Woman Told She's Too Large to Fly on Plane

Parent Cafe
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exactly - that’s why I said anyone needing more than a single seat for a ‘physical condition’ since it might be because of something like a body cast (a friend of mine broke his shoulder and had a weird cast that stuck his arm out from his body and if he needed to fly at that time would have needed 2 seats) or something else. </p>

<p>But it could be extended to people with mental issues as well - i.e. if someone was claustrophobic enough to not bear having someone sit next to them. Should the airline be required to foot the cost of the lost passnger seat because of this?</p>

<p>It’s fair that the airline offers a ‘space’ for rent for the ticket price and it’s fair that people who want more than that space purchase the additional space if needed.</p>

<p>I’m sure it’s happened before but I wonder how the flight crew would respond if one purchased 2 seats with the intention of having the extra space next to them and then someone else on the plane decides they want to sit there. Hopefully the crew would explain to the mover that the seat was purchased and therefore unavailble to them.</p>

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That makes sense to me. It seems that you s/b able to do that but it ties in somewhat with my point above.</p>

<p>At the end of the day I don’t think it’s about some inalienable right - I think it’s about a service the company is offering to a customer base and those potential customers can choose to purchase the product (a seat on a plane) from that company or not. The customer needs to realize this but the company needs to realize it to and understand that in many cases these customers have choices to choose another company whether that’s an airline, rental car, train, etc.</p>

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<p>Cool patent idea: an altitude sensor in the laptop that will disable the speakers at a given altitude.</p>

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<p>Head over to the diet and exercise thread and chat with the formerly fat guys there.</p>

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<p>Most airlines do this. It’s called First Class.</p>

<p>The main and best perk you get when you buy a First Class ticket is not the sad little meal they serve, it’s the extra SPACE.</p>

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<p>I would just state to the person that I purchased two tickets. If I did this, then I would leave a marker on the seat to indicate that it was taken. If this did not satisfy the other passenger, then I would suggest they contact a flight attendant. I would show the ticket to a flight attendant but not to another passenger.</p>

<p>The question that I had is if the crew said that you bought two seats but we can place you where-ever we want to and then place you in two non-adjacent seats. I haven’t traveled by air in several years so I don’t know how policies go.</p>

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<p>I’m probably the biggest anti-corporate poster you’ll find here, but I don’t really see what choice they had. I mean, if she doesn’t fit in the seat, it’s not discrimination to tell her that.</p>

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Agreed.</p>

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<p>I saw this woman on the Today Show this morning and she infuriated me. She said, “As a free market capitalist, I disagree with the airline’s policy.” Huh??? This woman is morbidly obese. She clearly cannot fit into one seat. I have been seated next to people this size and it is incredibly uncomfortable. This woman cannot help but “overflow” onto the passenger sitting next to her. I’ve paid for my seat too. And yet, I am occupying less than one seat, while she is occupying hers and part of mine. Airline employees should be sensitive to her predicament but I saw no sensitivity by this woman to the passengers whose space she has encroached upon.</p>

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<p>Has anyone been to a college football game lately? The same problem happens with the stadium bench seats as does on airplanes, only worse, because the only thing defining your seat space is a little white painted line. Large people regularly ooched over into my space so I did this ^, I actually bought 4 seats for the 2 of us regular-sized people. Unfortunately, as described above, the large-sized people around us assumed they were extra seats and ooched over into them. I didn’t have the nerve to tell them to get out, because there was no where to go to put their extra girth. I didn’t waste my money like that again, and generally will not go to football games unless the seats are individual chair-type seats.</p>

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<p>I was on a flight where a woman in my row did buy two seats and she was normal-sized. She has a medical (circulation) issue and she needs space to “wiggle”, basically, and stretch out a little. You have to have medical reasons to buy two seats, she said, and they actually give her a card to place on the extra seat that keeps people from sitting in it. It was Southwest.</p>

<p>As for stadium/arena seating. It was the Kentucky fans that squeezed me half out of my allotted 9 inches of Vanderbilt Memorial Gym space this past season. Figures… :)</p>

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<p>Vitrac, I saw her on TV today too and I got a similar feeling about her. The SW website clearly states their policy regarding Passenger size and the criteria for having to buy an extra ticket to accommodate size. Part of me wonders if she planned this whole thing for publicity and/or hopes of getting some type of financial award from SW.</p>

<p>I mean, she recorded the whole thing and made the SW worker apologize on tape. I suspect she had an agenda from start to finish.</p>

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<p>Women almost always cross their legs while men will spraddle out wide as if they need to air out their private parts.</p>

<p>I haven’t been seated next to an obese woman on a plane, but I have sat next to an 18yrold boy on a public bus.
;)</p>

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<p>I just read up on this episode, and it seems to me that the airline folks were in the wrong. As several posters have cited, there are definite rules about what constitutes the need for the purchase of a second seat. The woman was able to fit in a seat with the armrests down, so that should have be the end of any discussion. The way all of this was handled was truly disgraceful on the part of the airline.</p>

