Flier, displaced by obese seatmate, forced to stand for 7 hours

[Are_grits_groceries]

A passenger on a US Airways flight said he was forced to stand for seven hours after he was squeezed out of his seat by an obese man sitting next to him.“I didn’t fly from Alaska to Philadelphia on Flight 901,” Arthur Berkowitz told Christopher Elliott, a consumer advocate who operates elliott.org. “I stood.”

“His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat,” Berkowitz said. “It did not allow me to use my seatbelt during takeoff and landing as well as required me to stand in the aisle and galley area for most of the seven-hour-plus flight.”
The incident occurred on July 29 and was first reported by Elliott on Tuesday.

Berkowitz said he alerted flight attendants to the problem, but they were unable to accommodate him, according to his account on elliott.org. “They were sympathetic, but they could not do anything. No other seats existed on plane. They would not permit me to sit in their jump seats, and fully acknowledged the mistake by their gate agent, in allowing this individual on plane without requiring him to purchase and occupy two seats,” he said.

Liz Landau, a spokesperson for US Airways, confirmed that Berkowitz was inconvenienced by a passenger of size and told msnbc.com “it was his choice to stand.”
<snip>
“The way to ensure you have space available next to you — whether you are a person of size, or you would simply like to ensure you have more personal space to relax on a long flight — is to purchase that additional seat, or First Class, in advance.”
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_nv/more/section/archive?author=joemyxter

If this isn't exaggeration to get attention or money, that airline should be smacked.

In addition, the suggestions by Liz would have made me even madder.

[alphafemale]

1. Why didn't they make the guy with the flesh spill over stand? nt

[dkf]

2. Large people have figured out that they can publicize their unfair treatment.

So now everyone else must accommodate them.

[Marrah_G]

5. I refuse to fly, even though I can fly for almost nothing

I am a big woman....now I don't know if I am big enough that I would "spill over" but I sure ask heck won't go through the humiliation of finding out. There has to be a better way for Airlines to do this. Perhaps they could have a few rows that have 2 seats instead of 3 that cost 50% more to accommodate people that are over weight.

[dkf]

12. Heck I might pay for a seat like that.

Especially in a commuter airbus. Those things are torture.

[FarCenter]

13. The rows in first class have 2 seats instead of 3.

[annabanana]

17. The armrests in first class don't go up.

As a former really large person I know that.

[bluestate10]

56. The seat space is large. A person would have to be huge to take up that space. nt

[Marrah_G]

34. I can't afford that much

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LWolf]

101. Or they could just make all seats a reasonable size,

which would fit even most over weight people.

You don't have to be over weight to find airline seats a little tight on space. Regardless of size, I've always requested aisle seats when possible, just for the feeling of a little extra space.

[HowHeThinks]

8. Unfair treatment?

How are they being treated unfairly? Taking up parts of two other people's seats is "unfair"? It's the others sitting next to them who are being treated unfairly. They paid the same price for their seats and aren't getting the benefit of using them. Although the airlines have rules in place for seating obese customers I've never seen them put them into use. They prefer to let the customers duke it out instead of being proactive. It's yet another example of the airlines shirking their responsibilities. They could care less about customer satisfaction. It's all about what's easiest and most profitable for them.

[dkf]

11. Would the airline take more heat over making the large or small person stand the entire flight?

I think the large person standing would be more of a headache for the airline. Look to see how many publicize this story.

[Quantess]

4. Maybe he was so obese that he was physically unable to.

Just guessing.

[former9thward]

35. He shouldn't be flying then.

His rights are not superior to anyone else.

[pnwmom]

3. And what about the poor person squished into the window seat?

I know a woman who suffered permanent nerve damage in her leg after being stuck on a long plane flight in exactly this situation.

I really don't understand how flight attendants could think standing up for the whole flight was a better option than using one of the jump seats.

[JI7]

6. i don't understand this, don't they require people to put on belts and sit down duringn

certain points in the flight ? so this guy is standing and they just ignore it ? are there any comments on this from other people who flew on the plane ?

[uppityperson]

43. That's my take also. NO way would they let them take off/land if he'd said he couldn't fasten

seatbelt.

