Overweight Passengers and Paying for an Extra Seat

[IDrinkaRum]

Should overweight passengers pay for an extra seat?

Picture in article allegedly snapped by an American Airlines flight attendant. Is he too big to be in one seat?

I ask this as right now, Mr. Rum's on flight restriction by orders of his Doctor (because he has venus stasis(sp?) in his legs (meaning his veins don't close properly and blood pools in his lower legs causing them to turn black) his doctor doesn't want him flying). The man, I think, I can't tell from the back, looks slightly larger than Mr. Rum (by about 50 pounds, I think, but Mr. Rum is about the same shape).

Should the extra payment be for the convenience of the flyer who would otherwise be squished next to the overweight passenger?

Also, should they be allowed on the plane at all? As the article writer says, there is the safety concern that the overweight person can't get off the plane quickly enough. Is that a legitimate concern?

[Amina516]

In the case of that guy in the picture, its f'in ridiculous he was allowed to sit like that. In the event of an emergency he is actually blocking the aisle!!

Im not a petite girl, and I find airline seats tight @ times. But if youre in a seat you need to fit in it with the armrest mostly down and not impeding on the person beside you or blocking the aisle. It may seem wrong, but everyone deserves the same seat space for the price. If you are unable to fit, purchase another seat ( I think they give discounted rates especially for this).

ETA:With what I just said, i think itd be nice if the airline seat standards were larger. I think most are 17 inches across.

[Boozy]

I agree with pretty much everything Amina said.

But most importantly, if airlines didn't jam human beings into their planes like sardines, this problem would be averted for most people. The man pictured is clearly large enough that he's having problems elsewhere in his life. But there's no reason for the average overweight person not to have enough space in their seat for a comfortable flight. I'm slim, but this has always been a pet peeve of mine.

My first thought upon seeing that photo was that I couldn't believe that he had medical clearance to fly! Most people that size have some serious vascular problems, and the pressure changes in an airplane could cause clots and heart attacks. He must be one of the lucky ones who is large but in decent health.

My second thought was how humiliated he must be that his photo is circulating the internet. I feel so much compassion for him.

[Arcade Man D]

Should overweight passengers pay for an extra seat?

Yes. Because you are paying for the seat, not for you being on the plane. If you need two seats, that's one fewer seat for anyone else to use. And if you can't safely sit in one seat, you need two seats.

[Cats]

Honestly, I think they should be required to if they can't fit into a single seat, both for safety and comfort for themselves AND the rest of the passengers. If it "fair" for them to be discriminating them so, safety put aside? Maybe not, but neither is it fair that I pay the same price for my size 4 jeans as someone else getting the same type who's buying a size 14.

[kiwi]

I have had to sit next to a couple of severly obese people on flights. The worst was a women whos belly was so large it actually touched the seat in front of her. She was extremely hot and I ended up drenched in sweat on one side of my body (a mix of mine and hers). She wanted to put the arm rest up because it "dug into her side" but it was the only thing seperating her and me.

Honestly as sick as it sounds I was happy it was hurting her, she was making me miserable, I felt physically sick because she was radiating heat, at least she had some kind of symbolic "thorn" in her side to say maybe you should buy two seats.

I am not the smallest kid on the block but if I was large enough to require two seats, then I would buy two seats or not fly.

[Fryk]

In most stores I shop at, you have to pay extra for clothes in sizes larger than XXL, yet nobody complains. I don't see paying for an extra seat as any different. Maybe there should be a breakdown of airfare- you pay so much for just being on the plane and for your luggage and so much for the seat itself.. That way, you wouldn't be double charged for everything, just for the extra seat. I don't think that passengers who are forced to pay for an extra seat are allowed more luggage, and that's not fair, either.

[AdminAssistant]

Should overweight and obese passengers pay for an extra seat? Probably. Is it fair? Not a bit.

But just add it to the long list of things that are "not fair" for the overweight. Clothing is more expensive, harder to find, and less fashionable. Shoes are damned near impossible. Go to the doctor for any ailment and they will either blame it on your weight or give you a lecture. Go to the gym to exercise and get laughed at. Start a diet and begin by switching out diet sodas for regular ones and get made fun of. Oh, and I love the fact that all overweight people should exercise....Have you ever tried to find exercise gear in plus sizes? Really good sports bras that can hold up and support size D's and up? Expensive as hell and have to be special ordered.

So, it's not fair. But I imagine this poor gentleman is used to it.

Oh, and btw, that flight attendant should be FIRED. It's beyond shameful that they photographed one of their passengers and then put the picture on the internet to shame them.

