What would you do: obese flier taking up half your seat?

[VietCowboy]

Yes, I would want compensation. I think that is fair to ask for given the inconvenience.

I give up seats on buses or trains to women. I don't see this as any different. His weight doesn't make him a horrible person. I'm not exactly small. I know I need to lose weight and I am.

I just think life is better if you show some class and compassion to your fellow human beings.

I agree, but I'm already a pretty tiny person, so for someone to make it uncomfortable for me to sit in my seat would mean that person took up most of my seat. I cannot give up my seat because I have motion sickness, and that would mean I would be having an extra terrible time standing on the plane. The guy in the article got compensated $200, which is very little for an 8 hour flight. If I was him, I would have wanted a full refund.

Airlines need to have some notice when people purchase tickets that if you cannot fit into a seat with both armrests down, then you'll have to purchase another seat or be asked to standby for a flight that is not full. It is not fair to the other passengers to expect them to purchase an extra seat in anticipation of a full flight and getting the shaft and sitting next to someone who takes up more than a full seat.

 

[burmafrd]

I agree, but I'm already a pretty tiny person, so for someone to make it uncomfortable for me to sit in my seat would mean that person took up most of my seat. I cannot give up my seat because I have motion sickness, and that would mean I would be having an extra terrible time standing on the plane. The guy in the article got compensated $200, which is very little for an 8 hour flight. If I was him, I would have wanted a full refund.

Airlines need to have some notice when people purchase tickets that if you cannot fit into a seat with both armrests down, then you'll have to purchase another seat or be asked to standby for a flight that is not full. It is not fair to the other passengers to expect them to purchase an extra seat in anticipation of a full flight and getting the shaft and sitting next to someone who takes up more than a full seat.

totally agree. This is on fatso not the poor guy who has to sit next to him. And the Airline is dead wrong if they do not make that clear; and the FAA should lean on them (which is probably what will happen)

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

If you want to eat enough food to get that big, you need to buy two seats on a plane. An airline is surely not going to accommodate me if I want to buy one seat and then turn sideways and use up two seats.

 

[ZeroClub]

...once. Two obese gentlemen we situated on either side of me and there was no way I could sit down between them because they were already touching each other in the middle with the arm rests raised up.

The flight was over the Pacific and it would have been about (18) hours standing and no restraint on the take off or the landing.

Their solution was to kick me off the plane while my family flew on. What the airline said was it was my problem and I should have been in my seat first to prevent the others from gaining the space.

I calmly stated my case to the airline, but refused to exit the plane. The plane was delayed at least an hour and I was given a first class cabin on the next flight with my first ticket fully refunded.

While awaiting the solution the flight crew complained about how the airline didn't enforce dimensional rules for the purchase of seats and I wasn't the first one to be posed with this problem.

My Flight to Thailand was free.

That's quite a story.

I've been comparatively lucky. Most cramped trip for me was almost 40 years ago on a Greyhound from Dallas to Shreveport, seated next to a very large lady. It wasn't pleasant. Mostly, I felt sorry for her.

 

[TheCount]

I'm 6'6" and mostly legs and when I fly, I don't get upset when people in front of me lean back (which they often do, violently and without checking out who or what is behind them) because I know that's part of why they paid the hundreds of dollars they paid for their ticket. Airlines take more and more away, the last thing you want is to pay and be uncomfortable as well.

Were I an obese person, incapable of fitting in a single seat, I would purchase two rather than saying tough luck to the guy that paid for his own seat, frankly I think it's rude to expect otherwise.

That'd be like me stretching my legs out in the seat next to mine and saying tough ****, I've got a 37 inseam. I sure as hell wouldn't expect, or want, someone to stand for an entire flight for my own comfort, I'd stand before I'd make someone else do that.

I give up seats on buses or trains to women. I don't see this as any different. His weight doesn't make him a horrible person.

So you're saying just because someone has a uterus doesn't mean they are necessarily a terrible person? :laugh2:

I don't think character is at issue here, flying already sucks as it is, passengers shouldn't make it harder on each other.

