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AIBU?

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Original poster

Too fat to fly

968 replies

loobielousplaits · 02/04/2019 23:55

Is anyone/has anyone watched this?

It's a documentary about massively obese people being interviewed about being taken off flights/too fat to flight.

While I absolutely agree it's a 'fat shaming' programme - I can't agree with some of the comments from the interviewees that have complained they had to leave the plane due to an armrest not being able to go down - a woman wasn't able to visit the toilet, another who couldn't understand why someone would be offended that half their seat was taken up by overspill - a 32 st man was offended that he was asked to leave the aircraft because he couldn't safely fit in the seat and should have paid for two - pilot decided he wasn't safe to fly.

I'm torn - I absolutely understand weight is a huge issue (I was anorexic in my teens) and it is not easy to control your weight but come on - seriously? You cannot expect to be OK to fly if your weight affects health and safety and you can't fit safely in a seat

OP posts:
DrVonPatak · 04/04/2019 09:59

You can enlarge the seats, increase the clothing sizes, spend more on avoidable healthcare issues... or you can take responsibility for yourself and treat your body with respect.

And I say that as someone with a genetic carbohydrate deficiency problem who spent majority of her life in the obese category until I started going to the gym every day (and no, I'm not a SAHM gym bunny, I'm overtime nhs worker), sticking to the right diet and generally taking responsibility for my actions. I'm still hovering on 27 (average bmi for my condition is 40), but the point is, you can spend a lifetime blaming channel 5s, daily fails, public opinion etc, but until you start taking responsibility for yourself, things like these will always come back to put you down.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 09:59

Suggesting, not arguing.

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:00

What are extra width seats? Can you reserve them like extra leg room. I’ve not come across this before. In economy?

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:02

If they do exist then it’s just down to being prepared, as you are when you book extra leg room

AlaskanOilBaron · 04/04/2019 10:08

The problem is that airlines are not great at dealing with scenarios that haven't been automated i.e. 'computer says no'.

The only reliable solution to this problem is adding a field 'person of size' to their database, passports and so on. A most unpleasant scenario.

Pieceofpurplesky · 04/04/2019 10:12

All this thread has shown is just how much people hate fat people and have no idea how a fat person feels.
I hate myself. My mental health issues are deep rooted and my self harm is to eat to make everyone hate me as much as I do - as I said earlier this stems from being raped at 17.
It would do some of you well to remember that there is a person behind the rolls of fat.

And for what it's worth I work full time as a secondary teacher, am a single parent and a carer for disabled parents. I swim twice a week and walk my dog daily. I am not lazy.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:14

What are extra width seats? Can you reserve them like extra leg room. I’ve not come across this before. In economy?

They are hypothetical seats. They exist only in this thread, as far as I am aware. Introduced as a possible solution to extra-width passengers encroaching on the space of others.

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:15

Oh right
They would cost extra
Not sure they’d be far off premium economy though

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:16

Or short haul business if no PE

Hazeintheclouds · 04/04/2019 10:17

You can enlarge the seats, increase the clothing sizes, spend more on avoidable healthcare issues... or you can take responsibility for yourself and treat your body with respect.

Yes, exactly.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:18

Not sure they’d be far off premium economy though

That is the problem. premium economy offers the width, but a double the cost.

Perhaps they should do away with individual seats and fit benches instead.

Hazeintheclouds · 04/04/2019 10:19

Hypothetical seats. I have heard it all now.Hmm

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:20

Hell no ;
Them’s the breaks I’m afraid
Space is a premium if people’s demand is for low cost flights

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:21

Or short haul business if no PE

I used to fly a short haul route in the early to mid 90's where the whole plane was business class. They were 737s, from memory, with only four seats in a row.

Hazeintheclouds · 04/04/2019 10:21

So how tall is tall in your case, @RottnestFerry?

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:24

So how tall is tall in your case, @RottnestFerry?

Six four but with long legs. A friend is the same height but has a long back. He can sit reasonably comfortably in a standard economy seat.

Hazeintheclouds · 04/04/2019 10:28

Wow, that is tall for a woman.

TheRumor · 04/04/2019 10:31

It would do some of you well to remember that there is a person behind the rolls of fat.

This.

Not to mention, that you can be aware of your size and do everything to mitigate the risk of imposing on the space of others and still be humiliated for your trouble.

385-Pound Man Kicked Off United Flight For Row Mate's Comfort

Body shamed on plane

Airline obesity policies

Yes, yes. It's all good and well proselytising about how people should eat less and exercise more. But these people are human beings and some of them have been humiliated in the worst ways for simply trying to exist.

It is so, so sad how much we demonise and stereotype fat people.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:31

Wow, that is tall for a woman

It is.

However, I am a man.

Hazeintheclouds · 04/04/2019 10:32

Teehee!

Hazeintheclouds · 04/04/2019 10:32

I am not going to ask the obvious hypothetical question...

MadMillie · 04/04/2019 10:34

It would do some of you well to remember that there is a person behind the rolls of fat.

It would do well for you to realise not everyone likes to be engulfed in other people's fat spilling into their personal space. Being overweight does not entitle people to 'share' anyone's space due to food choices THEY make.

TheGirlWithAllTheFeathers · 04/04/2019 10:35

All this thread has shown is just how much people hate fat people and have no idea how a fat person feels
Wrong. All it shows is how much being severely overweight/oversized contributes to the extreme physical discomfort of those who have to sit beside them in a finite space. It's not always about you. Why should someone wanting the seat they have paid for be seen as unreasonable and offensive to you, whereas you (and no, I'm saying 'you' but meaning 'one') spreading your bulk across two seats not be? There are safety issues at play here - evacuating the plane for one thing, and there are simple politeness issues at work - like needing to pass people to get to the loo. I saw one photo of a guy who was in an aisle seat and was halfway across the centre aisle. That's just plain hazardous. If you don't fit, then buy two seats or don't fly. It's bad enough on short bus journeys, let alone long haul flights.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:37

Bench seats are the answer. Everybody just shuffles along a bit to make room until one falls off the end and moves to the row behind.

AlaskanOilBaron · 04/04/2019 10:38

Yes, yes. It's all good and well proselytising about how people should eat less and exercise more. But these people are human beings and some of them have been humiliated in the worst ways for simply trying to exist.

No, it's for encroaching on another passenger's seat. It's hardly surprising, given that every bit of airplane space has been rationalised.