[Sherman A1]

7. Oh, US Airways is going to have some problems

not only from a PR perspective, but there are those pesky issues of Federal Aviation Regulations. Bad judgement was used by the gate agent, the flight attendants & ultimately the Pilot in Command. I suspect that they will see some fines from this and at the very least the customer should be refunded their airfare along with other compensation.

Just another reason to avoid flying in my opinion.

[HowHeThinks]

9. Never happen.

They won't be fined, or reprimanded in any way. US Airways has a habit of doing this (I'm sure other airlines as well). It happened to me last year on a flight from Orlando to NYC. I was in the aisle seat and the man sitting next to me was "overly large" (I'm being very kind), taking up half my seat (and half of the window seat as well). Even worse, the man smelled so bad it was nauseating. The flight was full, nowhere else to sit, and I was told by the flight attendant that there was nothing they could do. :wtf:
I wrote a letter to US Airways demanding some sort of compensation and was told, in essence, to "get over it". They accepted no blame whatsoever. Needless to say I'll never fly US Airways again.
Flying coach is no better than being stuffed into a cattle car. The airlines could care less if you're comfortable, or even safe, for that matter.

[Sherman A1]

10. You need to file a complaint with the FAA

the NTSB & every Local, State & Federal Agency that has any jurisdiction over them. Make enough noise and you may not get any compensation, however they will be responding to many a government agency inquiry.

[Major Nikon]

52. DOT is where you file the complaint

http://airconsumer.dot.gov/problems.htm

[Jamastiene]

14. This looks interesting.

:popcorn:

[tabbycat31]

15. An idea for airlines

DO what amusement parks do for their roller coasters--- have a model seat displayed outside and if you can't fit in the model seat, then you need to buy two seats. End of story.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. They have those things for you to see if your bag fits

A seat should be no problem.

Good idea.

[GoneOffShore]

20. That would the logical thing to do.

Or the airlines could stop pleading poverty, get rid of three rows of seats in coach, widen the seats so that this doesn't happen, open up the plane a little and make flying a pleasant experience again.

Better yet, re-regulate the airlines. They are a public means of transportation.

[Gormy Cuss]

36. That does no good. The passenger has arrived at the airport with ticket in hand.

If the plane's full (and many are these days) all that using the sizer seat would do is prove that a ticketed passenger can't fit into the seat. It wouldn't solve the problem.

And FWIW I've flown coast to coast on a full plane seated next to a person who was very obese (both arm rests up, seat belt extenders, couldn't lower her tray table because of her bulk. Was it a pleasant flight? No. Did I survive? Yes. The only other option would have been for one of us to be booted from the plane and it was at the peak of T-day travel.

Some planes have seats that are only 16" wide. The standard is between 17"-18". If all planes had at least some seats that were 18" wide there would be few travelers who were too large to fit in their seats.

Fixing seat width is a bit hard for the airlines, but seat pitch contributes to the feeling of being crowded and that's completely within the airline's control. If they reset economy seating to factory configurations most complaints about obese neighbors would disappear.

[slackmaster]

103. Having a ticket doesn't mean you are assured of being allowed to board a plane

They can keep you off the plane if you show up at the gate intoxicated, or have carry-on items that don't fit the criteria, or for many other reasons.

[Gormy Cuss]

108. All true.

Of course, sizing passengers could turn into a PR nightmare for the airline.

[Fokker Trip]

59. That's a dam good idea.

That way its up to the overweight person as to what they want to do.

The inanimate seat essentially takes the blame and no one has to tell anyone what to do, its just obvious.

It really is a good idea.

[Missy Vixen]

74. I have posted the following at least 50 times on DU in the past five years

I have NEVER had one person comment on what should happen about the following. After all, it's all about demonization of the fat.

Larger individuals are required to buy a second seat, but the SMALL PRINT on that ticket allows the airline to RESEAT another person in that SECOND SEAT the fat person was told they required.

If the airline cannot guarantee that both of those purchased seats are for the exclusive use of the person who was forced to buy them, they shouldn't charge for a second seat. Period. The person in question should also receive twice the frequent flyer miles.

[Odin2005]

18. I'm fat and I certainly wouldn't have taken up half the other guy's seat.

I'm 300 pounds and I fit just fine, this guy must be like 400-something. UGH!!!

