Two Seats for For One in Canada

The highest court in Canada decided that those suffering debilitating obesity are allowed to have two seats for the price of one. While several Canadian airlines appealed the new Canadian Transportation Agency rule, the court declined to hear their complaint.

The blogosphere response at the court’s decision to uphold the new law was mixed. There was the standard “Let’s make fun of fat people!” stance, the more clinical angle on obesity as a disability, annoyance that someone else may get better treatment and then the  airline/business-oriented commentary.

Let’s be honest here. I’m not a big believer in the “obesity epidemic,” because I know that Virgin’s 19.7-inch seats means they fit 39-inch hips. According to a handy size chart at Macy’s, it means the seats would fit the hips of a size-8 or size-9 woman. Last time I checked, the average American woman was a size 14.

The reason why Canadian carriers like WestJet and Canadian Airlines fought this rule was because it does affect their bottom line — both say it will cost them billions.  Two seats for the price of one is no one’s favorite business model, especially in these financially-strapped times, but do airlines really believe a thundering herd of fat people will descend on their airlines wanting an extra seat for free? And those free seats will bankrupt the airlines?

 In reality, this issue probably affects very few people. And if airlines had built coach seating for actual people, most everyone would fit into the seats. Craig Tolliver seems to agree with me, saying, “Given the alternatives, seemingly the cheapest way to go would be to toss in that free seat.”