Airline overweight passenger charges

[letthewookiewin]

I have searched for the answer for this and can't find anything on it. Are there still any airlines that charge overweight passengers for two seats? If so, which ones still do this. My DH wears a 6 XL t-shirt, so he thinks if a company has this policy, he would be charged for the two seats. We want to go to WDW the weekend of my birthday in January, and we wouldn't be able to drive. If there are no airlines that fly from DFW to MCO that do not have this policy, the trip would be canceled.

 

[deegack]

Most airlines reserve the right to charge for two seats if the person cannot fit in one seat with the armrests down. However, most also will refund the second seat if there are empty seats on the plane. The best suggestion is look up which airlines fly the route and call or check their regulations in their website.

 

[seashoreCM]

All airlines except, I think, Air Canada, reserve the right to require that persons who cannot or will not avoid occupying any portion of a second seat purchase a second seat.

This might not be enforced if the flight is not full or no one complains but the consequences of not purchasing the second seat in advance could include being "bumped" with no compensation.

In the case of Southwest, the second seat will be refunded to all even if there are more second seat purchasers than seats still unbooked and even if standby passengers take all of the remaining unbooked seats.

 

[crashbb]

All airlines except, I think, Air Canada, reserve the right to require that persons who cannot or will not avoid occupying any portion of a second seat purchase a second seat.

Only on domestic flights within Canada. This is true for all Canadian airlines (admittedly, that isn't very many!) and is governed by Federal law. This isn't true only any Air Canada flight that isn't within Canada - so it wouldn't include any flight that would get you to WDW.

 

[Carina]

Not trying to start an argument, but trying to understand... are you saying that you will only travel if the airline lets him use all of his seat and 1/2 of one another person has paid to sit in, thereby squishing said person in the seat they paid for.

I know someone this happened to ( it was kid and he was squooshed to the far edge of his seat for 5 hours)

how is that fair? why shouldn't someone that needs 2 seats have to pay for 2 seats?

Trying to understand your POV

 

[marmalade]

I barely fit in an airplane seat and I wear a size L, I find it hard to believe that a size 6XL will fit in one seat. I could only imagine that you will be required to buy 2 seats.

 

[mco65]

Your best bet would be to reserve 1 seat but reserve an EARLY Wed morning flight where the flight load is typically less and there will be empty seats...

 

[Hubbs]

I do think the OP should plan on buying two seats, because many airlines will make an overweight passenger pay for the extra seat after boarding. Just curious though, how would it work with Southwest with open seating and you weren't guaranteed two seats together?

 

[rwdavis2]

Since I use to wear XXXL I can relate. I was just at the limit of not fitting into a seat without taking space in the one next to me.

If it was me, I would buy 2 seats. How is it fair to take up someone else's space that they paid for. It's more comfortable and you are not taking up someone else's seat. Southwest will refund the second seat if the flight is not full. I can't imagine 6X not taking up most of the adjacent seat.

 

[rwdavis2]

I do think the OP should plan on buying two seats, because many airlines will make an overweight passenger pay for the extra seat after boarding. Just curious though, how would it work with Southwest with open seating and you weren't guaranteed two seats together?

You pay for 2 seats and they give you a second paper you use to claim the seat. I think.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Not trying to start an argument, but trying to understand... are you saying that you will only travel if the airline lets him use all of his seat and 1/2 of one another person has paid to sit in, thereby squishing said person in the seat they paid for.

I know someone this happened to ( it was kid and he was squooshed to the far edge of his seat for 5 hours)

how is that fair? why shouldn't someone that needs 2 seats have to pay for 2 seats?

Trying to understand your POV

Well when we do fly just the two of us, we make sure to get seats that there are only two seats together. He would only be "squishing" me. We haven't had issues with that in the past. If we are flying with our boys, he sits in the three seat row with the boys and I sit across the isle. Again, he is not "squishing" any other passengers. However, we haven't flown since 2006 when he was much smaller, so this isn't a policy we are used to. The way my DH has it in his head that it works, is that you are charged for two seats, yet you do not have actual possession of the 2nd seat to use. Meaning another person would be sitting in the seat and they would still be "squished" if we had to sit in a three person row. He just doesn't believe in paying for a 2nd seat, if he isn't actually able to use to. How fair is that to be charged for something you can't use? B/c charging him for a 2nd seat, that he wasn't able to use, wouldn't keep the other person from being any less "squished" than if he hadn't been charged.

