emergency occur during a flight. Encroaching on someone else’s seat also makes travel very uncomfortable for the passenger sitting in the adjacent seat. Consider this event: Marsha St. Clair and her husband, both of Los Angeles, sat next to a woman who "spilled over" into a third of St. Clair's center seat during a five hour flight (Hobica, 2010). St. Clair is justified in filing a complaint after having paid full price for her seat and only occupied half of it.

The question is: should an obese person be required to pay for two seats on an airplane? The answer is no. It is understood that needing additional space will require a charge but should they pay it at full price? The answer is no. Should an obese person be charged for additional space? Yes. It is just unfair for them to pay double the price of a regular seat. Charging overweight passengers at full price for additional seating is clearly discrimination. There are fees for checked luggage, extra leg room, priority seating, and services (CNN, 2010). Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to charge a fee for extra seat space than at full price? There are a number of solutions that airline companies can do to help resolve this issue.

First class can be offered to obese passengers since the seats are more spacious than coach. Some airline companies and airports offer VIP programs for frequent fliers. They could possibly include gym membership as part of their benefits package. Airlines could also provide healthy meals on international flights and healthy snack options on shorter flights. One major advantage that the airline industry can tap into is incentive travel for overweight passengers. They can create some type of weight loss or get fit program that allows a passenger to track pounds lost in exchange for sky miles, discount tickets or prizes such as vacation getaways.

In a release from the U. S. Office of the Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin stated that in order “to stop the obesity epidemic in this country, we must remember that Americans will be more likely to change their behavior if they have a meaningful reward--something more than just reaching a certain weight or BMI measurement. The real reward has to be something that people can feel and enjoy and celebrate” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008).

The topic of whether an overweight person should pay for additional seating is a sensitive and highly debatable one. There are currently no new or updated policies with reference to the transportation of larger passengers. Ultimately, it is up to the airline industry to create some reasonable solution to this growing problem. It is the airlines mission and job to ensure that all passengers are safely transported and have an enjoyable experience on their flight.    

           

References

AirWise News. Air France sued by 'fat' man over seat row. 2006 Dec 20. Retrieved on August 15, 2010 from http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1166648696.html. 

CBS Interactive, Inc. Airlines put squeeze on fat fliers. CBS News/The Early Show. 2009 April 17. Retreived on August 15, 2010 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/17/earlyshow/living/travel/main4952134.shtml. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved July 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Chen, S. Airline policies juggle larger passengers. CNN. 2009June 26. Retrieved on August 15, 2010 from http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/06/26/obese.passengers.airlines/index.html. 

CNN. Airline fees. Retrieved on August 15, 2010 from http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/06/24/airline.fees/index.html.

CreateDebate, LLC. (2010). Retrieved on August 29, 2010 from http://www.createdebate.com/debate/show/Should_Obese_People_Pay_For_Two_Airline_Seats.

Hobica, G. How should airlines accommodate obese passengers? USA Today. 2010 June 15. Retrieved on August 15, 2010 from http://travel.usatoday.com/experts/hobica/2010-06-15-obese-airline-passengers_N.htm.

Merriam-Webster, Inc. (2010). Merriam-webster online search. Retrieved August 15, 2010 from http://www.merriam-webster.com. 

Reimink, T.  Kevin smith vs. southwest airlines: should overweight passengers pay for a second ticket?. The Grand Rapids Press. 2010 Feb 18. Retreived on August 15, 2010 from http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2010/02/kevin_smith_vs_southwest_airli.html.

Southwest Airlines Co. (2010). Retrieved on August 15, 2010 from http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_guidelines.html.

United Air Lines, Inc. (2010). Retrieved on August 15, 2010 from http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,52985,00.html.

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010, January). The surgeon general’s vision for a healthy and fit nation. Retrieved August 29, 2010 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, website: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/obesityvision/obesityvision2010.pdf.

Waller, T.  Informal Facebook poll. Surveyed July 12, 2010. Research Paper Facebook Poll.docx.

Weight – control Information Network(WIN). 2008 November. Understanding adult obesity. Retrieved August 29, 2010 from  http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/understanding.htm#cultural.

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1.03.01

Should There Be a National Memorial?

Author: Sweet*Tee aka Tabitha W.

Have you ever criticized someone in your life? As punishment for your criticism, what if your ear got cut off?  How would you feel if someone intentionally poured tar on your face? What is the lowest amount of money you think you can be sold for to another person? How would feel as you watch your loved ones being separated from each other to be shipped to different parts of the country against their will, never to be seen again? This is a glimpse into the life of a black slave in the United States. I believe that documented accounts and stories of African American slaves should be memorialized to honor and respect their lives of sacrifice, courage, and bravery.

           A memorial dedicated to African American slavery would be a great asset to the community. Many of today’s young adults have learned about much of our world events through other memorials such as the Oklahoma City Memorial, WWII Memorial, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. These national monuments preserve a major event in our American history. They give us the ability to value our future always remembering the past. Would an African American slavery memorial be any different?          

Many would welcome the opportunity to share with the world, stories of victory and triumph of our ancestors throughout one of the saddest, humiliating events in our country’s past. While the subject of African slavery is an uncomfortable topic, it is our responsibility to pay tribute to and share a huge part of American history. A memorial such as this would be able to educate future generations and to allow people to understand the horror and cruelty African Americans endured.  

