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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all finally agree on a solution. People who cannot fit into one seat must purchase two tickets (at regular prices - other passengers should not need to pay the bill for their choices). Those seats must stay together as a tightly coupled pair. Mandated by the FAA as such if necessary. While they’re at it, they should mandate that a family traveling together with kids under 10 yo also be a tightly coupled group that cannot be bumped or separated on the flight.

If someone is too big to fit into two seats then they should be prohibited from traveling commercial since they are a hazard in an emergency.

Any objections?

I'm fine with this. But airlines will fight this tooth & nail because they want more money or flexibility.

Hence why we need the FAA to deal with this via a rulemaking to hardwire it into regulation.

Not sure how the airlines would lose money in this deal. People still need to purchase the seats they need.

But yes, the FAA would need to specify the “tightly coupled seats” policies.

Because when they take the empty seat away, the airline gives it to someone who paid more than the original person. Usually it's someone who booked at the last minute ($$$$) or it's a big spending Elite who they want to keep happy.

Stopping them from taking this action impacts their ability to maximize profit. They won't like it and will, in fact, actively lobby against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff needs to delete this thread

you can report it and let him decide

I reported it once for a clean up and he didn't do it. I just don't understand this thread is VILE. I keep posting so if there are overweight or obese people reading this they know that plenty of people don't feel like this.

I am overweight! I had my third child a few months ago and it was a difficult pregnancy and I still weigh over 200 pounds! And I still fit comfortably in a plane seat. Those people do not fit comfortably in a seat without affecting the people next to them and they should need to pay for another seat. It’s just logic. When your size starts becoming other people’s problem, it becomes other people’s business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff needs to delete this thread

you can report it and let him decide

I reported it once for a clean up and he didn't do it. I just don't understand this thread is VILE. I keep posting so if there are overweight or obese people reading this they know that plenty of people don't feel like this.

I am overweight! I had my third child a few months ago and it was a difficult pregnancy and I still weigh over 200 pounds! And I still fit comfortably in a plane seat. Those people do not fit comfortably in a seat without affecting the people next to them and they should need to pay for another seat. It’s just logic. When your size starts becoming other people’s problem, it becomes other people’s business.

As many other people have said in this thread, this is the airlines fault. They don't have clear policies, they screw people over, and then they let the people scrap it out and turn on each other. No one acts well on an airplane in my experience. Well that is not true I have had a lot of people show compassion to me when I traveled with children, but people are usually just shuffling through mindlessly.

We should not accept obese people being put in this situation where they need to be publicly humiliated by a fellow passenger. Have a weight limit in the booking process, have it trigger the need to buy a second seat, have it anchored into the systems so it can't be changed. FORCE airlines to treat human beings with dignity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff needs to delete this thread

you can report it and let him decide

I reported it once for a clean up and he didn't do it. I just don't understand this thread is VILE. I keep posting so if there are overweight or obese people reading this they know that plenty of people don't feel like this.

I am overweight! I had my third child a few months ago and it was a difficult pregnancy and I still weigh over 200 pounds! And I still fit comfortably in a plane seat. Those people do not fit comfortably in a seat without affecting the people next to them and they should need to pay for another seat. It’s just logic. When your size starts becoming other people’s problem, it becomes other people’s business.

As many other people have said in this thread, this is the airlines fault. They don't have clear policies, they screw people over, and then they let the people scrap it out and turn on each other. No one acts well on an airplane in my experience. Well that is not true I have had a lot of people show compassion to me when I traveled with children, but people are usually just shuffling through mindlessly.

We should not accept obese people being put in this situation where they need to be publicly humiliated by a fellow passenger. Have a weight limit in the booking process, have it trigger the need to buy a second seat, have it anchored into the systems so it can't be changed. FORCE airlines to treat human beings with dignity.

How would the airline know when these people booked tickets, especially if it was online. The passenger should have handled it very differently but those to people should have sat next to each other or paid for a third seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Airlines need to police who is taking the two out of three seats, and act accordingly - it is the airlines' airplane, not the snowflakes' airplane. The snowflakes' attitude is worthless.

