You should be charged per seat. If you take up two there should be a penalty. Being obese is not a disease, it’s a lifestyle choice.

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I think they should pay extra, if they take up extra space! If they are spilling over into my space, I have a problem with that. If they need two seats, they should pay for two seats. There’s a safety issue, too. Do thair seat belts really hold them securely? Do they function as intended, if the passenger doesn’t fit the seat as intended?

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There would be a safety issue if the flight was full. How would they fit securely into a seat? I don’t think there should be a charge if there is room on the flight, but if the flight is full then that is a different story…

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I fly often, and I wish airlines would either charge extra if you take up more than your seat, or else give ME a reduced rate for having to sit in just half of MY seat. My last trip, I flew for 3.5 hrs between 2 men who, even if they crossed their arms over their chest, still took up their seat and part of mine (and forget about getting to use ANY part of the armrest!). To avoid full arm/arm contact with them, I had to cross my own arms and pull my shoulders together (and was still forced to touch both men… I am average sized.) At the end of the flight, and for several hours later, my shoulders were stiff and sore from that position.

More and more flights *are* full these days. I will gladly fly an airline who risks offending a few to accommodate the majority.

And if you disagree with charging the over-sized for a second seat… will YOU be the one to volunteer to sit next to them?

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Southwest Airlines here in the U.S. is charging for two seats if you take up two. I believe they let it slide if the flight is not full.

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Fat ass = pay more.

I completely agree with Suzanne and the rest of you.

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It’s worse if the overweight individual also snores and puts their head on your shoulder Suzanne. That happened to my wife on a 4 hour fly to Tenerife last year.

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Foxnomad, you are wrong about obesity being a lifestyle choice and not an illness. Some people actually put on weight due to a medical illness, and it is not their fault.

I suffered with a Bipolar affective disorder, which meant that I ate more (comfort eating) but I have since lost a lot of weight.

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I agree with everyone except Mary. Mary I do understand your point and you were so close to slightly convincing me, but then you added “comfort eating”. Comfort eating is a lifestyle choice. Taking medication does not make you overeat and definitely doesn’t make you eat junk food. Medication does not make you obese or overweight. You choose to overeat to make yourself feel better about your condition or situation and if you’re “comfort eating” makes your posterior and other regions so large as to cause discomfort for other passengers or cause a safety issue for your not only yourself but to the plane, well you should pay more, or reduce the cost of my seat if I must sit next to you on a flight. I respect all people but enough is enough with weight issues in the States and the UK.

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Or how about airlines acknowledging that people are bigger now and widening the seats instead of trying to cram us all in…

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Felicia is absolutely right. In MOST cases, being overweight is a choice. You CAN put on weight as bi-polar (I have the disease) but you can also exercise and eat wisely and lose it. Sorry if this stings a nerve, but most fat people think it’s their right to be fat; it’s MY right not to suffer discomfort partiularly in something as small as an airline seat because of them.

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I have another take on this. How about those of us who are just big people? My son who is 19 is 6’4” and weights 250/255 give or take a few. Avery active, skier, snowboarder and hiker. He flies back and fourth from college and home this is about a 4 hour flight. His issue the amount of space he has for his legs and body. He can’t move in such a cramped space. It makes for a very long, uncomfortable flight for him. Than the person in front of him, just wants to relax so they put their seat back. He has just been pined in and can’t adjust his legs or body he is truly stuck.
See it isn’t just fat, obese people who have issues spilling over into other passenger’s seats normal everyday people have issues too. The truth is planes are just cramped for space. No one likes sitting next to people they don’t know that in itself is uncomfortable.
Just thought I would let you know another point of view for whatever it may be worth.

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An underactive thyroid gland makes you put on weight. Well, so my doctor tells me. I’ve put on quite a big of weight in the last six months, and eat well and exercise regularly.

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For anyone who has long legs…like Deb’s son…

Air Tran “sells” the exit row seats for $20. Given their generally low fares, the $20 simply means that the ticket is similarly priced to other, less comfortable seats.

No more rushing to the gate to get an exit seat assigned.

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Big people. Fat people. If you are too large for the seat, for whatever reason, you should have to pay for another seat (or for first class).

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I believe that obese people should pay for two seats if needed. Now if you are disabled and are overweight in a wheelchair etc well that is something that the airline should look into.

But if you are overweight and you can’t fit in the seats wouldn’t you want to do something about it? I could stand to lose a few pounds myself but hell if I was not able to fit into a seat in my mind i would want to do something about it… can i say EMBARASSING.. Why should we all pay full fare for one seat but a big person get extra space and not have to worry about being uncomfortable. On charter flights such as Transat Airlines the seats are small as it is and when you are beside someone it’s still uncomfortable as it is…

This is going to be interesting if they pass that law of not charging obese people the extra seat, people are going to be PISSED.

This is a lifestyle you choose not something that just happens to you in most cases anyways.

Sorry just my opinion… if the seatbelt don’t fit then you need to knock off a few!

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I think that obese people should have to pay for the extra space. This is not our fault that they have a problem, in most cases anyways. Nothing against you Linda as you have a disability and are unable to but most people who are big usually they do it to themselves.

I travel ALL the time and being beside someone who has to have the arm rest up because their hips are coming into my space is very akward and it makes me uncomfortable as I do not like it when strangers are touching me and I don’t know them.

If the seatbelt doesn’t fit don’t you think it would be in the back of your mind.. .like ” i should lose a few”.. I’m not the skinniest person but if I ever got on a plane and my seat was to tight on my bottom or the seatbelt wouldn’t fit I would be embarassed and be working out to lose that extra weight so it didn’t happen again and so I wouldn’t have to go through the embarassment of asking for a seat belt extension.

When the flight attendants put large people in the Exit row to give them more room, I think that affects everyones safety on the aircraft as it would take a bigger person more time to get out of their 2 seats and open that door. That is a huge issue aswell. I know not the same subject but needed to be said.

HUGE ISSUE if they stop charging.. HUGE!!

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Hello You people are so damn rude. Yes meds do make you gain weight. BUT lets be real to the normal sized person tTHE DAMN SEATS ARE TO F ING SMALL EVEN for you!!!!!!!!!!!

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If someone takes up more than one seat, (measured by whether or not he can lower the arm rest between seats, as does Southwest), he should pay two fares. It is unfair to other passengers to do otherwise.

In the case of public transit, it is time for transit agencies to realize that the “average” person is a lot wider in the hips since buses were first built. In my city, it is not uncommon to see two seats occupied by one person, (one cheek per seat).

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I don’t see that any of the large guests addressed the concerns of the majority of the population here. Excluding people on medication, MOST obesity IS lifestyle. Do the airlines pay for that by changing seats? If so, how big should they make them? When will the changes and costs end for them as people eat and eat? What about how uncomfortable ‘standard’ sized people are because a small population refuses to take care of their bodies?? Strange arms, breath, legs, etc., touching someone for hours!

