Airline overweight passenger charges

[TavieP]

. If the plane is full or if we do not fly SW, I sit o the aisle and lean into it most of the flight so i do not go over into the seat next to mine.

I do this too. It sucks because you have to be on constant alert (or get whacked) every time someone walks by.

 

[TavieP]

I really don't understand why if you are big you don't just buy the second seat when you book.

Why do you want to put some poor gate agent in an uncomfortable position, let alone an innocent stranger who has to either suffer for an entire flight or have to complain in front of you that you are infringing on their seat- a very awkward thing to have to voice in front of the person, and the poor FA who has to be in the uncomfortable position of having to confront you. Plus it can't be fun for you either to have to be confronted over this. And then having to either buy another seat on the spot or having to get off the plane!

And lets not beat around the bush, you know if you are big, just like I know I'm very short. It is what it is and it you didn't get up this morning to the surprise of being that size.

"poor gate agent"?
"poor flight attendant"?

I say, "poor guy who has to feel like a criminal for taking up the amount of space he takes up, or can't travel unless he can afford to pay double". I say "poor that guy" before I feel sorry for the airline employees. Poor large person who has to sit hugging themselves and leaning as far into themselves/away from another person as possible.

The seatmate/stranger may be innocent, but the large airline customer is not inherently evil.

Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood pretzel-contorted flying fattie.

 

[marmalade]

Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood pretzel-contorted flying fattie.

Well that is a tag worthy quote if I've ever seen one.

 

[Hannathy]

"poor gate agent"?
"poor flight attendant"?

I say, "poor guy who has to feel like a criminal for taking up the amount of space he takes up, or can't travel unless he can afford to pay double". I say "poor that guy" before I feel sorry for the airline employees. Poor large person who has to sit hugging themselves and leaning as far into themselves/away from another person as possible.

The seatmate/stranger may be innocent, but the large airline customer is not inherently evil.

Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood pretzel-contorted flying fattie.

Yes poor gate agent. Do you think they really want to say excuse me you are to big to fit in a seat and you have to buy another one. It isn't exactly Hi have a great flight. It is awkward for everyone.

I don't understand why people don't understand that you are paying for a certain amount of space and if you need more you have to pay for more. You bought 1 seat about 18 inches of space, if you don't fit in those inches you have to buy more.

 

[TavieP]

Yes poor gate agent. Do you think they really want to say excuse me you are to big to fit in a seat and you have to buy another one. It isn't exactly Hi have a great flight. It is awkward for everyone.

I don't understand why people don't understand that you are paying for a certain amount of space and if you need more you have to pay for more. You bought 1 seat about 18 inches of space, if you don't fit in those inches you have to buy more.

Sorry, just feels like victim-blaming to me. It's very "this hurts me more than it hurts you".

Life is difficult enough for me and those of my size. I've never had to buy a second seat but I feel for those who have and do. Better we all stay home, I guess.

And no, I'm not saying someone shouldn't buy a second seat, never said that so please don't insinuate that I don't "understand that". But not everyone can afford to pay double, so it is a hardship. Not easy to live in a world that is designed for people smaller than oneself.

Empathy. It's a thing.

 

[Aggiegrl]

OP, please check Spirit Airline's "Big Front Seat" and see if that would work for your husband. I have no idea if it would or not, but there should be info out there for you to look at. Spirit flies DFW to MCO (or Tampa) nonstop.

We just booked DFW to Tampa for September for $223 including "Big Front Seats" and 1 checked bag. MCO is slightly higher, but still cheaper than AA regular/coach seats.

Some people might not like Spirit because of their "pay as you go" (for everything) fees, but in this situation it is a benefit. You can get a bigger seat without paying first class.

Under no circumstances would I book a Spirit regular class seat for him. Their seats have less distance between them and he wouldn't be comfortable.

 

[LilyWDW]

Sorry, just feels like victim-blaming to me. It's very "this hurts me more than it hurts you".

Life is difficult enough for me and those of my size. I've never had to buy a second seat but I feel for those who have and do. Better we all stay home, I guess.

And no, I'm not saying someone shouldn't buy a second seat, never said that so please don't insinuate that I don't "understand that". But not everyone can afford to pay double, so it is a hardship. Not easy to live in a world that is designed for people smaller than oneself.

Empathy. It's a thing.

Yes, poor gate agent and poor flight attendant that has to deal with this when people don't follow the rules. This is coming from someone who is currently a size 18, was a size 24, and is getting smaller. I would be SO embarrassed if I was encroaching into someone else's space... and I would be SO embarrassed for the gate agent or flight attendant if they had to deal with this sort of situation. I mean, how do you approach it? More likely then not, you are going to end up with a passenger that is now upset (either crying or screaming) and is embarrassed. But it has to be done.

So no, we don't have to all stay home... but if you take up more then one seat, then BUY more then one seat. That is only fair. If you can't afford it, well then, you can't afford to fly. Flying is not a right. If you are bigger, part of the cost is that second seat and that should be taken into account when you price out the best way to get places.

Again, I am not a tiny person. One of the reasons I decided I needed to lose weight was because of situations like this where my weight because a hindrance to normal life. I am taking steps to NOT be in that position because I don't WANT to be in that position.

But I still have empathy for the gate agent and flight attendant that has to deal with it.

 

[deegack]

Sorry, just feels like victim-blaming to me. It's very "this hurts me more than it hurts you".

Life is difficult enough for me and those of my size. I've never had to buy a second seat but I feel for those who have and do. Better we all stay home, I guess.

And no, I'm not saying someone shouldn't buy a second seat, never said that so please don't insinuate that I don't "understand that". But not everyone can afford to pay double, so it is a hardship. Not easy to live in a world that is designed for people smaller than oneself.

Empathy. It's a thing.

I'm sorry but although I have empathy, if you know you are of a certain size that will cause others discomfort if they sit next to you then you should be responsible for yourself and purchase a second seat. I have a very tall husband (6'7" with a 40 inch inseam so all leg) He does not fit in most airline seats. So we purchase extra leg room or even first class when we travel. Its factored into our budget. Does it cost more, sure, but so do his clothes and even our cars (we have two large SUVs because they are the only things he fits comfortably in that has a backseat for our kids). Would he change it if he could, maybe, but he can't so we just suck it up and deal. We don't even get the option of getting our upgrade refunded if that area isn't full. It means we don't travel as much but that's life.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes poor gate agent. Do you think they really want to say excuse me you are to big to fit in a seat and you have to buy another one. It isn't exactly Hi have a great flight. It is awkward for everyone.

I don't understand why people don't understand that you are paying for a certain amount of space and if you need more you have to pay for more. You bought 1 seat about 18 inches of space, if you don't fit in those inches you have to buy more.

I don't even know who you are talking to in here. The OP is asking about it, she's not saying "I don't want to", she's saying "I don't want to pay it if it means he won't have two seats". Since she *has been answered*, she now knows. I'm sure they are going to buy the other seat.

Everyone with knowledge of traveling with or as a bigger person has told her that yes, a 6X will certainly need that second seat.


Gate people can be nice. They can be incredibly rude, too. I barely have empathy for them for how so many of them treat my husband. He has NEVER needed a second seat, he WILL contort himself into a pretzel, but he is treated terribly without ever acting terribly himself.

The gate agents who look at his casual clothing (he works for amazon, they are entirely AGAINST dressing up behind khakis, and therefore he doesn't have anything nicer than khakis) and decide that HE doesn't get the upgrade, even though HE has the status with the airline. The ones that refuse to listen to his questions or responding comments, because they've made an assumption based on weight and clothing. etc etc. Oh, the FA who could have simply said "since you need an extender, you can't sit in the exit row" and instead nearly made a federal (which would have been Int'l b/c it was a Jazz flight in Canada) case out of it, yelling at him without giving him an explanation at all.

I could go on and on about how poorly those "poor" employees have treated a perfect nice guy who travels quite a bit.


The OP has her answer a few times already. There was simply NO need to take it where you took it with your first post, Hannathy. Nor your second. I don't know who you were talking to.


DH is very glad that he's losing weight and won't get those looks anymore as he continues. Also glad that he can now sit in the exit rows b/c he's done with the extenders. But he still hates that there are looks to begin with. It's a disgusting thing, how people treat bigger people. And it's one of those things where people don't just do it on anonymous message boards, but in person, to your face, as well. It's just SAD of those people who behave like that.

 

[srferson]

I feel like some who take offense by it are viewing it as some sort of punishment. Like the airline is saying 'We don't like the fact that you're fat so we're going to make you pay a penalty.'

