A majority of respondents agree with airlines forcing obese passengers to buy two seats in order to board a plane.

A majority of Americans welcome a decision to fine airlines that force passengers to remain inside an airplane on the tarmac for an extended period, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,010 American adults, 58 per cent of respondents agree with the federal government’s decision to fine airlines $27,500 per passenger for long tarmac delays.

In December, the Department of Transportation announced the new regulation, which is expected to come into force on Apr. 29.

Under the new guidelines, an airline will be fined $27,500 per passenger for any tarmac delay of three hours or longer. For a plane carrying 100 passengers, a single violation could result in a $2.75 million fine.

Seats

Earlier this month, film director Kevin Smith expressed dismay after being asked to leave a Southwest Airlines flight because the pilot believed Smith did not fit appropriately into one seat.

For more than 20 years, Southwest Airlines has had a “customer of size policy”, which requires passengers to buy a second seat on a full plane if their body crosses the armrest boundary.

In the survey, 52 per cent of Americans agree with airlines forcing obese passengers to buy two seats in order to board a plane, while 39 per cent disagree.

While men clearly favor the policy (60% agree, 34% disagree), women are evenly divided in their assessment (45% agree, 44% disagree).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+604 647 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com