This woman seated between two obese people is awful but so are they for not buying the extra seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have sat next to each other and let her have the aisle or window. And the rude center seat lady obviously should have handled it better.

As a frequent flier I will say that airlines really need to have policies around this. It’s not fair to anyone now. I have to admit I’m tired of having my limited space taken up by seat mates. There have been times I can’t get my work done because I don’t have room to move my arms enough to type on my laptop.

I fly all the time for work too but yours isn't a compelling argument. All the airlines are required to do is get you there, safe and relatively on time, and without any physical harm. Not being able to use your laptop is inconvenient but not their problem.

Exactly. If YOU don't like it, you should buy first class. This is the reality in economy.

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen the seats on United, but a few planes do have fat seats for larger people. Also, United has economy plus which isn't that much more expensive for larger people. But... the economy plus only has leg room. They needed wider seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have sat next to each other and let her have the aisle or window. And the rude center seat lady obviously should have handled it better.

As a frequent flier I will say that airlines really need to have policies around this. It’s not fair to anyone now. I have to admit I’m tired of having my limited space taken up by seat mates. There have been times I can’t get my work done because I don’t have room to move my arms enough to type on my laptop.

I fly all the time for work too but yours isn't a compelling argument. All the airlines are required to do is get you there, safe and relatively on time, and without any physical harm. Not being able to use your laptop is inconvenient but not their problem.

Exactly. If YOU don't like it, you should buy first class. This is the reality in economy.

I’ve also paid for a seat and expect the use of the seat. Not 3/4th of a seat.

[Anonymous]

They booked the aisle and window knowing the middle was too uncomfortable. Yes, she was rude, but they were wrong also.

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when you fly coach. Fly first or private if you want space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn't solve everything, but in this case, why not have the aisle partner move into the middle seat? Then the non-partnered middle person would at least only be dealing with being squished from one side.

Exactly!
I have often booked a window and aisle when it's just me and my husband flying, and we always always always give the middle person the aisle seat instead of the middle when they board. (At leat 95% of the time someone books the middle seat - flights are usually full these days)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should have sat next to each other and let her have the aisle or window. And the rude center seat lady obviously should have handled it better.

As a frequent flier I will say that airlines really need to have policies around this. It’s not fair to anyone now. I have to admit I’m tired of having my limited space taken up by seat mates. There have been times I can’t get my work done because I don’t have room to move my arms enough to type on my laptop.

I fly all the time for work too but yours isn't a compelling argument. All the airlines are required to do is get you there, safe and relatively on time, and without any physical harm. Not being able to use your laptop is inconvenient but not their problem.

Exactly. If YOU don't like it, you should buy first class. This is the reality in economy.

Uhm, wrong! If you buy a seat and seat is what you should get. Not half of one as this woman was getting. Why do these obese people get to have half of her seat too?

[Anonymous]

Years ago I was on a flight in an aisle seat where a couple (morbidly obese man, thin woman) had the seats next to me. She took the window seat, and he squished into the middle seat. He was clearly uncomfortable, and I was, too, even though I am petite. Then they asked for volunteers because there was a cat on the plane, and a passenger seated near the cat was severely allergic. I volunteered. The flight attendant took one look at me and my seat and declined. She ended up moving me, though, and putting a young, lanky teen boy in the seat. He wanted to be away from his younger brother and mother. He stretched his legs out and sort of contorted himself and slept the whole time. Win, win.

[Anonymous]

This is just another post about someone attempting to shame another without realizing they may be judged as well. I personally would have sat there elbowing those two at every opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a way to handle this without screaming and shaming people.

And to everyone saying "oh book the an extra seat" often it's not that easy. The airlines can see that the "extra" seat doesn't have an occupant, so they will put someone there. Or they won't guarantee that your "extra seat" will be next to you.

So no, buying an extra seat is not an option because the airlines won't honor it since there isn't a ticketed person in that seat.

My brother is a big guy (not as big as the people in this story, though) and will buy two seats in economy when he flies. He's never had a problem with the airlines (or other passengers) taking that extra seat away from him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crazy...

Why do I feel like having a turkey sandwich with whole wheat bread today?

That's not actually particularly healthy...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is just another post about someone attempting to shame another without realizing they may be judged as well. I personally would have sat there elbowing those two at every opportunity.

You had me until the elbowing. Why are people such a holes? Suck it up and deal!

[Anonymous]

A couple of observations.
Lady in the middle was being a big baby BUT. It was the large woman who started swearing, calling her a "b*tch", "not going to take this sh*t", etc.

It was unreasonable to expect an average sized person to sit between the two of them. The lady in the middle could have been much more discreet and kind about it, however.

The other passengers are the ones who escalated the incident by shaming the lady in the middle. I understand we have to speak up when we see injustice. However in this case, at least the part that was on film, did not seem so egregious that it necessitated community involvement. And Lady in the middle had a point. "Why don't YOU go sit there between them then?".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If those two people were flying together, my money says they bought the aisle and window in hopes that the middle seat would be unused and then they get a free extra seat to spread.

I know so many people who do this and take this gamble. The other woman was super rude though, it was not the way to handle it.

You hit the nail on the head. Maybe there should be some way for airlines to ask for the weight and dimensions of passengers like they do for suitcases. Or even have plexiglass sides that can be pulled up [u]on the side of each seat. That way the grossly overweight people can sqiush themselves up in their sardine cans.

Yes, this. I have often thought, we need to be able to put up real barriers between some passengers.

[Anonymous]

I am siding with the woman too.. she was very open about it. I would have told the FA that they had to move and sit next to each other. I flew on a 2.5 hr flight with two huge people (that needed seat belt extenders) completely plastered against the window. I had passengers giving me a hand to move since I was stuck in that position for so long (I am petite). I got a full refund for that flight.