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Delta passenger gets half of a seat
Overweight airline passengers are a tricky issue. Some airlines stipulate that extra large passengers must pay more, sometimes even the price of two tickets, as they take up additional space. This obviously leads to a mess of questions regarding discrimination and customer service. Recently the Canadian Transport Authority mandated that national carriers were not allowed to institute a "fat surcharge." Yet these kinds of decisions don't do much to quell a complicated situation. Take the recent case of Julie from Henderson, Nevada.
Julie wrote in to MSNBC's Travel Troubleshooter with a complicated query. On a Delta flight from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Julie was placed next to a very large woman, who was filling up not only her own space, but also half of Julie's. Much to Julie's dismay, there was no extra room in first class or in the rest of the plane. The flight attendant's solution? "Find a cute boy or girl" and sit in their lap.
As ridiculous as that statement probably sounds, Julie's predicament is not uncommon, and when planes are fully booked there are not any simple solutions. When she emailed Delta to complain about paying for a whole seat and only getting half of one, they politely responded by thanking her for the input but that the airline could not do anything about it. I personally would feel pretty frustrated if I paid for a full price ticket and then had to squeeze myself into half of a seat; a lot of people would.
Should Delta be held responsible? What do you think the solution to the complicated question of overweight travelers in the sky is?
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 6)
BLNDGENIE Feb 7th 2008 11:44AM
Well Prince, you've obviously MISSED the point, which is that some obese people simply CANNOT SIT IN THEIR OWN SEAT WITH THE ARMREST DOWN. And this is the ongoing problem: if a passenger is unable to sit in their OWN seat with the armrest DOWN, then they should be REQUIRED TO PURCHASE TWO SEATS to accomodate them. And I'll say it again: this not ABOUT discrimination against 'passengers of size'. It is simply about EACH PASSENGER being entitled to have ALL of the seat you pay for, and NO MORE. People KNOW BEFORE they get on a plane if they will fit into a seat. If they cannot, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO EITHER BUY TWO SEATS OR FLY BUSINESS/FIRST CLASS. It is NOT the responsibility of the person next to them to SHARE THEIR SEAT. To assume that they can put up the armrest and overflow into someone else's space is UNACCEPTABLE. The airlines offer larger seats in premium classes, it is not THEIR responsibility to accomodate obese people in coach with more seating unless the passenger PAYS for it. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES, PERIOD.
LargeFlyer Feb 22nd 2008 5:17PM
I have been large since I was 5 years old. I have been to weight camps, on more diets than I can count, had stomach surgery - unfortunately I am still overweight. If you look at the people that get stomach surgery, less than 30 percent keep the weight off. I think it is pretty well conclusive that being overweight is NOT a choice that anyone is making - in many cases there just is not much you can do about it. People that don't understand that or just feel it is an easy to solve issue really have no place in this conversation other than people that are sometimes inconvenienced. If you think the overweight person next to you enjoys taking up your space, or doesn't care about your issues, think again. Most overweight people have to live with "normal" people, and being excluded from many activities all the time - and they usually don't say much about how they are treated because of the ridicule they receive when they bring issues into the open. For years people have asked for larger seating on airlines for just this reason, but they have been ignored - with most people sounding just like many on this post - justifying the small seats by saying that overweight people just need to lose weight.
I usually choose not to fly if I can help it - because I do not want to inconvenience others. Unfortunately my company will not allow me to drive from DC to LA for a conference, so I am then forced to take an airplane. The only options I have are to attempt to fly coach, and maybe book 2 seats - or fly business class or better. Well, since business class costs usually 4 times as as much for a seat that seems a bit cost prohibitive - and patently unfair. It isn't like a business class seat is 4 times as large as one in coach. If I book 2 seats, then I am faced with other issues - if the flight is overbooked, there is a good chance they will try to fill the empty seat. Even better, they will possibly book two seats for me, and not put them next to each other. Even with the best planning available I am almost guaranteed to face some kind of problem in travelling even when I try to make sure not to inconvenience "normal" people. People who are "normal" don't seem to understand these issues since they have never been faced with them - in many cases all they can offer is ridicule (see an earlier post referencing "fatties"), or a "they should just lose weight" attitude. Not very helpful.