[Obamanaut]

19. Why is it not permitted to say what it really is?

Everyone has a "size", but some have a much greater "size" than others. "...inconvenienced by a passenger of size..." is simply newspeak for obese, or fat, or (put in what you choose).

A very tiny person has a "size" but doesn't inconvenience the person in an adjacent seat by 'spill-over'.

[1776Forever]

21. There are other ways to accommodate extra large people & some airlines have up front seats where a

person can sit without "bothering" others. I don't blame the large person, I know that there are more then one reason a person is large then just over eating, as much as I blame the airlines for not making sure EVERYONE was comfortable! I wouldn't fly that airlines again if I was the large man or you!

[oldhippie]

22. Leave the armrest down ......

I've had several flights where a fat seatmate lifted up the armrest to help himself to part of my seat. I just put it right back down and told him/her (had both) that I needed the armrest for my comfort. If he had a problem with that to talk to a flight attendant. If a FA asks if I will agree to raise the armrest, I say no. Usually the FA will try to reseat me or the fat person. Acouple times they let the person stay, but my armrest stayed down and the guy overflowed the other way. In no case did I ever let the fattie overflow into my seat. Sorry, I paid for my seat and it's bad enough I have to sit in the crappy thing for many hours without someone else sitting in half of it. No sympathy here.

[shanti]

49. exactly

my first thought is why did the guy put the armrest up? it's what delineates your seat. the only time i leave the armrest up is if i'm traveling with family or friends, and i ALWAYS get an aisle seat or the emergency door row if i can help it. forget the bulkhead seats. those go for a premium now.

[dmallind]

51. Damn near EVERYBODY "spills over" a coach seat

Mark the widest parts of your body standing against a garage wall. If they are more than 17" apart you overspill a coach seat too. How many adults have chests under 34" (arms are about 50% as wide as torsos are deep)?

[BiggJawn]

23. Here we go...

...pile on the Fattie...
"Disgusting"
"smelly"
"sweaty"

:popcorn:

[Occulus]

31. Um.

It sounds, in this case, as though the "fattie" was the one doing the piling-on.

[GoCubsGo]

33. Huh? Where?

I have not read one post here that could remotely be considered as "pile on the Fattie", and could you please point out where anyone has used the words "Disgusting", "smelly" or "sweaty"?

[BiggJawn]

63. The sub-thread starting at Post 41.

With the little bad-ass claiming he's gonna break my fingers and knees because I'm "robbing" him of his seat space.

[Missy Vixen]

76. It makes them feel important and "part of the crowd".

After all, they'll never be fat, or smell bad, or unattractive.

I used to think I would never wish my metabolic issues on my worst enemy. After reading some of the bigots on these threads, I can't wait till they have some of their very own.

[Fokker Trip]

85. Wishing other people harm, not a great way to get your point across.

Makes them feel like part of the crowd, I don`t agree. The fellow overflowing the seat was in the wrong because he was forcing another paying passenger to stand up. What if he`d been a skinny guy who insisted on having his open briefcase on the other man`s seat. He`d be in the wrong too, but nobody would be using the word bigot on those saying so.

Bigot is a pretty strong word and this is not a thread bashing all overweight people IMO.

Your having metabolic issues in no good, I have CF and chronic conditions suck for sure. Given that more than 30% of the US population is obese(higher in the UK) accommodating the obese is necessary, but surely its not the guy who paid for his seat and then had to stand who should have to do the accommodating.

[Fokker Trip]

78. I don`t see anyone ``piling on the fattie`` . The `fattie`did the piling. nt

[ProdigalJunkMail]

24. Purchasing an extra seat may not work for you either...

a friend recently purchase three seats for her and her daughter on a long flight (so they could have the middle seat between them empty and relax a little) but because the flight was 'oversold' Delta saw fit to put a person in the seat...and did NOT refund the money to my friend but offered a 'voucher' for about half the value of the seat.

sP

[dsc]

26. how can they legally do that?

