Airline "Passenger of Size" Policy

Serious Business Backup 45 replies 1,271 views
krambman's avatar
krambman
Posts: 3,606
Feb 16, 2010 11:17am
What are your feelings on this? This has been in the news a bit recently because of some controversy between Southwest Airlines and Kevin Smith.

Do you think that it's okay for airlines to require passengers who can't close the arm rest to purchase two seats?

I'm a bigger guy (small enough to fit in an airline seat comfortably), but I have no problem with this policy. If I put on a few more pounds and became too large for a seat I'd have no problem being required to purchase two seats. Besides the fact that it's inconvenient to be sitting next to someone who is spilling over onto my seat (especially on a longer flight) it is a serious safety issue. The safety issue to me is the bigger dealer more than the comfort issue.

So, what's your take?
W
wkfan
Posts: 1,641
Feb 16, 2010 11:20am
krambman wrote: Do you think that it's okay for airlines to require passengers who can't close the arm rest to purchase two seats?
Yes.
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
Feb 16, 2010 11:21am
Pay for what you use.
2quik4u's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
Feb 16, 2010 11:21am
if your fat ass takes up more then one seat then you should have to pay for it
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Feb 16, 2010 11:23am
If the flight is full, you should have to pay for the 2nd seat.
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
Feb 16, 2010 11:26am
krambman wrote:Do you think that it's okay for airlines to require passengers who can't close the arm rest to purchase two seats?
Absolutely. I flew with a friend and his brother and they are both pretty fat. They thought it made more sense for me to sit between them because it was uncomfortable for them to sit beside each other. I didn't want both of them spilling over onto me from either side. (My friend also likes to sit in the aisle at movies/concerts/sporting events because it gives him more room, but he doesnt like it when people in the middle want to get out because it's inconvenient for him.)
4cards's avatar
4cards
Posts: 2,551
Feb 16, 2010 11:37am
...If their too fat to fly, they can always find alternative transportation.
S
Society
Posts: 1,146
Feb 16, 2010 11:46am
Yes, fat people are a burden on the rest of us. They should be paying for more than just 2 seats. Taco Bell anyone?
UA5straightin2008's avatar
UA5straightin2008
Posts: 3,246
Feb 16, 2010 11:48am
same goes for sporting events!!
Belly35's avatar
Belly35
Posts: 9,716
Feb 16, 2010 11:58am
Hell yes ! They should pay for two seats...and if the plane goes down they have to be the last one out of the emergy exit doors...... I don't what some fat ass blocking the door
Fab4Runner's avatar
Fab4Runner
Posts: 6,196
Feb 16, 2010 12:08pm
FatHobbit wrote:
krambman wrote:Do you think that it's okay for airlines to require passengers who can't close the arm rest to purchase two seats?
Absolutely. I flew with a friend and his brother and they are both pretty fat. They thought it made more sense for me to sit between them because it was uncomfortable for them to sit beside each other. I didn't want both of them spilling over onto me from either side. (My friend also likes to sit in the aisle at movies/concerts/sporting events because it gives him more room, but he doesnt like it when people in the middle want to get out because it's inconvenient for him.)
Your friend sounds like an asshole.

As for the original question...I have no problem with this requirement.
GoChiefs's avatar
GoChiefs
Posts: 16,754
Feb 16, 2010 12:10pm
krambman wrote: Do you think that it's okay for airlines to require passengers who can't close the arm rest to purchase two seats?
Sure do.
Darkon's avatar
Darkon
Posts: 3,476
Feb 16, 2010 12:14pm
Belly35 wrote: Hell yes ! They should pay for two seats...and if the plane goes down they have to be the last one out of the emergy exit doors...... I don't what some fat ass blocking the door
This.
J
jmog
Posts: 6,567
Feb 16, 2010 12:31pm
Yes, as someone who used to travel frequently for work (don't travel as much at new job) I full heartedly agree that they should charge for 2 seats if you can't fit in 1.
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
Feb 16, 2010 12:32pm
Fab4Runner wrote:Your friend sounds like an asshole.
In this case I think you're right, but most of the time he's not. :)
G
Gardens35
Posts: 4,929
Feb 16, 2010 12:38pm
Darkon wrote:
Belly35 wrote: Hell yes ! They should pay for two seats...and if the plane goes down they have to be the last one out of the emergy exit doors...... I don't what some fat ass blocking the door
This.
...and those two seats should be the center and window.
Devils Advocate's avatar
Devils Advocate
Posts: 4,539
Feb 16, 2010 12:44pm
Belly35 wrote: Hell yes ! They should pay for two seats...and if the plane goes down they have to be the last one out of the emergy exit doors...... I don't what some fat ass blocking the door
You could also take the position that you have only survived because his or her fat ass provided you that padding tha allowed you to survive :)
krambman's avatar
krambman
Posts: 3,606
Feb 16, 2010 1:33pm
queencitybuckeye wrote: If the flight is full, you should have to pay for the 2nd seat.
This was my thought. I think that they should be required to purchase a second seat, but if the flight is less than full then they should be refunded for the second seat because it wasn't really necessary for them to purchase an extra one with open seats anyway.
Chesapeake's avatar
Chesapeake
Posts: 1,603
Feb 16, 2010 1:50pm
K
Keith
Posts: 155
Feb 16, 2010 1:53pm
Pay for two seats if you are too fat for one.
bigdaddy2003's avatar
bigdaddy2003
Posts: 7,384
Feb 16, 2010 1:54pm
krambman wrote: Do you think that it's okay for airlines to require passengers who can't close the arm rest to purchase two seats?
Yes I do.
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Feb 16, 2010 1:56pm
Interesting case in the "fail" picture above. It looks to me like even if the guy wasn't overweight, he'd still be too big for the seat. Does that change anything? Tougher call IMO.
ts1227's avatar
ts1227
Posts: 12,319
Feb 16, 2010 3:48pm
Devils Advocate wrote:
Belly35 wrote: Hell yes ! They should pay for two seats...and if the plane goes down they have to be the last one out of the emergy exit doors...... I don't what some fat ass blocking the door
You could also take the position that you have only survived because his or her fat ass provided you that padding tha allowed you to survive :)
They could also be used as a raft in a water landing or as a pad at the bottom of the emergency slide if they go out first.
darbypitcher22's avatar
darbypitcher22
Posts: 8,000
Feb 16, 2010 5:21pm
yeah you should have to buy another seat... I was on a international flight in which my head/face area was bumped by a rather large woma's rolls as she walked up the aisle... I was not happy
Ankle Breaker's avatar
Ankle Breaker
Posts: 398
Feb 16, 2010 6:29pm
Chesapeake wrote:
Houston, we have a problem.