Pay seatmate if you "overflow"?

[sam_gordon]

I thought this would make an interesting discussion. According to this story (don't know if true or not): https://www.foxnews.com/travel/pass...n-flight?utm_source=quora&utm_medium=referral, passenger 'A' gets seated next to "oversize" fellow passenger 'B' on a five hour flight.

It's a full flight, so no getting passenger 'B' next to an empty seat. Passenger 'A' offers 'B' to not complain if 'B' pays him $150 (1/2 the cost of the flight). 'B' agrees. According to the article, 'B' was taking up 1/3 of A's seat.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[mom2rtk]

Who's going to measure how much extra seat 'B' is occupying?

 

[VAfamily1998]

Passenger B surely knew he was too large to fit in one seat. Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves and book plane tickets accordingly.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope. Extortion. Correct solution would be to be up front with the flight crew and move one of of the passengers to the next flight.

Based on this chart https://www.seatguru.com/charts/shorthaul_economy.php typing the typical seat width is 17-18 inches. I find it difficult t believe passenger A could fit in 12 inches, even squished.

 

[easyas123]

Passenger B surely knew he was too large to fit in one seat. Everyone needs to take responsibility for themselves and book plane tickets accordingly.

Exactly. And airline shouldn't have put Passenger A in the position of making the decision. B didn't fit, therefore the rules of the airline should have been followed by attendants.

 

[sam_gordon]

Correct solution would be to be up front with the flight crew and move one of of the passengers to the next flight.

And if both passengers refuse to move? Who gets forced off the plane?

I look at it as an agreement between two adults.

 

[rlk]

And if both passengers refuse to move? Who gets forced off the plane?

I look at it as an agreement between two adults.

If it has to come to that, I think the passenger who is taking up his/her seat, as well as part of someone else's seat, should be removed.

 

[SteveH]

Frankly it seems that these two guys worked things out, if Passenger B didn't like the resolution he should have gotten off the plane.

And if both passengers refuse to move? Who gets forced off the plane?

The passenger that is infringing on the space of the other passenger should be removed, in this case Passenger B.

 

[sam_gordon]

Frankly it seems that these two guys worked things out, if Passenger B didn't like the resolution he should have gotten off the plane.


The passenger that is infringing on the space of the other passenger should be removed, in this case Passenger B.

Totally agree. But if A says "pay me $x" and B thinks "I either pay him or take a later flight", I can see where it's a valid decision.

 

[piccolopat]

And if both passengers refuse to move? Who gets forced off the plane? I look at it as an agreement between two adults.

When someone can't fit within the confines of a single seat with the armrest down (and no overlapping the armrest), they are supposed to buy a second seat. Since this person didn't do that, they should be the one removed from the flight. In this case, person A found it acceptable to have person B overflowing into his space and a mutual agreement was met. If that hadn't happened, person B should be moved to a different flight.

 

[joelkfla]

This is one reason I try to fly SWA whenever possible. SWA will allow "passengers of size" to to reserve and purchase 2 seats, and then refund the full cost of the 2nd seat after the flight, no questions asked. They say 17" is the distance between armrests on most of their seats, so anyone wider than that is eligible for that policy.

 

[DLgal]

Sounds like a good compromise if both parties agreed to it. It's much less of a hassle than rebooking either of them. I actually give these people credit for coming up with a novel solution to this problem.

I know plenty of people who could fit in a 12 inch seat. I can do it if I turn sideways a bit and cross my legs, and I have large hips. I am currently sitting in a 17 inch wide chair and have a good two inches free on either side. Obviously, it's not ideal for a 5 hour flight, but again, the person who made the offer was obviously okay with it.

 

[seashoreCM]

If they both agree to the deal and the terms then so much the better.TBut the airline is not going to defend either side if a dispute or remorse should occur later.

It is the airline crew's choice about how to deal with the problem if it gets to their attention. The least disruptive method is to ask for volunteers. It may be noted that someone who takes more space than he reserved may be bumped without compensation.

And if both passengers refuse to move...

An aggrieved passenger should not make a move in that direction. Instead I suggest that he move away and ask for an empty seat for himself, having summoned the ground complaint resolution officer and the captain slightly later if needed. There are several solutions some of which have been mentioned above here but an aggrieved person should not suggest any of them but may after a short delay openly suggest asking for volunteers.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

2 oversized gentlemen who booked seats together once paid me $40 to sit between them instead of in the aisle seat like I had booked. I was in my early 20’s and conflict-adverse at the time, so I did it. It was a 4 hour flight.

 

[rg35]

Nope. Extortion. Correct solution would be to be up front with the flight crew and move one of of the passengers to the next flight.

The real solution is for people to live healthier lifestyles. The fact that so many people don't fit in an airplane seat that any kind of "solution" like the foxnews article suggests is even necessary is sad.

 

[mom2rtk]

The real solution is for people to live healthier lifestyles. The fact that so many people don't fit in an airplane seat that any kind of "solution" like the foxnews article suggests is even necessary is sad.

Sounds great. How are you going to make that happen?

 

[sam_gordon]

An aggrieved passenger should not make a move in that direction. Instead I suggest that he move away and ask for an empty seat for himself, having summoned the ground complaint resolution officer and the captain slightly later if needed. There are several solutions some of which have been mentioned above here but an aggrieved person should not suggest any of them but may after a short delay openly suggest asking for volunteers.

It's a full flight. There were no empty seats.

 

[rg35]

Sounds great. How are you going to make that happen?

I go to the gym 5x a week and don't eat a lot of junk food, so I'm doing my part. I can't make others do the same, but unhealthy living is an epidemic in this country.

 

[mom2rtk]

I go to the gym 5x a week and don't eat a lot of junk food, so I'm doing my part. I can't make others do the same, but unhealthy living is an epidemic in this country.

That's my point. Vent all you want but there's absolutely nothing you can do about what others do.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's an interesting situation...I flew to WDW two weeks ago, on SW. It was a full flight. I took the aisle seat, the window seat was taken. A gentleman took the middle seat. Now, this man was not a 'cos', just a big guy. He didn't 'overflow'. But, he did man spread, and his arms and elbows went over the armrests, into me. His knees were so far over into my area, that I had to squeeze my legs together and move them to the far side of the underseat area!!! Had to move my entire body over to the edge in order to avoid him. He was a very nice man, I certainly didn't feel comfortable asking him to please put his legs closer together or to move his arms in a bit!!! But, it was a very uncomfortable flight for me. I was wishing I had taken a window seat further back, since there's more room in those seats!!