United Airlines on Wednesday began barring overweight fliers flying out of Chicago who:
- Can't fit into a single seat in the ticketed cabin.
- Can't buckle their seatbelt - even using the seatbelt extender.
- Can't put the armrests down when seated.

Overweight passengers will have to purchase the extra seat or upgrade to a cabin with larger seating (i.e. first class). If no extra seat is available, they'll have to take a later flight. And if they have connecting flights, they'll need an extra seat or upgrade on every leg of their trip.

If it's any consolation, United said paying for the extra seat would entitle the person to extra carry-on luggage.

The airline said it is enacting the policy for the "comfort and well-being of all customers aboard United flights."

Last year, a Forbes article showed that overweight passengers cost the airlines an extra $538 million a year in fuel. But some have speculated that charging extra for heavier passengers could end in the carrier getting sued for discrimination.

Other airlines reserve the right to charge heavy passengers for an extra seat, but enforcement varies, CBS2 reported. An American Airlines spokeswoman said she doesn't remember ever having to impose an extra charge, but Southwest Airlines started enforcing its policy in 2002.

Tags: Business, source: NBC, Ya Libnan