[Mr Slugger]

Like everyone else has said someone that big should have to pay for another seat especially when you're in public. Like others said when you're not "average" most of the time you end up having to pay more regardless so why should an airplane be any different. In fact someone of his size I would be concerned in what kind of airplane he was in. Because a couple of years ago we took a flight in a puddle jumper and there was someone in the 350 range on the plane and you could feel the plane actually move when he walked to the back to go to the bathroom. Now obviously the plane in the picture wasn't a puddle jumper, but still you've got exiting in an emergency issues, etc.

[jackfaire]

I am overweight. I have never had an issue fitting into one seat. That being said I take the train when possible because, say it with me people, leg room aw sweet sweet leg room.

[MaggieTheCat]

Oh, and btw, that flight attendant should be FIRED. It's beyond shameful that they photographed one of their passengers and then put the picture on the internet to shame them.

That's the first thing I thought of, when I saw in the OP that the picture was taken by a flight attendant. I mean, I guess it's at least the man's back and not showing his face, but still. Invasion of privacy, much?

I'm a big girl, but I've never had to get two seats on a plane before. I'm fairly comfortable (as comfortable as one could expect to be) in a standard seat. Someone like the man in the article, though...yeah, probably needs two seats. It sucks, and I don't think it's fair, but it's also not fair to him or the other passengers or the the crew for him to be "hanging out" in the aisle like that.

[protege]

Uh, guys? I've seen this photo before. It's on Failblog. Here's something else to think about--nobody knows 100% for *certain* that a flight attendant took the photo. For all we know, one of the passengers took the photo and posted it on the web. Also consider, that if a passenger did it, it wouldn't get as much "press," now would it?

I also don't feel any sympathy for those who have to pay for an extra seat. Think about it--would *you* want to be squeezed in next to them on a flight that's filled to capacity? Been there, done that, and yes, it was *very* uncomfortable.

[DesignFox]

Uh, guys? I've seen this photo before. It's on Failblog. Here's something else to think about--nobody knows 100% for *certain* that a flight attendant took the photo. For all we know, one of the passengers took the photo and posted it on the web. Also consider, that if a passenger did it, it wouldn't get as much "press," now would it?

I also don't feel any sympathy for those who have to pay for an extra seat. Think about it--would *you* want to be squeezed in next to them on a flight that's filled to capacity? Been there, done that, and yes, it was *very* uncomfortable.

Agree 100%. And I saw that picture on Failblog, too.

My opinion may not be popular, but you know? Life isn't fair.

It wouldn't be fair to someone like me to be squashed into a seat next to someone like that. Frankly, it would piss me off. I DO NOT like having my personal space invaded. There is 1 person I get all snuggly with, and that is my boyfriend. There are a few friends I will greet or say goodbye to with a hug.

If I don't know you from Adam, I don't want you anywhere near me. On an airplane, you're already too close for my comfort. Someone on here mentioned that the person next to them was *sweating* on them? Are you fucking serious? I would throw a fit.

Sorry. NO. You're taking up more space, you pay for it. Period.

I also would have serious safety concerns. The guy in the photo, while I feel really bad for him, is BLOCKING THE AISLE. The people he's blocking in are BONED if that plane goes down and they needed to get out. OR god forbid someone was hurt or having a medical emergency on the plane and personnel needed to get through the aisle to help them.

So. NO. He should either not fly, or he should buy two seats *and* sit his ass by the window where he isn't obstructing traffic. At that point, this is about more than this ONE man's financial or convenience concerns. This is about a whole group of people potentially being endangered.

No one should tolerate a safety violation, let alone have to be forced to be further discomfited by having this person squashing them and invading the space THEY paid for.

I'm a compassionate person...but there's limits. When your presence is intruding on everyone else, in my opinion, the onus is on you to be considerate...if you can't be considerate, then I'm sorry that the company is making you...but too bad.

[Dreamstalker]

Honestly, I think they should be required to if they can't fit into a single seat, both for safety and comfort for themselves AND the rest of the passengers.

Exactly. If a person that clearly needs two seats to sit comfortably is shoehorned into one, there is a real possibility that in the event of a true emergency not only would they not be able to get out, but anyone that they are blocking in would also be trapped. Some medical conditions may also be made worse by being squashed/alleviated by having a little extra room.

There are a few episodes of "Airline" I've seen where some people are screaming "discrimination!!111eleventy!" about needing to purchase an extra seat. While I can see part of their anger (when booking a ticket online or over the phone there is no way for the agent/system to know if a person's severely overweight, but it's the passenger's responsibility to tell the airline if they have that policy), the policy is really for the safety and comfort of everyone.

I've sat next to extremely obese people when flying. Not fun at all when you have rolls of fat encroaching on the seat you paid for.

[Peppergirl]

I have a couple of regular customers who are large enough that I have to sell them a second seat when travelling.

It's an uncomfortable conversation/transaction to have.