According to Professor Manning Marable, author of An Idea Whose Time Has Come, “slavery was a crime against our humanity”.  “Many white institutions, including Ivy League universities, insurance companies, and banks, profited from slavery” (Marable, 5). “The actual number of men, women and children who were snatched from their homes in Africa and transported in slave ships across the Atlantic, either to the Caribbean islands or to North and South America, will never be known. Writers vary in their estimates, but there is no doubt that their number runs into millions (Bell, 1993).”  Studying, learning, and understanding slavery can also help us consider and restructure this gap within our society called racism.

“Slavery history is very important for all citizens of the U.S. to be familiar with, and this memorial will be doing its part to help this information reach the masses” (US National Slavery Museum). Having the opportunity to create a memorial dedicated to African American slavery would not just benefit the world and our communities. It will benefit individual citizens. African American citizens will get the chance to show our gratitude and appreciate to our ancestors who paved the way for us today. From the local college student paying her own way through college all the way to the doors of the White House of the current President of the United States.

References

Bell, Derek (1993).Race, racism, and the law: slave trade statistics. http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/slave04.htm

Marable, Manning. An Idea Whose Time Has Come.

Slave Facts. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/matt_kane/slave%20facts.htm

Strayer University. (2006). Research and writing: Custom edition. Boston: Pearson.

US National Slavery Museum http://www.usnationalslaverymuseum.org/slavery-museum.html

Al B: On Cheating | The Tyra Show

Tiger Woods. It's hard to have a conversation lately without that name popping up. And the story just keeps expanding, so much so that Tiger may accumulate enough jump-offs to make a run in the playoffs! What ever happens moving forward, I hope there's some good that can come from this scandal. One possibly good thing is that people are talking about infidelity.
But what exactly constitutes infidelity and why do people cheat?
First, what is cheating? This definition from Wikipedia sums it up perfectly: "Infidelity is a violation of the mutually agreed-upon rules or boundaries of an intimate relationship, which constitutes a significant breach of faith or a betrayal of core shared values with which the integrity of the relationship is defined. In common use, it describes an act of unfaithfulness to one's husband, wife, or lover, whether sexual or non-sexual in nature." Yes, non-sexual cheating counts. It's not just the act of sex outside the relationship.
Cheating takes on three basic forms; Physical, Virtual and Emotional. Physical: This is the easy one. Everything from a kiss to a tryst and all that is in between. EVERYTHING. If you can't do whatever "it" is in front of your significant other, it's cheating.
Virtual: This covers a wide range of activities from sexting to flirting online, and can involve using pornographic materials and going to strip clubs.
The use of porn and checking out exotic dancers is one of those things couples have to discuss and create their own boundaries and expectations. But sexting, phone sex, chat flirtation -- are all violations. It's simple: if your interaction with a person excites and/or arouses you, then you're cheating. If you'd feel "caught" if your mate saw what you were doing, you know you shouldn't be doing it.
Emotional: This is the hardest one. It's a thin line between just having a good friend and being a cheat. Most women who cheat will cheat emotionally first. It may start with what seems to be harmless conversation but quickly becomes more. You open up, share secrets, aspirations, insecurities and problems with the relationship.
You let her/him in.
He/she is in your thoughts. You get excited thinking about a call, an email... lunch. You lie or create opportunities to spend time with him/her. All the while you're supposed to be emotionally engaged and committed to another. At first it was just a hug, but now you hold hands, touch a knee, wipe food from their mouth. At this point it's just a matter of time before that long gaze you keep sharing leans into a kiss.
People cheat for all kinds of reasons; for revenge, to fill a void in the relationship or just because they can -- whatever a cheater's reason(s), one thing is certain -- it's selfish.
That's something the Wikipedia definition left out -- infidelity is a selfish violation. It's the height of selfishness to hold someone physically and emotionally hostage while you serve whatever "need" you've invented. You know, the whole "I want my cake and eat it too" mentality? (Wait, hold on... I NEVER understood that saying. It's MY cake; of course I wanna eat it! Let's remix it...) It's a "I want my cake, or even two" type of mentality, and it's not fair to the other person or the relationship.
If you've gotten to the point in your relationship where you believe cheating is a viable option, stop. Think about why it's justified in your mind: Is it to strike back? To evoke an emotional response? Or just because it feels good? Whatever it is, before you act, think about your reason and then think about your relationship.
If the affair is of more value, start the process of ending the relationship, THEN re-engage the other possible partner. If the relationship is more important, push back from whatever counter-feelings are there, distance yourself from the person(s) the feelings are directed to. Work to solve any internal problems you may have, seek help if necessary and talk to your significant other about what may need to be fixed to make the relationship healthy.
Unfortunately, despite the latest celeb cheating scandal, men and women will continue to violate their relationships. And as we have seen so many times, infidelity can rip apart a bond, but it doesn't have to. Some will choose to leave, some to stay -- either way, each decision is unique to that relationship and should be respected as such.
You respected a person enough to enter a relationship. Respect that person enough to fix what's wrong -- or move on. Don't cheat.