It's holiday travel season, and that means we have to deal with all kinds of travel hassles. But how much is too much?A flight attendant snapped this picture of an obese man jammed into a single seat to show management seating issues on the plane, and it has a lot of people talking. Some are angry that the photo may have been taken without the passenger's knowledge. Some don't like that he was not required to purchase a second seat. And others are pissed that we're even talking about this photo in the first place.
Obesity in the sky has become a high-priority issue in recent years, as airlines have added (or begun to enforce) policies that require larger passengers (who cannot fit into one seat) to purchase a second ticket. American Airlines doesn't have a strict policy but urges passengers to "recognize ahead of time that they may need to purchase two seats."
Perhaps the most talked about is Southwest's customer of size policy that insists passengers who cannot lower both armrests buy a second ticket, which is reimbursed if the flight is not full. (Many other airlines do not offer a refund.)
Opponents of these policies argue that passengers are buying tickets to get from one place to another, not a piece of real estate on the plane. Supporters disagree.
No one wants to be stuffed next to a person who needs two seats and only buys one -- but does that make these rules acceptable?
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Wednesday 02 December
By Jennifer
What about safety issues? If I need to run off that plane in a hurry how the hell am I supposed to get past that? Not to mention, the customer service issue. How much longer to get my damn cockatail with half his body blocking the aisle. The poor guy next to him having to deal with this person getting up & down, up & down to move out of the way for flight attendants and passengers headed to the WC. Buy two seats because that's the amount of space your body uses. Period.
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Wednesday 02 December
By LittleO
I know it's a sensitive topic, but safety really does come first, and this photo shows a clearly unsafe situation. The argument about purchasing "real estate" doesn't hold water. It's more like a "lease" if you want to put it in those terms, and last I checked, 2-bedroom apartments cost more than 1-BR. That's just how it is. While it's unfortunate that some passengers may embarrassed or upset, that doesn't mean we should allow them to straddle an armrest just to keep their feelings intact. That's dangerous, and makes life miserable for fellow passengers and flight attendants.
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Wednesday 02 December
By Keri
I think Southwest has it almost right. Having had to sit next to an obese person before on a plane, I can sympathize with anyone else who has done it. Even if they can lower both arm rests, they still bulge over the sides with their huge arms and into your personal space, which isn't enough in the first place. I literally could not sit comfortably in my seat without touching the obese person next to me, and I am a petite woman. I spent my entire 4 hour flight leaning to the other side, plus I didn't even attempt to get up and use the bathroom, Even standing in the aisles, she would bother other passengers.
It must be expensive to be obese. You have all these weight related health issues, you break chairs, have to buy extra plane tickets, etc. I wonder if it would just be cheaper to have gastric bypass or a similar procedure.
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Wednesday 02 December
By kt
In extreme cases, such as the above picture, two tickets should defnitely be purchased. If you are seated next to someone as large, do you pay less for your ticket because part of your seat can't be used, as it is being used up by someone else?
Not to mention, I thought seatbelts were required to fly? I don't see how that is possible in this instance. That man must be so uncomfortable.
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Wednesday 02 December
By Aaron
I am a large person who always purchases a second ticket when I fly. No one should be inconvenienced because I am taking up part of another seat. Having said that I think they should make the policy and be done with it. And for you other posters is it necessary to be so nasty to people of size?
1. How do you think I feel when I book and PAY for a second seat and they locate that additional seat six rows ahead of me.
2. Or, when they stuff the plane full and try to put another passenger in the seat I already paid for.
3. I cannot have online discount rates because I buy a second seat. I must call the airline and pay full ticket prices plus a booking agent fee.
I make all the neccessary arrangments to be a responsible passenger. I support an obese passenger policy that takes into account all issues, including those that work against those who try to be a responsible citizen.
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Wednesday 02 December
By welcome KID
on Lemondrop by AOL | Should Airlines Have an Obese Passenger Policy? .. if they taking or occupying big/huge space , like blocking the aisle , why not .. or maybe they can use A300-600ST for wide and comfortable space :) ..