The healthcare industry and a few "normal" lawmakers have been pushing to make being overweight a new witch hunt. Now you can be banned from work if you smoke, and I am sure that obesity is just around the corner. That is pretty unfortunate since it appears that while it is not ok to discriminate on race, creed, or color - it is ok to discriminate for something that most people have very little control over.
Unfortunately, not all people are made the same, have the same interests, or even the same lifestyles. Should we just go all "Orwellian" and start wearing the same clothes, eating the same foods, going to prescribed athletic sessions everyday, etc - all in the interests of making sure we conform to everyone's definition of "normal"? What do you do about people that are just born "ugly"? Where do you draw the line?
People need to make it clear to airlines that they need to start making seating larger and more accomodating (or at least require a portion of the seating to be larger), and at the same time, feel free to start charging by the pound. I have no problem at all paying a proportional share of the flight cost based on my weight and the weight of my luggage, versus that of someone who weighs 120 pounds and has one small bag. If they mix the flight with large and small seats, it is very likely they will still be able to get the same number of people on the planes that they do now. That seems to be the most fair way to deal with it, and the least inconvenient to everyone. Even movie theaters are doing that - in most today they have gotten to all larger seating, but in some cases they mixed large and small seats to deal with the fact that there are a lot of people in the US that carry around a little "extra baggage".
Reed Matthews Feb 26th 2008 8:11PM
I believe that there should be a government mandated, minimum seat size for US airlines in this country. Also, to go along with that passengers who are over the seat size of which the airline that they are flying should have to pay more for their seat.
To me it is not fair for an overweight person to be all over me especially on a long flight. In some instances, I am paying the same price if not more for my seat that some obese person (who does not care anything about a healthy lifestyle) is occupying more than I am. If the obese person ends up paying for the second seat they should be allowed both seats; the airline shouldn’t still book that seat to an average customer so they can make more profit. If an airline were to charge more for a flight it should come as an incentive for obese people to slim down so they will not be charged so much. This also would make businesses be tougher on business traveler’s health so that their travel costs would not be ridiculously high.
Another thing the airline could try to do to help improve customer satisfaction as well as not hitting the pocketbooks of obese people so hard would be to charge a seat and a half to obese people and then charge the other half to a small child who is traveling. Right now a small child is required to pay as much as an obese adult but if they were just charged half a seat and sat next to the overweight passenger who didn’t quite need two seats, then everyone would be happy.
nancy Apr 7th 2008 4:23PM
My children and I took a flight from San Diego, Ca to Burlington, Vt last December on Continental airlines. The horrible scenario of the overweight "last passenger" happened to me. Our seats had been reassigned and we were split up across the plane. he last woman on could barely fit coming down the aisle and took the window seat next to me. We were seated in a 3 seat row so I was the middle passenger. She asked for a seat belt extender and was very uncomfortably and barely able to squish all of her in the seat. When the flight was in air, I got up to check on my children in the back of the plane. When I returned, the woman had raised the armrest between us and was now occupying 1/2 of my seat as well. I attempted to sit back down but I could only sit on part of her and forced into the other arm rest. I got up and asked the flight attendant what could be done. She said that she had never encountered the problem before and did not know what to do. She said that I could come back and hang out with us back here. Nothing was done and I ended up standing for most of the flight. At landing, I was instructed to take my seat. I worked my way into my portion of the seat and tried to put on my seatbelt. I tried to search under her butt for the right portion of my belt to no avail. I contacted Continental and was told that they were sorry for the "inconvenience" but that it is equivalent to buying a seat on a bus. Something needs to be done to provide safety and comfort for those passengers that are NOT overweight. I purchased a seat at the given fare and I should have been able to use my seat. Their other comment dealt with the sensitivity of the issue involving an overweight person. Why are my rights violated to accommodate the rights of the overweight person?
Terri Oct 21st 2009 7:04PM
Yeah, Nancy, and in the meantime, someone was stuck sitting next to your brats. I feel bad for the overweight woman who had to deal with an inconsiderate bigot that was smashing the seat arm on her. I'd rather sit next to a heavy person than a kid ANY DAY. Make the passengers with kids pay extra too if you're going to discriminate against large people. They climb, fidget, and take up more space in the next seat than somebody heavy. And, nine times out of ten, the spill something. Yeesh!
sgiska Apr 8th 2008 2:58PM
I think obesity IS a choice. In most cases, people are overweight because of their lifestyle choices - most people are not overweight due to medications/illness - that is a small percentage of those who are overweight. Most are overweight because of a combination of genetics and their childhood. But even those with a genetic tendency to be heavy, especially those with that tendency, must live in such a way as to keep their weight within a range where they can be active enough so as to not get to a point where exercise is just too difficult. Just as smokers have had to pay more for the habit, so will the obese. Maybe if choosing not to diet or exercise gets too expensive these people will decide to work on being healthier and making healthier choices. It saddens me to see so many eating so much junk and teaching their children to eat this way too. We all tend to think that whatever we ate while growing up is our favorite food...
Jules Apr 8th 2008 3:03PM
I rode in the middle isle between two very large men who both flowed into my seat. This was a 5 hour trip and I was extremely uncomfortable. I made it through the trip and vowed to get my seat assigned by the window in all future flights. As uncomfortable as I was, I would take a seat next to a larger person if given incentives. (I would not opt to sit between two large people again for any type of incentive) However, I would not have a problem sitting next to one large person if say - my ticket cost me less or I received double miles. Something worth my being uncomfortable on the flight. I think if given the choice before the flight, with an incentive, some people might agree to sit next to someone who is larger.
Axella Apr 8th 2008 4:35PM
Regarding airplane seats - I was stuck on a plane once, next to a 300 pounder... His fat spilled over into my seat area, and I had to sit for 6 hours with this guy's belly and thigh blubber squishing me. Very unpleasant. When someone gets to that size, morbidly obese where they really do require two seats (but only buy one), they should be made to sit in special larger seats (business-class size, perhaps) which cost more money because not only would it be fair for the people stuck sitting next to them - it also becomes a weight and balance issue for the airplane.
People that size equal a person plus two baggage allowances - in addition to the baggage they're normally allowed. So while I have to pay $100 in "excess baggage" fees to bring my guitar along when, as a musician, I need to, this person carries the equivalent of several guitars, in blubber, free-of-charge. Not fair. When people check in, they should have to stand on the scale with their luggage.
I'm not anti-fat people - I could stand to lose a few lbs, but thankfully, I can still be contained in one seat. I would be ashamed if I couldn't, and mortified at the thought of squashing another person for an entire flight.
Bradley Apr 8th 2008 4:21PM
These obese blivots should have to pay for two seats. There is no reason for some of these hogs to be as ridiculously as they are.
The fat broad mentioned above probably smelled bad as well. This due to the perspiration collected between the folds of blubber on her fat carcass.
A person who is 5' 9" tall and weighs over 330 pounds, is esentially two people an should legally be required to pay two fares if they wish to travel.
If they don't like that, they can sweat some lard off of their fat butts or stay home.
Obesity is a bigger heath hazard than smoking is.
isamar Apr 8th 2008 4:45PM
The problem is the airline. i'm 200 pounds and i fit perfectly in my seat, but i'm inconfortable. my 110 pound cousin is incomfortable, and my 12 yr. old cousin who is 98 pounds is still unconfortable. i think the airlines should just make the seats bigger! lets face it, most of america is obese or overweight.Its unrealistic to make seats for a size 2 women, when the adverge women is size 12. I'm not saying that obese people should have the right to MY seat, but to make a consideration for the adverge folk.
pntballanne Apr 8th 2008 6:02PM
I had a similar situation. I was sitting between to guys that where overweight but not huge. But because I was between them I got about the same deal – half a seat. The one guy was really nice and talked to me the other was a heavy smoker and about squashed me when he fell a sleep. Not a nice flight but we made it to our destination and I could still walk so all is well. :)
karen Apr 8th 2008 6:20PM
I like # 14 what Barbara said about offering a comfort seat and pre-weighing people at boarding time.
