AIBU to think airline seats no longer fit average-sized adults?

But…. They aren’t getting narrower… Less room sometimes front to back though.

when I was a kid a 737 was 3 on each side of the aisle… and a 737 is still 3 on each side of the aisle. I am average height with BMI smack in the middle of healthy range and I fit fine.

Stories like this make me never want to get on a plane again tbh!

We flew with jet2 not that long ago, I did have an extra legroom exit row seat, but the actual seat was the same size. I’m six foot and broadish (rugby player) and I was fine in my seat, no one in the row was touching anyone else. My only issue is how tiny the arm rests are on a lot of aeroplanes now, it makes it hard to use them.

@Frequency you sound like me: competitive swimmer, weightlifter. I also don’t generally have issues fitting clothes to my shoulders, but I think it’s as @Sistersister50 described: the seats are designed with smaller-framed people in mind, so if you get two or more people who don’t fit the mould you end up squeezed in the shoulder department. Even sitting next to my DH who’s also broad-shouldered, but not fat, we find ourselves a bit squashed.

no
people have lost sight of what is slim and overweight
it’s the elephant in the room no one wants to say your fat move over

Im 5ft 6 size 8 -10 have no problems in flight seats

my other half is 6ft 3 15 stone and again has no problem with flight seats

we do generally book extra leg room for him as he’s tall but otherwise flying is fine

if your obese book 2 seats
I don’t want to be squashed

Googling average shoulder size shows 18 inches for men, so 50% of men are more than that, and the forearm-forearm measurement is larger. How is a 17 inch seat width supposed to be big enough?! Even in an aisle or window seat I've ended up with a twisted back having to lean away from someone who simple is wider in shoulder/arms than the seat.

I have never noticed airplane seats being ridiculously small but I have never flown with Jet 2.

@Comedycook

airlines, as an industry, operate on extremely tight margins.

we all know how much people hate paying high prices for flights. If general flights had less seats to allow more room, likely many airlines would fold as people just wouldn’t pay the prices.

I think the standard BA seat is designed for someone 5'7 and no more than 150 lbs. Probably the same for a lot of them.

Ah yes, i obviously never got to experience that because we moved 😂

I think it was United. The flight was only half an hour but the seats were like huge armchairs! It was fab

I find Jet2 to be fine. We usually take our main holiday with them & I find both seat width & legroom OK. I never need a seat belt extension with them.

However. I am fat & am flying next week with Ryanair. Their seats are narrow, their seatbelts short. Luckily I’m travelling with DD who despite being tall is a very slim 15 year old, so our collective impact on other travellers should be minimal. I struggle with the leg room & arrive hobbling due to that (Ryanair) but it’s only a 60 min flight this time.

Interesting. Do you remember who you flew with?

Oh yes, must just be because I'm a massive fat cow. Nothing to do with big business wanting to squeeze more people into the space in order to make more money...

I'm obese, and have never had a problem comfortably sitting in an airplane seat, nor have I ever needed a seatbelt extender. Admittedly, I've never flown Jet2, but I frequently fly Easyjet/Ryanair.

many years ago the seats were wider and further apart. People did not magically shrink. The airlines just lobbied regulators to allow them to squeeze in more people.

people with perfect weight still don’t fit when they have broad shoulders or long thigh bones.

we also shouldn’t be blaming people for being anything less than perfectly on target for weight. No, an airline seat doesn’t need to handle every single extreme, but it should be sized to handle the vast majority of the population. Right now seats are inadequate to purpose.

higher ticket prices may result with changes. I don’t think that is a real problem.

Another solution is making it simpler for people to buy multiple tickets. Right now when people do that they often lose their second seat even when they follow airline instructions perfectly. It also doesn’t solve the legroom problem and not everyone is qualified for the emergency row.

But...but..fatties should be shamed and punished! This is MN. It's the law.

No, I'm not, before you all assume.

Its a predictable comment because its true. We have absolutely lost sight of what a healthy weight looks like in adults and children. If you think statements of fact are a dig, its you who has the issue, not the person stating reality.

I’m a large (but not very fat) male and have never had a problem with fitting in an airline seat and don’t think I spread into the next one. I think the focus should be on people losing weight not seats getting bigger.

I fit fine. Airlines don't make much profit, its just enough room or you would have to pay more.

Just did 3 hours on Easyjet. I'm 5'6 " and small size 14. Room was fine. I could even cross my legs.

I think there’s a lot to be said for build. I’m broad shouldered and long legged (but not overweight) so airline seats are hell for me. Someone with a different body shape to me, even if overweight, could find the seat fine.

It depends on the airline, they all have different seat pitches. I'm a normal BMI but nearly 6ft with most of it leg and I will never fly wizz air again- literally couldn't fit my legs in. I find a lot of theatres very uncomfortable too.

Width wise is usually ok but if you get a couple of overweight people in a row it does decrease the overall space available. And worst on very budget airlines (easyJet aren't too bad). It's all to maximise profit.

I’m 5’9”‘and have my knees against the back of the seat in front in most economy seats.