Fat Fliers and the new wider seats

[BAM1748]

As the person on the receiving end I don't have a choice at all.

You choice is to sit further forward at your own expense.

 

[ckck]

I think I've heard of that. It's something that most people used to have, isn't it?

Courtesy, not only was I taught that at home. Back in my day school reinforced the idea too. Maybe we should bring that back as a subject to be taught from pre-school all the way up to PhD level. Eventually it might just get through.

This post is not directed at those who show courtesy, just those who think that the world owes them... I just have to be blunt, you want the space, pay for it. Airlines are a business, not a charity. The people who sit beside you paid for their seat too, just be a little bit considerate if for some reason you can't fit within the confines of your seat.

Maybe instead of just giving seat width, airlines should give a guide as to what size bottom can comfortably fit in the seat.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Maybe instead of just giving seat width, airlines should give a guide as to what size bottom can comfortably fit in the seat.

I think there have been several cases, where airlines have tried to impose a penalty (ie fee for weight), or made passengers pay for additional seats due to size, that have resulted in anti-discrimation acts being made against the airlines. So they probably would WANT to impose such measures (think $$$$) but legally cannot.

 

[codash1099]

Disrespectful to people whose own selfishness affects other people? While I am normally one to be tolerant of others, I can't stand obese people, smokers, drunks or other lifestyle choices which then impact me negatively.

*Not including those overweight due to medical issues, which is a tiny proportion of obese/overweight people contrary to all the fatties who will try to convince you it's because of their glands.

Oops. My earlier post should have been "Reply with Quote".

I can't recall that you've actually met me, but it's a fair enough description

 

[ReLoad]

You choice is to sit further forward at your own expense.

What a load of bollocks.

 

[juddles]

Am personally way too tall for average seats. I look at how ¨normal¨ human beings fit in their allotted space and am jealous. Do I whinge? NO! Airlines have to find some happy medium.

Would I ever infringe upon someone elses space (ie the full volume/area of their allotted seat/armrest/feet area), again, NO!!

So how do I survive doing a zillion miles a year? Long haul I bite the bullet and pay J. Short haul (for me no more than 1 hr ) I can manage Y. Medium haul ( 1-3 hrs) I will do Y only if I am travelling with my small children, because infringing on their space is a small but pleasurable revenge for parents.

 

[samh004]

What a load of bollocks.

The issue here is really that society is getting fatter (in certain places) for different reasons. In a true medical sense, you'd expect not to be forced to pay more. But if you're just big (tall/wide/whatever), because of genetics, or eating a lot, then i think there's less focus on discrimination and more on buying the right amount of comfort yourself.

In this case there are choices. You see an airline could make wider seats exclusively for wide-pax, but as a thin, but tall pax I'd feel discriminated if I didn't have equal access to said seats, if they're the same price as a normal seat. And if airlines start adding wider seats, what do they do when there's more wide-pax than wide seats? Soon you'll be wanting a handout because you couldn't sit in your big seat. Eventually fares will go up if they're the same price as regular seats as there will be less seats (though articles have talked about reducing other seats to fit the same, which is then unfair to me - more comfort for you, less for me… hardly fair).

Or, you could buy a comfort seat, you'll pay silly more than having just one seat, and you won't have the exorbitant price of business class. If you know you're not going to fit into a seat, surely the onus is on you to sort it out. If its medical, talk to someone before hand and see what they can do, if it's not, cough up the cash? I don't see how that's discriminatory or unfair because (right now) you're not the same size as the rest of society (no disrespect intended). In the future, I might not be the same size as the rest of society… but that's because my genetics don't make me fat and I don't add bacon to everything like 'Mericans.

And you know what, I buy comfort seats frequently. I don't like sitting down to find someone next to me that wants to talk, or even that wants to intrude on my personal space. I'm an introvert until I've got a few drinks in me and comfort seats work for that. They also work if you know you're bigger.

So what is the problem? I don't understand this entitlement to more space…


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[ReLoad]

The issue here is really that society is getting fatter (in certain places) for different reasons. In a true medical sense, you'd expect not to be forced to pay more. But if you're just big (tall/wide/whatever), because of genetics, or eating a lot, then i think there's less focus on discrimination and more on buying the right amount of comfort yourself.

In this case there are choices. You see an airline could make wider seats exclusively for wide-pax, but as a thin, but tall pax I'd feel discriminated if I didn't have equal access to said seats, if they're the same price as a normal seat. And if airlines start adding wider seats, what do they do when there's more wide-pax than wide seats? Soon you'll be wanting a handout because you couldn't sit in your big seat. Eventually fares will go up if they're the same price as regular seats as there will be less seats (though articles have talked about reducing other seats to fit the same, which is then unfair to me - more comfort for you, less for me… hardly fair).