I flew to Europe once and got to my seat and there was a woman in the next seat over who had already lifted the arm rest and slopped over into half of my seat. I got the flight attendant and informed her that I wasn't able to fit into the seat the way it was set up with the arm rest up. She looked on the flight manifest and the woman's equally large husband was sitting several rows back in a seat where he too had lifted the arm rest to make himself fit. The flight attendant told him he had to switch seats with me and sit next to his wife. I believe they eventualy had to get off of the plane since they did not fit into two seats next to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:reposting because quoting got messed up

Its rude, you take two seats next to each other. No one wants to sit in the middle of your conversation, you handing things back and forth, etc. I have no issue with a middle seat but I don't want you touching me nor do I want to hear your conversations or stuff being passed back and forth.


+1

the fat ones could've at least gotten the window and the middle seat but no they knew if they sat next to each other they couldn't move. They didn't care about giving no room to the middle seat person long as they didn't have to pay. Can't believe the fat one is a nurse too.

No way. You all are ridiculous. Fat or skinny, if I book my flight with enough advance notice and have the option, my DH and I will always book window/aisle. Traveling is awful and you make the best of it - window and aisle seats are the better choice. why should I take the less optimal choice just because I'm traveling with someone? You don't want to be in the middle of my conversation? you don't want to be in the middle of us handing stuff back and forth? Then book your trip early enough and PICK YOUR OWN AISLE OR WINDOW SEAT. Don't expect me to suffer just to make your life better.

I would tell you to switch if you were having conversations around me and passing stuff. Sometimes you do book early enough. If I'm alone I don't care where I sit so I'm not spending extra money to avoid nasty people like you. If you want to be next to your spouse, book tickets accordingly and not annoy the middle passenger. If you cannot sit in a middle seat, maybe you should learn something from this thread... try some salad.

Clearly, you're having some trouble reading.
1. I don't want to sit next to my spouse. I want us to be one seat apart (see? aisle.....window)
2. I never said I "can't" sit in the middle - I said it's less optimal and I'd rather not - so I book early and pick my seats.
3. I said "fat or skinny" I happen to be able to fit very comfortably in an airline seat. I just hate it when strangers are telling me my DH and I HAVE to move because your fragile personality can't handle sitting between 2 people that know each other.

You can "tell me" to switch all you want. I have my seat, which I specifically selected, and don't plan on moving.

And BTW, I'm a huge introvert. During flights, DH and I rarely talk, or hand things back and forth - I always read on flights. But it really pisses me off that you have the gall to think that I should sit in a middle seat just because I'm part of a couple.

Get a divorce. Simple. You should sit with your spouse. Or, he can sit in the middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff needs to delete this thread

you can report it and let him decide

I reported it once for a clean up and he didn't do it. I just don't understand this thread is VILE. I keep posting so if there are overweight or obese people reading this they know that plenty of people don't feel like this.

I am overweight! I had my third child a few months ago and it was a difficult pregnancy and I still weigh over 200 pounds! And I still fit comfortably in a plane seat. Those people do not fit comfortably in a seat without affecting the people next to them and they should need to pay for another seat. It’s just logic. When your size starts becoming other people’s problem, it becomes other people’s business.

As many other people have said in this thread, this is the airlines fault. They don't have clear policies, they screw people over, and then they let the people scrap it out and turn on each other. No one acts well on an airplane in my experience. Well that is not true I have had a lot of people show compassion to me when I traveled with children, but people are usually just shuffling through mindlessly.

We should not accept obese people being put in this situation where they need to be publicly humiliated by a fellow passenger. Have a weight limit in the booking process, have it trigger the need to buy a second seat, have it anchored into the systems so it can't be changed. FORCE airlines to treat human beings with dignity.

How would the airline know when these people booked tickets, especially if it was online. The passenger should have handled it very differently but those to people should have sat next to each other or paid for a third seat.

Can you read? I'm saying airlines should bake this into the booking process so this can all be taken care of discreetly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff needs to delete this thread

you can report it and let him decide

I reported it once for a clean up and he didn't do it. I just don't understand this thread is VILE. I keep posting so if there are overweight or obese people reading this they know that plenty of people don't feel like this.

