Airline overweight passenger charges

[vacationclub]

How big is an airline seat?

I am a 5'6" female. I weigh 325 pounds and have birthing hips. I plan on flying from Houston, TX to MCO next year.

Leslie

Airline web sites have this info posted somewhere, or you could google it and probably find that info. But based on your description I'd say you need 2 seats.

 

[twinklebug]

See seatguru.com for seat size (and more) information. Width varies by airline, by plane model, sometimes by plane.

Sound advice. Each plane and each category of seats can be very different in pitch (knee room) and width, even within the same airline. I used this site often in the past trying to find an airline that I won't depart from with bruised knees due to the reclined seat in front of me.

Look up the carrier and model of the aircraft you're considering buying from. Wonderful site - the site also highlights problem seats to avoid and the reason they're marked as problem seats.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It is more then likey going to be lots more money to book an extra seat at airport if needed so as you are looking to save I would get rxtra seat at time of original booking. You may think about seating your husband in first class. May even be less money then buying two seats.

I have flown first and business class many times (upgrades) and quite frankly, someone who has a wide rear end is going to be much more comfortable with two seats in economy. The main advantage of first/business seats, space wise, is leg room, not rear end room. It is also usually much less expensive to buy two discount economy seats rather than a business or first class seat.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

How big is an airline seat?

I am a 5'6" female. I weigh 325 pounds and have birthing hips. I plan on flying from Houston, TX to MCO next year.

Leslie

The typical width of an economy seat on US airlines is between 17 and 18 inches. I would guess you will need two seats.

Agreed. I think AT is simply doing the easiest thing to get the plane off the ground. If this big person is getting some benefit from that, then I guess he's found a way to work tYhe system a bit, but at some point he'll be bumped. When AT gets gobbled away by SW, there will be no more First Class anyway.


I don't think the FA's would have any way of knowing how much business his company does, etc and if they should give him some special treatment, I think they are just doing the easiest thing to get the plane moving. Luggage, yes, they'd have to pull luggage but would have to ask him first if he has any to pull.

FAs are well aware of the FF status of their PAX, especially their high level elites.

I doubt this story anyway. I don't fly AirTran, but there are so many elite frequent flyers on the other airlines that someone trying to pull this trick would not be upgraded in a million years. All the unsold business/first seats would already be filled by upgraded frequent flyers.

 

[aubriee]

I doubt this story anyway. I don't fly AirTran, but there are so many elite frequent flyers on the other airlines that someone trying to pull this trick would not be upgraded in a million years. All the unsold business/first seats would already be filled by upgraded frequent flyers.

Don't know why you doubt it, but I assure you it happened. I was there and saw the man moved up to first class and heard him bragging about it while we were waiting for our luggage. Air Tran is not known for upgrading frequent flyers. You can pay first class fares, use 4 A+ Rewards per flight to upgrade to first class, or sometimes they offer upgrades at the gate for like $50.00. The only other time I've ever seen them upgrade someone for free was a few years ago when a newly wed couple was on the plane. They had somehow gotten their Mickey bride and groom ears early and were wearing them. Just before takeoff, the pilot made the announcement that there were newlyweds on board going to see Mickey and he was moving them to first class. Everyone clapped for them.

Anyone that has flown Air Tran very much can tell you that frequently coach will be completely full, but there will still be empty seats in first class. In fact, I have used my A+ Reward points many times to upgrade to first class the day before my flights and have had an empty seat beside me. Once there was only four of us in first class. The other seats up there were empty.

 

[stevefox]

Airlines do not issue regulations. The FAA makes regulations, but only those authorized by congress. There is no constitutional prohibition against charging passengers by the pound.

 

[vacationclub]

FAs are well aware of the FF status of their PAX, especially their high level elites.

How? Unless they look at some paperwork, how would they know...it's not stamped on your forehead.