I don't see how they can possibly get away with that.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

47. i don't know...but they did...

something about the language in the 'contract' when you buy a ticket...

sP

[dsc]

82. I can't see how that isn't theft

you paid for two seats, and they took one. It would be as if you went to Target and bought two cases of coke and they took one from you after you exited the store because they ran out.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

91. that would assume that you OWN something

and you do not own the seat, you simply are 'renting' it and as part of the 'rental agreement' you can lose that seat in certain situations.

i don't know how it all works out, but that is what happened.

sP

[dsc]

99. I don't see any circumstances where they shouldn't have to refund

the full price. This isn't some factor beyond their control like the weather. They simply want to make more money.

[Missy Vixen]

77. They've been doing so for years

Ask Kevin Smith about it, for instance.

[dsc]

81. No what they did to Kevin, as bad as it was, was quite different

Here a passenger paid, up front, for two seats and the airline simply took one and didn't pay for it. They basicaly stole a seat. It would be as if you went to KMart and paid for two cases of soda, and when you exited the store they took one back and gave it to another customer without paying you for it. In Smith's case they told him to pay for an extra seat because he was encroaching on a seat.

[Missy Vixen]

84. He mentioned during the interviews I heard that he routinely purchased an entire row

when flying on Southwest. This was the one time he did not. He also shared the row with a woman named Nicole, who was humiliated by another Southwest FA over the same situation.

[dsc]

87. again bad behavior by the airline

but not the same thing. I fully understand giving a passenger the option of paying for a second seat or being bumped when they encroach on another seat. But I don't see any fairness in taking a seat away from a passenger with no compensation.

[shanti]

50. wow....

i hope your friend pitched a fit!

[Modern_Matthew]

25. This is all the airline's fault. nt

[undeterred]

27. This happened to me once flying from LA to Chicago

I found my seat and saw that the obese man's body was half way into it. There was no way I was going to fit my body into half a seat. I kept walking toward the back of the plane where a flight attendant was standing and I told her about it. She told me to sit in her seat and she would figure it out.

She never said anything to the obese passenger. It turned out that I sat in her seat for the whole flight and there were just enough seats so that she could sit down when everyone had to. But it really wasn't fair. That passenger could not fit into a regular seat, and his body flew in two seats for the price of one- at least as far as I know.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. There's a real SAFETY issue here

Everyone is supposed to be seated and belted during take-off and landing, including the flight attendants.

It simply was NOT SAFE to have a passenger standing during those two operations. Furthermore, he would have had no options if the plane had hit the kind of turbulence that causes things to go flying.

One of the two passengers should have been asked to take a later flight, perhaps sweetened with a nice cash reward.

I know how hard it is to lose weight, and I know that not everyone gets fat from overeating. But the FAA should come down hard on U.S. Airways for not making it possible for a passenger to sit down and be belted during take-off and landing.

[Orangepeel]

29. They would not have taken off if the passenger wasn't buckled in

This man probably was inconvenienced, and he should not have been. But he is exaggerating the problem. If he really couldn't use the seatbelt, the airline wouldn't have just said "oh, well."

[GoCubsGo]

32. The other passenger probably used an extender.

I don't think this guy was exaggerating. There is barely enough room for non-overweight people in those seats.

[Orangepeel]

37. the complaining passenger is quoted as saying that he couldn't use his own seatbelt

I don't believe that. The flight attendants might not have cared about his comfort, but they definitely would have cared about that regulation.

[GoCubsGo]

62. I misunderstood what you were saying.

I thought you meant that the obese man couldn't buckle his seat belt, not the other guy. And, you are right, the flight attendants would not have let him take off without being buckled in.

[roody]

30. This happened four months ago.

[SomethingFishy]

38. I have never ever seen an airline let a passenger stand up

for a flight. NEVER. And I fly 3 or 4 times month... something is not right about this story...

[HughBeaumont]

39. Here's one thing I'M not getting in general: HOW does a flight get "oversold"???

I've been seeing this more than a few times lately.

Set number of seats.
Set number of passengers.
DONE. "Sorry, this flight is Sold Out" or "Unavailable". Whatever happened to that?

HOW are flights getting "oversold"?? I'm just not buying a "short notice cancellation here, two bookings in it's place there" excuse.

This isn't rocket science, damn it.

Are airlines really THAT profit hungry?