I am overweight! I had my third child a few months ago and it was a difficult pregnancy and I still weigh over 200 pounds! And I still fit comfortably in a plane seat. Those people do not fit comfortably in a seat without affecting the people next to them and they should need to pay for another seat. It’s just logic. When your size starts becoming other people’s problem, it becomes other people’s business.

As many other people have said in this thread, this is the airlines fault. They don't have clear policies, they screw people over, and then they let the people scrap it out and turn on each other. No one acts well on an airplane in my experience. Well that is not true I have had a lot of people show compassion to me when I traveled with children, but people are usually just shuffling through mindlessly.

We should not accept obese people being put in this situation where they need to be publicly humiliated by a fellow passenger. Have a weight limit in the booking process, have it trigger the need to buy a second seat, have it anchored into the systems so it can't be changed. FORCE airlines to treat human beings with dignity.

How would the airline know when these people booked tickets, especially if it was online. The passenger should have handled it very differently but those to people should have sat next to each other or paid for a third seat.

Can you read? I'm saying airlines should bake this into the booking process so this can all be taken care of discreetly.

Not the PP, but how are you going to ensure that the airline gets correct information for people booking tickets online or through a travel agent or over the phone? If you ask someone to disclose their weight and tell them that everyone over XXX pounds will need to buy another seat, obviously the motivation for them to say they are XXX-5 pounds is pretty high. For that matter, how are you even going to standardize this question? What is the weight limit? What about a height limit? Will you ask everyone booking tickets to put their height and weight in when booking tickets? As for having it "anchored into the system", what about if a person loses (or gains) a significant amount of weight?

I get the general idea of your proposal, but there is no way to implement this that doesn't encourage people to lie or shame them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that you can expect airlines, buses, amusement parks, clothing, car and bike manufacturers, etc to accommodate the extreme. In fact, I wouldn't want to drive a car that was designed to be driven by a 450 pound person.

I'm not skinny. In fact, there are chairs out there that I can't sit on for fear of breaking them (150 pound limit). There are clothing brands that I can't fit into (size 14+). There are bicycles that are designed for lighter weight people than me that I can't ride (again 150 pound limit). And I'm not huge although I could afford to lose some weight.

People way outside the norm are going to have less options and they are going to pay more for the options they do have.
They will special order clothes, they will have to buy bigger more expensive vehicles because they can't fit into a regular size car, they will pay more for sturdy furniture that won't break under their weight, they will pay more for food if they intend to maintain their weights (or gain even more weight). A standard airline seat is not designed for them. If they want to fly they'll need to buy 2 or 3 seats.

but you saw the earlier comments from posters who said that when people buy the extra seat for space - the airline sometimes takes it away (with refund) because they overbooked the flight. so not sure what the answer is

If the airlines are taking those extra seats away then it is up to the airline to handle it. The obese passenger has done their part. Honestly, I would just book first class.

I just CANNOT with people throwing this out left and right. DH and I make 250k a year and live in a lower COL area. We cannot afford to fly first class. I mean maybe once if we saved up we could do it like once a year or something. But absolutely not on an even semi regular basis could we pay for first class. First class is EXTREMELY expensive.

This is what airlines could do. Maybe have some seats that can be occupied by larger customers that they sell at a premium. Have something in the booking process that allows these individuals to identify their issue. NEVER remove a purchased second seat from a customer. Ensure that overweight people can select seats during the selection process for no fee (because it benefits EVERY passenger for them to have the seats ensured to be together). Have clear guidelines about what necessitates a second seat and have gate agents follow the policy discreetly and kindly.

Frankly I would be happy if they made all the seats larger even if it was FOR fat people because sitting on a plane feels like sitting in a sardine can and I'm only 5'4 so basically EVERYONE is extremely uncomfortable.

This is what airlines have done, make you care MORE about their bottom line than you and your fellow passenger's dignity and comfort.

