Should large people have to buy two airplane seats for themselves?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I still stand to my answer on the poll - buy 2 seats. Let's just be honest and admit that if you really did need 2 plane seats to yourself you would have to be very large indeed.

I've seen the same thing on the bus and train and they don't make specific concessions for 'outsize' people. You make the best of what's available. Noone said that mass transit was supposed to be luxurious - but there should be a minimum standard.

Should the airline make costly concessions just for a few people who come predominantly from one world market? What happens if a person wants to fly who's larger than the new ideal?

[Alex+R 0]

I still stand to my answer on the poll - buy 2 seats. Let's just be honest and admit that if you really did need 2 plane seats to yourself you would have to be very large indeed.

Not really. You can be very large and need one plane seat, or kind of average sized and barely fit in yours.

[no name 1]

Yes but even a lifestyle choice is difficult to maintain when you grow up forming wrong ideas about food. And all the while, these people are fighting messages they are getting from their caveman brains telling them to eat. That's why people can be overpowered by their impulses without being able to think about it first. It's a HUGE undertaking, changing the way you eat.

It's still excuses Alex. Everyone knows what makes them fat. You are saying people are too busy listening to their caveman brains to know better? Come on.

Back to the topic at hand - I do not want to pay extra for my airplane seat. Nor do I want to be squished by a person who clearly doens't fit in theirs.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I still stand to my answer on the poll - buy 2 seats. Let's just be honest and admit that if you really did need 2 plane seats to yourself you would have to be very large indeed.

Not really. You can be very large and need one plane seat, or kind of average sized and barely fit in yours.

If you spill across 2 seats (enough so that your arms are in your neighbours lap) you would have to be very large. I've seen it on every form of public transport I've ever used. The guy who rides my bus out of NYC takes up a whole bench to himself, is clearly very overweight and weighs at a guess no less than 300lbs.

Again why should the airline make concessions for a minority of people who come largely from the US as opposed to Europe and Asia?

[Jenn! 918]

Should the airline make costly concessions just for a few people who come predominantly from one world market? What happens if a person wants to fly who's larger than the new ideal?

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

[Alex+R 0]

I think the fat people issue really is at the heart of the topic at hand though. Obviously nobody wants someone in the plane seat they paid for. Nobody's even debating that. I find this book (excerpted at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...oryId=10354959) to be really depressing, but your average overweight person is probably thinking about and attempting to lose weight every day, and most people are failing. This country really pressures us to be thin, so you better believe most people are trying.

[no name 1]

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

Not the same thing! Those seats fit MOST people & I'm sure many weeks/months were spent designing them to fit an average sized person.

[Alex+R 0]

Should the airline make costly concessions just for a few people who come predominantly from one world market? What happens if a person wants to fly who's larger than the new ideal?

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

That would accommodate your average Chinese person. What if it's a Chinese airline?

[aya*abouelnasr 0]

Just to clear up a few things about my diabeties. Had I put on extra weight around the waist just prior to becoming diabetic? Yes, in the form of a triplet pregnancy. Though diabeties has been prevalent in my family for many generations, and I have always been "borderline" diabetic, I had always controlled it with diet and excersise. During my pregnancy, I became what is known as a "brittle" diabetic. My diabeties is very hard to control, the same dose of insulin that covers me today, may make me go into extreme lows or highs tomorrow. So, I do eat a well balance diet, chicken, fish, veggies. I eat sweets once a month at the most, and walk for an hour daily as excercise. During my "lazy times", I take care of three very hyper active sons, clean my home, and do my gardening and yard work. Did I fail to mention that I also work full time, and help take care of my parents? I dont' do the "diet fads" because they are a waste of money from my experience, and gym memberships are to costly for someone on a limited income. To say or even to infer that all overweight people are lazy, or slovenly, or smelly, is just a gross generalization, and unfair to say the least. If the shoe were on the other foot, and it was said of skinny people that they are to stingy to buy food to feed themselves, or that they were underendowed, how would that seem to you? I dont' think it would go over to well with some. Suffice to say, that people come in all shapes and sizes, some controllable, some not.

[Jenn! 918]

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

Not the same thing! Those seats fit MOST people & I'm sure many weeks/months were spent designing them to fit an average sized person.

But that's my question/point. When was the standard for plane seat width set? If it was designed to fit the average person, and the average person is now larger than they were 5 or 10 or 20 years ago, does the airline have the responsibility to change their standard, if that standard is supposed to be based on averages?

[no name 1]

Should the airline make costly concessions just for a few people who come predominantly from one world market? What happens if a person wants to fly who's larger than the new ideal?

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

That would accommodate your average Chinese person. What if it's a Chinese airline?

Have we once discussed Chinese? No.

It's AMERICANS we are talking about!!!!!!! Geez.

PS: I'm quite sure it's a global standard size.

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

Not the same thing! Those seats fit MOST people & I'm sure many weeks/months were spent designing them to fit an average sized person.

But that's my question/point. When was the standard for plane seat width set? If it was designed to fit the average person, and the average person is now larger than they were 5 or 10 or 20 years ago, does the airline have the responsibility to change their standard, if that standard is supposed to be based on averages?

How many people don't fit in seats today? Very few, I bet. It's kinda like those clothes that say ONE SIZE FITS MOST. It says that for a reason!

Edited June 29, 2007 by devilette

[Alex+R 0]

I think people not fitting must be pretty common, considering we've almost all sat next to one.

[mawilson 2,133]

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

I think they already did that. Seats used to be much wider back in the day.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Should the airline make costly concessions just for a few people who come predominantly from one world market? What happens if a person wants to fly who's larger than the new ideal?

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

That would accommodate your average Chinese person. What if it's a Chinese airline?

Have we once discussed Chinese? No.

It's AMERICANS we are talking about!!!!!!! Geez.

PS: I'm quite sure it's a global standard size.

Good question. I do think that the airline has the responsibility to make the necessary changes so that the "average" passenger has a reasonable level of comfort. If that means widening seats by 2" or 3", then that's what they should do.

What if they narrowed the seats by 2" or 3", would you still think they were justified in making people who could not fit into the new seats pay double?

Not the same thing! Those seats fit MOST people & I'm sure many weeks/months were spent designing them to fit an average sized person.

But that's my question/point. When was the standard for plane seat width set? If it was designed to fit the average person, and the average person is now larger than they were 5 or 10 or 20 years ago, does the airline have the responsibility to change their standard, if that standard is supposed to be based on averages?

How many people don't fit in seats today? Very few, I bet. It's kinda like those clothes that say ONE SIZE FITS MOST. It says that for a reason!

Actually I don't think it is - a lot depends on when the plane was built, how long its been in service etc.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I have flown several Chinese airlines - the seats are about the same as US airlines.

2nd and 3rd generation Chinese living in America are now reaching record levels of obesity because of their American diets