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How To Fly If You're A 'Customer Of Size'
Given the ever increasing, uh, size of air passengers (not least American air travelers), airlines are cracking down on passengers who may just rather roll up their armrests and encroach a little on the space of other passengers next to them.The ongoing debate has been around whether larger passengers are, and should be, required to buy extra seats for themselves, and the jury is coming back with a definitive "yes." Yahoo! News rounds up policies from major airlines on "passengers of size," whether there are special provisions, if fees are required, and, basically, what the deal is.
After going through the options, we can weigh in on the best and worst.
The winners? Customers of some size may want to opt for JetBlue, which has slightly larger seats than most other airlines. Usually airlines provide about 17 inches between armrests, but JetBlue provides 17.8 inches.
If you're a customer of the next size up, your best bet may, surprisingly, be Spirit. Although Spirit is known for nickel-and-diming its customers with loads of different fees, paying extra for a Big Front Seat may actually be worth your while, rather than buying a whole extra seat like you'd have to on another airline. In addition to offering 6 extra inches of legroom, Spirit's Big Front Seats are 18.5 inches wide.
If you're a customer of a larger size than that, your best bet may be Delta, which doesn't require you to buy an extra seat. Delta will simply give you an extra seat next to you ... if one is available. Obviously, the downside is if you're in a rush and there are no spare seats on the plane. They'll put you on another plane with extra room, but you may have to wait. In that case, it's your choice to buy an extra seat for yourself in advance.
The loser? United. If you fly on United, you have to prove the armrests go down and stay all the way down – even if you're seated next to family. While I totally understand (and agree) that it's inappropriate for strangers to intrude on other passengers' spaces, other airlines make an exception if you sit next to family members who don't mind. No such luck on United. You can purchase your extra United seat in advance, and if you don't, you may be charged additional walk-up fees later.
[Image credit: Flickr user sbamueller]
Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
Bob Nov 14th 2012 11:38AM
Why make everybody have to pay more so that seats can be comfortable
for the wider set? How about making new special planes for heavier
people with wider seats and aisles and charging more for those flying
on these planes? Then the thinner or average sized people will still
be able to fly at a reasonable cost.
Bob Nov 14th 2012 11:43AM
If they did that, they WOULD hike the fare and then EVERYBODY,
regardless of size would have to pay more. Just make special planes
for those heavy duty people and charge THEM more! That extra weight
also weighs the plane down for those of you who don't know that.
Renee Nov 14th 2012 11:57AM
well I just flew on Airtran and their seating is small compared to jet Blue, I found Jet Blue to be very spacious ,,
John Nov 14th 2012 2:57PM
The ones that complain about large size people taking too much room in the seat are the same people who try to cram a suitcase in the overhead bin. Perhaps all should be treated the same. If your luggage does not fit in the container at the gate then be require to check it. I worked for the airlines and half of the flying public are the biggest slobs around.
Sal Nov 14th 2012 12:41PM
I have had far more trouble with men who think they should utilize both armrests (with elbows out as far as possible) and who push their seat as far back as it will go - and then sit with their ankle up on their knee!! (don't know how else to describe that posture... knee sticking out to the side) They take up far more space than most "people of size" and are oblivious to other passengers' comfort.
Anyas Mom Nov 14th 2012 1:30PM
When I fly, I have a Service Dog. I am constantly told she is too big, yet, according to the FAA, there is NO restriction on Service Dogs due to their size. I should not nor do I get additional seating. The airline is required by Federal Law to seat me where me and my Service Dog can sit comfortably. Certainly happy I, nor my SD is not large.
Cassandra Nov 14th 2012 3:30PM
Actually, there is no federal regulation that requires any airline to seat you and your dog where you both "fit comfortably". The only requirement is that your service dog must be able to fit right in front of you at your feet. That's a requirement the passenger has to abide by, not the airline. If an airline has an extra legroom section, they are under no obligation to seat you and your service dog in that section unless you're willing to pay the extra fee to do so.
