Dictionary definition of “customer of size”

customer of size

n. an overweight or overlarge airline passenger. Also passenger of size. Subjects: English, Aviation, Euphemism, Jargon

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Citations: 1999 Michael Conlon (Reuters) (Aug. 19) “Away on Business—Corporate perks”: We checked with United and American. They both said a “passenger of size” would have to pay the same price for the second seat that he or she paid for the first—but said it’s up to the passenger to request the extra room and not to the gate agent to demand it. 2002 Judy Woodruff CNN (June 19) “Inside Politics: Suicide Bombings in Mideast Prompt Israelis to Occupy More Territory”: “Since 1980, Southwest Airlines has encourages customers of size to purchase a second seat, if required. Our suggestion,” quoting the airline, “for the greatest advantage to the customer of size is to plan ahead and purchase two seats at an advance-purchase fare.” 2006 Al Lewis Denver Post (Colorado) (Sept. 4) “On a plane, niceness is outweighed”: I knew the odds were huge that whoever got the seat beside me would be what the airline industry calls, “a customer of size.” After all, nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight and about one-third are obese.

Posted 6 Sep 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend