Aeroplanes - Breach of Human Rights?

WindSock

Just wondering if the size of economy class seats would violate any laws/rights at all, and the fact that you get charged for water and soon to be toilets, when I would consider these a necessity and not a privilage?

Davidth88

Not really because in essence you volenteer for it .

The water one is the only one that is dodgy , esp if there is a delay.

Forget the toliets , MOL was joking when he said that , it's not going to happen.

Overheal

Difference between Common Decency and Human Rights. After all, we aren't stopping you from going by boat.

Rev Hellfire

WindSock wrote: »

Just wondering if the size of economy class seats would violate any laws/rights at all

Ryanairs latest proposal should prove interesting, a fat tax.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/22/ryanair-obese-fat-tax

Personally I think it makes sense to charge these individual for the additional weight and room they take up, there's nothing worse than getting stuck beside some obese individual on flight with them spilling into your seat because they're to fat to get the arm rest down.

philologos

Rev Hellfire: I doubt they are offering a reduction for those of us who take up less weight than the average

Rev Hellfire

Hee with ryanair that's doubtful

But there does seem to be move towards making obese people pay for the excess room they occupy.

turgon

In fairness, Ryanair treat you like crap, but thats what you get for low fares. No matter what trick they pull, it all comes down to the fact you choose to fly with them, and their fares are so so low.

Dades

The fat tax is far too difficult to implement, and they know that.

But there's no such thing as bad publicity.

WindSock

Davidth88 wrote: »

Not really because in essence you volenteer for it .

Yer but so do criminals in prison (in a way) and they have basic humane things like space, free water etc.

Rev Hellfire

WindSock wrote: »

Yer but so do criminals in prison (in a way) and they have basic humane things like space, free water etc.

Getting on a plane and flying somewhere is not a basic human right.

WindSock

Neither is going into a restaurant, but they still have to provide water if requested.

Rev Hellfire

WindSock wrote: »

Neither is going into a restaurant, but they still have to provide water if requested.

Restaurants are legally required to provide tap water, running a pipe to a travelling plane may *ahem* prove impractical

Anyway those rules are specific to restaurants, which I wouldn't imagine apply to planes.


Either way I was referring to the 'right' of lard boys to occupy two seats for the price of one.

WindSock

Rev Hellfire wrote: »

Restaurants are legally required to provide tap water, running a pipe to a travelling plane may *ahem* prove impractical

Not if you were flying over Spain

Either way I was referring to the 'right' of lard boys to occupy two seats for the price of one.

There should be more options of larger seats that dont cost an arm and leg in business class or the crappy exit ones. I wouldnt like the escape route blocked by a person who cant mover very fast.

Monkeybonkers

Davidth88 wrote: »

Not really because in essence you volenteer for it .

The water one is the only one that is dodgy , esp if there is a delay.

Forget the toliets , MOL was joking when he said that , it's not going to happen.

MOL does not joke when it comes to profit. I was reading yesterday that this is going to happen. I don't know why people complain about these charges though. There are other alternatives (for now) to Ryanair. If people don't want to pay these charges use another airline!

Black Swan

WindSock wrote: »

Just wondering if the size of economy class seats would violate any laws/rights at all, and the fact that you get charged for water and soon to be toilets, when I would consider these a necessity and not a privilage?

• The only issue that may exist regarding the size of economy class seats occurs when someone who is terribly overweight flows into the seats next to theirs, invading the space of other passengers? Some airlines have threatened to charge obese people for two seats?
• Charging for water on short flights (under 2 hours) I do not believe to be an issue, but for longer flights perhaps?
• I doubt that the rumoured charging for the W/C will ever occur.

... is already common in the US ... Southwest, Continental, Delta and United Airlines (to name a few).

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/united-airlines-to-charge-obese-passengers-for-two-seats-20090416-a854.html

"United Airlines will require obese passengers bumped from full flights to purchase two seats on a subsequent flight, matching the policy of some other carriers.

The change brings the Chicago-based in line with eight other airlines including Continental, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski said on Wednesday.

"Last year we had 700 complaints from passengers who had to share their seats," she said.

Under the new policy, obese passengers -- defined as unable 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 there is space available.

If, however, the plane is full, they will be bumped from the flight and may have to purchase a second ticket, at the same price as the original fare, Urbanski said.

If the bumped passenger chooses to cancel the trip, the ticket will be refunded with no additional charge.

The policy is effective immediately and applies to both international and domestic United Airlines flights."

Mick will find a way

Black Swan

Fair fare!

kowloon

Will they be making the seats smaller to maximise profits?

kowloon

kowloon wrote: »

Will they be making the seats smaller to maximise profits?

They've been doing that for years!

Seriously though, there's only so many seats an airline can squeeze onto an airplane ... there are manufacturer and regulatory limits to what they can do and at 30" Ryanair don't have the worst seat pitch in the world.

mateo

I remember being stuck on a very hot airplane for more than 3 hours (before a 12 hour flight to add to the nightmare!) while it was being de-iced and we were provided free water.