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as a air hostess and the wife of a plane engineer

…obesity should be charged..they have to measure the fuel for your plane based on the weight of the plane and distance you have to go …if all these obese people get on ..you pay for there fat behind in your tickets prices …..it is reflexed in next years ticket costs

..also it is a real hazard if you are stuck in the seat in a emergency ..you put others in danger, its not nice to have to see people stuck under someone obese when you are trying to give them coffee…

if you are so ill your obese ( thyroid gland , big boned , bipolar ( my auty was she wasnt obese) ..other obese diseases that seem to be able to be managed by ….. diet ….thats shocking news …
maybe if your so ill your obese …you shouldnt fly …

the FAA are already investigating a crash were the weight of the passengers could have directly contributed to the crash ….so next time you get on a flight if your arse cant fit in the seat and the belt doesnt go round you ..lose some weight , stop flying or pay for the two seats …..unless your comfortable with the
idea that your fat arse might be the weight that tips the plane into the dangerous weight catagory ….im not …and i certainly wont be dragging your arse out of the plane either….

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All overweight people should pay more. Like all the threads say the more you weigh you are the more you should pay.

I don’t think for my safety I would like to be stuck behind someone that for their inability to manoeuvre out of an aeroplane I would die. Would this person be charged in court of law for manslaughter?

Always the question will arise that where do you draw the line between ‘a bit chunky’ and overweight? This is a difficult one, I would not expect a tall person to pay more just because they weigh more than average person, there needs to be some measure of fairness.

If any of you are in the UK and have SKY, a very interesting program will be on NAT-GEO on 03-03-2008 about the effects of overweight people on planes, possibly the catalyst for the industry to change its policies.

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Sitting next to anyone in close proximity for over an hour is difficult. Even someone skinny, little, quiet, and reading a book the whole trip can get annoying if they look at you with cross-eyes every time you get out of your seat to use the restroom. Therefore, unless an overweight person is overflowing into my seat there’s not a problem to me.

When baby’s get big enough to have their own seat, you’re required to pay for one. If your butt is also big enough to require it’s own seat – you should pay for one!

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I am FAT!! I agree that if I am fat enough to “spill” over into another seat- I can pay for it. I do not see why people are being “mindless” about the fact that we are human. I am in the procees step for getting the lap band surgery because we have tried EVERYTHING!!!! And we have to live around people like you “CAROLINE” who would rather we died in an accident then try to help our fat arse out. You as a so called hostess are a disappointment. Let me ask you Craroline and anyone else, do you do anything when your sad or feel bad that you would not normally do? I started over-eating when my daughter died in my arms. I held her until her last breath and then she was so cold I could not hold her anymore. So I ate, I smoked, I drank… now I’m fat. You want more money thats fine I will give it gladly, but when I give it don’t say a word to me. Don’t snarl, don’t whisper, don’t laugh. I paid to be fat with more than money.

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Ok. I too am fat. Too fat. I fly all the time, and i have to say that at times it gets uncomfortable. But I for one have never been charged extra for being large, well… x-large. Thankfully. But i do understand the discomfort my size might cause people, and I do try to accommodate my fellow passengers.
But that´s not my point. I am also a doctor (yes, I´m a big fat docotor) and I´m amazed at the level of ignorance shown by some people above. Saying that “meds” don´t cause obesity! Saying that obesity is just a life-style choice. Let me tell you something: No one would ever choose to be fat. That´s obvious, so to suggest that it´s a choice is absurd. Also, there are many differnt diseases that cause obesity, a non-functioning thyroid is a very common cause.
And, the so called hostess, carolina. My god. If I employed you, i would beat you with a stick, and probably throw you out in mid air. Saying that obese people are some sort of second class human beings… I hope you get fat one day.

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I wonder what Easyjet seat widths are! Ive booked a flight, now Im worried I wont fit into the 17 1/2inch seat. I probably will, but the thought of the embarassment if I dont! Can anyone give me some hope….please

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Without assigning blame for size, why not charge passengers by the pound? Would it really be that much trouble in the computer & plastic age to weigh passengers at the ticket counter and charge them appropriately? The seats could be designed in different sizes to fit the anticipated clientele.

Alternatively, the government could mandate minimal seat dimensions. I have noticed on public transport that the seats were designed for a different race of people who are about 2/3 the size of most of us. I often see an obese person wedge herself into the only empty seat in a line of four attached seats only to see one of the other three pop out like a cork from a bottle.

I am not fat. And I agree that it is unfair to compel those of normal size to endure the intimate presence of their seat mate for hours on end. The best answer would seem to be the minimum seating dimension regulation.

Another alternative would be to have a measuring line at check-in that says, “If your hips are wider than 40″(?), you must fly in business or first class.”

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wow I cant understand how people can be so…mean? I’m not sure if thats quite the way to describe it but it sounds like most people think they have more of a right and self worth than others. Maybe fat people should just not fly at all in case it puts people off their lunch. While were at it can we make people with kids go to some form of cage at the back of the plane having kids kick the back of my chair for a 12 hour flight is also uncomfotable(more so than being sat next to the person beside me who was overweight), and kids screaming in my ears!! how come they have to pay less when there so much noisier, why dont we add extra charges for kids, tall people and people who have bad personal hygeine?? futhermore as the population evolves people are getting taller and larger its a fact maybe its something the airline should take into consideration more when designing planes

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I am obese. I took some pupils on a school trip last weekend and I was mortified. I just managed to get the seat belt to clip in. If I had to ask for an extension belt I think I would have cried.
I also got on an escalator on the tube only for it to stop just after I had stepped on and then I had to listen to the people laughing behind me. I also really struggled to walk up the escalator.
Yes I think if you take up two seats you should pay extra but next time you judge the fat person you should probably know that they are aware of their size and they have probably tried many times to do something about it.
I have joined weight watchers this week (I have joined every year since I was 16 and now im 23) and this time I know I will lose all the weight because of how embarrassed I felt and I feel I let the kids down because of it.

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Interesting comments. I’m obese, and I travel a fair bit. I’ve long got over any embarassment about asking for an extension belt (although I do prefer it when they’re the same colour as the normal belts, and not bright orange). I’m always sympathetic towards anyone who gets to sit next to me, and will do what I can to make sure they’re not affected too much. I’ll ask to be re-seated if there’s an opportunity. I don’t get to sit on exit rows because of safety regulations (just like children and pregnant women can’t).

What I hate, though, is the attitude I get sometimes from someone next to me – tutting, sighing, poking of elbows, but no engagement about the problem – I’m always happy to try to do something about it but it takes two…..

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Talk about mean and cruel, my recent experience on Delta airlines flying from LA to ATL was cruel by my standards as they sat this huge obese man in a window seat that he practically had to stuff himself into and his girth spilled way over into the middle seat and impossible for him to put his armrest down. I think it’s way cruel of the airlines to not consider the comfort and safety of the other passengers when he boarded the plane. I’m not against fat people as that is them, but I whole heartedly agree that when a person doesn’t fit into one seat he/she should pay for the extra space they take up and also for the extra weight they add.

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What bothers me the most is that the person next to me just stole 4 inches of the real estate that I an renting on this flight. Can we ask them to pay for those inches of stolen property?

That would be unheard of or unacceptable, but it appears it IS acceptable to steal rented space from another passenger.

If you take up more than the aloted 18-22 inches of space then purchase more space. The airline should be advised ahead of time that this 2nd seat is for an obese person and it should be against the “Rules” to give it to another passenger if they overbook. ALSO 2 fat folks should be able to purchase 3 contigious seats to accomodate their needs. BUT at either rate, there should be compensation to the passenger to whomes space has been illegally taken or purchase the aditional space as needed.

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Janie,
Truth be known that person shouldn’t have even been permitted to board the plane. If you are exceeding the capactity of an aircraft seat, then you are exceeding the capacity of its design safety limits. This is also true of amusment park rides. I wonder how the airline industry as a whole gets away with this gross negligence in safety?

