Fat People Cost Airlines Big Time

Wow.  I can remember when people used to cringe when I got on the plane.  You could almost see them saying "please don't sit next to me, please don't sit next to me, please don't sit next to me" as you got closer.  I used to have some fun and pass my seat by two or three rows and then come back.  The look of relief turning to horror was almost worth the 2 to 3 hours of discomfort at being squished into a seat.

Since the surgery though things are much better.  I can actually fit in a row with two other folks.  It is still snug, but at least I fit without an extension and can have the arm rails down... :)

And you thought the biggest problem with overweight people on airplanes was that one might sit next to you and overcrowd your tiny seat. Turns out a much bigger issue for the airline industry may be that fat people are a drag... literally. The growing obesity problem in the US means that planes fly heavier, and that's costing big bucks in fuel. In fact, a new report suggests that this... um... weighty issue meant 350 million extra gallons of fuel in the year 2000 (it took them this long to get these stats?!?) costing approximately $275 million. No wonder the airlines are going bankrupt. Maybe some of these newer airlines need to set up exercise rooms in the airlines, rather than comfier seats. Get people out of the seats and moving around... It's for the good of the industry.

[Techdirt]