 

[Chinfu]

I'm 6'6" and mostly legs and when I fly, I don't get upset when people in front of me lean back (which they often do, violently and without checking out who or what is behind them) because I know that's part of why they paid the hundreds of dollars they paid for their ticket. Airlines take more and more away, the last thing you want is to pay and be uncomfortable as well.

Were I an obese person, incapable of fitting in a single seat, I would purchase two rather than saying tough luck to the guy that paid for his own seat, frankly I think it's rude to expect otherwise.

That'd be like me stretching my legs out in the seat next to mine and saying tough ****, I've got a 37 inseam. I sure as hell wouldn't expect, or want, someone to stand for an entire flight for my own comfort, I'd stand before I'd make someone else do that.




So you're saying just because someone has a uterus doesn't mean they are necessarily a terrible person? :laugh2:

I don't think character is at issue here, flying already sucks as it is, passengers shouldn't make it harder on each other.

This...

I would never expect someone to stand because of me for whatever reason. It's rude if he knew he would "spill over" to another seat to not have purchased first class or another seat himself.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I would have stood too and let the man sit down.

This is my response to it.

I see no reason to get all worked up over a situation like this. It happens and I'm not going to throw some fit over a person whose overweight.

It's not worth getting upset over something like this. Far greater problems in the world than this.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Yes, I would want compensation. I think that is fair to ask for given the inconvenience.

I give up seats on buses or trains to women. I don't see this as any different. His weight doesn't make him a horrible person. I'm not exactly small. I know I need to lose weight and I am.

I just think life is better if you show some class and compassion to your fellow human beings.

Completely agree.

If you want to eat enough food to get that big, you need to buy two seats on a plane. An airline is surely not going to accommodate me if I want to buy one seat and then turn sideways and use up two seats.

When you're that big it's about far more than just wanting to eat enough food to be that big.


Nothing like showing complete ignorance when deciding to respond to a topic.


The rest I actually agree with you on though. They should just think ahead on this and require the second seat. I know why they don't though because they'd be getting sued for discriminating against a large person.

The airline is in a no win situation there. Which is likely why they don't require it and likely why they won't get leaned on by anyone for it because anyone trying to enforce that ruling is going to get sued.

 

[TheCount]

This is my response to it.

I see no reason to get all worked up over a situation like this. It happens and I'm not going to throw some fit over a person whose overweight.

It's not worth getting upset over something like this. Far greater problems in the world than this.

Expecting to sit in a seat you paid for is not "throwing a fit".

 

[Hostile]

I agree, but I'm already a pretty tiny person, so for someone to make it uncomfortable for me to sit in my seat would mean that person took up most of my seat. I cannot give up my seat because I have motion sickness, and that would mean I would be having an extra terrible time standing on the plane. The guy in the article got compensated $200, which is very little for an 8 hour flight. If I was him, I would have wanted a full refund.

Airlines need to have some notice when people purchase tickets that if you cannot fit into a seat with both armrests down, then you'll have to purchase another seat or be asked to standby for a flight that is not full. It is not fair to the other passengers to expect them to purchase an extra seat in anticipation of a full flight and getting the shaft and sitting next to someone who takes up more than a full seat.

I agree with you completely on fair compensation. I'd have accepted the $200, because I still made it to where I was going, but I'd have pushed for more.

The ticket was probably purchased online so the airlines did not know. The passenger did and I think he is wrong not to purchase 2 seats. I think he should compensate the man too.

I hate sitting down forever on planes anyway. So I really would not mind. I'd walk around. Joke with people. I could get by.

 

[locked&loaded]

Yes, I would want compensation. I think that is fair to ask for given the inconvenience.

I give up seats on buses or trains to women. I don't see this as any different. His weight doesn't make him a horrible person. I'm not exactly small. I know I need to lose weight and I am.

I just think life is better if you show some class and compassion to your fellow human beings.

The guy is probably fat because people have been letting him sit his whole life.

Women? Sure that is being a gentleman.

Elderly? Sure, aging happens to everyone. Its the younger generations responsibility to aid them if possible.

Overweight people? Not close to the same thing. Terrible analogy.

No one is saying he is a bad person. But, as a larger person he should know that he is responsible for paying the extra cost of his weight. Not passing it on to a thinner person that paid for, and is going to only take up, one seat.