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On second thought, I like, “lulu”‘s idea. A separate compartment, (w/ separate ventilation) for all those too big, too young, or too smelly to fly with the general public. Imagine boarding a cross-country flight KNOWING that you would not be subject to unwanted physical contact, not have to tolerate b.o. and the noxious effluvia of rotting teeth; and not have to sumbit to the torture of screaming, crying, hyper-active, excreting children.

Wouldn’t that be heavenly. I would happily pay a premium for such a guarantee.

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Darrian

Did everyone release seats sizes where set almost 50 years ago. We grown 4 inches in height since then and 2inchs at waist, that’s the standard size (healthy). It does not take much at all to now no longer fit in a seat.

A type I am large… big I weigh 250, but I am also 6’7 so my BMI is 26 (yes 1 over) I wear 36inch waist. I can not fit into a seat. I am too tall, on this I have an advantage most airlines recognize that people over 6’4 can not use a normal seat and you can ask (and will normally get) a emergency exit seat if your tall and healthy.

Basically is it not time the seat sizes where up dated. This has started in the UK with several airlines (First choice, flythomson and Thomas Cook) already changing legroom.

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Darren

Forgot to mention http://www.seatguru.com which will allow you to see who has the most legroom and widest seats. (covers most airlines)

Seat width can vary between 16 inches and 19 inches, and legroom from 28 inches to 36 inches.

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Maybe they should make boards that can slide between the seats to help contain people in their seats. That way you spill up instead of out.

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carolina…the airhostess…. please do not use foul language – deleted

bein a larger person my self from being young i no how hard it is to loose weight….so before you shoot your mouth off think about what your saying and think about how people feel…we are not lower class human beings because of our size, if any one is lower class it is people like you who make othrs feel like ****

get over your self you are no better then anyone else no matter what there size is!

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As I read these posts, it becomes apparent that the only real solution to this problem is federally-mandated minimum seat width.

There are people who are so anxious to get the rock-bottom cheapest fare that they would approve of “seating” that consisted of passengers loaded on horizontally like logs, or like the slave ships of old.

That’s too bad. Some preferences simply cannot be accommodated. I think that the “average” customer would much rather have a seat with generous proportions that allowed him a modicum of comfort during his flight in exchange for a higher fare.

The children and smelly people segregation was a joke. I don’t think that we will ever be be free of those annoyances. However, they can be alleviated, to a degree, with headphones and perfume under the nostrils.

I used to fly a lot. Much of my flying was before mandated fares were eliminated. I remember those experiences as ranging from boring to delightful.

However, they were never TORTURE, which is what flying is now. Besides the jam-packed cabins, there is the horror of check-in. I am one of the few people who would happily forgo all the anti-terrorist measures just to make checking in less of a trial. My preference is not totally irrational, I think that now that we know that sitting in our seats and being quiet will inevitably lead to our deaths, we will all jump the hijackers. So 9/11 will never be repeated, with or without airport check-in security.

I rarely travel by air these days, and just thinking about a trip stresses me out

– yOGI.

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I think the airlines need to first make the seats reasonable for the average person. I think the persons that are not uncomfortable on a full flight are few and far between. There are some persons that need two seats for what ever reason, and they should pay. If a person takes up 2 or 3 inches extra they shouldn’t have to paydouble. Small children pay full price for using half a seat. If they do charge by weight then things could average out.

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Small children pay full price but use only half a seat? Really? Have you ever sat next to a small child? If in a car seat, they definitely use a full seat, and if not restrained by a car seat, they are very rarely confined to just their seat. They are often all over the space of those on either side, in front of, and behind them.

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RoMiMiO I love you~ and what you say. Im not sure how i got to this site but im appalled at teh rudness bordering on hatred of overweight people. esp that carolina. i hope id nevr be on a plane with her as hostess! yikes. its all very well to discuss whether a bigger person should pay for two seats or maybe as i suggest a seat and half price wise. people should all be equal as human beings. being obese isnt a lifestyle choice as the unkind horrid people here suggest any more than being gay is a lifetsytle choice. iot is an illness!~~! the chemistry of ones body is not working right. so be kind as we work through these issues. id rather pay double but being on pension i cant afford it so i havnt seen my mother in years .its so sad. but who wants to be hated and judged because they dont fit your perfect idea of the mold . bleh

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I see here that people go on and on about what the airline should do, how the average sized person should feel and on and on and on. the fact is, that most adults most certainly can fit into an airline seat. I don’t think we are complaining about a slight snug. what most of us are complaining about is when someone is so obese that their fat spill out of their seat, when every time they move someone else is affected, or touched. every overweight person i know, says there are medical problems. its never about how out of control they are. it seems they want the rest of the world to change for them and continue not to take responsibility for their compulsive behaviour!

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Fat people should pay more, i have to pay for my extra baggage by the kilo, fat people could potentially be carrying 10 times more than my bag of extra fags and not paying a penny. baggage prices are rediculous because arlines have to allow for extra weight onboard and this includes the passengers. loose weight or pay. some people have said its a lifestyle choice, yes this is true but if you are fat you except the fact you have to pay extra for bigger trousers or bigger shirts.

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My main problem still isn’t making a person pay the airline extra, but what happens to the poor person who just had a third of their seat stollen from them. Nobody is speaking as too how they should be compensated or corrected.

What in the world makes people think it is ok to impose or simply take/steal a portion of somebody elses space?

The imposssed upon customer should be the person who see’s compensation for THEIR unessesary discomfort. We need seats that have hard/solid boundries between them, and I still say the intruder should be writting a cheque for the portion of the seat they just STOLE!

THIS IS A FORM OF THEFT, people usually go to jail for stealing. How about I rent an apartment, then decide I need more closet space so I just simply comendeer my neighbors closet because I simply don’t fit in my own closet space. What is the difference, both are rented spaces yet one of the two seems to be ok to take.

Maybe I could tape thumbtacks to my arms and thighs, that way the seat intruder will get the “point”.

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WOW, my last post really made me sound like an a$$. Lol

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Caroline,

How much should you pay for your overweight ego? And how about your HUGELY overweight ignorance? Overweight people still may diet or undergo surgery and lose weight while you,CAROLINE, will never be polite or classy. By the way…. I do fit in the seat,the belt fits me but there’s NOTHING I can do about other people’s B.O. or lack of manners…should they pay extra too,Caroline?? What do you think??

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Here’s a question for everyone,including largely overweight egoed Caroline:Would you rather seat next to an overweight person or someone with BO? Or next to soemone lacking good manners, Caroline?

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As stated by Caroline above: “…..unless your comfortable with the
idea that your fat arse might be the weight that tips the plane into the dangerous weight catagory ….im not …and i certainly wont be dragging your arse out of the plane either….”

Well,Caroline, If someone is overweight and is allowed on the flight, then it’s the airline responsibility,isn’t it? Which makes your engineer husband responsible,doesn’t it? After all,he should be the one making the calculations so that theplane doesn’t tip over,shouldn’ t he? Thus, why should an overweight passenger feel guilty ?? And by the way, you’re refusing to move your arse and do your job…. which airline do you work for? I think it’s my duty to report you. And here’s a suggestion: if you see an overweight passenger on your flight, leave the flight immediately… everyone will be grateful

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Deborah & Carolina
In the event of a “Hard Landing” both of you will in fact assist (drag) all viable patients/victims from the aircraft as directed by the Captain or I.C.-N.I.M.S. regardless of personal opinion. For at that point this debate stops and humanity WILL prevail even if by force.

