Obese passengers

ロイター通信の記事より転載

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, 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 airplane 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.

米国内の出張のほとんどに UNITED を利用し、通路側の席を確保する bochibochi は大体一番最後に搭乗するのだが、過去に数回、先着のお隣さんがひじ掛けを上げたままにしているのに出くわした事がある。ニッコリ笑ってひじ掛けを下すのが殆どだが、１回だけどうしても下ろせなかった事があった。胴体が座席幅に入りきらないのだから、胴体の大きさに見合った腕が『領空侵犯』するのは言うまでもない。そういう場合、ほぼ半身状態で耐えるしかないのだが、後ろから機内サービスのカートを運ぶ客室乗務員に体当たりされたりもした。
個人的にはこの「顧客満足対策」には賛成だ。