[ikri]

42. They assume some people won't turn up

Trains do it too. I'm not sure on the actual figure, but they work on the assumption that a small percentage of people won't make the journey for a variety of reasons so they sell those additional places to bring the expected total to 100%.

99% of the time it works for the airline but that will still leave them with a number of flights where they've more passengers than seats.

[themadstork]

70. Hotels also

Probably every business with mass reservations does it.

[KittyWampus]

67. My father has gotten free fight vouchers that way. He shows up and 'volunteers for the next

flight if they need his seat. As compensation for taking the next flight, they give him a free flight voucher for another flight in the future.

I don't know if they do this any more.

[kudzu22]

90. They do

My next trip's airfare is free, for getting bumped off an oversold flight last year.

[Selatius]

94. They automatically assume some passengers never show up or miss the flight.

If there are 250 seats on a plane, they'll sell 270 to ensure the plane is full and that they make a profit off all the seats and not just some of the seats.

[JackRiddler]

106. They always overbook the flight, if enough people want to travel. Always.

Assumption is that some people won't show up (pure profit) and if all of them do, they'll say oops and force some on to other flights. Even if this means surrendering free miles or tickets in compensation. The math works for them, or they wouldn't do it this way.

[ZenaD]

40. Unbelievable that they'd allow someone to stand during takeoff and landing

It's not only a danger to the person but to everyone around him if he becomes a projectile.

[Edweird]

41. Fuck that. "You do not have my permission to touch me. Stay on your side of the armrest

or I will help you."

[GaYellowDawg]

45. And that...

That, my friend, is a great way to get your ass kicked by a fat person.

[Edweird]

46. LOL Fat people's bones break just like skinny people's bones.

The only advantage I see fat people having is a layer of protection over the solar plexus and possibly the kidneys. But the fact is I'm not going to 'trade licks' with anyone. Their fingers, wrists, elbows and other joints (KNEES!) are just as vulnerable as everyone other person's.

[GaYellowDawg]

54. Yeah, yeah, we get it... you're a bone-breaking badass.

And if presented with a fat person on an airplane, you'll start up with your badassery. And yes, knees, because they're obviously vulnerable when someone's sitting down. :eyes:

Truth is, you don't have any idea when you assault someone whether they've got the training or the flat-out determination to kick the shit out of you, so it's a pretty stupid idea to start physical shit up just because someone upsets you.

[Edweird]

55. Um, you're a little confused about who the aggressor is here, Hoss.

I'm sitting in the seat I paid for and somebody else pushes me out of it? That's strong arm robbery. If you don't fit in the seat you bought it does not give you the right to deprive me of the one I paid for and fit in. If you don't want someone pushing back then don't push them in the first place. If you're big enough to take up 2 or more seats YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS so plan accordingly. If you're 'flat out determined to kick my ass' over the fact that I am unwilling to give YOU my seat, expect me to press charges win/lose/draw. That is a problem between you and the airline.

[GaYellowDawg]

57. You assume intent where none exists.

Someone else buys a ticket. He's fat. He bought his ticket, too. If he spills over, it's not because he wants to. If you want to blame someone, blame the airline for not making him pay a 2 seat charge.

[Edweird]

58. Don't try to tell me that fat people aren't aware of their size.

It's not a secret that airplane seats are small. I'm not standing in the aisle because someone else is inconsiderate.

[GaYellowDawg]

68. Don't try to tell me that fat people don't need to travel.

If the possibility of being squeezed is so horrible, why not just abandon air travel? Because that's what you're suggesting for the fat people, right? No one ever guaranteed you that your travel would be perfect. If you have to sit beside a fat person, suck it up and shut the fuck up. A little inconvenience isn't going to kill you. If you wanted to pay them back, you could always bitch at them the whole trip like you're doing here. That is, if you weren't being a tough guy breaking bones or some stupid shit like that. Grow the fuck up and quit being so damn spoiled.

[themadstork]

72. You have no idea what it means to be the aggressor.

Whenever you're crammed into a tight space with other people, do you take every body that touches yours as an act of aggression?

[BiggJawn]

64. And it's easier to kick skinny runts balls...

Up around their tonsils, because they ain't got so much padding.

Fuck you.

[themadstork]

71. An internet tough-guy.

Oh boy. . .