This is much worse than a simple lack of manners or disagreement over body weight. Shame on you both!

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Ben, Are you under the impression I agreed with Carolina?? I did NOT!!!!! As I see it,EVERYBODY has the right to fly!!!

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I think the fact that there are people in the industry who are so against large, let alone obese people, promotes the industry as being prejudice against those who pay their salaries.

The very stereotypical resolve that a “large” individual would be responsible for the death of hundreds is appalling. Since when in the history of aviation has a design flaw been contributed to those who ride in the plane?

When the roof came off of the Hawaii Airlines flight 243, was it because of overweight passengers?

When JetBlue flight 292′s tire exploded on takeoff, was that due to an overweight individual – IN THE MAIN CABIN?

I can understand that a overworked underpaid FLIGHT ATTENDANT is venting but to blame overweight people only contributes to a “REDNECK” like attitude.

Didn’t you learn how treat individuals correctly when in Flight School, Carolina?

I can only gather that this is the newest resolve from Southwest Airlines!

Deborah, do not take this attitude from a disgruntled worker & her soon to be let go Union engineer keep you from continuing to fly. As long as we are willing to pay, they have no choice but to allow anyone of any size or shape to ride on their airline.

Unless of course they decide, it may be best to limit the amount of Flight attendants – in order to save more money

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I work in aerospace. Our Industry standard is to use a 5′ 10″ male of 180 lbs to simulate passengers. So if we begin charging for each pound over 180 then shouldn’t we reduce fares for everyone under 180? How about extra costs for tall people versus a refund for those with a petite frame. Children and babies would be virtually free. Just a thought.

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I am neither fat, nor tall, big nor small – an average sized “normal” person that fits into (the very limited space, reduced width that has become the norm) airline seat without bothering anyone…and am APPALLED at the disgusting lack of tolerance and understanding for those who do not fit into the “normal” category. How dare people criticize others for being fat, say they have to pay more, they have a choice to be fat or not.

I hope and pray that if there is any justice anywhere all those here who have been so rude get blighted with fat one day and remember and rue the day where you so arrogantly supposed it was easy to be slim, and now YOU are the ones paying double to travel and being looked down upon and discriminated against.

Its so easy to judge others isn’t it, with that smug, self-satisfied “I would never, do, be act, that way” tone.

I would rather have a “fattie” as some of you so delicately put it, hog half my seat, squish me into a corner, than sit next to any of you for more than a minute on any flight.

The airlines should widen their seats to a respectable size and up their prices if need be. Ok so I wont be able to afford flying as often, – never mind. Its no longer the pleasure and relaxing way to travel that it used to be anyway.

And as for flying with people who work in the aero-space industry and who have this kind of mindset, I would rather walk. Please let me know what airlines you work for so I can avoid you in future.

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Peaches

You are just so understanding and liberal. you talk about people who say they ‘would never” you seem to be one of those yourself! Honestly, what should standard sized people do? just adjust themselves on a 9 hour flight to europe?? a 5 hour flight from ny to LA?

I’m pretty sure not many here mind an hour or two of discomfort, but seriously, its just isn’t fair. again, again, again, weight can be controlled. i think what you would have to do is save your money for a long time so you can enjoy a vacation experience or become that buisness person who flys all week long and is simply drained and you will feel how uncomfortable this can be.

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I don’t see this as a bias issue. Some people are overweight and to varying degrees. It is not about being overweight. Folks should be defensive about the size aspect of this. The issue is simply that, due to some circumstance, you are denied full and complete use of your seat. In property leases, it is commonly referred to as peaceful utility. When purchasing a ticket to ride a train/plane/bus, or a seat in a theater or stadium, you can reasonably expect to enjoy that seat for it’s intended purpose for the duration of the activity.

This is most commonly caused by someone of substantial girth sitting next to you. However, your peaceful utility could be interrupted or eliminated by an umbrella opened in front of you at an outdoor sporting event or concert. Maybe Shaquille O’Neal is in front of you. I had a woman open her tailgate in a drive-in movie theater and refuse to adjust it so that it would work for both of us.

I would encourage folks to expand their scope here and see the issue as inhibiting the peaceful enjoyment of one’s space.

Thanks.

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Edit to previous message:

I don’t see this as a bias issue. It is not about being overweight. Folks should not be defensive about the size aspect of this. The issue is simply that, due to some circumstance, you are denied full and complete use of your seat. In property leases, it is commonly referred to as peaceful utility. When purchasing a ticket to ride a train/plane/bus, or a seat in a theater or stadium, you can reasonably expect to enjoy that seat for it’s intended purpose for the duration of the activity.

This is most commonly caused by someone of substantial girth sitting next to you. However, your peaceful utility could be interrupted or eliminated by an umbrella opened in front of you at an outdoor sporting event or concert. Maybe Shaquille O’Neal is in front of you. I had a woman open her tailgate in a drive-in movie theater and refuse to adjust it so that it would work for both of us.

I would encourage folks to expand their scope here and see the issue as inhibiting the peaceful enjoyment of one’s space. It is not about weight in and of itself. Keep it an intellectual debate; not a personal affront.

Thanks.

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The real problem here is that the seats are just too small for most adults. At 5′ 10″ and 140 pounds, I find the seats uncomfortable. My husband is 6′ 5″ and weighs 210 and he find them UNBEARABLE. My 5′ 7″ 120 pound mother also complains about the size of the seats.

And, now for the other side of the story… My twin sister is also 5′ 10″ but due to health issues, like thyroid disease and medicine for other problems, she weighs around 325. (It should be noted that I know many obese adults and about 80% of them have a medical reason for the extra weight).

She travels often and USED to purchase two seats, but doesn’t do so anymore. She purchased a second seat for herself 20 times in a row with different airlines and only got the second seat 5 times out of the 20. And, of the 15 times she purchased a second seat she didn’t get, she only got a refund for 7 of them.

The airlines make it very difficult to purchase a second seat AND your chances of actually getting the second seat are small. If a flight is overbooked, the crew will see your second seat as “empty” and put a passenger in it. If there is lap baby nearby, the crew will rearrange people so the lap baby gets your second seat. If you purchase seats 20A and 20B for yourself, when you get to the gate, you will discover the airline switched your seats so a family could sit together and you now have seats 22B and 31D.

And, to top it all off, when my sister DID actually get the two seats she paid for, she was still miserably uncomfortable because of the way the seat hits her back with the armrest up. So, now she just buys one seat and prays the flight is not full or she doesn’t get seated next to some moron who makes a scene about her size.

I feel for people who believe someone is taking up their space, but they need to learn some tolerance and understanding. People come in many different shapes and sizes and flying is extremely stressful for larger people.

In 2008, a commercial jet is basically a city bus in the sky. It is public transportation. You WILL get smelly people, crying babies, kids kicking your seat, chatty seatmates when you want to sleep, people who book window seats and have to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes, people who snore and/or drool on your shoulder while sleeping, tall people, people who spent too much money at the airport bars and fat people near you. Boo hoo hoo! If you don’t like it, you have the option of chartering a private jet.

