Seat Question for Larger Passengers

[UBSHANG]

Does anyone know if the seat armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) fold up in order to accomodate larger passengers?

 

[safetymom]

If you aren't in the exit row they should. Are you sitting with your family and wanting to put up the armrest? Many people prefer the arm rest to be down during the flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

Oh deary me....lets hope this doesn't get all out of hand!!
Anyway....when I fly, I keep my armrest down. Most of them do rise though in order to make it easier to get into the middle and window seats. However, most people are not going to be happy if someone wants to lift up the armrest between them in order to give them more room. Most people will feel that their 'seat' area has been infringed upon.
If a passenger doesn't fit into the seat, comfortably, then the airline may ask that they purchase a second seat. Please......do not misunderstand me here...I am not saying anyone here is too big to fit in a seat, or that the airline is right, or wrong, in their policy, I am just reporting what I have seen, here on the boards.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There are many threads already on this topic. You may be sure that if you are sitting next to a stranger, they will want that arm rest DOWN between the two of you:


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1022524&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1022524&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1029515&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized+flyers

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1149808&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=886537&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=895525&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1192830&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1000241&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1151293&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1131694&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1019859&referrerid=&highlight=pooh+sized

 

[kaytieeldr]

I actually find sitting in one of those seats with the 'fixed' armrests to be more considerate of my fellow passengers, and really not uncomfortable. Except to sleep in.

 

[bavaria]

on an A320 the seats in First/Business, bulkhead row, and exit row (and sometimes last row) have fixed armrests.

Like Katieelder says, these are preferable to some but not others. (I pretty much always sit in the bulkhead row if my upgrade didn't clear) I can't recall any flight recently which had empty seats - maybe a handful in E+ on United but that's it, so the days of sleeping across a few seats is over.

Don't count on an empty seat next to you.

I'm going to assume that the OP may be considering sitting next to their child in which case there may not me as much issue as sitting next to a stranger.

 

[seashoreCM]

Does anyone know if the seat armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) fold up in order to accomodate larger passengers?

Not sure about the Airbus A320 but on many makes and models of passenger planes the armrests between the seats do fold up. On a few planes the aisle armrest folds up too, although the flight attendant needs to make the adjustment for you.

You should not fold up the armrest if a stranger is sitting in the next seat. You should not even ask. I could write pages about other alternatives but most of that has already been written in the links mentioned previously.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[kirbsam]

unless you give people on these boards all the details, you will find that they will do more than just answer your questions. so next time, maybe you should tell them why you are asking the question and you will not get the answers that you dont want. it happens time and again on these boards. people try to give you advice and make assumptions on things they have no idea of what they are talking about. try starting a post where you say that your kid got blamed for something that you know he didnt do, and see how many people tell you that your kid probably did it.

 

[UBSHANG]

unless you give people on these boards all the details, you will find that they will do more than just answer your questions. so next time, maybe you should tell them why you are asking the question and you will not get the answers that you dont want. it happens time and again on these boards. people try to give you advice and make assumptions on things they have no idea of what they are talking about. try starting a post where you say that your kid got blamed for something that you know he didnt do, and see how many people tell you that your kid probably did it.

It would be difficult for the meaning of my message to be taken out of context, but apparently most of the replies incorrectly assume the "larger" passenger is flying to WDW alone. The unenlightened member whose derogatory remarks were deleted by the Disboard moderators should either refrain from posting confrontational opinions, or save their disdainful comments for those more deserving of their misdirected animosity.

 

[kaytieeldr]

All posters should remember that this is a public forum; that one cannot restrict the responses to simply what one wants to hear/read.

The specific answers to the OP's compound question (Does anyone know if the seat armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) fold up in order to accomodate larger passengers?) are:
"Yes, some people know if the armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) fold up." and "Yes, some people know the armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) do not fold up in order to accommodate larger passengers"

 

[ducklite]

Keep in mind that even if you are traveling with another passenger who wouldn't mind having the armrest in the up position to give you a bit more room, there's always a possibility that due to equipment or scheduling changes, your previously booked seats might be changed and you may not end up sitting next to that person. If the plane is full and seating changes can't be accomodated, the larger passenger might be deplaned if they can't fit into their seat with the armrests down. Case in point--those passengers who had flights cancelled in Denver--they were placed onto planes with no regard to seating they had booked previously, and my guess is that in 99% of cases they were told to either accept the seats they got and be happy for them as there were still many being left behind, try to trade once onboard (which would often require other families to split up--so don't count on it) or just don't fly.

Most travelers will not accomodate a larger customer next to them by raising the armrest.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can't sit in a regular armed office chair with room to spare, you'll have a problem fitting into an airline seat and might need to purchase a second seat. Purchasing a second seat in coach is almost always less expensive, and will give considerably more space than purchasing a seat in business or first class. And when a larger passenger purchases a second seat for themselves, their airlines WILL make sure that the two seats are next to each other--as I said previously, not the case when flying with another person.

One other thing to note--seat belt extenders. The standard seat belts don't fit many larger passengers. The airline provide seat belt extenders. As you board, the flights attendents will be standing near the entrance door, and you can discreetly request that they bring you one. They do so very discreetly. I've seen them handed to many larger passengers, and the people around you aren't going to have any idea what was handed to you. Sometimes the FA's will hand it right to you before you go down the aisle.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

you can also go to www.seatguru.com to see the specific seat pitch and width for your airline and aircraft.

Re seatbelts - the length is different by carrier. I notice that Air Canada has relatively short ones, United's are a little longer, and Lufthansa's are the longest I have every encountered. (I like to have my seatbelt very loose so that I can turn to the side and sleep if nobody is next to me, so I take notice!)

