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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:
Belenus · 04/04/2019 10:46

Presumably I should stay at home and not fly anywhere ?

Those are far from the only two options. It's not as if everyone stayed at home before we invented airplanes. Short haul there are often alternatives - train being the main one. Yes, it's longer and more expensive but unfortunately that's life. Long haul you could consider booking two seats or since the planes are generally more accommodating, going in a different class. Again, yes it's more expensive.

I appreciate that for some people this means their weight will limit their travelling by air. I know that this may not feel like it's fair. But then my eyesight is so bad that I have to wear glasses or contact lenses when leaving the house. I would be dangerous without them but my sight is just good enough that I don't get lenses on the NHS. So every month I shell out £20 on eye care that I can barely afford because otherwise I couldn't leave the house. I don't blame anyone for this. It is what it is and I could have far worse problems.

Rubusfruticosus · 04/04/2019 10:47

Bench seats are the answer. With fares adjusted by by seat width used, or weight? If I pay for a seat I want a whole seat.

TheRumor · 04/04/2019 10:49

@AlaskanOilBaron

True. Plane seats have got smaller, people are getting bigger. This isn't just a problem for fat people but those with disabilities, too.

Nowhere have I said that you should put up with not having the space in the seat you paid for.

What I have said is maybe a bit of compassion would not go amiss for someone who has TRIED to minimise their impact (and believe me, they do. They aren't unaware of their size) and still found themselves in the position of being seated next to you/ in your proximity.

No, not everyone will do this, I admit. But what gets my back up is that people are so quick to revert to snearing and judgemental comments when they know nothing about that person. Someone may have booked and paid for an aisle seat and be moved to a middle one. Someone may have paid for two seats to be told that they need to forfeit it. If we are talking about the space you pay for, if this is the case then asking someone to give up their extra seat is entirely unreasonable. But it happens to THEM, not you.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 10:51

Bench seats are the answer. With fares adjusted by by seat width used, or weight? If I pay for a seat I want a whole seat.

Fares could be based on how far apart the seat belt mounts are set and the length of belt used at take off and landing.

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:54

Sounds hellish. Actual contact with people.
Unless they provide dividers
What will you do about food trays

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 10:56

‘It happens to THEM not you’

I’m not sure what you mean by this but if you are encroaching then it happens to the other person too

TheRumor · 04/04/2019 11:03

@MarshaBradyo

What I mean is, that when I person takes steps to buy two seats on a plane they can be asked to give it up. The policies are vague as anything and often can work against fat people because of human perception.

No doubt, as I have said that it is wrong for your space to be encroached upon by anyone. But when the system is so clearly designed to other fat people, even when they are acutely aware of how much space they take up. It's actually a lose-lose situation:

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 11:05

TheRumor that is highly unfair I agree

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 11:08

Unfair on everyone tbh

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 11:08

What will you do about food trays

No trays, just a full length communal trough.

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 11:09

Rottnest airlines - sounds good

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 11:21

Rottnest airlines - sounds good

Rottnest Airlines... the rottenest airline you're ever likely to fly with.

RottnestFerry · 04/04/2019 11:24

Rottnest airlines - sounds good

Somebody beat me to it!

Too fat to fly
MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 11:26

Ha they did a different strap line I’m sure

EmeraldShamrock · 04/04/2019 11:27

Pieceofpurplesky I am sorry Flowers
It is an issue in a plane seat, personally it hasn't happened to me.
I can see why this thread hurtful, I hate threads slagging off teeth or SPAG, they are my sore points.
No body knows anybodys reasons for obesity. I believe it is self harm, addiction, like most addictions the addict is hiding from pain.
Obese or not, every person has feelings, people are not just their waist size.
I hope you are ok.

EmeraldShamrock · 04/04/2019 11:33

It would do well for you to realise not everyone likes to be engulfed in other people's fat spilling into their personal space
This.
This is a horrible post, no need to be so rude to get your point across.

AlaskanOilBaron · 04/04/2019 11:47

What I mean is, that when I person takes steps to buy two seats on a plane they can be asked to give it up. The policies are vague as anything and often can work against fat people because of human perception.

You mean the airline denies someone their two seats, together? In this case then yes, obviously, there's nothing else to be done. But does this actually happen?

MadMillie · 04/04/2019 11:48

This is a horrible post, no need to be so rude to get your point across.

Is it not rude to cram an obese body into a seat and then expect other passengers to allow the spillage from your body into their space? I have been on flights where I was expected to sit with the armrest up to allow another selfish person to sit in comfort as they were too large for the seat they were in. Fat people often KNOW they will not fit into an airline seat comfortably yet they expect other people to make allowances for their life choices. It is not only rude but entitled behaviour.

AlaskanOilBaron · 04/04/2019 11:51

It would do well for you to realise not everyone likes to be engulfed in other people's fat spilling into their personal space

It's not a nice way of putting, it, no. But people are doing their absolute best to avoid contact with people on public transport - it's most anyone's nightmare to have to skin to skin contact with a stranger.

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 11:54

Article on comfort seats here

The Independent

It sounds like airlines are more likely to urge you to book one of you need it and may bump your flight if the plane is full and you haven’t but need it

MarshaBradyo · 04/04/2019 12:01

It’s a good article, I skimmed but the seats are getting smaller and cheaper
Try not to take it to heart too much and look at booking a comfort seat like others book extra leg room
The airlines will most likely be courteous

AngeloMysterioso · 04/04/2019 12:17

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.

Think you mean this pic?

According to this (rather unkind) article that guy ended up getting a whole row to himself for free!

Too fat to fly
deepwatersolo · 04/04/2019 12:43

In any case. It would surely make sense for an overweight person to choose to fly on less crowded flights, if possible. For a time in my life I lived at the US West coast and flew back to Europe rather frequently. At 11-13 hour flights economy seats are uncomfy, even when you are just UK size 8 and 5'9. Some flights were packed, others not so much. My last (!) flight on that route was practically empty and I could literally lie down on 3 seats. Wish I had figured it out earlier that that particular flight was so 'empty'.

BlooShampoo · 04/04/2019 13:06

If you had £100 in your purse and the passenger next to you reached across and helped themselves to £33 of it, would your protestations amount to cruelty and shaming?

TheRumor · 04/04/2019 13:18

@BlooShampoo

I think it's more the contempt and disgust in the tone of what people are saying.

It is possible to discuss things like this with compassion and kindness while still promoting that, of course, everyone deserves the seat space they have paid for.

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