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What happens to Amtrak ridership when Airlines start to charge for excessive body weight

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, April 21, 2016 7:42 AM

CMStPnP

 You need to fire Dr. Bombay and hire a real MD.

 

 
I'm not sure which is worse, the troll or the implied racism in that last remark.
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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Friday, April 15, 2016 1:22 PM

Here I am in the Carolinas and there is no shortage of BBQ and microbeer joints.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, April 1, 2016 2:03 PM

CandOforprogress2

Many people that I know who are morbibly obese have a medical reason for it. Dianbetes Cancer liver problems the list goes on and on.

Niether of those three are a valid medical reason for obesity.   You need to fire Dr. Bombay and hire a real MD.

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 2:25 PM

Many people that I know who are morbibly obese have a medical reason for it. Dianbetes Cancer liver problems the list goes on and on.

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Posted by schlimm on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 11:26 AM

CMStPnP

 

 
CandOforprogress2

If airlines do that that would certainly be a Americans With Disablity Lawsuit by a number of advocacy orgs.

 

 

What would be the basis of the lawsuit?    Unless the person has a medical reason for being obese............no discrimination is taking place as everyone overweight is being treated equally.     Obesity is not a protected class based on any Civil Rights legislation I have read.

 

Caution CMStPnP:  

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Posted by CMStPnP on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 11:13 AM

CandOforprogress2

If airlines do that that would certainly be a Americans With Disablity Lawsuit by a number of advocacy orgs.

What would be the basis of the lawsuit?    Unless the person has a medical reason for being obese............no discrimination is taking place as everyone overweight is being treated equally.     Obesity is not a protected class based on any Civil Rights legislation I have read.

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 11:08 PM

If airlines do that that would certainly be a Americans With Disablity Lawsuit by a number of advocacy orgs.

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Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 9:44 AM

schlimm
I think the Iowa State Fair features deep-fried butter sticks.

A Google review of the Iowa State Fair:

 
"If you take off your underwear they will deep fry that too!"

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by schlimm on Monday, March 28, 2016 8:58 PM

CMStPnP
I think one of the grossest things I ever saw in Texas was a deep fried Twinkie at the Texas State Fair...........and people were buying them en masse.

I think the Iowa State Fair features deep-fried butter sticks.

 

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, March 28, 2016 3:17 PM

schlimm

Medically, obesity is defined as a BMI >30.  Among industrialized nations, the US is #1, with 33.9% obese (35% of adults).  Southern states tend to have the highest rates: #1 MS; #2 WV; #3 AL; #4 SC;#5 KY; #6 LA; #7 TX; #8 MI; #9 TN; #10 MO, in other words 9 of the 51 states +DC are Southern or border states.

Propensity of Southerners to opt for Fried Food.     MI interestingly has a lot of relocated Southerners in Eastern Michigan because of the Auto Industry.

I think one of the grossest things I ever saw in Texas was a deep fried Twinkie at the Texas State Fair...........and people were buying them en masse.

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Posted by schlimm on Monday, March 28, 2016 1:48 PM

The 51 is modifying states + DC, pretty obviously.

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, March 28, 2016 1:39 PM

schlimm

Medically, obesity is defined as a BMI >30.  Among industrialized nations, the US is #1, with 33.9% obese (35% of adults).  Southern states tend to have the highest rates: #1 MS; #2 WV; #3 AL; #4 SC;#5 KY; #6 LA; #7 TX; #8 MI; #9 TN; #10 MO, in other words 9 of the 51 states +DC are Southern or border states.

 

51 States? Smile

Johnny

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Posted by schlimm on Monday, March 28, 2016 1:01 PM

Medically, obesity is defined as a BMI >30.  Among industrialized nations, the US is #1, with 33.9% obese (35% of adults).  Southern states tend to have the highest rates: #1 MS; #2 WV; #3 AL; #4 SC;#5 KY; #6 LA; #7 TX; #8 MI; #9 TN; #10 MO, in other words 9 of the 51 states +DC are Southern or border states.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, March 28, 2016 10:16 AM

I'm 6-5 as well but very fortunate to live next to the unsinkable aircraft carrier of DFW Airport.    I can get cheap First Class tickets on American Airlines via Internet Purchase going to just about any major city in the United States.     I no longer have the need to fly coach because coach with it's new fees and hassle is not that far off from First Class domestic fares any longer.

