Should fat or obese people have to pay for a second seat on an airplane?

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ScarletRaven

Oh my gosh, that is so unfair of them! I don't think it's right to ask an overweight person to pay extra just because they "take up more room", it's just not right. You're only one person. Just because you're a bit big, doesn't quantify you as two people. So you take up space, they chould just deal with it. If they don't charge people with kids on their laps, they shouldn't charge you double.
That what makes it difficult to be ourselves these days, conz sometimes people do stuff that offends other people without realizing this. Coz personally, I'd be insulted and angered if I were in your position and then asked to pay double. Hell, I'd sue them. They do not have the right to do that. Next time they ask you to pay double, complain to the proper authorities.

Maureen G

Sorry, but yes.

If you are using your seat and part of mine, why should I have to pay my full fare?

If you pay for two seats you'll have the room you need and I'll have the room I need as well.

Flights are difficult enough these days without having to share seat space too.

Tim

I work for an airline, and no, I don't think you should always have to pay for a second seat.

I don't mean to offend, but if you are taking up part of another seat, then you should have to pay for that seat. It's just as when customers take their instruments in the plane to put them in a seat. I charge a full fare for another seat.

However, there's exceptions to every rule. For instance, many obese customers will know when they are too large for the normal seat. So, they will come up to the ticket counter and inquire about if they have to pay for extra seats.

I always look to see if the flight is sold out, and if it's not, I'll try my hardest to arrange for that customer to have two seats together. If I can't get that extra seat for them, I'll tell that customer to wait until I have finished boarding. That way I can remove the "no shows." By doing that, I will free up some seats and I am usually able to get you your own seat without charge. If the no shows won't get the two seats together, then I'll just let the customer preboard and they may have to pay the fee.

Other tips you can try is to buy a first class seat if you can afford it. The seats are really wide and very comfy. Just my opinion.

averagebear

Can you imagine if all overweight people were allowed to occupy the seat next to them for free, how many overweight people (and there are a lot of them in the US) would request that option just to fly more comfortably? The airline is not about to start weighing and measuring people.

lildude211us

I'm sorry, but I think it is kind of fair for obese people to pay for an extra seat (if they have to take up 2 seats) because they are preventing somebody else from sitting in the 2nd seat and that is one less ticket that the airline can sell.

jane j

sorry if this is harsh, but I think it is fair. I don't care if you are just one person, if you take up two seats, you pay for two seats. If i decided I wanted to be able to lay horizontally in an airplane, I would have to pay for a whole row, regardless of that fact that I'm just one person. Also, as somebody else said, it costs the airline more gas for you to fly, since you weigh more (one obese person may not make much of a difference, but it adds up).
In airplanes, it's not about people, it's about space. if you take up more space, you pay for it.

of course, if there are free seats at the time of boarding and no one claims them, then the flight attendants should give you one of the the seats for free, as their not going to be making money on them anyway. But in a packed flight, I don't see why you should be able to take up a second seat and pay for only one.

crystalrayne2006

well, it makes sense, because that could be a seat for someone else, but your in it. i think maybe if their were less people on the plane.like theres 50 seats and only 40 people are on it, then you shouldnt have to pay because nobody would be sitting there.

davidthought

Well, forgive me.

To have you on the plane (lets say your 500 pounds), it takes more fuel, they could fly 2 250 pound people for the same cost.

I don't know anyone more than 250 pounds.

than, you also require more space. However first class spots are fairly roomy for me.

IF all airlines adopted a1c_labranche's way of handling the situations it would make the topic a little less touchy. Unfortunately, many do not. Should you have to pay for a second seat? Yes, if the plane is packed. You take up more space and cost more fuel than someone half your size. if the plane isn't, then no, you should be given some courtesy.

Have you ever had to pay for two seats in a plane that wasn't full?

petersmith

Yes think im 50/50 on this. The thind is put your shoe on us, how would you feel if someone is taking part of your seat??? But i also think it is not fair on you cause you have to pay DOUBLE. I think you should be able to sue the airline (your evidence is the paper they send you requesting you pay the other seat) sue them for discrimination and that you are morally harmed and cause you to feel depresed or some other reason. Solution i think they should have a couple bigger seats around all the other seats.

