AAPR Blasts United Airlines Decision to Discriminate Against People of Size; New...

AAPR Blasts United Airlines Decision to Discriminate Against People of Size;
New Policy Charges Overweight Passengers for Two Tickets

WASHINGTON, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Airline Passenger
Rights (AAPR) today blasted the decision by United Airlines to violate the
Civil Rights of people of size by charging them for two tickets if they are
deemed to be overweight. United Airlines announced that its ticket agents
will begin denying boarding passes to people of size if they are "unable to
comfortably fasten a safety belt with one extension or sit comfortably with
armrests down," unless they purchase a second ticket.

"They're at it again," said Brandon M. Macsata, Executive Director of AAPR, of
the airline industry. "United is now the latest airline to shelve customer
service standards in search for higher profits, while claiming that the new
policy is to 'protect' other passengers. At issue should not be the size of
any passenger, but rather why the airlines continue to pack coach passengers
like sardines into the cabin."

Most coach airline seats are smaller than seats on buses or trains, even movie
theaters - yet unlike in those environments, customers cannot simply get up
and move around but are rather forced to sit uncomfortably until the flight's
destination is reached.

Macsata further argued, "Where does this madness end? So now a customer who
purchases an advanced ticket online can show up at the airport and arbitrarily
denied boarding because a ticket agent deems him or her to be overweight? He
or she would be at the mercy of the airlines - an unthinkable scenario
especially if the passenger is traveling for a family emergency or death in
the family. I wonder just how much will be the price of that second ticket?"

AAPR also questioned the legality of the discriminatory policy and whether it
violates the Air Carrier Access Act governing the treatment of passengers with
disabilities. It is documented that certain health conditions, and sometimes
medications, can cause weight gain and therefore should be protected by law.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) addressed this issue earlier this
year, when it issued its "one-person, one-fare" ruling covering passengers
with disabilities - including "clinically obese" passengers who cannot fit
into a single seat.

For more information about the Association for Airline Passenger Rights,
please visit www.flyfriendlyskies.com or contact AAPR directly at
info@flyfriendlyskies.com.

Please visit www.flyfriendlyskies.com to learn more or to join today and help
make our skies friendlier!

SOURCE Association for Airline Passenger Rights

Brandon Macsata, +1-305-519-4256, info@flyfriendlyskies.com