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What WOULD BE an acceptable seat width. I have no idea because I am accustomed to thinking of hips in terms of circumference rather than in diameter.

People hereon have said that 22″ is the maximum of a coach seat’s width. What is a, “business class”, seat width? Would this be an appropriate minimum or are business class passengers given a bit more than they actually need to make them feel justified in spending the additional dollars?

It would seem that the only fair solution is to mandate a minimum seat width but, without any data, we don’t know how wide that would be nor what the added expense would be to coach passengers.

Cordially,
YOGI

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Unless you have a seriious medical condition, the reason you are overweight is because you don’t put the fork down when those humungously large proportions are put in front of you. And yes if your bad habit (such as smoking) impinges on my own right to comfort, then something has to be done. Crying you’re fat because you won’t try to be NOT fat is not a reason to punish others. Have you people-watched lately? Hell all a terrorist would have to do is drop down a few cases of Krispy Kremes and we’d be his. Stop
making excuses. I gain weight, I cut back on my eating, period.

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I think to charge extra for overweight passengers is a controversial but very necessary concept. Whenever I travel I always am over-cautious about how much my luggage weighs and ensuring my arms aren’t encroaching on my seat-neighbour’s personal space. If only my fellow fliers were as thoughtful as me.

I will only feel uncomfortable when sat next to an overweight passenger if they are affecting my flight experience in a negative way. Admittedly the seats are too small anyway, and as a flier with longer legs than most I find the experience of rubbing knees on the seat in front irritating.

But, the key issue here is that if you are paying for a service and it isn’t a positive one then you have a right to feel aggrieved. It’s nobody’s fault but there should be some accountability along the line and I believe the buck stops with the airline.

I totally agree with Jill’s points as a flight is a public service and should really be no different from a ride on the bus. The only problem with this is the length of the journey. It’s just a fact that we are becoming less tolerant and seemingly more demanding for value for money

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I definitely feel that obese people should have to pay for two seats, since that is basically what they need. My son was on a flight from Florida when a quite obese female sat next to him. He said half of her leg rested on his! He asked the flight attendant if he could move to another seat and she allowed him to do so. It is uncomfortable on an airplane anyway, but with an obese person resting half their body on yours, it is just unbearable. So, yes, obese passengers should have to pay for two seats!

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YOGI – I have never been on a plane that has a 22″ seat in coach. That would be wonderful! Most seats now are 17″ wide, which is too small for most adults. 20″ would be a huge improvement.

Most obese people I know who need extra room only need a few inches. When people say “the obese person was taking up HALF my seat” I know they are exaggerating. Half of 17 is 8.5. Add in a 2 inch armrest that is lifted and in order for an obese person to occupy HALF of another flyer’s seat, they would have to be 26.5″ wide while sitting. One would have to weigh over 500 pounds or carry at least 80% of their excess weight in their hips to be that wide. But, if a person states “the obese person took up a few inches of my seat” it just isn’t as impressive and they look like a third-grade whiny little brat.

And, as I said in my last post, sometimes the obese person DOES purchase two seats, but doesn’t actually get the second seat. My sister once booked a window and a middle seat for herself. Another fat lady boarded the plane and sat in the aisle seat. My sister felt good about having booked two seats as the lady on the aisle now had enough room, too. At the last minute, a thin man came on the plane and was given the middle seat. He was very upset and made a huge scene. The plane was overbooked and he was on standby. In the course of his juvenile hissy-fit and the ensuing argument, it came out that both my sister AND the fat lady in the aisle seat had purchased two seats. The airlines got 5 fares for the 3 seats! And, no refunds were given to either lady. .

So, please don’t make assumptions that the fat person didn’t purchase two seats or WHY the fat person is fat in the first place. Unless you follow an individual around 24/7 for about a month, you are absolutely clueless about that individual’s lifestyle habits.

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I just want to say how angry I am after reading some of the comments, especially the one from Carolina and she should be ashamed of herself. How can someone be so shallow? I totally agree with Lulu’s comment though!

Just because someone is overweight doesn’t mean that they are some kind of “freak”. I am very overweight myself and have tried on numerous occasions to lose weight. For all those people who class themselves as “normal size”, without sounding nasty, I hope that one day you get to experience what it is like to be obese. I can guarantee that you will feel humiliated on occasions and lack the confidence that you all seem to have now. Another point, just because a person may be large, doesnt mean that they dont have the right to fly. I think it’s about time that airlines addressed the fact that people are becoming increasingly larger and in turn, plane seats should be made bigger. I had an experience on a plane 4 years ago where I had to 1) ask for an extension belt and 2) I had to practically twist round and sit on one cheek of my bottom because I couldnt sit comfortably in the seat. It was a 4 and a half hour flight which was awful! Before all the “normal size” people start shouting at your computer screen “you shouldn’t have flown / lose weight then”, I just want to say that I have since lost a bit of weight (all of which has been extremely hard) as I found the whole situation so humiliating. I am flying again in October but I can guarantee that even though some of the weight has gone, I still wont be able to comfortably fit in the seat and I’m already very anxious about the flight.

I can see that normal sized people may become frustrated that larger people may spread out a little, but spare a thought for that larger person sat next to you – chances are, they feel uncomfortable in more ways than one. Firstly being unable to fit properly in the seat and secondly, because they know they are invading your space and would do all they could to make the flight as comfortable for both you and themselves. At the end of the day, we all deserve to fly off to some nice warm country for a couple of weeks regardless of our size or shape!

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It is painful to see the reaction of folks with genuine weight problems. I feel very badly that this debate is hurtful to some. There are, indeed, some comments here that are beyond insensitive.

While we can wish for larger airplane seats, the reality is that it will not happen unless the traveling public (us) force the airlines to make them larger. I see 2 ways to of making that point loud and clear:
1. Don’t fly at all (this won’t happen because of seat sizes. It might happen soon because of escalating ticket prices/fees, but not because the seats are uncomfortable. The seats have been uncomfortable for a long time.)
2. Buy only business and first class seats. Airlines are motivated only by profit. They are in business to make money and that’s it. If they can make more money by filling the plane with high-fare, high-comfort seating, they will. If they can’t make more money, they won’t. (Again — not a realistic scenario. Who has the money? I know I don”t.)

If jet fuel remains so expensive, airlines will be forced to merge to survive. Some major carriers may actually liquidate — I think it will get so bad that Chapter 11 won’t stop the bleeding. The carriers that survive will do so with bare bones service that feels more like the city bus than anything remotely like the civilized thing air travel used to be.

Or…it will return to a means of travel for only those who can afford luxuries. This would also be a return to the past. It will be interesting to watch, even if it is less pleasant to participate in.

And, unfortunately, as it gets less and less pleasant, more and more people will react in less-than-civil ways when a person in the seat next to them is also “unintentionally using” part of their seat.

Sad, but true.

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Nobody is able to choose their height. A five foot eight inch person who is 65 lbs heavy will still be accomodated by airline seats. A 6’4 person who is 35 lbs heavy will not fit, on the plus side my tall brothers it appears we earn more money then our smaller passengers so with our height there are ups & downs.

Solution is too simple; Airlines should allow all passengers the option to purchase at 40% of cost a guaranteed empty middle. Every 2 passengers who do this will be paying for 80% of that seat which the airline may or may not have sold anyway. That would be a real win for everybody, if any airlines offer anything close then that let me know. I would pay extra to be guaranteed an empty middle seat for so many reasons.