So I am still happy no matter what they ultimately do.    Though I still think we all pay for obeese people in longer waiting lines at the Doctors Office and increased health costs in the United States not to mention the lost productivity if they are of working age as they need from 2-3 hours more sleep a day than in-range weight folks.   Overall they are a drag on our GDP.

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Posted by dakotafred on Sunday, March 27, 2016 8:00 PM

ndbprr
Since I am 6'5" are they also going to charge me because of inadequate leg room or if the idiot in front of me can't recline his seat?
 

They're already treating you as a freak, with their insulting seat sizes and configurations. Why not withdraw your patronage?

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Posted by ndbprr on Saturday, March 26, 2016 6:42 PM
Since I am 6'5" are they also going to charge me because of inadequate leg room or if the idiot in front of me can't recline his seat?
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Posted by wanswheel on Saturday, March 19, 2016 9:52 AM
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Posted by schlimm on Saturday, March 19, 2016 8:14 AM

BaltACD

 

 
schlimm

Ditto with some circus personnel.

 

The elephants are being retired from Ringling Bros.

 

Wait for the fat lady to sing.

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Posted by Enzoamps on Saturday, March 19, 2016 1:18 AM

Airlines charge extra for passengers who are too WIDE, but plenty of very overweight folks still fit into the seats.  If too big around, the airline will charge for a belt extender.  I used to regularly fly some small commuter airlines, and they weighed every passenger as well as the luggage and carry on stuff, and seated you by weight.  The passenger weight was a significant portion of the plane weight and it had to be balanced.  Lifting the extra weight in an airplace costs more fuel.

Railroad trains are not materially affected by an extra hundred pounds.  Charging extra for obese riders is pointless.

As to improving the national health, give me a break.  Obese people are totally aware they are fat already, charging them extra for it will not change their lifestyle, unless flying is ALL they do all day.  When the airlines started tacking on fees for everything from pretzels to caryons to window seats, did we stop flying?  Seems to me the planes are still full.  I think such an improve America plan is mostly self-righteous rationalizing.

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 18, 2016 7:32 PM

schlimm

Ditto with some circus personnel.

The elephants are being retired from Ringling Bros.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by schlimm on Friday, March 18, 2016 6:12 PM

Ditto with some circus personnel.

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 18, 2016 5:53 PM

schlimm
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR
schlimm
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR

Someone is a little behind on the times here, airlines already make obese people either pay for a second seat, or are charged the same day booking fair for their tickets.  Even Southwest Airlines will charge a person for a second seat, I know, I have had to check someones boarding pass and wondered why they had two of them, until I realized why, and was appalled at the gall, but business is business, even if you find it personally objectionable.

You realize we aren't talking about a little overweight.  We are referring to grossly obese folks, weighing 300+ pounds.   Try having one of those seated next to yourself on a long flight.

Perhaps you didn't read my entire original post, and unlike most Americans, size is not something I pay attention to, but I do notice when passengers are grossly obese.  Even someone that is only 40 - 50 lbs overweight is considered obese by the USCDC, so you have to distinguish between obese and grossly obese, there is a difference.  Also, 300+ lbs is not necessarilly obese...there are athletes around that weight, perhaps you meant that they have a large girth of over 50 inches?  That would probably be a better way to explain it, when the persons body is the size of two aircraft seats side by side.

Most athletes have not used commercial flights as a team for years.

As individuals, they still move about the country.