 

[Sandi]

Well when we do fly just the two of us, we make sure to get seats that there are only two seats together. He would only be "squishing" me. We haven't had issues with that in the past. If we are flying with our boys, he sits in the three seat row with the boys and I sit across the isle. Again, he is not "squishing" any other passengers. However, we haven't flown since 2006 when he was much smaller, so this isn't a policy we are used to. The way my DH has it in his head that it works, is that you are charged for two seats, yet you do not have actual possession of the 2nd seat to use. Meaning another person would be sitting in the seat and they would still be "squished" if we had to sit in a three person row. He just doesn't believe in paying for a 2nd seat, if he isn't actually able to use to. How fair is that to be charged for something you can't use? B/c charging him for a 2nd seat, that he wasn't able to use, wouldn't keep the other person from being any less "squished" than if he hadn't been charged.

But that's not how it works. He would get two seats together. The nice thing done by many airlines is that they'll refund the additional seat that the larger person purchased IF there are vacant seats on the plane. If there are no vacant seats then your DH does, indeed, have two seats, but he has paid for them and he isn't squishing anyone else.

 

[bumbershoot]

The way my DH has it in his head that it works, is that you are charged for two seats, yet you do not have actual possession of the 2nd seat to use. Meaning another person would be sitting in the seat and they would still be "squished" if we had to sit in a three person row. He just doesn't believe in paying for a 2nd seat, if he isn't actually able to use to. How fair is that to be charged for something you can't use? B/c charging him for a 2nd seat, that he wasn't able to use, wouldn't keep the other person from being any less "squished" than if he hadn't been charged.

No, that's not how it works.

I've heard that sometimes FAs get a little confused and try to seat people in a seat that appears to be unoccupied, but if that happened you guys would be in the right.

I have the utmost empathy for your husband; mine started to hit the upper limits of 3X and he travels for work so is on planes ALL the time. He did need a seatbelt extender (now he does not, yay WeightWatchers!), but was never made to buy two seats (he will contort himself into a pretzel so as to not encroach on others), but if he had gone up in sizes he definitely would have done so. So from the empathetic viewpoint I have, I would start budgeting for the extra seat cost for your husband.

Also, upon entering the aircraft just ask then for an extender. It need not be done loudly or obviously, just a whisper to a flight attendant should be enough, and they will bring it to him. Alternatively, there are extenders you can buy, but you have to know what sort of belt that particular plane will have. And know that if you have the extender, you cannot sit in an exit row.

 

[marmalade]

Well when we do fly just the two of us, we make sure to get seats that there are only two seats together. He would only be "squishing" me. We haven't had issues with that in the past. If we are flying with our boys, he sits in the three seat row with the boys and I sit across the isle. Again, he is not "squishing" any other passengers. However, we haven't flown since 2006 when he was much smaller, so this isn't a policy we are used to. The way my DH has it in his head that it works, is that you are charged for two seats, yet you do not have actual possession of the 2nd seat to use. Meaning another person would be sitting in the seat and they would still be "squished" if we had to sit in a three person row. He just doesn't believe in paying for a 2nd seat, if he isn't actually able to use to. How fair is that to be charged for something you can't use? B/c charging him for a 2nd seat, that he wasn't able to use, wouldn't keep the other person from being any less "squished" than if he hadn't been charged.

I get what your saying about how the only people he will be squishing would be you or your kids. Have you tried calling the airline?

 

[letthewookiewin]

I get what your saying about how the only people he will be squishing would be you or your kids. Have you tried calling the airline?

I haven't yet, just b/c I don't know which one we would use. Of course there is always my solution and just fly first class.

Also, I have no issue paying for a 2nd seat, as long as we have use of it, so that he doesn't squish another person. I'll just call AA and see how they do it. I would rather pay for it all when we book than have the day we depart.

 

[DebbieB]

I do think the OP should plan on buying two seats, because many airlines will make an overweight passenger pay for the extra seat after boarding. Just curious though, how would it work with Southwest with open seating and you weren't guaranteed two seats together?

I believe you are allowed to pre-board and are given a card to put on the second seat.

 

[bdoyledimou]

how about just booking Business class? Its way more comfortable and better anyway --

 

[seashoreCM]

Not all business classes have wider seats. Longer (more legroom), yes.

Those who purchased two seats on Southwest are allowed to board before most of the seats have been claimed, I forget whether this is after A-15 or before B-1.

On any airline, if you purchased two seats, they're yours and no one else may take one. You would have two boarding passes but you can certainly raise the armrest in between and spread out on the two seats instead of marking one with a boarding pass.

 

[letthewookiewin]

We wouldn't fly Southwest anyway. We live in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area in Texas. We only like to fly out of DFW, and Southwest only flies out of Love Field.

 

[Donna M]

Your DH would be much more comfortable with the two seats too. Has he thought about his comfort?

When you buy the tickets you should be able to choose the seats; he would obviously pick two next to each other, then lift the armrest and have some extra space. And if it were me, I'd pick seats in the back so I wouldn't be bothered with looks or whatever.

I laughed at the comment to have him loose weight by January. If it were only that easy!