Ralph Nov 14th 2012 2:25PM
looks like I'll be flying on United from now on. There's very little worse then having someone overweight sitting next to you on a plane besides a screaming child or someone with really bad BO.
Howie Nov 14th 2012 2:23PM
I have to say I am happy United cracks down on this. As a person who is 6'4" and 220 by no means overweight. I often buy an extra set for long flights just so I am comfortable. It makes a flight very difficult when the person next to you is pushing into your space.
Darci Nov 14th 2012 3:28PM
Howie said, "I have to say I am happy United cracks down on this. As a person who is 6'4" and 220 by no means overweight. I often buy an extra set for long flights just so I am comfortable. It makes a flight very difficult when the person next to you is pushing into your space."
The point is, YOU shouldn't have to do that simply because you are tall, either. It's your body and you are stuck with it and you don't deserve to have to shell out extra because the airlines refuse to comfortably accommodate their passengers' bodies.
Debbie Nov 14th 2012 2:45PM
I love all sized people but when you are buying "personal space" to transport your body in a limited seated vessel, you are alotted a certain amount of space. If you take more than the purchased "space alotted" you need to purchase more space.. That's all there is to it.. Taking someone elses' because your body is too big for the space purchased is just not OK. That's my opion... What's yours?
Mel Nov 14th 2012 2:57PM
Are any of you reading what you are typing?! Since when does being fat make you a lesser human being? Not every overweight person can control their weight. I personally eat healthier than majority of my "thin and normal" friends but while they sit their stuffing their faces with fast food and sweets without gaining an inch, I have to fight to maintain even my current weight. Also, every HUMAN BEING carries their weight differently, many carry their weight in their lower half, can have naturally wide set hips or even a larger rear which makes seating uncomfortable in any situation or at any weight. Airlines in America need to start treating ALL of their passengers as human beings and not just dollar signs.
Can you imagine the humiliation if someone told you that you were unable to ride in a plane because of your body? Did this person not also pay what you did to be on this flight? How do you not know if this person has just lost a significant amount of weight and this is their first flight in years? Are we that insensitive and uncomfortable with other people that we cannot bear touching for a few hours at a time. Traveling in close quarters with strangers is comfortable for no one. Have you ever travelled in a packed subway having to stand for an extended period of time with some strangers full body pressing against yours? You get over it because you BOTH have somewhere to go and BOTH paid to be in that space.
Instead of trying to make the most profit airlines should be concerned with making the most enjoyable experience for all their customers. This includes less seats on a flight to make more leg room and more room width wise, this also includes thinking of having a family seating area for those with young children/babies that is actually separated by sound blocking cloths or doors.
Being "thin and normal" does not make your experiences, wallet, and comfort more important than "those of size."
pat Nov 14th 2012 5:46PM
Mel, i am sorry about your weight issues. But you have to understand how uncomfortable it is for smaller people when obese people use 1/2 your seat. I planes should comfortably seat all size people. Of course they will unfortunately
charge accordingly....but we are people....NOT SARDINES!
Mel Nov 14th 2012 7:01PM
Hey Pat, there really is no issue. I've come to terms with my body and don't see it as a negative, I was just using myself as an example as to why not all fat people are that way because of their choices.
We are definitely NOT sardines and no one likes someone else encroaching on their space regardless of the situation. I've been stuck between people who are much larger than myself and I will say it is not a fun time for anyone.
You have to realize that yes it is uncomfortable for those whose space is being taken over by another, but at the same time do you think it's comfortable to be sitting in a space not meant to accommodates ones body? I assure you they are just as uncomfortable as you and if they had other ways of transportation to their destination for the same price or even the same short travel time they most likely would to avoid potential embarrassing situations.
But their are people who would inconvenience themselves simply to avoid the chance of being ridiculed, being stared at with open disgust, having the person next to you claim in anger how they think this is ridiculous and demand to sit, or have the other person sit, somewhere else. It's discrimination against another human being and people think this type of behavior is OK.