[Missy Vixen]

79. You'd be met at the plane's door by federal agents, Sparky

If someone ever behaved towards me on a flight like you are referencing in your post, there would also be a civil suit filed as well.

Assault is assault.

[Fumesucker]

89. I think you replied to the wrong post..

#45 was the post where violence was threatened first..

[GaYellowDawg]

92. Um, no.

Not a threat. An observation.

[Bonobo]

95. Oh yeah, I wanted to thank you for the siggie, Fumesucker! nt

[Edweird]

48. I paid for a seat and someone using their size to bully me out of it is wrong and

will be met with resistance. It's called 'strong arm robbery'. They knew their size when they bought their ticket.

[Puglover]

107. I worked for an airline for 31 years bub.

And if you pulled "resistance" and didn't cease and desist when told to by a crew member the pilot would likely short stop the airplane enroute and you would have your aggressive self hauled off and thrown in jail. You could continue your tough guy act from your cell.

The fat guy and the rest of us would continue on our way.

Sorry but those are the cold hard facts.

[Fokker Trip]

75. Nice way to threaten a fellow poster...sensitive much?

The Arm rest is the divider. Why should anyone be free to impinge on another persons seat?

I fought a fat guy once, he started it and I finished it. It was like hitting a pillow. If you`re strong and large or beefy then you aren`t likely considered obese. If you`re truly morbidly obese, and i mean large enough to over flow an airline seat. then you aren`t likely to win many fights, IMO.

Its not possible(in my experience) for a person to be morbidly obese and be fast at the same time. Balance also seems like an issue.

I have no issue with the over weight but I don`t think that they should get special treatment, I`m 6`4`and I have trouble with airline seats too.

Smokers can`t smoke on airplanes. Eating and smoking are both addictions.(Yes, some people have a medical condition that makes it very hard to loose weight, that is not the majority)

Bottom line for me, I don`t think anyone on a flight has the right to unreasonably inconvenience anyone else on that flight. I include uncontrolled screaming children in that opinion as well.

[GaYellowDawg]

93. LOL. Survey says: wrong!

"I will help you." That was threatening, with overtones of physical violence; getting physical with a stranger is a great way to potentially get your ass kicked. An observation. Not a threat.

It's stupid to assume that someone is not very capable of self-defense and start something up. You kicked one fat guy's ass. The next fat guy might put you down. You just never know with people.

[Fumesucker]

96. Who is "getting physical" first?

The person who deliberately intrudes on another person's space that they have paid for or the person who tells them not to invade their space?

Because if you pull up the arm rest and then intrude on the other person's space, that is a deliberate act.

[Politicalboi]

44. He should have sat in the isle

Let the flight attendants walk over him.

[RebelOne]

53. Once when flying from Miami to Atlanta and I was in the window seat,

an obese man was sitted new to me, but he was considerate enough to move to where there were 2 empty seats. He said he didn't want to squish me.

[joeybee12]

60. All airlines suck, but US Airways is the worst...Liz Landau is a twit...

If she had a real job, she'd be fired.

[Blasphemer]

61. The airline is definitely at fault assuming this passenger's version of events is true

As has been said, he absolutely HAD to be buckled in for liftoff and landing. If the obese passenger was of a size that made it impossible for the airline to follow FAA regulations, they should have dealt with it as soon as he began to board. The passenger himself should have known of the problems he might encounter on a full flight and try to plan accordingly with the airline. I generally sympathize with people are unfairly treated due to their weight but given the current airplane architecture, I think these passengers need to make particular arrangements with the airlines in advance. Perhaps one day airplanes will include a few adjustable seats (i..e a row of three being modified into a row of 2) that a passenger can indicate the need for when booking.

[oldhippie]

66. I have personally witnessed two instances of a plane taking off ....

.... where the flight attendants were fully aware that a passenger did not have his seat belt buckled. Both were fat men that couldn't get the belt around them. FAs said all the extenders were already in use. We took off and landed anyway.

[blaze]

65. One row for obese

Really... does it have to be this difficult?

Make one row two seats.... not three.

Would the airlines really loose all that much $$$?

[Lasher]

88. They already have them.

They're called first class.

I'm not trying to be a smartass about this. The seats are there and the airlines could upgrade the obese to first class for no extra charge if they wanted to. But they don't want to and other passengers might resent it.

