This is an old topic on BGP and one that my friend Rockmom and I completely disagree on.

 

I say it's too bad for the big people whose body goes past the unofficial boundaries of their seat ie past the arm rest. They either buy 2 tickets or they do not fly.

 

This guy STOOD FOR 7 HOURS because a 400-pound passenger had the seat next to him. 7 hours!

 

No one from the airlines had the nerve to stand up and say "you can't fly today, sir."

 

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/255698/20111124/obese-man-forces-u-s-airways-passenger.htm

 

Ignore the part of the story where people make jokes about the fat guy. Irrelevant to the story.

I had this "argument" with my wife on our way to our honeymoon. She didn't think they should have to buy 2 seats. I would be irate if I was the guy who stood for 7 hours. I don't completely get why he stood the whole time. Why didn't he sit on the floor?

This is an old topic on BGP and one that my friend Rockmom and I completely disagree on.

 

I say it's too bad for the big people whose body goes past the unofficial boundaries of their seat ie past the arm rest. They either buy 2 tickets or they do not fly.

 

This guy STOOD FOR 7 HOURS because a 400-pound passenger had the seat next to him. 7 hours!

 

No one from the airlines had the nerve to stand up and say "you can't fly today, sir."

 

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/255698/20111124/obese-man-forces-u-s-airways-passenger.htm

 

Ignore the part of the story where people make jokes about the fat guy. Irrelevant to the story.

 

 

Do we include people who stink from body odor, cigarettes, too much perfume or cologne?

I'm with Clyde on this one. Buy two seats, don't fly, or loss some freaking weight. Simple as that.

I had this "argument" with my wife on our way honeymoon. She didn't think they should have to buy 2 seats.

 

I don't fly as much as I used to. However, it doesn't take many flights where you're scrunched up against the window to see the light.

I'm with Clyde on this one. Buy two seats, don't fly, or loss some freaking weight. Simple as that.

 

Some people have health conditions which I understand but I still think they should buy 2 seats.

Some people have health conditions which I understand but I still think they should buy 2 seats.

 

So that's why they should have the buy two seats option. I agree.

Until airlines start making seats accommodating overweight people, they should have to buy two seats. The airline should have seen this problem coming when they let a 400 pound man fly on a completely packed flight. They should also be thanking God that the man standing didn't somehow fall and get hurt.

Until airlines start making seats accommodating overweight people, they should have to buy two seats. The airline should have seen this problem coming when they let a 400 pound man fly on a completely packed flight. They should also be thanking God that the man standing didn't somehow fall and get hurt.

Will never happen. No upside for the airline.

I have never understood the rationale as to why you would not charge for an extra ticket? You are essentially paying for a space on an airplane, not admittance.

Will never happen. No upside for the airline.

I don't think they should. But then again, this is America.

I don't have a problem with airlines placing some sort of conditions on their passengers. My question is how they would convey these conditions to would-be passengers. How would they let someone know whether they are going to have to purchase two seats to fly before they buy their ticket? Or will this be a judgement call by the gate agent before boarding?

There should be a "sample seat" for people to sit in prior to the flight, similar to what they have for carry on luggage(although it never seems to be enforced). If you don't fit, then you buy an extra ticket.

I don't have a problem with airlines placing some sort of conditions on their passengers. My question is how they would convey these conditions to would-be passengers. How would they let someone know whether they are going to have to purchase two seats to fly before they buy their ticket? Or will this be a judgement call by the gate agent before boarding?

 

A simple disclaimer, providing the airline with the right to refuse boarding based on weight/size limitations, when purchasing the ticket would suffice. The disclaimer would state that "those passengers, deemed overweight by airline personnel, will be subject to a seat measurement prior to boarding. Purchasing the ticket does not guarantee a seat, if the passenger does not meet seat size limitations. If the purchaser feels they might not meet those restrictions, they have the option to by a second ticket for that passenger."

 

Prior to boarding, any person deemed overweight would have to sit in a regular airline seat and see if they can fasten the seat belt without an extender. If the potential passenger could not do so, the person would have to purchase another seat on the flight in question (if possible), purchase 2 seats on another flight, or receive a refund.

I don't have a problem with airlines placing some sort of conditions on their passengers. My question is how they would convey these conditions to would-be passengers. How would they let someone know whether they are going to have to purchase two seats to fly before they buy their ticket? Or will this be a judgement call by the gate agent before boarding?

 

You've certainly hit on the issues at hand.

 

Is it good enough to say when you buy a ticket online that you are subject to having to buy another ticket pending a review of your size?

 

99% of gate agents are going to let a large person slide and hope the passenger next to them doesn't complain.

 

From a "let the market decide" perspective the power is with the airlines IMO. We simply do not have a lot of choices so the chance of us ditching an airline over one or two incidents like this are minimal so why would they do anything?