Fair or Not fair

[skjl47]

Passenger sparks debate online after charging obese passenger $150 to sit next to him on flight

Hello; Saw this moments ago and figured a discussion might be worth while. I have never flown commercial and hope I never have to but have been fascinated by some of the stuff that goes on. This latest does have some common stuff with an obese relative I had years ago so I can relate. My relative was very big. I had to take him places and it would have been comical if he had not suffered so much from his size. He pretty much did not fit is a normal car and there was no way a seatbelt would go around him. Anyway having had some experience with oversized people having one sit next to me on a flight would be a travel nightmare.
The gist of the story is an obese passenger was spilling over into the next guys seat. The big guy was told he would have to buy a second seat or leave the plane. However there were not any two seats together left on the plane. So a guy took $150 (Half fare) to allow him to sit beside him.

 

[krichardson]

I chose the second option as it was closest to how I would handle the situation..The coach seats on most planes are uncomfortable as it is without someone else's girth making matters worse.I simply would not want to and should not have to be bothered with such a person during a flight.

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Not exactly relevant but oh well.

Late 2016 I went to Adelaide, I brought some things while there and needed another suitcase to get it all home.

The weight of me plus my two suitcases was under 80kgs yet I had to pay an extra $70ish to get my second suitcase on the plane. I was traveling with another girl who alone weighs more than me and my two suitcases did, she was not charged extra nor was the couple twice her size that caught the same plane.

Long story short it annoys the hell out of me when I hear stuff like this, just because you're the size of two people doesn't mean you get double the rights. I'm half the size of the average person, can I have cheaper rent because I don't take up as much space??? Will stores sell me clothes cheaper because they don't use as much material to make them as they would a size 16? I wish!!!

Anyway, as I said its not really relevant, but is somewhat related to the topic at hand.


Disclaimer: I'm tired and hope that reads the way I intended it to. Not trying to be rude, just being honest...

 

[Coryloach]

The way the world is going, the planes should be increasing the seat sizes anyway, to suit majority of the population....

I vote for the third option, because I'd use the fat guy as a cushion...There is a way to utilize the best of any situation....

 

[Warborg]

If a fat person's girth goes over into the next seat, they should pay for it. When I fly, I'm paying for the whole seat. Why should I have to share 'my' seat with someone who is not paying for it?

 

[MrsE88]

I picked the third option.
I’m a passive person and hate to make anyone feel uncomfortable. So I will suffer silently if I can spare someone else embarrassment. It’s just my personality.

Reminds me of the time I went to an amusement park when I was 9.
When boarding a ride they split my sisters and I up to properly distribute the weight on the ride. They sat me(65ish lbs) next to a guy easily 300+. I was so squished, painfully squished.
The bar wouldn’t go down either. So after what felt like forever they told him he had to get off and they sat someone else next to me. I was embarrassed for him. I kept my mouth shut the whole time.
So I could easily see myself doing the same thing if I was in that position again.

 

[Steve_C]

I picked #2. If you are so big you are taking up more than your seat then you should have to buy two seats. Back 10 yrs ago I use to be big, I was 400lbs, and it was no ones fault but my own that I was that size (I'm 225lbs now so no longer that size . So if I got on a plane then I would have been right in that same boat and should have bought two seats if it were me back then.

 

[Piscavores:)]

I had to vote #2 because my uncle is obese and has to buy two seats so it’s reasonable

 

[Niki_up]

I would sit and suffer in silence if put in the position.

However, I think it is unjust for the airlines to charge for two seats.

I have flown many times, I’m not what I consider obese (bmi index might disagree, but I’m 5’8 200lbs) I’m larger in the hip area and some of those seats are small enough to cause me discomfort, even the leg room is limited bc my legs are long. I have even seen a 6 foot+ lady that was skinny not fit in the seats properly. So what now? The tall lady should pay for an extra seat so she can turn her knees into another seat area bc she doesn’t fit either? Where does it stop? If I paid for three seats would I get all three seats in the row without being charged the pre-booking seat fee Bc I am one person who wants 3 seats of comfort, or do I get charged extra for having to reserv my seats? Not much good of me paying for three seats if they are spread out over the plane?

If it were left up to them they would be making all the seats smaller and making even average sized people pay for two seats....they want to cram us in like little sardines and maximize profits for taking more passengers per flight, yet charging us for our “extra baggage” bc of weight restrictions

Why can’t they building their planes to hold less people and give everyone a bit more room? Flying is an expensive luxury, why should it feel like I’m on a local city bus? charge a little extra for the seats to re-coup the cost of flying less people per trip? If you can’t afford to fly then don’t fly....flying is not a right and I have a right to not feel cramped

(Yes I know my rant runs in two directions, but if they charged more per person with less people on the plane then maybe we wouldn’t have to pay extra for extra luggage amd seat reservations fees and be cautious of weight restrictions for that specific flight) I’m also tired so I just threw out all my thoughts in a jumble...sorry

 

[jaws7777]

I think the length of the flight would dictate my choice. I could deal with being uncomfortable for a short flight but no a long one.

I dont fly much anyway