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Hi I have booked a holiday with thomas cook airlines. I am overweight due to a medical condition that is not my fault. I have been in contact with the airlines, the tour operators, etc and i do have to pay extra for an extra seat. so those people who have said they have never been charged extra…good for you! I am due to see my consultant for an operation about my weight but i have to wait for this operation as i have had spinal surgery a few months ago. for those who are against us ‘fatties’. for those who laugh at us, ridicule us and mock us, don’t you think we have feelings, don’t you think that we get hurt but what we are called? well we do!!! I may fit in a single seat but i am not taking the risk of the embarrassment to be asked to leave the plane and face all the ridicule and jeers that will undoubtedly follow by the majority of the other passengers. It is not always through overeating or lack of exercise that a person is obese so think before you damn well speak!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I am an air hostess so i see this very frequently on board.
I really think what also needs to be discussed is the safety aspects of having obese passengers on board both to themselves and other passengers.
Firstly we do not seat obese passengers (or mothers with infants, disabled passengers) on an exit row, as it is hazardous to other passengers in case of a need to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency. This is not discrimination, this is a necessary safety precaution for us and our other passengers.
A seriously obese person can be a danger in an emergency to passengers around them if they get stuck in a mid row seat or are unable to move quickly down the aisle because they are going sideways.

In case of a smoke filled cabin passengers can be overcome very quickly. We must get all our passengers off the aircraft before we vacate the aircraft. If we have a passenger who is unconscious we call for assistance from our collegues on the opposite aircraft door to help. I think even two 120lb air hostess would be hard pressed to manuvour an obese passenger to safety, now putting all of our lives at risk.
Do you really want to put yourself in that situation?

Obese passengers are putting their own lives at risk in case of a water ditching as the lifejackets are designed to fit a large male.. not a medically obese one twice the natural size. Airline life rafts are made to hold a large number of passengers but also can only take a certain amount of approximate weight. One obese passenger here can take the space and weight of 3 people!

I frequently see passengers very uncomfortable because the person next to them is so large.
Passengers who do have a weight problem and choose to fly should fly in business or first class where they have more space and do not affect the people next to them by ‘spillover’. The aisles are also larger in premium cabins so they are less of a danger during an emergency.
Is saving a few hundred dollars by buying an economy seat really worth putting your own and other peoples lives at risk?

On corporate jets each passenger and crew is weighed prior to the flight to ensure the baggage loaded does not exceed the limits of the aircraft. It literally costs twice as much to fly a 300lb passenger than a 150lb passenger. Why should the ticket price be the same?

As an air hostess I understand just how easy is is to put on weight, plane food is loaded with fat and this is literally what we are expected to live off on a daily basis on long haul flights. However you cant put on weight if you dont put excess calories into your mouth! When was the last time someone got fat over an excess of carrots or celery?

We are weighed each year to ensure we fit into the “gudelines”, if we put on too much weight we are ‘grounded’ until we are a suitable weight. With the pertpetual jetlag, the constant night flights, high fat diets we still manage to keep our weight down and let me tell you it is not easy! Before you start to complain about fat discrimination to your air hostess, just think about what she goes through just to keep her job!

And for those of you out there that are larger and taller, i have found from my experience onboard that Boeing aircraft seats are generally somewhat larger and higher than Airbus… of course this can vary depending on the airlines chosen fit out, it may be worth checking with your travel agent. The ‘bulkhead’ seats do not have a seat in front also, so may also help those with long legs. The earlier you check into a flight the more likely you are to get the seat that you need!

Keep discovering…..

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Thanks to Lissette for her valuable insight! Lessette what you didn’t see here is that obese people simply don’t care much about how uncomfortable they make others feel during a flight. I have read rants about medical problems, seat size and on and on and on some more. During an international flight (NY) ‘sorry’ simply isn’t enough. Every single time they move, the standard sized person must be affected! I don’t want people touching me PERIOD. Why should i have to be touched by a total stranger? The fat people here just won’t understand. I’m not too sure they care much about the safety issues outlined.

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A quick search reveals that 63% of Americans are overweight and 31% are obese.There’s no data on how many of those overweight or obese passengers fly, but given the number of complaints about this issue, one might conclude that the standard airline seat no long accommodates the standard American. It fits some idea of an “average” American, but couldn’t 50% of Americans be too large for that seat? (I’m clumsy with math, so apologies if that”s incorrect.)

Anyone who goes to buy clothing knows if they’re overweight and it’s likely they know why, so I’m disappointed at the insensitivity towards those folks. Taking shots at how they feel or how they got to be overweight goes nowhere. For all we know, that overweight guy is working on his weight problem, became overweight through a series of devastating personal events, and is mortified to be faced with an inadequate coach seat. We have no idea what’s going on with him. There’s no need for personal attacks.

But let me also say this: If I am seated next to someone who is taking up my space, the flight attendant is going to hear about it. It’s the airlines’ job to accommodate their passengers, not mine.

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I understand about the safety issue and though i am overweight i am not extremely obese. As for flying business class or first class, not everyone can afford this. I for one cannot. Obese people may ‘rant on’ about medicaly problems causing obesity, but these are facts. Everyone has a right to fly and not everyone is overly obese. Obese people may be dieting and exercising to lose weight but seeing the effects of this takes time. My overweight IS due to a medical problem but at the same time, I am dieting to lose weight. I cannot do much exercise due to my spinal surgery (as i mentioned before) but I walk, I swim. Please before you rant against obese people, try and remember that there are those of us who are trying to lose the weight, there are those like me who cannot afford business or first class, there are those of us who are blighted by medical problems for obesity and there are those of us who have bought an extra seat but that bought extra seat is NOT guaranteed!!!!!!!

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I am not obese. I am 6’1 and wear a 41 suit. Although I am a little overweight, no one would ever call me “fat”. Even so, I am still offended by some of the comments here.

Some people are very overweight by choice (they choose not to eat right or exercise). That is their choice and I am not going to fault them for it. I wish they’d find the willpower to lose it; the health problems that result are devastating. My heart goes out to folks who are overweight due to a medical condition. These folks could not change if they wanted to. I hope that medical science solves the puzzle.

I see no point is the cruelty, nor in the explanations/counter-nastiness from those offended. I don’t care WHY someone is fat. I am absolutely certain that BOTH OF US wish they were not in that condition.

And…I don’t want someone taking part of my airplane seat. The fact is that BOTH OF US are probably uncomfortable when that happens.

I am struggling with how to solve this problem in a way that passengers are more comfortable AND airlines are not harmed financially or otherwise. If they are harmed, it simply won’t happen (unless government requires it.) Profit has always been the top priority, but never as much as it is now.

It’s not simple. I’d like to see the debate return to that.

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My wife and I have only flown a couple of times. I’m 5’8″, 200lbs. She’s 5’6″, 220lbs. We could both stand to lose a litte weight(who can’t?). On our last trip to Hawaii, we both flew
and although it was a little uncomfortable, we obviously weren’t big enough to make the airline charge us twice. We’re booked to go to Vegas later in the year on Southwest(we booked before we heard the horror stories about overweight charges). So, my question for other Southwest experienced flyers: Are they going to try to saddle us with an extra seat or two?