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Thursday 03 December
By Tessa
I do agree that obese passengers should book two seats, but I definitely think that this should be a policy and that steps are in place to ensure that everyone is treated with respect. You should be given the option when booking your seat online if you would like to purchase a second seat for yourself. I also think that this policy should be the same for mothers with infants. I know that you can hold your infant on your lap for a 6 hour flight, but that isn't a good idea for anyone. Buy an extra seat as well. I also think that people, such as the obese and with infants should be able to purchase the second seat at a slightly reduced rate.
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Thursday 03 December
By pat
safety issues aside, it should be aganist the LAW to have someone that size to ride an airplane, train, or bus. How in the world are people supposed move around with that big blockade? There is no excuse for being that size, unless it is a medical condition. And if it is, buy yourself a damn car and don't bother other people. If I were that size due to a medical condition, I would, without hesistation! I don't hate fat people, my best friend is fat and the size of that man, but I do hate being put next to some huge guy or gal who's sweating on me! YUCK! Phew. :)
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Thursday 03 December
By Abots
I can't believe the comment that you just made. It is soo insensitive. Overweight people are people too period. They have feelings and when you say "I don't hate fat people........ but I do hate being put next to some huge guy or gal who's sweating on me! YUCK! Phew. :)", it IS a very hateful (aka prejudiced) comment. It's like the person who says "I'm not racist... but i hate it when immigrants take our jobs". Maybe next time you post, you can think before you speak and actually think about how you would feel if you were put in the persons shoes you are insulting.
Oh yea and before you ask me whether I'm an overweight person, no i'm not... I'm a 110 pound 5.2 woman who was clearly offended for all those overweight people out there that you pretty much lambbasted including your "best friend", hope she/he doesn't see your comment, you might not have a best friend for long, now that's definitely "YUCK!".
Saturday 19 December
By redhen
i have the luck the blessing of surviving a pituitary tumor that caused a bleed in my brain. unfortunately it destoryed my pituitary and because of an untimely diagnosis I am now obese. couple that with taking steroid medication and no human growth hormone and losing weight is impossible. i am neither sweaty or smell. I bathe. people always assume that obese people smell, not any more than anyone else and i am more careful with my hygiene than thin people. So because of a medical condition and disability I am supposed to pay more while your overweight luggage rides and a nominal fee. That's unfair.
Friday 11 December
By Joseph
The alternative is to make all airline seats large enough to accommodate any passenger. Airfare is already very expensive enough without the airlines reducing the number of seats they can sell per flight.
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Friday 11 December
By Joseph
The alternative is for airlines to make every seat large enough to accommodate any passenger. Airfare is already expensive enough without the airlines reducing the number of tickets they can sell per flight.
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Thursday 07 January
By flights to Melbourne
i have the luck the blessing of surviving a pituitary tumor that caused a bleed in my brain. unfortunately it destoryed my pituitary and because of an untimely diagnosis I am now obese. couple that with taking steroid medication and no human growth hormone and losing weight is impossible. i am neither sweaty or smell. I bathe. people always assume that obese people smell, not any more than anyone else and i am more careful with my hygiene than thin people. So because of a medical condition and disability I am supposed to pay more while your overweight luggage rides and a nominal fee. That's unfair.
====================
albert
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Wednesday 13 January
By Kathryn Drake
Someone make a good point about the seatbelts... I think posting online the largest length the seatbelt can go and saying "sorry" to anyone who can't cram their fat ass in there would solve the problem in a logical and non-subjective way. (and make it small enough that a person's not likely to be spilling out into other seats, obviously).
I hate how America is so accomodating and pittying of fat people - it's making ME fat, damnit! If I knew that at a size 22 I just couldn't get any damn fatter or there would be NO CLOTHES for me to wear I think I'd be just a LITTLE more motivated to pass up the Oreos.
Oh, and for the -what - .000001% of obese people who are that way to a medical condition that REALLY makes it impossible for them to lose weight, well, sorry for them too, there are plenty of other ways to travel. Rent a bus.