[madinmaryland]

97. Southwest does not have first class seating. All seating is Coach on SW. nt

[Lasher]

98. Come to think of it, there's none on those cigar tubes either.

I don't think an obese person could even get through the door of one of the smallest commuters I've been on.

[nadine_mn]

69. I am obese and I hate flying

I have had to fly for work (back when I had a job) and I dreaded every minute of - asking for the seatbelt extender, hoping no one was in the middle seat...

I can't afford to buy 2 seats and I hate the idea of squishing someone. Some posters here act like we fatties WANT to spill over and crowd our fellow passengers - are you kidding me?

I know - we should just lose weight if we want to fly - but when I had a conference to go to for work on 2 months notice... ummm I can't lose 100 pounds that fast. And working for a non-profit - no way were they going to pay for 2 tickets.

I am currently working out and dieting and have only lost 26 pounds and it has taken me a few months to do that, so please quit acting like 1) we don't know we are fat 2) we have so much disposable income we can afford 2 tickets and 3)that we can just lose weight in a snap to fit on a plane.

The seats on airplanes are just too small period (forget the fat issue) - there shouldn't be a middle seat.. that is just too uncomfortable for any one... being packed in like sardines. Tall people have it worse with their legs all over the place.

Not every fat person is trying to act entitled... its embarrassing. And you know what - I know this sounds like poor me - but I avoid going out and going places because of the attitudes of some expressed here. You want fat people to lose weight? Be nicer to them, then we leave the house more and get out and about. Calling us names or threatening to kick our ass doesn't motivate anyone.

[Prometheus Bound]

80. Thanks for the perspective.

I've sat near and sometimes beside obese people on long flights and they never look happy about flying. It must be extremely trying.

[Fokker Trip]

83. Your points are well taken. Good post.

I posted up thread because it seems that an over-weight person threw the first threat. No offence intended.

Everyone has issues of one kind or another and your post seems both heart-felt and totally reasonable.

Thanks, seems there is no good answer at the moment. Ultimately it is the airlines fault. I`m 6`4 and weigh 185(yes I`m something of a stick figure lol) and I have trouble on airlines with how long my legs are. I used to weigh 230 and am not really sure how I lost the weight. I do know that I have to dress up more when it gets cold.

Airline seating on a full flight is always a pain and all airlines seem to want to do is cram more and more seats in. Effing corporate bullshit.

Thanks for your post Nadine.

[ZenaD]

104. I feel for you. I'm a size 10 and find the seats uncomfortable as hell.

And at 5 foot 5 the leg room is ridiculously inadequate. My fiance is 6 foot 3 so we try to get the exit row whenever we can. The airlines made the decision to jam as many seats as they could into coach sections, comfort and dignity be damned.

"Not every fat person is trying to act entitled... its embarrassing. And you know what - I know this sounds like poor me - but I avoid going out and going places because of the attitudes of some expressed here. You want fat people to lose weight? Be nicer to them, then we leave the house more and get out and about. Calling us names or threatening to kick our ass doesn't motivate anyone."

My future MIL is nice woman in general but really insensitive about weight. One time we were having a big extended family holiday meal and she was giving my fiance's cousin (her niece) "helpful" advice about what she should eat, which made the woman visibly uncomfortable and irritated. In the car on the way home she started talking about how "poor Shelly needs to do something about her weight". I turned to her and said, "You know, when has someone ever lost an ounce of weight because other people nagged and shamed them?"

[La Lioness Priyanka]

105. i am not obese but i agree with you. people can be so unkind about being fat

yes, more and more of us are. i bet more than half the people who are beating up on the obese, are overweight themselves and know first hand how hard it is to lose weight

[Safetykitten]

73. The seats are just too small for most people now.

I am 6'2" and 220, and not obese and on one flight had to play shoulders forward, shoulders back to guys on each side of me, as they were not fat at all but broad shouldered. The seats are crazy small.

[eridani]

86. Appalling bad manners

I have two friends of that size married to each other, and when they fly they always buy three adjacent seats. Works out well for all concerned.

[slackmaster]

102. The airline should have made the passenger of size buy two seats or go in first-class

:argh: