When does somebody need two airline seats?

[Tiggeroo]

We might be taking a group to Orlando and folks are various sizes, some Pooh sized. This is a budget trip so we don't really want to pay for two seats unless we have to, but I don't want anybody to be embarrassed when they get to the airport. I have heard of airlines refusing to seat somebody because they think they need two seats. Does it matter if we are a group and would all be willing to sit in the same row? Are some airlines better then others for this? Thanks guys.

 

[KathyTX]

Hmmm... good question.

I think the policy depends on which airline you're talking about. The most common measurement I've read about is: if you cannot fit into one seat with the armrests in place, you must buy two seats.

Sounds like some airlines enforce the policy more vigorously than others, and some are more discreet and compassionate about the way they communicate it than others. I've also heard that some airlines only enforce the two seats policy on full flights...

Southwest Airlines seems to be very aggressive about enforcing the policy.

Sorry so vague. Which airlines would be possibilities? Maybe someone will share some first-hand experiences here...

Here's a link to Southwest Airlines' statement on multiple seats.

 

[hercamore]

I don't know the answer to your question, but here is what I would do.

Go to www.seatguru.com and find the seaat width for the plane or planes of the airlines I am planning on flying. Then find a chair with that same measurement and see how comfortable the person is.Remember most seat arms flip up for a little extra space if the "neighboring seat" is agreeable.

I just flew 5 different planes o nNW airlines two weeks ago and some of those seats were only l7" wide. Not real comfy. We usually fly NW and I don't think they are picky at all. Yes, you could all sit together. On NW website, you can pick you seats before completing your online ticket purchase.

Good luck,

herc.

 

[Sleepy]

Originally posted by hercamore
Remember most seat arms flip up for a little extra space if the "neighboring seat" is agreeable.

SW airlines does not allow you to lift the arm rest up if the person beside you is agreeable. At least the episode on tv that I saw......the man said he was flying with someone else who would be sitting beside him. The airline employee still made him try the seat with the arm rest down. Of course if you fit, then during flight you can lift it back up, but for measuring purposes, the arm rest had to be down.

 

[Uncle Scar]

Southwest does seem to be the most aggressive...I've watched Airline on the A&E channel and that has been a topic on several episodes.

I've been on American and Delta and they don't seem to search it out like SW.

 

[missypie]

Funny you should mention Southwest. Last month my friend was flying SW from San Antonio to Dallas. She was by the window, the plane was full and at the last minute a very large guy came in and took the center seat. He lifted both arm rests immediately, which he had to do to fit. The plane was delayed on the ground for 2 hours and my friend said she was close to freaking out...she could not move and by the end of the flight, her leg was soaked with sweat from the guy's leg. Ick!!!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I guess SW is more strict because most of their flights are sold out. I flew on Friday and Tuesday and both flights were completely full.

Lori

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by hercamore
I don't know the answer to your question, but here is what I would do.

.Remember most seat arms flip up for a little extra space if the "neighboring seat" is agreeable.

herc.

I NEVER allow the person sitting next to me to raise the arm rest!. I actually have had other passengers on occasion attempt to do so, and I have said, I prefer the arm rest down, thank you. One person told me that the arm rest was "cutting into" her. I told her that I was very sorry but I would not be comfortable with the rest up. She wasn't happy.

 

[airhead]

.....long flight. I really don't know what I would do if someone large sat next to me. I would hate to embarrass or hurt feelings. On the other hand,sitting all squished up would not be very comfortable.

 

[Disneylvr]

I am "pooh-sized" and am much more comfortable with the arm rest up. So this is my rule: if I know that I will be seated next to a stranger or that there is a chance I will be seated next to a stranger (for example on Southwest Airlines where there are no seat assignments or on certain planes where a stranger may be seated next to me) I DO purchase two seats for myself. If I am flying with my family (DH and DD) and we know that we will be seated together (based on our seat assignments) and not seated next to other passengers I DO NOT purchase an extra seat for myself. As a family we don't mind sitting close together with the arm rest raised. Are you flying on Southwest? As a large person I avoid Southwest like the plague because they cannot guarantee that families will be able to sit together and require some large passengers to purchase the extra seat no matter what. They will refund the extra seat if the plane is not full but I would rather avoid that situation entirely.

 

[Carl]

Originally posted by missypie
Funny you should mention Southwest. Last month my friend was flying SW from San Antonio to Dallas. She was by the window, the plane was full and at the last minute a very large guy came in and took the center seat. He lifted both arm rests immediately, which he had to do to fit. The plane was delayed on the ground for 2 hours and my friend said she was close to freaking out...she could not move and by the end of the flight, her leg was soaked with sweat from the guy's leg. Ick!!!

My mother had a similar experience on SW a few years ago coming back from Las Vegas. She was miserable. Nothing was done about it. Also, this occurred in the emergency exit row - where those oversized people should not have been allowed to sit, since they could not have performed the tasks required in an emergency. This incident almost kept us from flying Southwest again.

 

[caitycaity]

where those oversized people should not have been allowed to sit, since they could not have performed the tasks required in an emergency

wow, talk about overgeneralizations. my dh is pooh sized and he can perform the necessary functions in the emergency row just fine.

 

[snoopy]

I had a very large man next to me on a flight home from Dallas a couple of years ago. Its not a quick flight, and that particular flight route is always packed anyway. I felt like I was close to a panic attack pretty much the whole trip. I hate feeling closed in as it is, and he was suffocating me. He also lifted the arm rest. It was a very uncomfortable thing for me -- I would have never in a million years complained because I would never have wanted to make him feel bad. I still wished he had bought a second seat for himself -- I imagine it would have made him feel considerably more comfortable as well - he was sweating profusely throughout the trip - it was VERY, VERY close on that flight. Bad memory for me and one I hope to never have to experience again.

 

[cynsaun]

Originally posted by Uncle Scar
Southwest does seem to be the most aggressive...I've watched Airline on the A&E channel and that has been a topic on several episodes.

I've been on American and Delta and they don't seem to search it out like SW.

That's because the majority of SWA's flights are full! SWA doesn't "search" it out. I know that there have been several episodes of Airline that focus on that, but consider the number of flights every day. Also, the show gets more attention when there is action, so this is what is focused upon.

And, the rule is that the armrest has to be down. Unfortunately, they have to be firm about it, otherwise it sets a bad precedent, they have to be consistent. But, if the flight ends up not being full, a refund is given.

 

[Disneylvr]

Originally posted by Carl
Also, this occurred in the emergency exit row - where those oversized people should not have been allowed to sit, since they could not have performed the tasks required in an emergency. This incident almost kept us from flying Southwest again.

So you KNOW just because of their size that they couldn't perfom the exit row duties? Nice.

 

[Eeyore1954]

(Sarcasm on)

Wouldn't it be nice if all us Pooh-sized (and larger) people would just stop traveling and stay at home 24/7? Then no one would have to deal with being "uncomfortable" around us on an airplane, or at Disney, or on a train...

(Sarcasm off)

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
(Sarcasm on)

Wouldn't it be nice if all us Pooh-sized (and larger) people would just stop traveling and stay at home 24/7? Then no one would have to deal with being "uncomfortable" around us on an airplane, or at Disney, or on a train...

(Sarcasm off)

Where did anyone say Pooh sized people should stop travelling and stay home 24/7?

I know I mentioned being uncomfortable, because quite frankly, I was. I'm uncomfortable when I feel closed in. When the person next to me is taking up his own seat and half of mine, then yes, until the airlines make the seats bigger, out of common courtesy to the person next to them, I think a person that large should buy an extra seat. I know if I had the option to pay more and buy a seat that had extra leg room, since I have very long legs, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I hardly think any comments made here would indicate anyone wants Pooh sized people to stay home and not travel.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I'm just trying to figure out where that line is between needing an extra seat and not. If for example you sit in a movie seat or auditorium seat with the arm rests down would you be able to sit in an airline seat? As I said, I don't want anybody to pay extra if it's unnecessary but I also don't want anybody embarrased. I can't imagine putting up a neighbors armrest.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by Tiggeroo
I'm just trying to figure out where that line is between needing an extra seat and not. If for example you sit in a movie seat or auditorium seat with the arm rests down would you be able to sit in an airline seat? As I said, I don't want anybody to pay extra if it's unnecessary but I also don't want anybody embarrased. I can't imagine putting up a neighbors armrest.

It would be tough to tell, since the size of the seats vary from plane to plane and airline to airline. I can tell you that movie theater seats are much larger than most airline seats.

 

[Jet88]

One time I was flying on US Air and I was in a different row from DH and DD's. I ended up sitting with a young girl (12 ish) who was traveling alone and a heavyset gentleman, also traveling alone. Well, I was the window seat, he was in the middle and the girl on the end. He sat in her seat because it was more comfortable for him. The young girl was upset because she said she just wanted to sit in her assigned seat and he refused to move. The flight attendant asked the girl to switch seats with him and I think she felt like she had no choice. The girl was upset, not crying but you could tell she was upset. Anyway, I'll bet that would never happen now. This was before 9-11. It was actually a month prior.