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Extra seat charges: big bias or svelte snobbery?
As airlines are scrambling for any shred of extra revenue they can find, some policies are getting more attention than others. The so-called "fat passenger policies," which govern the accommodation of passengers who require more than one seat, have attracted the ire of the NAAFA. Never heard of it? It's a new one on me, too: the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. On the other hand, passengers who pay for one seat and use only one seat wonder why the hell larger passengers should consume two of the airlines' fundamental units for sale (i.e., the use of a seat on a plane) for the price of one.Here's the perspective that's been lacking: revenue per available seat mile (RASM). Check "Making Sense of the Airline Industry" for a deeper look at how this measure works. Then, come back here and think about what it means for the sale of seats on planes. Cash-strapped airlines are forced to give up revenue.
United Airlines seems to have found a way to balance both sides of this argument. If there is an extra seat available on a flight, a passenger who can't fit into one seat will be given the extra at no charge. On full flights, larger passengers can wait for a later one that has space and can occupy two seats at no extra charge.
Southwest, Alaska Airlines and Continental have policies, as well. Though the specifics vary, the armrest is pretty much the decision maker. If you can't put it down, you can't occupy only one seat. Southwest and Alaska Airlines require the purchase of an extra seat but will refund that part of the fare if the flight is not full. Continental, on the other hand, won't refund the difference. In fact, the airline requires the purchase of an additional seat on each segment flown at a "hefty day-of-travel rate [read the original article, "hefty" was not my word, though I applaud the writer for being gutsy]."
JetBlue has no formal policy and claims that its larger seat size is already a step in the right direction. Delta and Northwest say that they'll do what they can to accommodate larger passengers, but a purchase may be necessary. Virgin America asks that the big folks buy two, with one refunded if there's an empty on the flight.
You can get my thoughts after the jump.
At the end of the day, there is only one point that matters. Airlines are businesses run in the interests of their shareholders. Since most of these businesses are struggling, they need to do what they can to maximize revenue. If that means charging for two seats for passengers who can't fit in one, so be it. If an airline feels that that's a public relations nightmare and would rather accept the degradation RASM ... it's up to them.
It's a numbers game – and not the numbers on the scale.
I've always been a believer in "pay to play." You want a seat? Cough up. You want two? Cough up twice as much. "Buffet-style" air travel – in which you pay once and take as much as you want – simply doesn't work.
And, I respect airlines for addressing the rights of all passengers. Everyone has a "sitting next to a fat guy" story. Yes, some are really just infantile bitching because planes are generally cramped. But, some are legitimate. A larger passenger who wants to save a few extra dollars and can't put the armrest down is having his ticket subsidized by mine. That has an effective financial impact on me, and it's unacceptable.
It's not an issue of weight. However you look at it, the concern is financial. Take the word "fat" out of the equation, and it's much easier to solve.
It's a numbers game – and not the numbers on the scale.
I've always been a believer in "pay to play." You want a seat? Cough up. You want two? Cough up twice as much. "Buffet-style" air travel – in which you pay once and take as much as you want – simply doesn't work.
And, I respect airlines for addressing the rights of all passengers. Everyone has a "sitting next to a fat guy" story. Yes, some are really just infantile bitching because planes are generally cramped. But, some are legitimate. A larger passenger who wants to save a few extra dollars and can't put the armrest down is having his ticket subsidized by mine. That has an effective financial impact on me, and it's unacceptable.
It's not an issue of weight. However you look at it, the concern is financial. Take the word "fat" out of the equation, and it's much easier to solve.
Filed under: Business, North America, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dean Apr 28th 2009 6:16PM
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the pay-for-what-you-use model. It applies in many situations, from buffet restaurants, shipping companies (UPS, FedEx - see if they have a one price shipping rate structure), and cars (Honda isn't going to give you an Accord for the price of a Civic because you don't fit in the Civic). Can someone REASONABLY explain to me why the above article is biased?
Michael Apr 28th 2009 8:11PM
Well now, I suffer from "Size-ism" all the time. I have a 56" chest and a 40" waist and, yes, my but fits comfortably in a 17.5" Coach seat; however, my shoulders and elbows tend to work beyond that space.
Am I fat? Nope.
Do I bodybuild? Nope, no 'roids in me.
Did I play football? Yep, 25 years ago. I am just an extra-large in a medium world.
As a holder of a PPL I have to calculate Weight and Balance all the time and my mass makes it a challenge to stay within the 'enveolpe' all the time (I am 300#). You see, until recently the ICAO Standard person massed 155#; now it is 195# to recognize the growth of society.
I can't fit in a Honda Civic because I am too tall; so I have to look at an Accord. I also cannot sit upright in a BMW 3-series/5-series, Acura TSX/TL, M-B C/E-class, Lexi of all types, G-series Infinit, Malibu and so on. I am only 6' 2" but have a long torso so most cars no longer fit me or vice versa.
In Canada the regulatory bodies have decided and been upheld in court that airlines MUST provide the addtional seat at NO COST.
People are not often intentionally morbidly obese. I have no choice in how I am built.
Airlines and aircraft manufacturers are the problem. No human being fits in an RJ and 10 across seating is a crime. New aircraft feature wider bodies but a Cessna 152 is too narrow for me to fly with any other passenger onboard and a 172 is tight. The new Cirrus has a much wider cockpit though and I fit fine; even within the 'envelope'. Used to be I would be within the W&B for a Diamond Katana but too heavy for the seat; now with an upengine I am 'legal'.
In short it is NOT my fault I take up more space so why should I pay for it? I can't remove a limb nor would I. WE are ALL getting bigger and it is time that this is recognized. Forcing 1950's thinking into today just does not fit: just like me.
Besides, I have travel horror stories of sitting next to skinnies.
Gretchen Apr 29th 2009 6:10AM
Tom, your readers need to know that Southwest Airlines policy DOES NOT ALLOW a passenger to purchase more than one seat if the armrest goes down. I'm an obese woman (BMI 38) who routinely purchases an extra seat in coach for both my and my fellow passengers' comfort. It's easy to do this online with most airlines, including Southwest. But I was humiliated beyond belief when Southwest needed my extra seat when it oversold a flight. I'd checked in almost 3 hours early, but the gate agent forced me to rescind my extra ticket, saying I'd violated Southwest's Conditions of Carriage in purchasing the seat to begin with. (When you book online, there is NO indication of this restriction.) Turns out, if the armrest goes down, you get only one seat. If you're still uncomfortable, "Well, that's just how flying is nowadays," a Customer Service rep from Houston told me. "Imagine if everyone bought an extra seat for his own comfort," the gate agent said. "Our planes would be half full." Yes, you read that right, and no, I couldn't believe it, either. When I protested that Southwest would still get its money, to say nothing of lower fuel costs, less baggage handling, etc., etc., the agent responded that Southwest's goal is to fly as many people as possible on every flight. If they let me buy an extra seat, they might "lose the business of someone else." (For some unfathomable reason, they don't seem to mind losing the business of someone who buys two seats for one person.) Bottom line is -- don't blame your seatmate if you're cramped on a flight. She might have tried to do the right thing but instead was made to feel like a criminal.