Passenger Size / Weight Limit
#106
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beacon Falls, CT, USA
Posts: 1,609
While this is not relevant if the airlines are exempt from ADA standards, here is an exerpt that is interesting:
Obesity Is Generally Not a Disability Covered by the ADA, but Morbid Obesity Is
"The ADA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Even if an obese person has difficulty performing the normal daily functions of living and working, he or she will not be considered disabled under the ADA unless the obesity substantially limits a major life activity.12 Major life activities can include everything from caring for ones self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and [even] working.13
The allegedly disabling condition must usually be a bona fide medical or psychological condition. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions ADA regulations clearly state that, absent exceptional circumstances, obesity does not meet the definition of a disability under the ADA.14 Thus, unless an individual who is just obese can show that his or her obesity is the result of a physiological impairment, being obese will probably not result in ADA protection. This means that obese people who are treated differently based upon their appearance alone will not enjoy the protections of the ADA.
However, the EEOC and courts have consistently included the more serious condition of morbid obesity within the definition of disability under the ADA. EEOC guidance documents clearly state that morbid obesity could be a protected disability as defined by the ADA, and federal courts have included morbid obesity within the category of medical conditions that impair major life activities. "
http://www.epexperts.com/modules.php...ticle&sid=1462
Obesity Is Generally Not a Disability Covered by the ADA, but Morbid Obesity Is
"The ADA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Even if an obese person has difficulty performing the normal daily functions of living and working, he or she will not be considered disabled under the ADA unless the obesity substantially limits a major life activity.12 Major life activities can include everything from caring for ones self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and [even] working.13
The allegedly disabling condition must usually be a bona fide medical or psychological condition. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions ADA regulations clearly state that, absent exceptional circumstances, obesity does not meet the definition of a disability under the ADA.14 Thus, unless an individual who is just obese can show that his or her obesity is the result of a physiological impairment, being obese will probably not result in ADA protection. This means that obese people who are treated differently based upon their appearance alone will not enjoy the protections of the ADA.
However, the EEOC and courts have consistently included the more serious condition of morbid obesity within the definition of disability under the ADA. EEOC guidance documents clearly state that morbid obesity could be a protected disability as defined by the ADA, and federal courts have included morbid obesity within the category of medical conditions that impair major life activities. "
http://www.epexperts.com/modules.php...ticle&sid=1462
#107
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,285
Things in perspective.
Interesting article I read today. LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers for you non-Football fans - American Football, not what we call soccer) is obese. 5'10" 221lbs -- 32 BMI.
I don't think anyone would say he had any form of disability.
I don't think anyone would say he had any form of disability.
#108
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHL-adjacent
Programs: AA Executive Platinum (but always US in my heart), HH Diamond
Posts: 3,350
#109
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United/Star Alliance - 1K
Posts: 2,176
What's his body fat %? 5? I daresay he's a pretty compact 221# and a lot of it is in his legs. Maybe if some of the heavy-set crowd exercised once in awhile and laid off nailing Sara Lee and Betty Crocker....
#111
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1
i just wanted to say that both my husband and i are COSs. i am 5'7" and 315 i wear size 26-28 and only have trouble in the seats on the small flight i take every year from wichita to dallas. and then even my tothpick thin 10 year old thinks the seats are too small...
.
.
i was on the phone for nearly 30min with the csr at continental who absolutely ASSURED me that it didn't matter i was sitting next to a toddler; that if i wasn't able to put the armrest down i had to purchase an additional seat. at this point i'm about crazy that they would separate me from my child?!! and the website says if there aren't empty seats (there aren't) they can make you get off the flight. i can understand that continental says these are rules to protect passengers next to me. i would never want to infringe on a stranger. but who are they to protect my baby from me? i'll want to put my arm around him anyway.
i was going to order a seatbelt extension although i don't know if i'll need it but i'm so stressed that i can't even enjoy the anticipation of the trip. and we're travelling on memorial day so i think it will come down to the mood of whomever is stuck working that day?
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
i'm that size and i've been just about shaking that i won't fit in the seat when i fly to england on continental in a couple of weeks. the plane is a 757 and i'm traveling with my 4yr old in the middle and my husband.
i was on the phone for nearly 30min with the csr at continental who absolutely ASSURED me that it didn't matter i was sitting next to a toddler; that if i wasn't able to put the armrest down i had to purchase an additional seat. at this point i'm about crazy that they would separate me from my child?!! and the website says if there aren't empty seats (there aren't) they can make you get off the flight. i can understand that continental says these are rules to protect passengers next to me. i would never want to infringe on a stranger. but who are they to protect my baby from me? i'll want to put my arm around him anyway.
i was going to order a seatbelt extension although i don't know if i'll need it but i'm so stressed that i can't even enjoy the anticipation of the trip. and we're travelling on memorial day so i think it will come down to the mood of whomever is stuck working that day?
i was on the phone for nearly 30min with the csr at continental who absolutely ASSURED me that it didn't matter i was sitting next to a toddler; that if i wasn't able to put the armrest down i had to purchase an additional seat. at this point i'm about crazy that they would separate me from my child?!! and the website says if there aren't empty seats (there aren't) they can make you get off the flight. i can understand that continental says these are rules to protect passengers next to me. i would never want to infringe on a stranger. but who are they to protect my baby from me? i'll want to put my arm around him anyway.
i was going to order a seatbelt extension although i don't know if i'll need it but i'm so stressed that i can't even enjoy the anticipation of the trip. and we're travelling on memorial day so i think it will come down to the mood of whomever is stuck working that day?