I just CANNOT with people fighting over comfort in coach. If you want to be comfortable then fly first class or private. Can’t afford it, then deal with the crap that comes with coach. I make significantly less than you and will only fly first class. I would never subject myself to coach and the people in coach. And unless you are flying internationally, first class really isn’t that expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff needs to delete this thread

you can report it and let him decide

I reported it once for a clean up and he didn't do it. I just don't understand this thread is VILE. I keep posting so if there are overweight or obese people reading this they know that plenty of people don't feel like this.

I am overweight! I had my third child a few months ago and it was a difficult pregnancy and I still weigh over 200 pounds! And I still fit comfortably in a plane seat. Those people do not fit comfortably in a seat without affecting the people next to them and they should need to pay for another seat. It’s just logic. When your size starts becoming other people’s problem, it becomes other people’s business.

As many other people have said in this thread, this is the airlines fault. They don't have clear policies, they screw people over, and then they let the people scrap it out and turn on each other. No one acts well on an airplane in my experience. Well that is not true I have had a lot of people show compassion to me when I traveled with children, but people are usually just shuffling through mindlessly.

We should not accept obese people being put in this situation where they need to be publicly humiliated by a fellow passenger. Have a weight limit in the booking process, have it trigger the need to buy a second seat, have it anchored into the systems so it can't be changed. FORCE airlines to treat human beings with dignity.

How would the airline know when these people booked tickets, especially if it was online. The passenger should have handled it very differently but those to people should have sat next to each other or paid for a third seat.

Can you read? I'm saying airlines should bake this into the booking process so this can all be taken care of discreetly.

Not the PP, but how are you going to ensure that the airline gets correct information for people booking tickets online or through a travel agent or over the phone? If you ask someone to disclose their weight and tell them that everyone over XXX pounds will need to buy another seat, obviously the motivation for them to say they are XXX-5 pounds is pretty high. For that matter, how are you even going to standardize this question? What is the weight limit? What about a height limit? Will you ask everyone booking tickets to put their height and weight in when booking tickets? As for having it "anchored into the system", what about if a person loses (or gains) a significant amount of weight?

I get the general idea of your proposal, but there is no way to implement this that doesn't encourage people to lie or shame them.

There is shame in the entire thing. If we want to eliminate shame than allow people to self identify at a weight where they will automatically be placed in economy plus or something for no extra charge.

But I disagree that this would not work. No fat person wants to be publicly humiliated on an airplane. If there was a way to lay out the situation ahead of time and know that they wouldn't be embarrassed in the moment I would imagine a lot more people than you think would use that. Severely overweight people are cognizant of how they do not fit, they are stressed out about it. I know a person who, if she's meeting someone at a restaurant for a business meal or something, she will go drop in ahead of time to make sure she can fit on the chairs. These people don't want to be the center of attention.

And you pick a weight where -5 pounds doesn't matter. 250. Most people over 250 will need a second seat, most people under would be able to be as obtrusive as a tall person or a pregnant person or whatever. So it doesn't really matter when a 253-er lies. What matters is that all 275ers take the second seat.

I don't think it needs to be anchored into your profile, just something you need to enter when you're booking the ticket. You have to put it in every time just like all your other info.

Doing SOMETHING would be better than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Airlines need to police who is taking the two out of three seats, and act accordingly - it is the airlines' airplane, not the snowflakes' airplane. The snowflakes' attitude is worthless.

I flew to Europe once and got to my seat and there was a woman in the next seat over who had already lifted the arm rest and slopped over into half of my seat. I got the flight attendant and informed her that I wasn't able to fit into the seat the way it was set up with the arm rest up. She looked on the flight manifest and the woman's equally large husband was sitting several rows back in a seat where he too had lifted the arm rest to make himself fit. The flight attendant told him he had to switch seats with me and sit next to his wife. I believe they eventualy had to get off of the plane since they did not fit into two seats next to each other.

Wow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who can't fit into 1 seat should have to buy 2. It's ridiculous to expect others to be squashed into a seat.

Airlines should not be able to give away the second seat, just like they shouldn't be able to give away a seat purchased for an infant (which sometimes happens). If you paid for the seat, you get to keep it.