 

[ShiningStar]

I would have stood too and let the man sit down.

Proud, id do the same. If as a country we're going to scream everyone is accepted, than thats how it goes. Not, we're going to accept everyone, but only the people we want in our criteria, thats how it is.

 

[Hostile]

The guy is probably fat because people have been letting him sit his whole life.

Women? Sure that is being a gentleman.

Elderly? Sure, aging happens to everyone. Its the younger generations responsibility to aid them if possible.

Overweight people? Not close to the same thing. Terrible analogy.

No one is saying he is a bad person. But, as a larger person he should know that he is responsible for paying the extra cost of his weight. Not passing it on to a thinner person that paid for, and is going to only take up, one seat.

I don't care if it is the worst analogy ever written. Years ago I was a Scoutmaster over 13 boys. 8 of them earned Eagle Scout, 3 were Life Scouts, and 2 were Star Scouts. You may think I taught those boys a lot for them to achieve those high ranks. No, they taught me.

I myself was never in scouting, but I believe in their principles. Their motto is "Do a Good Turn Daily." I try to live this every day. That would be my good turn, and I wouldn't have any issue with doing it.

I'm not saying the heavy man was right. He isn't. I'm saying I would rather be inconvenienced than see another person, regardless of age, gender, or weight be the one inconvenienced. That is just me. If you wouldn't, then I respect you for your stand for your own rights. Certainly you have every right, and in many ways he does not.

It would not bother me to do that for a fellow human being.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I agree with you completely on fair compensation. I'd have accepted the $200, because I still made it to where I was going, but I'd have pushed for more.

The ticket was probably purchased online so the airlines did not know. The passenger did and I think he is wrong not to purchase 2 seats. I think he should compensate the man too.

I hate sitting down forever on planes anyway. So I really would not mind. I'd walk around. Joke with people. I could get by.

...what is the FAA rule in the U.S., but I was told the plane could not take off if I wasn't seated and belted.

On the ocean trips I enjoy getting up and walking around or stretching in the aisles.

I just didn't feel like being left behind after the airline took my $2200.00 for the ticket.

I hate to say this, but sometimes it does pay to be a pain and state your case - with courtesy of course.

Loved my upgrade to a 777 business class cabin and my ticket refunded, although I had an extra layover in Hong Kong and only caught up with my wife and kids three days later.

 

[Jammer]

I fly a lot and I encounter large people sitting next to me frequently. Luckily I get upgraded to 1st class more often than not so it's not an issue then, but if I don't get upgraded I'm one of the first to board the plane so I try to claim my space quickly. I always reserve an aisle seat as I have more room. I can't stand it when an obese person sits next to me and spills over into my "area". As many times as I've had that happen not once has the large person ever apologized to me for taking my space. They all seem to think it's owed to them.

Believe it or not, sitting next to an overweight woman is worse than an overweight man (weight being equal). The men can cross their arms and place it over their gut, whereas a woman can't do that because of her breasts so their arms are usually at their side. You can't escape that.

I don't complain because I usually just want to get to where I'm going without delay and I don't want to come up as some selfish jerk.

 

[Rynie]

Why should I have to stand up because some fat ************ can't control HIS weight? That's bull****. I'd have to get my money back on the seat that i PAID for.

 

[Rynie]

Expecting to sit in a seat you paid for is not "throwing a fit".

No kidding.

 

[joseephuss]

Why should I have to stand up because some fat ************ can't control HIS weight? That's bull****. I'd have to get my money back on the seat that i PAID for.

You are partially paying for the seat and partially playing for getting to your destination. He didn't get his seat, but he got to where he was going. He was offered $200. I think he could have asked for more, but of course the article did not say how much his ticket cost. The airline representative admitted they screwed up and didn't force the large guy to buy a second seat as is their policy.

 

[Temo]

The obese man and the airline are in the wrong. No doubt about it.

But I would have stood and taken the $200. I wouldn't have hired an attorney, that's for sure.

 

[tupperware]

This is my response to it.

I see no reason to get all worked up over a situation like this. It happens and I'm not going to throw some fit over a person whose overweight.

It's not worth getting upset over something like this. Far greater problems in the world than this.

Yeah and obesity is one of them.