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Published:November 22nd, 2008 11:54 EST
Are Chubby Passengers Entitled To Two Seats For The Price Of One?


By Robert Paul Reyes

"Obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on Thursday.

The high court declined to hear an appeal by Canadian airlines of a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency that people who are `functionally disabled by obesity` deserve to have two seats for one fare."


I strongly disagree with this decision, but at least if a tubby person has two seats his flab won`t invade your space. Obese individuals should be forced to purchase two seats so they won`t inconvenience passengers sitting next to them. Instead of getting two tickets for the price of one, they should pay the full price for both seats plus a $100 surcharge. They should be punished for forcing their fellow air travelers to witness the spectacle of a huge person taking up two seats.

According to the high court`s insane logic shouldn`t an obese person be entitled to two jumbo boxes of movie popcorn, for the price of one? Since it takes two tubs of popcorn to satisfy him, it would be unfair to ask him to pay for the second one.

Fat folks won`t have any incentive to lose weight, if they are going to be granted special privileges. Before long jumbo persons will demand that auto manufacturers customize their cars with extra wide seats, free of charge.

I know some folks are overweight due to medical reasons, but most chubby people would lose their "functional disability" if they stopped munching on Doritos and Cheetos.

Should alcoholic passengers who are "functionally disabled by their illness" be entitled to two free drinks because they can`t cope with the stress of air travel without their daily libations? Where does the madness end?

Bottom line: Airlines shouldn`t be penalized because some of their passengers eat like pigs.