United enforces new policy for overweight travelers

April 15, 2009 United says the rule would apply only if the flyer is unable to use an extended seatbelt, put their armrests down and if they infringe on another passenger's seat.

If no pair of empty seats exists the overweight passenger would be forced to take a later flight.

United says it adopted the tougher policy after receiving more than seven-hundred complaints last year from passengers who did not have a comfortable flight because the person next to them infringed on their seat.