But it's simple logistics. If you had too much stuff to fit into one rented storage unit, you'd need to buy another. You wouldn't just start putting your things into someone else's storage unit.

And I think it's good when airlines refund the second seat under the right conditions. It's like the owner of the storage unit saying, 'Oh no problem. No one's renting that unit anyway. May as well not let it go to waste.'

That's all it is.

Sorry PP, but there is no "victim" blaming here. Because there is no "victim."

 

[TavieP]

I'm sorry but although I have empathy, if you know you are of a certain size that will cause others discomfort if they sit next to you then you should be responsible for yourself and purchase a second seat.

Nowhere did I say they shouldn't purchase a second seat.

 

[Maleficent53]

I really don't understand why if you are big you don't just buy the second seat when you book.

Why do you want to put some poor gate agent in an uncomfortable position, let alone an innocent stranger who has to either suffer for an entire flight or have to complain in front of you that you are infringing on their seat- a very awkward thing to have to voice in front of the person, and the poor FA who has to be in the uncomfortable position of having to confront you. Plus it can't be fun for you either to have to be confronted over this. And then having to either buy another seat on the spot or having to get off the plane!

And lets not beat around the bush, you know if you are big, just like I know I'm very short. It is what it is and it you didn't get up this morning to the surprise of being that size.

"poor gate agent"?
"poor flight attendant"?

I say, "poor guy who has to feel like a criminal for taking up the amount of space he takes up, or can't travel unless he can afford to pay double". I say "poor that guy" before I feel sorry for the airline employees. Poor large person who has to sit hugging themselves and leaning as far into themselves/away from another person as possible.

The seatmate/stranger may be innocent, but the large airline customer is not inherently evil.

Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood pretzel-contorted flying fattie.

2cents from "the poor gate agent"....yes, I am one of those people, the one who is working like crazy on a flight to Orlando full of families traveling with children that are not seated together -- mothers traveling with babies that they did not purchase a seat for but "need" an empty seat next to them for that baby -- plus size adults who purchased one seat but cannot fit into one seat and "need" an empty seat next to them -- on a flight that is booked to capacity or oversold. Agents will do everything possible to arrange seating so all passengers can have a comfortable flight, but it will not always be possible.

Reality check people - airlines are a for-profit business (at least they would like to make a profit) and as such, you will only be guaranteed to get that extra space that you "need" if you purchase it! If you buy 2 seats - you will get 2 seats next to each other - and both are yours to sit in. Another passenger will not use your space. Your cost is double, but you can be comfortably seated and not worry about crowding anyone else.

I have (twice) had to go onto an airplane and ask a passenger to deplane because they were too large for the seat and the flight was full. It is embarrassing to the person and to me, too. I don't like having to do it.

Large passengers are not "evil" but it is a fact that you face obstacles that other people do not. If buying additional space is the solution, then so-be-it.

 

[deegack]

Nowhere did I say they shouldn't purchase a second seat.

no but the we should feel sorry for the people who have to buy two seats because they take up the space of two seats reeks of wah wah wah. I would gladly buy two coach seats if it means my husband could sit comfortably but instead I hope for a cheap upgrade for him (and us if finances allow it) when we get close even if it means I get to sit alone with the two kids. You take up more space its a simple fact. You deal with it or change it. Why should the person next to you have to be the bad guy? That is the person I feel bad for.

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes you can and should complain to the flight attendant or gate agent if someone is not necessarily too big in the rump but is too big in the shoulders or knees.

If those airline staffers don't satisfy you then get a conference with the captain and the ground complaint resolution officer before departure. A NFL football player should be able to afford two seats if he would take up more than one.

Only after the complaint resolution officer fails to obtain an empty seat, any seat, for you should you come out and suggest that he ask for volunteers to be bumped.

Do not be eager to volunteer yourself if a staffer beats you to suggesting that. You don't want to be raising the complaint about a large passenger to look like your trying to score a bump voucher.

 

[delilah]

I got to be the third person in a row with two passengers who weren't able to comfortably put down the arm rests. This is a good news/bad news situation. I was flying from LA to Indianapolis, changing planes in Denver. On the way to Denver, I was cold. There were two other people in my row, but, there was room for air to circulate around us. On the way to Indy, I wasn't cold. There was turbulence on the flight to Indy, but , I didn't move around much. Now the bad news--I got a blood clot in my leg.