Raging Hillbilly

Well, sorry to say this, but even though it may not "seem fair," it is. Space is VERY limited on airplanes and since you are taking up two seats you are obligated to pay for them. Think of it as paying rent...you're renting that seat for the flight. Since you take up two, it wouldn't be fair for the airline to lose money on the second seat if you didn't pay for it.

DougF

I don't think merely being obese would be enough, but at a BMI of around 75, that is morbidly obese, and clearly it would not be possible to have another passenger seated in an adjacent seat in economy. But the other issue is whether it is fair for the airline to charge you for the second seat when there is spare seating available on the flight, and how should that be managed. And if you don't buy a second seat, and the aircraft is full, is it fair to bump you onto another flight.

The problem is that you cannot tell at the time of booking whether there will be seats available, other than your own experience. It sounds to me like you already make some effort to travel at less crowded times, in which case it seems to me to be unfair to make you pay for a second seat if there are seats available.

growingwillie

There certainly seem to be many opinions on this issue - all based on how much space those of us, including me, take because we are fat, obese and overweight. I struggle with the size of the seats. While I am not as large as you yet, I would like to be your size so I do plan for this. Right now, I try to fly first class when I can. Flying Midwest is also a good idea due to their seat configuration. If you look at my Yahoo 360 you will see a story about a flight a took where the airline actually put three of us (from 350 to 500 plus) in one row. I do not think airlines should make you buy a second seat as it is discriminatory. Since airlines costs are based in large part on the weight of the plane, I would support a fare structure by weight if that also accomodated seat sizes. I think the real answer is to put the equivalent of a limited number of wider seats in economy and save them for those of who are obese and reserve their use for obese people. If not used, they could be awarded to the airlines frequent flyers. First class will not always work. Yes the seats are wider but even at my 380 plus pounds, the seats are still too small and the arm rests are rigid. Airlnes give consideration to handicapped, to little children and others; why not also give it to those who are obese, especially those who are very obese. By the way, these same obese individuals are often frequent travelers who spend a lot with the airlnes.

Thania M

Well I can see that it may not seem fair to you, but if the airline automatically gave out free seats to obese people it would seem unfair from my perspective.
Not everything has to be fair or equal. Flying on an airplane comfortably is not a guaranteed right as an American citizen. This is a capitalist society and businesses exist to generate profit. There are bound to be things that may seem fair or unfair to different people.

For example, I am a very petite woman. Don't you think it would be unfair from my perspective that I have to pay the same price for my XXS shirt as an XL one (less material)? But from your perspective, of course it would seem ridiculous, RIGHT?

Dominus

Okay, I know this doesn't answer the question in the strictest sense of the word, but consider this. I'm not fat or obese, but I am very big. I am tall, and I have a broad torso and shoulders, long legs, and big feet. Technically, I'm proportional in my size, but I'm STILL too big to be comfortable on an airplane.

Now, I didn't get this way by choice (and I'm not suggesting overweight people did...merely using this as an example to state that many body types are not something that you "elect" to have) and I don't want to change the way I am even if some sort of miracle could "cure" me of being big.

So is it right I should have to pay extra on an airplane just so I can be comfortable? Why should I have to buy two seats or purchase a first class ticket just so I know that my legs will fit or that I won't be banging my head into things?

It's not exactly fair, now, is it? It shouldn't be assumed people all fit into the same space.

Tilly

You are still one person, I do not think it is right to make you buy 2 seats.
But having said that if they would make people buy seats, by weight then thin people would get off cheaper and you would still have to pay more anyway. So that is not a great solution either.

They will never make the seats larger, they are too greedy.
Maybe you should start a protest. lol

Blair

No, they shouldn't make you pay for two seats! Instead, they should make it illegal for people like you to get on planes, and go about with your life thinking you're normal and healthy.

If people can be forced into rehab for drugs or alchohol, freak s like you should be forced into a rehab for obese people. You're disgusting. AND NO, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR THINK, YOU ARE NOT HEALTHY. GET A CLUE.

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