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This is why I travel with friends, and usually at least one big guy. They don’t mind touching, and they get more mad at snide comments about my weight then I do. I learned a long time ago to put the constant negative looks and whispers aside, because it was only detering any weightloss progress I was trying to make. The fact is those people don’t what it is like, because they have never been overweight. They don’t know what it’s like to be bombarded by comments about their weight from everybody including loved ones. They don’t what’s it like to have to completely change your habits with food, because it’s not like alcohol and drugs that you can just not use anymore. They don’t know what it’s like to work really hard with food and excercise, and still have to deal with negative comments and looks from strangers every day. Since they have not experienced any of this they can only offer ignorant opinions on obesity formed from the automatic arrogance that comes with never having had a true weight problem. The bottom line is you can’t let peoples ignorance dictate your life.

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By the way, nobody chooses to be obese. Everybody’s body chemistry is different, that’s just common sense. People who’s chemistry is inclined toward obesity will be fighting all their lives no matter much they lose.

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I agree than some folks are genetically inclined to gain weight. Also, the way one’s parents allow them to eat as children has an impact on their inclination to put on weight later in life. However, it is technically or, better said, medically possible for almost everyone to lose weight. I watched a friend go from 425 to 260 in about 7 months by sensible eating and regular exercise. For him to find the willpower to do this was not easy. It took a tragedy to motivate him — a colleague of ours died at 42 from congestive heart failure at almost 500 pounds. However, he did do it.

Heather, I disagree with you on the point that overeating is different. Quitting any bad habit — be it smoking, drugs, drinking, gambling, or eating too much — is more about lifestyle and self control than anything else. I needed to make conscious changes in many little details of my life to reduce the risk of smoking when I quit that habit. I do recognize that overeaters still need to eat, but it is a self control issue just the same. Some may even think that quitting overeating is easier — it’s not cold-turkey. I don’t think so; breaking a bad habit is hard no matter what the circumstances.

The last couple years that I smoked, it had become a social taboo. I know the looks that overweight people get. I got looks, too. I also imagine that I smelled pretty badly sometimes — can’t imagine that anyone was thrilled with that, either.

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I wouldn’t mind being charged by the pound if it made a difference in the width of the seat you are given and if the minimum width seat were no narrower than the minimum today. It’s also feasible since those above a certain poundage could be compelled to purchase the wider seats of business or first class. It’s certainly fairer than the system in place now. I think that children should be charged as well, regardless of their age, according to weight, and be given an individual seat.

Cordially,
YGI

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I think that in the first about 10 coments that I have read a lot of people were basically making fun of obese people. Lots of people have a hard life because they are bigger…. It’s not because they choose to be. I would like to see some of the smaller people try being bigger for a day or to… I’m not fat but I know what it must feel like.. My Grandfather was over weight and was always laughed at

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Thank you Amber for your kind and understanding comments. I used to be slim (126lbs – 9 stone) but due to a medical condition I am now overweight. The majority of slim people do not understand what it is like to be laughed at, ridiculed, mocked etc and therefore these people are ignorant to how this makes obese people feel. People should be taken for who they are not for what they are. Even though, medication has not yet been decided by my consultant, I am trying to lose weight and I have lost a few pounds. However, I do not see why everyone has to conform to society’s bigotry…..nobody says that you HAVE to be slim or fat. I do understand the safety factor in flying but also, airlines should make the seats just a little wider after all, how many people here have said they are not overweight yet find it these seats uncomfortable? Not everyone can afford to go first class or business class…I for one cannot afford those price. All I want to do is enjoy the flight to my destination and enjoy my holiday. Is that too much to ask for?

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That is true Maria… I for one love to travel in airplanes and even if the person beside me is also average I find it a little uncomfortable…… They should make the seats wider but yet they do not want to make the plane to big and people are to arrogent to spend the exra money….. exspecially with bush sending all our troops off to war in a battle that is not needed

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Wider seats would accommodate overweight people as well as the average joe. Business class and first class, these days, are for the more wealthier people of our society not for you average working class people. I don’t enjoy being overweight, as I am sure many overweight people feel the same, but we get on with our lives and hold our heads up high when being ridiculed, etc. Society must take the majority of the blame if not all of the blame for making it clear that slim people are more welcomed in society and on planes than obese and overweight people. Some of what you say is true Amber that some peopl are too arrogant to spend extra money but there are those who would gladly spend a little extra if the seats were wider. As for Bush sending troops off to war in a needless battle, that happens all over the world…but i know where you are coming from.

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Wider seats would be better, but the question of the airline’s revenue goes unanswered. I’ll use round numbers so that this is easier. Let’s say a 757 holds 200 people via 5 rows of first class (4 seats across) and 30 rows of coach (6 across). To make coach seats meaningfully wider, they could not get 6 seats across. Take one seat and divide it’s width into the other 5 seats. That makes 22″ wide seat now 26.4″ wide.

Is that wide enough? If so, great!

But there are now 30 fewer seats on the plane, coach fares would need to rise by at least 16% to cover the difference in revenue. (Remember — most of the airline’s costs are fixed. Gate fees, employees, payments on equipment all need to be paid whether the plane flies empty, full, or not at all.) Fewer seats causes an incremental decrease in revenue if fares remain the same. But there is no meaningful incremental decrease in cost. This is why the seats are so uncomfortable in the first place. The airlines need to jam as many of us on the plane as is practical.

So — are people willing to pay 16% more for the average seat? History tells us they are not. Remember American’s experiment with more leg room? How did they provide more legrrom? They took out two rows of seats. How did they make the revenue? You guessed it; they raised fares — betting that we’d value their product more. Not only did most folks not choose more room for more money, but no other airlines matched AA’s move. So, what happened? RIght again! The two rows of seats went back in.

Here’s another example, and one that strikes closer to our topic: Midwest had DC-9s (you can call ‘em B717′s but we all know what they really are) set up as 4 across seating. They were even leather. Are they still flying only planes so configured? I think not. (They are also about to disappear from existence as a part of the Delta/Northworst merger, but that’s off topic). So, there’s another illustration.

As we all know, good ideas by one airline are usually matched/imitated by the others to neutralize any perceived competitive advantage. American’s and Midwest’s ideas were not copied. So…were they successful? In today’s economy, can an airline roll these dice and take another chance on bigger-seats-for-bigger-$$? I don’t think so.

It sure would be nice, though, wouldn’t it?

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I know Maria I just added that cause I hate bush…. But anyway, what I was trying to say is that people WOULD spend some exra money for more comfortable stuff but not everyone HAS the money…. I know a lot of people from my state are fussing over gas prices…… So not a lot of people from Maine are traveling now… Car or Air

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You’re not wrong there, Amber. Fuel prices are on the rise here already….and like you said, not many people would be willing to pay extra. You know, I truly believe that holidays are gonna be for the rich only simply because its becoming clearer now that only the rich can survive and afford luxuries. But maybe I’m wrong?

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Wow — I just went on-line to do some pricing research and it looks like I found a ‘powder keg’. I am morbidly obese (350+) and average height (5′ 6″). I see some of good points brought up; and a lot of really angry and judgmental persons that are using this forum as a place to air frustrations and biases (both pro and con).

I would agree with the policy of either weight or width measurements if the airlines are consistent in their usage and guidelines. Realistically, I don’t honestly believe that anyone really would want to see this in practice. (A “BE WEIGHED/MEASURED HERE” line; surcharges for additional weight/width; arguments when the scale/measuring tape doesn’t match what it says in the doctor’s office or at home; the parents that need to include the infants weight; the person in a heavy wheelchair; and God forbid you wear your heavy coat that day.) Also, bearing in mind that airline workers are human, too, can everyone really get the same treatment?