Now, I make the observation that before the flight, certain passengers (probably frequent fliers for the airline) were given upgrade seats. I also make the second observation that there were no empty seats. The person in the middle seat of my row (I was on the aisle, or I surely would have been crushed) was late arriving. I think he was nearly the last to board, and was all hot and sweaty, so, I think he was making a connecting flight. It surely would have been nice in that situation if the agents had given one of the upgrades to him. Or, perhaps, even, he was standby. But, at that point, with the door to the plane being closed behind him, there was little I could do but accept the situation.

 

[TavieP]

no but the we should feel sorry for the people who have to buy two seats because they take up the space of two seats reeks of wah wah wah.

A comment both classy and mature. Well done, congratulations on your valiant and rare feat of sticking it to fat people. Keep fighting the good fight!

 

[seashoreCM]

I Now the bad news--I got a blood clot in my leg.

Now, I make the observation that before the flight, certain passengers (probably frequent fliers for the airline) were given upgrade seats. I also make the second observation that there were no empty seats. The person in the middle seat of my row (I was on the aisle, or I surely would have been crushed) was late arriving. I think he was nearly the last to board, and was all hot and sweaty, so, I think he was making a connecting flight. It surely would have been nice in that situation if the agents had given one of the upgrades to him. Or, perhaps, even, he was standby. But, at that point, with the door to the plane being closed behind him, there was little I could do but accept the situation.

You should have pushed the flight attendant call button (correction, you were at the aisle so you should have gotten up and gone to the flight attendant) as soon as the person in the middle tried to squeeze in, preferably after exactly one attempt to deny him the seat if it looked as if he would not fit.

If he was a standby he should have been taken off the flight if there were no other seats.

 

[deegack]

A comment both classy and mature. Well done, congratulations on your valiant and rare feat of sticking it to fat people. Keep fighting the good fight!

Like I said, if you don't like the situation you have the option to change it. There are many other people who cannot change the situation they are in and did nothing to get in that situation. So no, I don't feel sorry for someone who is fat and has to buy two seats. If that is sticking it to fat people, so be it. Like I have repeatedly said, most airlines will refund the second seat if there are seats on the plane. I don't see how that is unfair. In fact it is more than generous and is an option not available for people too tall to fit in a stand coach seat. But maybe we just don't whine enough about the situation. I mean it costs us a lot more to travel but we just accept that as part of life, especially since we don't have the option of changing the situation.

 

[LidoDeck]

But it's simple logistics. If you had too much stuff to fit into one rented storage unit, you'd need to buy another. You wouldn't just start putting your things into someone else's storage unit.

And I think it's good when airlines refund the second seat under the right conditions. It's like the owner of the storage unit saying, 'Oh no problem. No one's renting that unit anyway. May as well not let it go to waste.'

Excellent analogy! And a perfect "fit". It's about the larger person's responsibility and the airline's fairness.

 

[goofy4tink]

I feel the same and would raise the devil if forced to sit beside someone who encroached upon my space. I want the armrest down and any neighbor to keep their entire body within their space.

I commend the airlines for enforcing this policy. Refunding the 2nd seat if plane is not full is very fair and reasonable.

Ok...the OP wasn't complaining about having to buy two seats. She was inquiring as to what happens if she does buy two seats. There was concern that if they paid for her dh to have two seats, would they then put someone else into that second seat. Not every single traveling person understands how things work..so she asked her, on a board that should be handing out good and reliable info. Her dh is large....they both get that. And now, she has been reassured that if they do, in fact, buy two seats for him, he will have the use of those two seats. And if they find that the flight isn't full, some airlines will refund the money for that second seat.

Airlines are a business. They want their customers to be as happy as possible, without the company going into the red!!. So, if there are three people in a row, and one of those people is large, and that largeness negatively impacts another passenger, the airlines are going to want to deal with it, as 'politely' as possible. So, they ask that larger customers buy that second seat...just in case. Yes, more expensive. But in all reality??? Complaining about having to pay for a second seat, just because you are larger, is about the same as families saying WDW is biased against larger families...costs more for a room for a family of 6 than a family of 4.
You take up more room in your row?? You are going to have to compensate the airline for using up that addtl space..space they can't, in all good conscience, sell to someone else.

I believe the OP gets all this. She just wasn't sure what the policy was. She has been informed. So...enough of the 'fat bashing'..sheesh.