Or, you could buy a comfort seat, you'll pay silly more than having just one seat, and you won't have the exorbitant price of business class. If you know you're not going to fit into a seat, surely the onus is on you to sort it out. If its medical, talk to someone before hand and see what they can do, if it's not, cough up the cash? I don't see how that's discriminatory or unfair because (right now) you're not the same size as the rest of society (no disrespect intended). In the future, I might not be the same size as the rest of society… but that's because my genetics don't make me fat and I don't add bacon to everything like 'Mericans.

And you know what, I buy comfort seats frequently. I don't like sitting down to find someone next to me that wants to talk, or even that wants to intrude on my personal space. I'm an introvert until I've got a few drinks in me and comfort seats work for that. They also work if you know you're bigger.

So what is the problem? I don't understand this entitlement to more space…


I totally see and understand your point, but is it fair and reasonable to expect to at least get what you pay for? not some unfounded an entitlement to more space.

Some of us cant afford J or comfort seats, so simply thrusting the flog; "pay more" as Bam1748 suggests is not a workable solution.

Interesting debate, whilst I take up a whole seat and enjoy not being crushed what about the selfish a$$hat who chooses to monopolies the joint armrest? Isn't he effectively the same as the Santa physique guy? The outcome is the same.

My angle is more about those on the receiving end of the stick, as opposed to someone who gets or wants more based on the size of their girth.

 

[loobloke]

You choice is to sit further forward at your own expense.

I'm pretty sure this choice is dictated by most people's own expenses.

 

[Peabody]

How would the larger pax feel if the skinnier pax started sitting on them!?!

It is not excusable when I buy my space on a plane for someone else to encroach on it with either luggage or body!

 

[tassietiger]

It amuses me that our luggage is weighed, with no latitude, other than paying excess, but a fellow pax can be 40+ kgs more than me (seen often - I'm 75kg)
and sit next to / partly on me for the flight, without any additional costs!

So you're saying the larger pax should be paying me a fee, whether directly, or through the airline, for their usage of part of my seat?


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[extracta]

How would the larger pax feel if the skinnier pax started sitting on them!?!

!

Would depend on what she looked like

 

[JohnK]

So I am fat. Big deal. I sit in my own seat and have hardly ever invonvenienced another flyer.

Unfortunately I cannot say that I have received the same consideration. If a person is going to selfish or rude then size does not matter in the slightest.

- I have sat in aisle seat with a tiny female in middle seat who thought it was her God given right to both armrests
- I have sat in aisle seat with a male in middle seat reading a Herald/Australian newspaper with fully stretched hands
- I have sat in aisle seat with "big" male in middle seat. Not fat but very broad shoulders and sat back for the entire flight. It meant that I had to lean forward as his shoulder was taking up where my shoulder would have rested
- I have sat in aisle seat where person in middle seat leans on the armrest between us to give person in window seat more room. So why choke me?

And then let's not get started on the other flithy habits people bring with them out in public....

 

[tassietiger]

Agreed - those "larger" people should be the ones paying for the extra space they require

You choice is to sit further forward at your own expense.

 

[jb747]

Weigh everyone as they board. Charge solely on a per kg basis.

Image how much that last minute visit to the loo would save you.

 

[ReLoad]

Weigh everyone as they board. Charge solely on a per kg basis.

Image how much that last minute visit to the loo would save you.

I remember flying around the Solomon islands a lot as a child and everyone got weighed prior to getting on. It was always fun seeing someone argue that the scales were wrong

 

[Peabody]

I remember flying around the Solomon islands a lot as a child and everyone got weighed prior to getting on. It was always fun seeing someone argue that the scales were wrong

This is still the case in the Solomons as well as many small flights in Fiji and Africa.

 

[robd]

Weigh everyone as they board. Charge solely on a per kg basis.

Image how much that last minute visit to the loo would save you.

Or kg x BMI. That way you could pay less if your BMI is lower than average. Maybe it would inspire some to lose weight?

 

[Peabody]

The check in process can be slow enough as it is, adding a BMI calculation would be painfully slow! Although the TSA would probably already have your BMI on file from the body scans!

 

[zachary.august]

I think that it is quite simple. If you cannot fit in the seat that you paid for you should be required to buy enough seats to fit all of you. We need to consider the passengers next to the larger one. People cry discrimination this discrimination that. I think that airlines should simply say 'you are required to purchase enough space to fit your entire body'. Done. I don't see why fat passengers can encroach on my paid for seat when they were too cheap to pay for enough space for themselves