They need to make changes that benefit EVERYONE and not just certain weight classes.
Glenn Guyton Nov 14th 2012 3:03PM
My wife was recently on an Alaska Air flight. She had an aisle seat with two obese people in the other two seats. Because of their size my wife had less than half of her seat available to her, and she could not use her seat belt with one of the obese people sitting over it. The attendants told her there were no other seats available. She used her seat as best she could for takeoff and then stood for the remainder of the two and a half hour trip. It would seem to me that having a passenger who has no seat belt available would be a safety violation.
As far as we are concerned - United is a WINNER for their policy. Overweight people should have to purchase two (or three) seats if they want to fly - and should not be allowed to infringe on someother passengers space.
ProVocalist Nov 14th 2012 3:11PM
Even SMALL people don't have enough room on airplanes, I think it's utterly RIDICULOUS to DISCRIMINATE against large people because the airlines refuse to accommodate their customers in general. Flying costs enough money between the ticket price and all the extra fees and taxes they charge these days (without bothering to feed you anymore), the least they can do is TRY and make it comfortable for everyone and NOT by charging extra to the select few that they are uncomfortable looking at. They accommodate people with wheelchairs and families flying with children and freakin' pets (no one considers the passengers that are TERRIBLY ALERGIC to animals), they should accommodate passengers of size.
I also have to disagree that United is the worst airline for "passengers of size." I just flew Southwest with a bunch of friends for a wedding we were all attending. I am a juicy girl, as is my friend. We had a plan with our other friends who were parents of six year old twins, that one of the twins would sit between me and my juicy friend and the other twin would sit between her parents. Everyone's comfy, no other passengers would be encroached upon AND people who hate sitting next to kids wouldn't have to deal with THAT, either. However, Southwest took my friend aside and forced my friend to buy another seat anyway, regardless of our perfect solution, which they were not interested in. They did not force me to buy another seat, even though we wear the same size (she is merely taller). They did not force at least three other men who were just as tall and wide as she was (or more) to purchase another seat. No. Just my friend. They simply thought it would be okay to punish her for being fat woman.
I don't care WHAT skinny people say. This kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable.
don Nov 14th 2012 3:08PM
I'm a 6 foot male, approx 235 lbs, I fit the seats okay without encroachment into the next seat and the arm rest divider functions fine, my knees to touch the seat back in front however. For me If I was over-flowing into the next passengers space the first conversation I would offer to buy them lunch and drink on the flight for their inconvience, or bring along and offer a $20 gift-card for a common store or restaurant to thank them for putting up with a little extra closeness. ...couldn't hurt....and cheaper than buying another seat or causing bad feelings.
Cassandra Nov 14th 2012 3:23PM
That's a great idea- a win-win for everyone.
Hank Nov 14th 2012 3:10PM
Sorry I dont agree with the article . United has been great to me . They cheerfully gave me a seat belt extender . However, my arm rest goes down easily without a problem. . But to label United the worse has not been my experience .
Michelle Nov 14th 2012 5:24PM
The problem with what some of you have been saying is the fact that it makes you sound ignorant. Not every person who is "fat" is that way because of overeating. Yes i am fat, but i can still fit in the seats with the armrests down, but even though i am overweight when i am on a plane i still get looks from people like "can they sit here without spilling into my seat?". It is written all over thier face. My husband who is slender is more uncomfortable in the seats than i am because he wants to be able to shift in his seat and he cannot. I am fat because yes I enjoy food.. but the food i enjoy is fruits and veggies, and no i dont have diabetes like everyone thinks. My doctor says that i am a healthy fat person. I have fibromyalgia that makes it hard for me to exersize without a lot of pain. Even sitting in a chair for a prolonged period causes pain. So before you judge all fat people and say to put down the fork, use your brain and realize not all of us fat people are that way from just overeating.