United fights the flab

Passengers carrying extra baggage on their bodies will have to pay for an extra seat - if they want to fly the friendly skies with United Airlines.

The airline last month became the latest US airline to start barring overweight fliers who can’t fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin; can't buckle their seatbelt - even using the seatbelt extender; or can't put the armrests down when seated.

Those deemed too fat to fly must either purchase a ticket for an additional seat, or purchase an upgrade to a cabin with seats that addresses their problem.

If no other seats are available on that flight, the hefty flier is grounded until two conjoined seats can be found on the next plane out.

The hefty new regulations apply initially only to flights out of Chicago O'Hare International.

United says it received more than 700 complaints last year from travelers who "did not have a comfortable flight because the person next to them infringed on their seat".

At least eight other U.S. airlines have similar seating policies requiring plus-sized passengers to "purchase a second seat" if they can't fit into one.

www.unitedairlines.co.uk