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Thursday 14 January
By Tina Perez
My comments are to all posters:
First, I agree that if a person is obese and cannot fit safely in a seat without bothering other passengers, they should have to pay for a second ticket. However, the evil comments and disdain for these people is so amazing. I would love to know what you haters would do with yourselves if there were no fat or ugly people in the world to make you feel better about yourself. If everyone were slim, I guarantee most of you would be stuck in the mirror hating yourselves for whatever flaws you see, real or imagined, because there's not a single fat person left to hate. There is a reason such a great percentage of people are overweight in our country. I have been extremely fat and it wasn't because I was lazy or greedy. My average sized friends ate way more than me and most were lazier, I was always out and about moving around. Most of the women in my family were just heavy. It was what it was. For me to lose weight I had to cut an insane amount of food out of my diet and eat twigs and freaking berries because I was just born with a poor metabolic rate. I hit the gym regularly and watch what I eat but if I eat even one day a piece of pie, anything that people splurge on now and then, I'm screwed. Some people are fat. Some people are slim. I'd rather be fat my entire life than be such an ugly person inside. I am loved and adored, by friends, family and lovers, EVEN WHEN I WAS A FAT ASS!!
Tuesday 02 February
By AirlineEmployee
As an airline employee, its always an uncomfortable conversation telling someone, "ma'am/sir: it has unfortunately come to our attention that you are requiring a belt extention and your arm rests do not fully lower. It has also come to our attention that you are encroaching on the space of your fellow passenger. Your safety is our number one concern; with that said, we do have to request that you purchase an additional seat or fly on a later flight in order to be able to provide you the most safe and comfortable flight due to your larger size."
Why not just save us this problem and realize you are fat and buy the second seat? TRUST ME, not only will you be more comfortable, you'll also save yourself the trouble of being singled out for your size or pissing off the passenger next to you.
I have had to fly on a CRJ (a "puddle jumper" tiny propeller plane) in a window seat and having some fat guy take up the arm rest and have his gut and arm hang about 6" into my seat which I paid handsomely for. Those seats are only 18" wide. They should measure your ass when sitting and if you're 18.5" you should buy the other seat. How uncomfortable was I leaning over to the window with my arms crossed on a 3 hour flight. My legs went to sleep because I was forced to cross them. He was put into an emergency row to accomodate his size "free of charge" so now not only is my comfort at risk, so is my life in case of emergency as well of those passengers onboard with us. I was also at a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) because I could not uncross my legs or move them for 3 hours. Now my health is at risk, all because this fat ass chose not to buy another seat on an already extra tiny plane.
Just save us all the trouble, either a) take care of yourself and lose thw eight or b) buy another seat.
Sorry for those who have an actual medical condition (like a gland problem) but to those who are just fat, lose the weight. You should not get special treatment, you should not be considered disabled or get parking placards so you can walk less or free space on a flight. You should be required to purchase the space you use. If you can use 18" or less, you get one seat, if you use up more, you buy two. Done deal.
My gratitude to the gentleman above who recognizes his size and purchases an additonal seat. You are truely considerate of other people's feelings and safety. Thank you for making my job easier. Most larger people act surprised like they dont know they're fat and question what I'm talking about. You are a gem sir.
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Friday 19 February
By Jeremy
Unless someone has a legitimate medical condition leading to obesity; and even that would be hard to define, I believe an obese person should pay the extra fare. If an obese person is (and often invariably does) cause me discomfort, I find it only fair they should pay more. The only reason why obese people are making an issue of this is because none of them want to admit they have a problem that's inconveniencing another person. I use to be obese, but I took charge of my life and am now a healthy body weight. Dont call me insensitive just because im pointing out that an obese person's lack of willpower and sloth becomes my problem and I dont want it to be.
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Tuesday 02 March
By Alice
Sorry kiddies but the really fat, obese idiot spilling on the SPACE I PAID FOR (my seat) does not over rule MY RIGHTS for the seat I PAID for.
Make em buy two seats.
End of story.
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Tuesday 02 March
By ALice
To clarify my statement. I would only call describe someone as "a really fat, obese idiot", when they think they have the right to take up part of my seat. I have the right to the seat I paid for to occupy my body, and my body only.
Someone heavy deserves the same respect as a non heavy person does.
I only get mad when someone, anyone, heavy or thin, thinks their rights to something supercedes others rights at the same time.
You can't do that.
100% equal both sides of the coin.
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Saturday 20 March
By jacque
It is simple, airlines need to add a few oversized seats, say in the first row. Keep these open for this problem and just charge extra for the comfort of the large person as well as the other traveling customers. The large people need to relize the issue and request the special seats. If no one uses the seats they can still be sold as regular.
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