Anyone that has flown Air Tran very much can tell you that frequently coach will be completely full, but there will still be empty seats in first class. In fact, I have used my A+ Reward points many times to upgrade to first class the day before my flights and have had an empty seat beside me. Once there was only four of us in first class. The other seats up there were empty.

Agreed.

 

[crashbb]

How? Unless they look at some paperwork, how would they know...it's not stamped on your forehead.

It is stamped on your boarding pass and the gate agents and flight attendents have a list of all the FFs booked on the flight that is quick to check, before they approach the seats.

 

[crashbb]

I doubt this story anyway. I don't fly AirTran, but there are so many elite frequent flyers on the other airlines that someone trying to pull this trick would not be upgraded in a million years. All the unsold business/first seats would already be filled by upgraded frequent flyers.

I don't fly AirTran either, but not all airlines have a policy to upgrade all FFs. Air Canada, for example, who I do fly a lot does not. They'd rather have an empty front cabin - you either buy a seat there or use an upgrade certificate (which are not as plentiful with Air Canada as they are with United, for example). There might be the occasional "free bump", but it is definitely not standard.

 

[jsilvers]

Airlines do not issue regulations. The FAA makes regulations, but only those authorized by congress.

Actually, in this case it is the Department of Transportation, not the FAA, that has jurisdiction; the FAA primarily is responsible for safety-related regulations (i.e., that seatbelts must be worn) rather than economic regulations (i.e., what accommodations must be made for passengers with disabilities). DOT has not adopted a formal regulation regarding overweight passengers, but has stated:

A person who requires more than one seat for any reason (e.g., because of obesity or a disability) can be required to pay for all of the seats used.​

See http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/FAQ_5_13_09.pdf#page=10.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

How? Unless they look at some paperwork, how would they know...it's not stamped on your forehead.

Agreed.

It is indicated on the passenger manifest, at least on UA. FAs do indeed look at this!

I don't fly AirTran either, but not all airlines have a policy to upgrade all FFs. Air Canada, for example, who I do fly a lot does not. They'd rather have an empty front cabin - you either buy a seat there or use an upgrade certificate (which are not as plentiful with Air Canada as they are with United, for example). There might be the occasional "free bump", but it is definitely not standard.

I never said all airlines have policies to upgrade all FFs; even UA doesn't. Upgrades generally go to the most elite members; on UA the chances of upgrades increase if you are either GS or 1K. My point is that on most airlines, FF PAX would be very irate if they saw an obese PAX being upgraded for free over them. I just don't believe that it happens very often, although of course I'm sure that it has happened. The fat guy bragging about being upgraded all the time was probably greatly exaggerating his experiences.

 

[crashbb]

I never said all airlines have policies to upgrade all FFs; even UA doesn't. Upgrades generally go to the most elite members; on UA the chances of upgrades increase if you are either GS or 1K. My point is that on most airlines, FF PAX would be very irate if they saw an obese PAX being upgraded for free over them. I just don't believe that it happens very often, although of course I'm sure that it has happened. The fat guy bragging about being upgraded all the time was probably greatly exaggerating his experiences.

I was responding to the bit I bolded below.

I was pointing out that, on some airlines, it is not true that "all the unsold business/first seats would already be filled by upgraded frequent flyers".

I do agree with your new point - though I would wager that most other passengers (not just the FFs) would be irate (or at least irritated) by the situation.

I doubt this story anyway. I don't fly AirTran, but there are so many elite frequent flyers on the other airlines that someone trying to pull this trick would not be upgraded in a million years. All the unsold business/first seats would already be filled by upgraded frequent flyers.

 

[seashoreCM]

Taking a larger person up front to first class, space permitting, is much faster.

Otherwse the airline has to:
1. Identify the frequent flyer next in line to be upgraded,
2. Wait for him to gather his belongings and move up,
3. Move other passengers around so two seats* for the larger person are adjacent.