I am also concerned on who determines if you “fit” in the seat. I flew coach on an isle seat a few years ago with no more than the expected minimal discomfort, arm rest was down, and seatbelt (with extender) securely latched. Being so large, I am extremely “spatially” conscientious, but the man next to me assured me I was not crowding him.

I wonder, do any airlines have or are considering a few rows of coach ‘extended seats” for the booking of larger passengers? Or is this just relegated to first class? (Yes, I would expect to pay extra.)

It seems like the issues most listed above are about tolerance and diversity rather than the real issue of airline’s costs versus passenger weight. Is the weight of the passenger sitting next to you really the only criteria you hold for a good or bad flight experience. I may have made bad life choices. I made choices that led to my current weight; but that said, by those standards, the woman with the crying or objectionable child also made a choice to have children, the person with bad B.O. chose not to bathe, and any person that is aesthetically unpleasing has the choice to not walk out their front door — God help us all if we get to the point where there is a registration line with additional fees for any idiosyncrasy and potential annoyance factor that plagues humankind.

Anyway, I am in favor of paying a “fair” price for services rendered — I hope the airline have a “fair” system in place for determine that price. But in doing so, I would expect the same level of service and respect from the airline as other passengers. If Carolina’s and similar comments above are any indicator, I wouldn’t hold out much hope of this.

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Ok, so what about people like me? I am a single mom, with a small child. What happens if I save up for months to go somewhere, pay for my ticket, get to the airport, only to find out I cant bored the flight? because they are requesting 200-800 dollars more? do you people ever think about it like that? For some of you flying is a routine thing, and your fourtunate enough to be able to travel alot, but I have only flown twice in my life, so its a big deal when i go to the airport, and even bigger when I ACTUALLY get on a plane. do you people think overweight people have extra cash, to just buy an extra ticket? and if youve never flown before, how would you know if your too big? I guess I am ok , being that I still fit on roller coaster rides, and must of my weight is T&A. But I just wonder how people can be so rude. When I flew to Puerto rico last year, there was a VERY Large girl sitting next to me, and she did spill over into my seat, and i was uncomfteable. But then I tried to imagine how uncomfterable I would be in HER body, every day. and i just focused on something else.

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Danielle, what a breath of fresh air you are….not only are you understanding but you took the time to think what it be like you were as large the girl who sat next to you on your flight..God bless you. I agree to a certain extent that people who genuinely need an extra seat should perhaps pay for it (I am large but I don’t spill into other seats, if I did then I would pay for an extra seat if I had to) but you are so right that there people, both slim, large and obese who cannot afford to pay for an extra seat or to pay extra for anything else. Thank you so much for bringing this to the attention of all who is here…

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So fat people need more room.
They also need larger clothes, more food, bigger rental cars, etc. They don’t seem to mind paying extra for these things. Why are they so mad about having to pay more for two coach seats, or a business class seat.
I’ve never seen a fat person walk into McDonalds and say “I want a double double super size because that is what I need for my fat body but I only want to pay for a kid’s meal.” Uh, no. They say “supersize it, with a sunday and chocolate shake!!”
I’m a “normal” size person. I buy one seat and I expect to get one seat. I don’t buy one seat and expect to get only half a seat. Fat people buy one seat and expect one and a half seats. Shame on them.

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good for you sandra! why does the majority of the planet have to deal with being uncomfortable for hours on end? we are mean, and have no compassion for their ‘plight’. it seems that like drug addicts who put themselves in the ‘i have a disease’ category, obese people also have a disease. while nothing in life is easy, taking responsibility for ones self is a satisfaction that never gets rewarded. it’s a personal, private satisfaction. too bad for us who think about our health. i suggest that these people are out of control in many areas of their lives!

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If you read my last comment, Sandra, you will see that I for one would pay for an extra seat if I needed it even though I wouldn’t really be able to afford it, I would pay for one and find the money for it somehow. I, along with many people I should imagine, cannot afford a business class seat or a first class seat. As for clothes, ever heard of catalogues? They’re really good because you can order clothes and pay for them weekly, fortnightly or monthly….great invention and great idea! As for McDonalds, I rarely eat from there (ive in the UK) cos I’m not a great fan of their food and even if I was I certainlywouldn’t ‘supersize’ my meal as I’m sure a lot of overweight people wouldn’t either. As for those who do, maybe there is a bonafide medical condition for their obesity.

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First, I want to say that overweight people have just as much rights as everyone else. I am a big tall guy and will always be a big guy i eat right but the there is no way that I will ever be shorter or my shoulders will ever be narrower. When I Fly I do everything I can to not discomfort the people next to me. Maybe the problem is still with the airlines because they want to cram as many people in as possible to get as much money as possible. Sure I would fly first class if I could afford it but I can’t and the fact is most people can’t. I personally will gladly pay more if I got more room. Maybe the airlines should start offering wider seat rows in coach that why all you people are disgusted by fat people don’t have to look at them. But the fact is that airlines that charge overweight people for a second seat, don’t give that person the second seat, they are still cramed in next to you. All I have to say is put yourself in their shoes. You don’t know what their circumstances are and you wouldn’t want to be judged either so what makes them any less of a human being than you are. And maybe stop being self centered and realize that they are probably just as uncomfortable as you. And on the overweight not a disease maybe you should start looking things up with out talking out of ignorance. The are quite a few diseases out there that cause you to gain weight, and also many medications.

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I am still dumbfounded by how many people are stupid enough to believe every stereotype out there. Fat people just need to put down the fork, they need to stop supersizing meals at McDonald’s, only a few obese people have medical issues, etc… I have known many obese people in my life and only a handful of them even come close to the gluttonous couch potato stereotype that is crammed down our throats by the media. I can’t believe how many sheeple buy that inaccurate stereotype.

It seems that many larger folks would be willing to pay a little extra for more room IF the seats were comfortable and they would actually get the extra space. To all the whiners, I would like to know how you would feel if you paid $1000 for 2 seats on a plane and you were still very uncomfortable because the seat is designed for a much smaller person. Or, worse, how would you feel if you paid $1000 for 2 seats and didn’t get the second seat because the flight was overbooked, had to spend the entire flight listening to some idiot loudly complain about how much space you are taking up AND the airline wouldn’t refund you for the second seat?

After reading all the venom here, I hope I am seated next to an obese person next time I fly. I will gladly raise the armrest and let them use a few inches of my seat. I am smart enough to know I am given many breaks in this society because I am “normal” weight and I am open-minded, non-judgemental and nice enough to be civil to my fellow passengers. I would MUCH rather sit next to an obese person than a bigot.

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Thank you Scott, for talking sense. You are one of the very few who understand the predicament of the overweight and obese people. I too (and I have said this already) would pay for an extra seat if necessary but not for the comfort of the ignorant but for my own comfort. People should try and imagine themselves in the shoes of the overweight, etc and try to realise and imagine what it is like. There are many reasons for obesity as you said, medication, medical conditions, it can also be genetic especially in disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome. As for medication – steriods and some antidepressants may cause obesity too. I’m not saying that every single obese or overweight person suffers from any of these conditions, but there those who do, so before anyone else insults big people just stop and think if there obesity is due to medication or medical condition!!!!!!!!

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