Finnair - Weighing Passengers

MissInterpreted

Let the fat shaming begin...

Let's close down healthy discussion

GrannyGravy13

MissInterpreted

Let the fat shaming begin...

It’s nothing to do with fat shaming

Aircraft’s safety relies on weight to fuel ratio along with the weight capacity of the aircraft itself.

Sorry safety of all onboard should always be uppermost.

When I spoke of fat shaming, I meant on here. Somehow any threads which mention overweight or obese people always seem to bring out the worst in some posters.

Oh, and I'm not trying to close down any conversation or healthy discussion, by the way. Bring it on...

IMHO This would be fat shaming.

I can't imagine the shame of the person being singled out as 'a burden' on the plane.

Some people have illnesses that make them overweight: eating disorders that are an illness and not just 'greed'. Some take medication that puts on weight. Some have genetic differences that their body never signals that they are full etc. Overeating and weight gain usually has an underlying illness.. whether mental or physical.
As for the safety of everyone. We have all been flying safely with all body types so far but I guess as people are becoming bigger the airlines need to allow for this in their planning..... and not make it personal.

People are getting bigger is quite an understatement on what is happening.

DH has just reminded me that when I used to fly back and forwards to Europe (way back in early 80’s) I used to get weighed along with suitcase, pram and babe in arms at Luton airport. It must have been Monarch Airlines, as they flew out of Luton regularly to my home town.

You know when we laugh at the times when people used to say smoking was good for you.
In the future my guess is people will look at the way we pussyfoot around obesity in the same way.

I was on a plane once when a petite lady was asked/told to give up her front of the block seat with extra legroom. The reason was that a giant of a man, not fat but tall, could not fit his legs into the space provided.
When I looked at these two people it occurred to me the absurdity of having standard size seats. Who is normal?
Surely if people are getting bigger and airlines still want to keep flying, they should supply bigger seats!

We all have different size feet and heads and buy shoes and hats accordingly so why not seats in planes?

Galaxy

You know when we laugh at the times when people used to say smoking was good for you.
In the future my guess is people will look at the way we pussyfoot around obesity in the same way.

Difference is - no-one HAS to smoke, but everyone has to eat!

Grammaretto

I was on a plane once when a petite lady was asked/told to give up her front of the block seat with extra legroom. The reason was that a giant of a man, not fat but tall, could not fit his legs into the space provided.
When I looked at these two people it occurred to me the absurdity of having standard size seats. Who is normal?
Surely if people are getting bigger and airlines still want to keep flying, they should supply bigger seats!

We all have different size feet and heads and buy shoes and hats accordingly so why not seats in planes?

That’s why they have different classes , extra leg room seats, premium economy, business class and of course first class.

You get what you pay for when travelling by air, just as in all walks of life.

Aga….its not just trolleys for medical patients. All equipment used has weight limits, it should always be factored in. Obesity is a serious issue.

I wasn't fat shaming at all, just pointing out the anomaly between two slim parents with two thin children being made to repack and discard some of their luggage because it was a couple of three kilos overweight yet another very large passenger (about 20 stone I would estimate) was fine and went through check-in without a problem.

The parents looked very harassed and quite embarrassed having to repack in front of all the other passengers.

I accept that there are sometimes those options GG but not always.
In NZ where I am currently, have a lot of small domestic flights and many very large passengers. There are no separate classes.
Perhaps we shouldn't be so coy and be prepared to refuse to fly extra wide, heavy or long people?

I'm travelling home in a week and this thread is making me nervous 😶

I have just lost 3 stone, I was fat, you can use any words you like to describe that situation but I was fat. The difference it has made to my health and just level of physical fitness is is beyond words. I actually find it quite frightening.

Well done Galaxy you must feel great. I hope that you keep the weight down and stay healthy. It won't have been easy I imagine but perhaps you'll be able to advise others how to achieve a healthy weight too?

BigBertha did you ask the tall man in front of you to move his seat forward to let you out? And did he refuse??

I think in that situation we must take our courage in both hands. If he refused me I hope I would say in a loud voice please move your seat and let me out.
Or as in the film My Fair Lady "move your blooming arse".
Being old has an advantage in not caring.

We flew Ryan Air (against my better judgement) in January, their seats are now fixed in an upright position the same as EasyJet.

I was rather paranoid about the size and weight of our carryon luggage (we did not check in any to the hold). Then once seated watched passenger after passenger with oversized cases, backpacks along with overweight humans who could barely squeeze down the aisle.

The population is getting heavier, the airlines must do what they have to do for all of our safety, and if that includes weighing everything and everyone who boards the aircraft I am all for it.

The fact that this airline has felt the need to do this is just another example of the many problems associated with the high levels of obesity, common in many countries including of course the UK.

I’m sure a lot of people have had that heart sinking feeling when a hugely overweight person has lumbered down the aisle of a plane and sat down next to them.

Then there’s the huge impact on the NHS with the many diseases which arise from obesity.

What’s the answer? I don’t know but I do know we are all responsible for what we put in our mouths every day, so it’s no good blaming anyone else.

BigBertha1

On a flight back from South Africa I had a very tall and large male passenger in front of me who tipped his seat back and I couldn't get out to the loo. The crew wouldn't speak to him to move his seat forward. Longest flight of my life so yes please can airlines take account of the growing size of people.

Well, to me, the cabin crew were at fault for not insisting he move his seat to let you out. Were they frightened of him?

And I would have written a formal complaint to the airline company.

On a long haul trip to USA last year a very large person sat beside me. She shuffled around non-stop and I did feel a bit sorry for her because she was just too large for the seat. The trouble was the flight was for 10 hours plus and I was hating my journey. Hubby did offer to change seats and I wish I had taken him up on it. Her midriff flowed over the arm of the seat and I could feel the heat of her body. Then her hair, which was extremely long was lay across my arm. I was very tolerant but I know people who wouldn’t have been. It did spoil the start of my holiday. I think it is an excellent idea if there is a weight limit and if they go over that they should pay extra and sit somewhere else.

If the tall passenger refused a request from the passenger behind then the cabin crew should intervene. A letter of complaint should be sent if the cabin crew refuse.

A UTI or DVT could result from this situation and is serious on Health and Safety grounds on a long flight.

I do know we are all responsible for what we put in our mouths every day, so it’s no good blaming anyone else.

People are indeed responsible for what they put in their mouths each day, but they also unlikely to be fully aware of what is in what they put in their mouths.

Any moves to restrict obesity causing content are strongly resisted by those who supply the content and produce the foods and are equally resisted by those who cry 'nanny state' and 'personal responsibility'.

A few years back, on a flight to The Isles of Scilly, we were all weighed before boarding the small planes. Presumably we were then distributed to keep a balance. Seemed sensible to me.

I've been weighed several times for small planes so that they can distribute the weight evenly. I seem to remember just a weighing scale in the floor in front of the desk and you didn't even realise you were being weighed. It seems fair to me.

Galaxy

You know when we laugh at the times when people used to say smoking was good for you.
In the future my guess is people will look at the way we pussyfoot around obesity in the same way.

The massive difference between being a smoker, or indeed a drug taker or heavy drinker, is that this is a CHOICE.

It’s not always down to greed and laziness that people are overweight nor even down to poor food choices.

I’m very overweight, but my husband and children, and my parents are/were never obese. We all ate the same food.

I didn’t have a serious problem til late thirties, I’ve struggled ever since along with a multitude of medical issues and a ton of meds and mobility issues.

Some of you come across as quite judgemental!