Fiendish idea that will never happen: Upgrade the larger person who is advised that his place in first class is tentative. When the seat belt sign goes off in flight, the frequent flyer next in line is identify and invited to orchestrate step #3 above and then take the first class seat. (Maybe offer the chance to the second and third in line if the first (and second) don't take up the offer.)

United has a preferred coach section called Economy Plus that passengers can upgrade to, in most cases for a fee. If there aren't enough regular coach seats, coach passengers are not summarily given empty first class seats but are given empty Economy Plus seats at no charge. On the other hand, United will try to upgrade as many eligible passengers as it can before asking for volunteers.

* Representing the larger passenger's original seat and the seat vacated by the frequent flyer who was upgraded.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Taking a larger person up front to first class, space permitting, is much faster.

Otherwse the airline has to:
1. Identify the frequent flyer next in line to be upgraded,
2. Wait for him to gather his belongings and move up,
3. Move other passengers around so two seats* for the larger person are adjacent.

Fiendish idea that will never happen: Upgrade the larger person who is advised that his place in first class is tentative. When the seat belt sign goes off in flight, the frequent flyer next in line is identify and invited to orchestrate step #3 above and then take the first class seat. (Maybe offer the chance to the second and third in line if the first (and second) don't take up the offer.)

United has a preferred coach section called Economy Plus that passengers can upgrade to, in most cases for a fee. If there aren't enough regular coach seats, coach passengers are not summarily given empty first class seats but are given empty Economy Plus seats at no charge. On the other hand, United will try to upgrade as many eligible passengers as it can before asking for volunteers.

* Representing the larger passenger's original seat and the seat vacated by the frequent flyer who was upgraded.

You have posted some incorrect information. FFs are upgraded at the last minute all the time; I see it happen frequently (I primarily fly UA). There is an upgrade list which the FAs check. The upgrade list, at least for UA, is available for anyone to check. If first/business doesn't check in full, either the GA will call upgraded PAX up to the desk for a new boarding pass, or if the plane has boarded, FAs go back to economy and bring up the upgraded PAX with their bags (if there is overhead space; sometimes people leave their bags and get them upon deplaning). I can assure you that everyone on the upgrade list is well aware of their position and there is no way an obese PAX without status is getting upgraded ahead of anyone on this list because they can't fit in a seat! I have seen upgrade lists for elite heavy routes, such as IAD-LAX, as long as 50 names.

E+ on United is not considered an upgrade. UA has gotten pretty strict about not moving PAX to these seats who haven't paid for them or earned them through FF status. I have traveled on many UA flights where E+ has plenty of open seats and E is jam packed. Yes, it can happen that an E PAX will be moved to E+ at no fee, but it is unusual these days.

 

[seashoreCM]

You have posted some incorrect information. .

Please point out the sentences that are false. (Use boldface if desired.)

 

[stevefox]

Hypothetically, if the Federal Aviation Administration issued a new regulation requiring airlines to charge double for passengers who are 25 pounds over ideal body weight (according to Medical Journals), would that be in violation of any Constitutional amendments?? If so, what amendments??

 

[deegack]

Hypothetically, if the Federal Aviation Administration issued a new regulation requiring airlines to charge double for passengers who are 25 pounds over ideal body weight (according to Medical Journals), would that be in violation of any Constitutional amendments?? If so, what amendments??

There is a huge difference between being overweight and not fitting in one seat.

 

[lylone]

There is a huge difference between being overweight and not fitting in one seat.

I agree. I am more than 25 pounds over weight, but I still fit in an airplane seat comfortably without a seat belt extender and with both the arm rests down.
I would be utterly upset if a FA asked me to buy another seat at the gate before I got on the plane.

 

[smidgy]

me too! I am also overweight (about45 pounds).
but unfortunately it wouldn't surprise me. the reason being they charge you if your suitsace is 2 pounds overweight.
dif. subject from encroaching on your seatmate, but I can see the airlines doing this, charging for how much total weight you are bringing on the plane; they already do so with luggage.