I know this is a VERY unpopular opinion, but I do believe that airlines have the right to charge very overweight people for two seats. I had to sit next to a man last year, and he literally oozed into my seat and smelled really bad. I had no room to move my arm, and his body was smooshing me into the window the entire time. I couldn’t get up to use the restroom because he said he couldn’t stand in the aisle to let me by without inconveniencing the other passengers. It was the worst flight of my life. It just isn’t fair to other people. I am not tiny myself, but my hygiene is excellent, and if I had to purchase two seats, I would not argue or be mad about it. I would just be grateful for the opportunity to fly, but that’s just my two cents.
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/passengers-told-they-had-to-buy-a-second-seat-on-flight-due-to-weight-say-policy-felt-like-a-slap-in-the-face-exclusive/ar-AA1XI8JE?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=69aca557c6b94b8daefc58a8d261a259&ei=32](https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/passengers-told-they-had-to-buy-a-second-seat-on-flight-due-to-weight-say-policy-felt-like-a-slap-in-the-face-exclusive/ar-AA1XI8JE?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=69aca557c6b94b8daefc58a8d261a259&ei=32)
nope if you take up two seats then buy two seats. the person next to said fat guy is also paying for one seat and getting half a seat instead.
Agreed!
NTA, there is no question about it, they need a second seat or the airline has to figure something out because they cannot inconvenience the person they end up sitting next to by taking over their space.
NTA. Being over weight is a choice. So is flying. They should buy two seats!!! Sure there are some medical reasons why some people can’t drop the weight but most of the time it’s a decision.
“Most of the time it’s a decision.”
Please cite your sources. Current medical thinking is that a number of environmental and genetic factors contribute a great deal to the weight problems experienced by many people.
“Body weight is not a choice,” says Dr. Giles Yeo, a geneticist from the University of Cambridge who has been studying the genetics of obesity and brain control of food intake for more than 20 years. (Read the full article at http://www.bristol.ac.uk; search for ‘body weight is not a choice’).
I disagree with their policy, and one of the reasons is because it says they can implement it “at their discretion.”
So if one gate attendant looks at you and thinks you’re too big, they can force you to buy a second seat. And then you end up with situations like the one OP linked – the passenger was forced to pay for a second seat on one flight, but then on the return flight she wasn’t. The seats didn’t magically get bigger to accommodate her: she was still the same size person fitting into a same size seat. The only difference is one gate agent thought she was too big. The other didn’t. It’s implemented entirely based on that gate attendant’s subjective perception and prejudices.
But this isn’t really an AITA situation. There’s no conflict other than “I have an opinion other people might not agree with.”
NTA, I am morbidly obese, and I completely agree with you, I always buy two seats, I want to be comfortable and I don’t want to bother anyone.
NTA. I agree with you. It would be better if they kept a row that had larger seats so those people didn’t have to pay more but under current circumstances paying for two is the only way to be fair to other passengers.
There is an easier solution that would solve the problem but the airlines do NOT want to implement it because they would potentially lose out on getting more money in the long term.
Set aside 2 rows on each side of plane (4 rows total) that only have 2 seats instead of 3. Similar to Emergency Exit rows.
Anyone who who is overweight can buy or be assigned to one of those seats.
They would not have to pay extra for an extra seat, because they would not encroach on the seat next to them, there would be enough space for them.
Those seats could also be a bit wider than the crap they are cramming into planes these days so that the person flying would be more comfortable as well.
If no one purchases those seats by flight time, the airline could always fill the seats if there are standby flyers who are hoping for a no show or open space.
Why would airlines lose our on getting more money? Fewer seats in the plane to cram people into by overselling the flight.
NTA. At the same time, the airlines should be more specific about size. Meaning if a person’s hip or shoulder width size, personal max width reaches a certain measurement or more when seated, they are required to purchase a second seat.
This avoids subjectivity by the ticket counter person, there are no excuses by the ticket purchaser they didn’t know, and also eliminates embarrassment.
There could even be a mock seat at the counter, the person could sit in to show they fit appropriately. If people find this embarrassing, you knew you needed a second seat.
If the person only purchases one seat trying to avoid the specifications, the ticket person has a means to validate the person’s need for a second ticket or not without argument.
Sorry others feel this is unacceptable. It’s also unacceptable for a person’s width who exceeds the seat width seated, crowds out seat neighbor(s).
Flying is already uncomfortable as it is.
NTA
FYI, there are a lot of obese people that purchase 2 seats for this exact reason, but somehow the airline boarding system sees an “empty” seat and places someone on standby in it and won’t change it back. I’ve read lots of horror stories about this. Doesn’t sound like the person in your situation did that though, so f em.
I am a bigger person, I am happy to say that I have never encroached into another’s space.
I have been victim to many a “Man-spread” than I should’ve had to.
NTA. I recently went to a comedian’s show and the person next to me dripped into my seat. He should have bought to seats to contain his body and not spill over into my seat. HIs entire right side was touching mine until I said something to him and then he switched seats with his wife. It’s even worse flying.