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<p>I was reading an article recently that stated seat comfort is the #1 complaint for flyers. Who would have guessed? :slight_smile: One airline (not an US one, unfortunately) is coming out with the 3 seat across that can be converted into space for 2 passengers (at an extra price of course). It actually turns into a futon-like space, so you can spread out (it’s really meant for families, not strangers).</p>

<p>Here’s my observation after hundreds of flights:</p>

<p>1) Passengers need to fit into their seat completely or they buy two. This includes the need to spread one’s legs or elbows. :)</p>

<p>2)Kids under two also need their own seat, not being held by the parent for hours. It makes for a fussy kid and it’s not safe.</p>

<p>3) Take away the recliners, period. People are going to recline if they have the option and shouldn’t have to ask permission from the person behind them, so just get rid of it all together if they can’t make the pitch on the seats deep enough to accommodate them. My husband actually got into a big argument with a man behind him that didn’t want my husband to recline his seat on a 6 hour flight. The flight attendant finally had to tell the man that my husband had every right to recline his seat.</p>

<p>4) Kids need to stay in their seats during the flight, period. Not stand on the seats and bug the other passengers. Recently, I had to say something to a woman who was letting her kids jump up and down on the seat next to me and kicking the seats in front of them. Passengers were complaining left and right.</p>

<p>5) If your luggage doesn’t fit in the overhead bin, it needs to be checked and you need to pay a fee, just like everyone else. We flew this weekend and I was appalled at the number of large suitcases that were ‘checked’ at the gate, holding up everyone trying to get through security and get on the flight. Some of these suitcases wouldn’t even fit on the security conveyer belt.</p>

<p>6) Make passengers deplane by row and you stay in your seat until it’s your turn. Okay- this should be common sense but apparently some people don’t have a lot of common sense. I’m tired of the people who feel the need to jump into the aisle as soon as the plane stops, blocking the aisle, flinging luggage in the faces of the seated passengers.</p>

<p>Airlines purposefully starting making their seats smaller in order to cram in as many passengers as possible. I am a small person and find the whole process of flying coach on US airlines tortuous. Many foreign airlines give you a lot more space and are much more comfortable. Quantas, for example, has coach seats with a footrest that pops up and they give you a lot more room in their seats. They are basically equivalent to a business class. I think the airlines are starting to get the message. The article I read said that some airlines are ordering new planes with bigger seats. Let’s hope!</p>

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<p>From the SW website:</p>

<p>What is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size?</p>

<p>“The armrest is the definitive gauge for a Customer of size. It serves as the boundary between seats, which measure 17 inches in width. Customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who encroach upon any portion of the adjacent seat should proactively book the number of seats needed prior to travel.”</p>

<p>Just because she could put the armrest down, doesn’t mean she wasn’t encroaching on any portion of the adjacent seat.</p>

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<p>^I agree. I’ve sat next to many a person of normal weight that still felt the need to spread out and encroach on my seat. Very uncomfortable. The armrest test means nothing. I think when they tell people to turn off their electronics they should also remind everyone to stay within the confines of their seat space.</p>

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<p>If they are of normal size just give tham a shot in the ribs. they’ll get the idea. Or you can be nice and ask.
Second the no more reclining seats idea. Not enough room anymore.</p>

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<p>I just got out my ruler and measured my office chair which is 19 inches wide. I have three inches remaining so I guess that I take up 16 inches. My goal is to lose 40 pounds by the end of the year so maybe I’ll drop another seat inch or two.</p>

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<p>Good way to get arrested for assault.</p>

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<p>For many of these complaints, like the 18 year old boy on the public bus, I can ask the kid to close his legs. The obese woman can’t help but invade my space. She has certain physical limitations. I resent having to accommodate her for a lengthy flight.</p>

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<p>This is really an interesting dialogue, I wish the airline execs were on the forum and reading it. I have never flown Southwest but I understand you aren’t able to select your seat at the time of booking – this is different than most airlines, especially if you belong to their frequent flier program. </p>

<p>My D flew Spirit Airlines a few weeks ago and they have an interesting ticketing method. Their initial price is just to be on the airplane, next you pay ($30) for using overhead space and ($28) per checked bag. Next you pay for your actual seat. On D’s flight a 1st class seat was $50, the economy seats (all same size) ranged from $25 for exist row to $14 for a run-of-the-mill back of the plane seat.</p>

<p>I think the need to show proof of some medical condition in order to purchase an extra seat could easily be challenged.<br>

^^Agreed, but the cost of 2 people buying 3 economy seats is much cheaper than 2 people buying 2 - 1st class seats. The cost of one person buying 2 economy seats is still much cheaper than one first class seat.</p>

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<p>Awww… zmom, you read my post on the Pet Peeves thread and are confirming it!</p>