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Posted by schlimm on Friday, March 18, 2016 4:54 PM

GERALD L MCFARLANE JR

 

 
schlimm

 

 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR

Someone is a little behind on the times here, airlines already make obese people either pay for a second seat, or are charged the same day booking fair for their tickets.  Even Southwest Airlines will charge a person for a second seat, I know, I have had to check someones boarding pass and wondered why they had two of them, until I realized why, and was appalled at the gall, but business is business, even if you find it personally objectionable.

 

 

 

You realize we aren't talking about a little overweight.  We are referring to grossly obese folks, weighing 300+ pounds.   Try having one of those seated next to yourself on a long flight.

 

Perhaps you didn't read my entire original post, and unlike most Americans, size is not something I pay attention to, but I do notice when passengers are grossly obese.  Even someone that is only 40 - 50 lbs overweight is considered obese by the USCDC, so you have to distinguish between obese and grossly obese, there is a difference.  Also, 300+ lbs is not necessarilly obese...there are athletes around that weight, perhaps you meant that they have a large girth of over 50 inches?  That would probably be a better way to explain it, when the persons body is the size of two aircraft seats side by side.

 

Most athletes have not used commercial flights as a team for years.

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Posted by 54light15 on Friday, March 18, 2016 2:01 PM

That "airtrain" idea has already been done, look at the invasion of Nomandy in June of 1944. No stewardesses, though.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, March 18, 2016 8:46 AM

This is what I had pictured as an obese person myself...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczPDGC3f8U

 

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Friday, March 18, 2016 7:32 AM

schlimm

 

 
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR

Someone is a little behind on the times here, airlines already make obese people either pay for a second seat, or are charged the same day booking fair for their tickets.  Even Southwest Airlines will charge a person for a second seat, I know, I have had to check someones boarding pass and wondered why they had two of them, until I realized why, and was appalled at the gall, but business is business, even if you find it personally objectionable.

 

 

 

You realize we aren't talking about a little overweight.  We are referring to grossly obese folks, weighing 300+ pounds.   Try having one of those seated next to yourself on a long flight.

Perhaps you didn't read my entire original post, and unlike most Americans, size is not something I pay attention to, but I do notice when passengers are grossly obese.  Even someone that is only 40 - 50 lbs overweight is considered obese by the USCDC, so you have to distinguish between obese and grossly obese, there is a difference.  Also, 300+ lbs is not necessarilly obese...there are athletes around that weight, perhaps you meant that they have a large girth of over 50 inches?  That would probably be a better way to explain it, when the persons body is the size of two aircraft seats side by side.

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Posted by CMStPnP on Thursday, March 17, 2016 9:07 PM

I would be willing to pay $30-50 for a decent meal on Amtrak in the Dining Car.    Not sure who else would.     As far as the airlines are concerned former American Airlines Chairman Robert Crandall tried a lot when he ran American and even today in retirement he says:  "What passengers want and what they are willing to pay for are two different things".     In the end "passengers want reliable and cheap transportation which runs counter to many of their other wants in regards to seat comfort and food".

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Posted by schlimm on Thursday, March 17, 2016 6:33 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Everybody wants the seats and service that the various airlines provided to their passengers prior to de-regulation but nobody seems willing to pay the higher fares needed to cover the extra costs and lost capacity.  

The same is true (with some on here at least) in regard to food services on Amtrak. Folks want the food and service as served on the CZ and other fine trains up through the early 1960s, but Amtrak would probably have to charge $30-50 to cover the above-the-rails costs.

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Posted by PJS1 on Thursday, March 17, 2016 5:22 PM
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2010, found that:
·         More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight or obese.
·         More than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese.
·         More than 1 in 20 adults are considered to have extreme obesity.
·         About one-third of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be overweight or obese.
·         More than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are considered to be obese.
These figures are in line with statistics reported by the OECD as well as a state and local health organizations.  Weight control is a serious issue for individuals as well as society.

 

At noted the airlines could  increase the size of the seats, leg room etc.  But it would mean fewer seats per airplane, which probably would result in significant fare increases.  I fly Southwest and American 10 to 12 times a year.  On occasion there is a problem with a full figured passenger, but it is rarely an issue.

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

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