Also, on Air Canada the bulkhead rows now have this odd airbag on the seatbelt. I don't think that they would accomodate a seatbelt extender as the airbag has to be over ones stomach. I haven't seen those on any other airline I fly yet.

OP, sorry if you were offended by some of the responses you received. Sometimes that happens - one asks what seems like an innocent question and receives unexpected responses. This subject is one of the 'touchy' ones here - just ask Anne (and that's why Goofy4Tink answered with 'oh dear...')

 

[UBSHANG]

All posters should remember that this is a public forum; that one cannot restrict the responses to simply what one wants to hear/read.

The specific answers to the OP's compound question (Does anyone know if the seat armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) fold up in order to accomodate larger passengers?) are:
"Yes, some people know if the armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) fold up." and "Yes, some people know the armrests in the coach section of an Airbus A320 (or any type of plane) do not fold up in order to accommodate larger passengers"

My objection referred to a confrontational posting which unnecessarily contained derogatory remarks about the “larger passenger’. I would not be so quick to make inaccurate assumptions and pass judgements about what you think I should or should not like without knowing the contents of that message.

I did not “restrict” the disdainful message as you inaccurately contend. The Disboard moderators did, by correctly removing the posting because they considered the offensive language inappropriate in a "public forum". Incidentally, your irrelevant reply contributed absolutely nothing to the discussion, but like you said, “one cannot restrict the responses to simply what one wants to hear/read”.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My objection referred to a confrontational posting which unnecessarily contained derogatory remarks about the “larger passenger’. I would not be so quick to make inaccurate assumptions and pass judgements about what you think I should or should not like without knowing the contents of that message.

You're reading WAY too much into my original response. "I actually find sitting in one of those seats with the 'fixed' armrests to be more considerate of my fellow passengers, and really not uncomfortable. Except to sleep in." means EXACTLY that. I prefer the fixed armrests, followed by MY explanation as to why I like them.

I don't see or know anything about, any derogatory posts in this thread. My responses are based solely on what I do see and read.

I did not “restrict” the disdainful message as you inaccurately contend

I contend no such thing. I was responding to the poster who appears critical of the tone of the responses to your original post.

[[

Incidentally, your irrelevant reply contributed absolutely nothing to the discussion, but like you said, “one cannot restrict the responses to simply what one wants to hear/read”.

Since I believe ALL my responses are relevant, I'm a bit confused as to what you refer. As stated above, my opening paragraph in post # 10 is directed at a comment made by another poster who appears critical of the responses you've gotten to your original post.

Also in response to that response, I specifically answered the exact questions you asked, period.

 

[DebbieB]

One other thing to note--seat belt extenders. The standard seat belts don't fit many larger passengers. The airline provide seat belt extenders. As you board, the flights attendents will be standing near the entrance door, and you can discreetly request that they bring you one. They do so very discreetly. I've seen them handed to many larger passengers, and the people around you aren't going to have any idea what was handed to you. Sometimes the FA's will hand it right to you before you go down the aisle.

Anne

Just one note about seat belt extenders - they cannot be used in the exit row.

I fly almost weekly and every plane I have been on that I can recall had movable armrests. I prefer the window seat and it's much easier to get out if you lift up the armrest. I prefer it to be down while in flight.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

To the OP:

Most armrests are designed to lift between two seats in coach. When my kids travel with me they like to lift the armrests and use me as a pillow. When I fly alone (90.6% of the time) in coach (48.7% of the time) I prefer the exit row (as opposed to the bulkhead) because I have extra legroom, room for my bag under the seat in front of me, and the armrests do not move. In fact, the tray tables are stored in the armrests, so the armrest is a solid divider between each seat. I prefer this so that my neighboring passenger's thighs don't lop into my seat, which has happened on occasion.

Happy New Year!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay people....in the spirit of good will and hopes for a good new year, I'm just going to say that you need to keep personalities out of these discussions. Anyone is free to post...sometimes someone may address a post other than the OP's first posting. That's okay. Sometimes threads go off on a tangent and we try to bring 'em back in line. If this one does not stay on topic, or at least some semblence of 'on topic' it will end up closed down...and I hate having to do that. So, lets try to stay civil here and keep in mind that while we may not all agree with each other, we do have the right to different opinions but not the right to try and stop other's from expressing opinions as long as they are 'polite' about it.
Thanks guys...and have a terrific New Year!!!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Here we go...

 

[Lewisc]

Many (probably most) seats in most aircraft allow the arms to be raised. The problem is with the second part of your question. Under what circumstances is a large passenger allowed to raise the armrest in order to use part of the seat next to him, your wording is in order to accommodate larger passengers.

The only time the armest is always allowed to go up to accommodate large passengers is when the "customer of size" purchases the seat next to him.

SW's policy is:

Open seating cannot guarantee that two people will be able to sit together. In addition, we must treat the smaller person (despite willingness or personal relationship) as a valued Customer who deserves the use of a full seat. Most importantly, we have to consider the safety aspect of the family member whose movement (especially in the event of an emergency) could be compromised if encroached on by a large seatmate.

At least with SW sitting next to a family member doesn't stop a COS from having to purchase a second seat.

Anne made a good point, changes in schedule may cancel all seat assignments.

If a passenger requires, and pays for, two seats the airline will make sure the armrest between your two seats can be raised. Otherwise you must assume the passenger next to you doesn't want to give you part of the seat he paid for.

edited to add the OP should go to his airlines website and check the contract of carriage to determine their exact policy regarding "customers of size". The question isn't if the armrest can be lifted but rather if you're required to purchase a second seat.

Perhaps you would like to explain exactly where in any of your replies did you actually answer my original question? I never asked anything about how considerate fixed armrests are to fellow passengers, or about how comfortable the seats with fixed armrests are, or why you like them. If you don't know if the armrests go up to accommodate larger passengers, then don't reply.