Or, there could be a publicized post that oversize seating is available by request and also, at the discretion of the airline, passengers who it appears will crowd and inconvenience others will be directed to oversized seating. Those not needing oversized seats could be compensated in some way such as with a coupon with money off for their next flight. At check-in, oversized people would be re-directed to this special seating in respect of those who are not oversized but have paid for a full seat. If the oversized seats should not be needed, anyone would be free to take those seats.
Charlotte Apr 9th 2008 4:07PM
If you eat enough for two people, then you should buy a plane ticket for two people.
CEBnATL Apr 8th 2008 7:06PM
I'm sorry, but I am really sick of being "PC". I don't care WHAT caused the overweight 'condition'. If you are too FAT to sit within the confines of a single seat, you know it! It is unfair to foist your issue on someone else. We don't let people with TB fly for the same reason. Furthermore, think being fat isn't a safety issue on an airplane? Take a look at the emergency window exits next time you are on board. How long is it going to take to shoehorn a size 45 posterior out of the size 32 exit, while the rest of us wait? And while you're at the airport, take a look as you cruise past the fried chicken/pizza/ice cream eateries... there is an excellent chance you'll see your future gargantuan seatmate feeding his/her 'condition' pre-flight with a fist full of food and a Big Gulp. Sorry. No sympathy here.
David B Apr 8th 2008 7:07PM
If obesity is genetic are the genes of people different in Colorado than in Mississippi? Because in CO they are the leanest in the US and in MS the fattest....and the difference is a big one between those two states.
We have an epidemic of obesity now because people are EATING TOO MUCH. And if you eat too much you are responsible for how many seats you need on a plane, and should pay for that.
Susan Apr 8th 2008 7:27PM
I sat next to a very big women from Ft. Lauderdale to Dallas and thank God I my seat was on the isle because I had to lean most of my body that way. Of course my arm was hit from behind with the beverage cart. It was very uncomfortable and I was upset that I paid good money to be squished for 3 hours.
I believe that there should be weight restrictions and sorry to say that very overweight people should pay for 2 seats. My mom was very heavy, so I don't have anything against big people, but I don't want to sit next to one on a plane and be compromised.
cshaw66 Apr 8th 2008 7:40PM
Being a frequent flier, I can say that I believe the airlines should absolutely charge overweight people for excess room on planes. In 99% of the cases of obesity, it is a choice. There are few very cases of obesity that are directly caused by medications or can't be controlled. Just because a person choses to be overweight it doesn't mean that we should have to suffer and give up our seat to accomodate their size. The polite and courteous thing is to pay for the extra room you chose to take up. Just like if you chose to bring extra luggage, you pay for that. Well if you chose to live in an extra size body, you should have the decency to pay for the extra space you require.
Max Apr 9th 2008 8:31PM
Wow.
This is f***ing BS. The lady deserved her seat and not getting compensation or at least a discount is just not right. If someone tried to take up part of my seat, I'd send some nice subtle clues like:
1. telling them to move
2. pushing them over
3. calling a F/A
etc.
Andrew Apr 9th 2008 11:05PM
To those of you who think that they should widen the seats...
...lets look at that logically. Lets say they do widen the seats. The only way they could do that, given the design of modern planes, would be to remove seats. Say, go to 2 seats on each side of a 737 instead of 3 in coach class, like in first/business class. So you've removed 33% of the seats. What's going to happen to the prices? Well, they're going to be raised by that 33% of course... plus probably another 50% on top of that, because the supply of seats will go down, drastically, while demand remains the same (or possibly goes up, given the attitudes of some). So in the end we're all paying nearly double the "old" price. How is that "fair"?
getlean Apr 18th 2008 11:14PM
Overweight people's weight is THEIR problem and THEIR concern. They SHOULD have to pay extra because they take up extra space! Space=money. A leaner person shouldn't have to give up their seat because someone else is so piggish that they weight triple what they should