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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've posted on this topic several times before about my coworker.  We travel a lot for work.  She's a bigger person (definitely in the obese category).  Our company pays for our tickets, of course, and she will pay out of pocket for a second seat to have a buffer zone.  The only time she doesn't do this is if we're in a two seat row and I'm in the seat next to her (upon my insistence as I don't mind some spillage; I grew up with an overweight sibling and parent so I'm used to it).

We flew 8 times in December alone and out of those eight times, she bought a second buffer seat 5 times.  Out of those 5 extra seats that were purchased, do you know how many times that buffer seat wasn't taken from her?  One.  ONE time the airline did not tell her that the seat was needed due to an overbooked flight.  And guess what?  She doesn't get to say no when they ask to take the seat.  The first time it happened she did say no and the flight attendant told her if she persisted in being a "problem" then she would have to notify the captain and she would be deplaned.  The airlines have all the power.

There have been times when her buffer seat has been taken and given to another passenger and that person has complained about my coworker.  I always speak up and let them know that the only reason they're on the flight is because the extra seat she paid for was taken from her and given to that person.  That usually shuts them up pretty quickly.

Does my coworker get money back for the seat she purchased?  Yes.  Does she often get more than what she paid for the seat?  Yes, sometimes, but I can guarantee you that she'd rather have the buffer seat than the money.  You know, since she purchased it to begin with and all that.    :roll:  [/quote]

This happens to my dad a lot of the time as well.  He's a big guy (6'5" and probably 275 if not 300lbs, honestly) and will buy the seat next to him, usually even if travelling with my mom or another family member just so he can be more comfortable.  It allows him to turn his body just a bit to give him a smidge more legroom.  As above, most times a flight attendant will come to him and say something like, "sir, due to the overbooked status of this flight, we need to give this empty seat to another passenger.  The airline will reimburse you the cost of the ticket plus $xxx."  He has, however, been able to refuse a few times.  It really depends on the airline and/or the flight attendant.  Some will get an attitude and say things like "I really don't understand why you are being this difficult, sir" which seems to be the magic word.  It's like if they say "being difficult" outloud, it gives them more leverage to kick you off.  Kind of like how a cop just has to say they smell weed and they have the right to search your car.  I remember one instance about 8 years ago because I was around 18, traveling with my dad, and still in my 'my parents are so mortifying' stage.  He was asked to give up the empty middle seat (this was a 4 seat row - him in aisle, empty, me, lady beside me on other aisle).  He refused because he gave up  the empty seat on the flight to our destination and his legs cramped so badly that they were sore for the first few days of our vacation.  The flight attendant tried again and offered more points or vouchers or something and  again, he refused.  She called over another flight attendant (male) to try and he even started dropping the "sir, we may have to ask you to exit this flight and take a later flight if you keep being difficult" and my dad finally said, "look, I'm not giving it up.  I bought, it's mine.  Either drop it and let's get on with this flight or take me off this one and guarantee me that I'll get an empty seat on my next flight."  I was sinking lower and lower in my seat out of embarrassment.  They left, there was some back and forth talk, some radio talk, and then some supervisor boarded and told my dad that he could guarantee an upgrade and empty seat if he would exit the plane and go later.  I don't know if they knew my seat was attached to his or not, but I know he kept negotiating and got a crapload of miles and money from them for us both getting off and taking a flight 6 hours later.  It was the first and only time I've ever flown first class.  Airlines sucks.  People suck.  Take the train!  That's my motto.         [/quote]

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