I just flew from Kona, HI to Seattle yesterday in coach class. I sat next to a woman who weighed at least 400Ilbs and whose body was protruding at least 8 inches into my meager 24 inches of space. After an hour I asked to be moved and the lady(sitting next to me) started yelling at me for being rude. Should the airlines allow people this large to sit in a seat too small for them that is going to intrude on the seat I paid for? Can't they have special fat people seats for $50 more that only heavy people can sit in?
2006-07-08 23:51:39 · 12 answers · asked by The Oregon Kid 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
For years I have been saying that airlines should charge by weight categories. Before anyone gets offended, I am 6'4 and weigh over 260 pounds, I am not small, its ok, my wife is 4'11 and weighs 100 lbs. so it would even out.... But I agree that travelling next to me would be very uncomfortable if they were any bigger than my wife. Actually on smaller airplanes heavier people cause a weight and balance problem on the airplane, it could even cause a crash on airplanes as small as a SAAB 340 or Beech 1900. In those flights the company has to be careful and probably go ahead and make the flight with a few empty seats, why should the airline loose money on a flight because the passengers are heavy? I think those passengers should make up for that loss of revenue... My ideas offend many people, but I would not want to impose on anybody because of my larger size (in my case it is length and width...).
2006-07-09 06:01:19 · answer #1 · answered by gralsolo69 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Would anyone go to the post office and expect to ship a parcel for the same price as one that weighs half as much? Do people check their family into a hotel and occupy two rooms but expect to pay for only one?
It's not being mean, it's physics. I do feel bad for overweight people, it is not an easy or simple problem. Once I witnessed the sad scene of a young man calling home for a CC# because he was being charged for a second seat. Yes, the airline was doing the right thing but how embarassing.
To answer your specific question, I would say no because this would not be practical for the already complicated business of aircraft interior configuration. Two economy class seats should be enforced as a policy by all airlines. Alternatively, first and business class seats are wider and typically have more substantial armrests to define each passengers territory.
2006-07-09 14:07:14 · answer #2 · answered by wsu1351 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely - flying should be a user pay system. You should be able to get full use of the seat you paid for, and not have rolls of fat in your space. The airlines are giving us seats that are way too small anyway. Overweight people need to do the right thing and book themselves two seats, and pay for it!
I am 6'6" and about 200 lbs, so I commonly buy two economy class seats so that I can sit diagonally - otherwise there is just no room for my knees. On international flights, that is usually cheaper than one business class seat, and sometimes they even bump me up into business class.
2006-07-09 18:50:56 · answer #3 · answered by minefinder 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not only is that a safety hazard because it could impede you from getting up in case of an emergency, but that's just wrong. You paid good money for a seat that you're supposed to be comfortable. Flights are a pain to begin with. No one wants to be uncomfortable for an entire flight. I'm sorry, I agree with you on the special seats. I hope all airlines take that suggestion into consideration...
2006-07-09 13:57:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm a very frequent flyer and have to endure this on occasion. The worst was a 400+ lb woman who had drowned herself in cheap stank-a$$ perfume. She raised a stink (literally) when I had to get up to go to the toilet. Normally I try to keep my mouth shut but she was screaming about her gland problem and saying that I should be more compassionate, yadda yadda. I told her that I could tolerate her size for a relatively short flight, but the stench from her perfume was making me physically ill and unless she wanted me to vomit all over her she would have to move her fat ar$e PRONTO. Never saw a fat broad move so quickly!
Southwest Airlines gets this right. They charge for two seats and move them to the front of the boarding line so that they can get two adjacent seats on full flights.
2006-07-09 08:02:06 · answer #5 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but only if they pay extra. 1 Seat 1 Ticket Special seats would mean less paying passengers so the tickets for these seats should cost more!!
2006-07-09 07:33:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atleast if not 2 seats for the same person atleast airlines must ensure that atleast one seat next to the obese shud be vacant
regds
AvSats
2006-07-09 08:35:41 · answer #7 · answered by AvSats 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a sensitive issue. I think they should make the armrests go up and make the two seats where they can comfortably become one seat and offer a price a little lower than two seats.
2006-07-09 06:56:05 · answer #8 · answered by Marci S 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It isn't fair for regular passengers to be sandwinched in by an obese person, and yes, I think special accomodations should be made for them at a higher rate, bceause of the retooling the airlines have to do.
2006-07-09 06:56:09 · answer #9 · answered by WC 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think the fat people are actually told to book double seats...
2006-07-09 06:55:13 · answer #10 · answered by Chrissie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