位于芝加哥的美国联合航空日前推出一项针对肥胖乘客的新政策，在客舱满员而无法为其提供额外空位时，航空公司要求过于肥胖的乘客放弃本次航班并以同样价格购买下一航班两个座位的机票。该政策一经宣布变立即生效。联合航空表示，无法放下座位扶手，加延长带后仍然无法将安全带扣合的乘客均被列入“过于肥胖乘客”范畴。联合航空发言人表示，此前已有包括大陆、达美、捷蓝以及西南航空在内的八家航空公司推出过这项政策。航空公司推出此类政策多是因为每年会接到大量乘客投诉，抱怨被肥胖乘客挤占了座位。

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.

United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, will require obese passengers bumped fromfull 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.

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(Agencies)

Vocabulary:

full flight: 满员航班

（英语点津 Helen 编辑）