Exactly! I had my toddler's seat taken on a flight from here to LAX. I paid for him to have a seat because I did not want to hold a squirmy 1.5 year old for 6+ hours. Was I compensated for them taking it away? Yes, and very nicely, but that is not the point. And I did NOT have the option to decline when the flight attendant "asked" for the seat. It was not even phrased as a question. My options were give up his seat or get off the plane for a later flight.

And not only did I have to deal with a sweaty, squirmy 1.5 year old on my lap, trying to keep him entertained, I had to deal with the b*tch in his former seat huffing and deep sighing the whole flight because she was seated next to us.

[Anonymous]

At the very least, it should be enforced that those who buy second seats get to keep them. I totally get the issues that would arise trying to enforce a policy around weight/size but this seems straightforward. And honestly, how much money is the airline losing by doing this?? Because it sounds like they're compensating those who they take the seats back from, so how high can the profit margin be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who can't fit into 1 seat should have to buy 2. It's ridiculous to expect others to be squashed into a seat.

Airlines should not be able to give away the second seat, just like they shouldn't be able to give away a seat purchased for an infant (which sometimes happens). If you paid for the seat, you get to keep it.

Exactly! I had my toddler's seat taken on a flight from here to LAX. I paid for him to have a seat because I did not want to hold a squirmy 1.5 year old for 6+ hours. Was I compensated for them taking it away? Yes, and very nicely, but that is not the point. And I did NOT have the option to decline when the flight attendant "asked" for the seat. It was not even phrased as a question. My options were give up his seat or get off the plane for a later flight.

And not only did I have to deal with a sweaty, squirmy 1.5 year old on my lap, trying to keep him entertained, I had to deal with the b*tch in his former seat huffing and deep sighing the whole flight because she was seated next to us.

You should’ve told her she was sitting in your child’s seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:reposting because quoting got messed up

Its rude, you take two seats next to each other. No one wants to sit in the middle of your conversation, you handing things back and forth, etc. I have no issue with a middle seat but I don't want you touching me nor do I want to hear your conversations or stuff being passed back and forth.


+1

the fat ones could've at least gotten the window and the middle seat but no they knew if they sat next to each other they couldn't move. They didn't care about giving no room to the middle seat person long as they didn't have to pay. Can't believe the fat one is a nurse too.

No way. You all are ridiculous. Fat or skinny, if I book my flight with enough advance notice and have the option, my DH and I will always book window/aisle. Traveling is awful and you make the best of it - window and aisle seats are the better choice. why should I take the less optimal choice just because I'm traveling with someone? You don't want to be in the middle of my conversation? you don't want to be in the middle of us handing stuff back and forth? Then book your trip early enough and PICK YOUR OWN AISLE OR WINDOW SEAT. Don't expect me to suffer just to make your life better.

I would tell you to switch if you were having conversations around me and passing stuff. Sometimes you do book early enough. If I'm alone I don't care where I sit so I'm not spending extra money to avoid nasty people like you. If you want to be next to your spouse, book tickets accordingly and not annoy the middle passenger. If you cannot sit in a middle seat, maybe you should learn something from this thread... try some salad.

Clearly, you're having some trouble reading.
1. I don't want to sit next to my spouse. I want us to be one seat apart (see? aisle.....window)
2. I never said I "can't" sit in the middle - I said it's less optimal and I'd rather not - so I book early and pick my seats.
3. I said "fat or skinny" I happen to be able to fit very comfortably in an airline seat. I just hate it when strangers are telling me my DH and I HAVE to move because your fragile personality can't handle sitting between 2 people that know each other.

You can "tell me" to switch all you want. I have my seat, which I specifically selected, and don't plan on moving.

And BTW, I'm a huge introvert. During flights, DH and I rarely talk, or hand things back and forth - I always read on flights. But it really pisses me off that you have the gall to think that I should sit in a middle seat just because I'm part of a couple.

Get a divorce. Simple. You should sit with your spouse. Or, he can sit in the middle.

NP but now you're just being dumb. There is NO RULE ANYWHERE, real or etiquette wise, that says you have to choose a seat you don't like because your spouse is next to it. Maybe it would be better for PP to book aisle/aisle, but she is under no obligation to sit next to her spouse in a seat she hates.