Is it unreasonable for airlines not to provide wider seats for obese passengers?

[Kag13]

I have today spent a four and a half hour Jet2 flight seated next to a young man who was at least 20 stone, probably larger. I could not use the left hand armrest as his body (fat) buldged over it and into my personal space (which on a budget airline is not that large) and his leg was resting over part of my seat.
Luckily I am only 5’2” and not that big but what would happen if someone of the same size was seated next to him?
it made for a very uncomfortable flight for me. Am I being unreasonable to think this is not right?

Great idea
Why should the non obese suffer or deal with There problem.
Extra for health care as well

Extra what for healthcare?

No they don't. My husband is 6.2" and muscular, he fits just fine in a budget airline seat.

I suspect that booking 2 seats is not going to give a larger person a more comfortable flight: they would be sitting over a crack, the seats are moulded for a single bum to fit on them, and the room to fit between one row and the next is very limited. I’m interested to hear that there are flights you can get with bigger seats- does anyone know which airlines provide them? Would be useful for a family member.

I think the extra seat thing isn’t meant to be to sit with the armrest in their back, more they can spill over into the space that won’t have someone in there, sit with their legs spread if they want to.

I was on a flight and the middle seat next to me was free. Both of us put our stuff in the seat, used the tray table for our drinks etc. it was nice.

They could but it would cost more.

None of the UK carriers do, unless you fly Club Europe with BA, but even then you don't get a wider seat, just an empty seat in the middle. You can usually pay to get extra legroom seats- we always do this with easyJet and sit by the overwing exits which is about the best space you'll get on those flights. Avoid row 1 as the tray tables are set in the arms of the seat so making them slightly narrower.

We have bariatric chairs in hospitals. Reinforced beds. Why not on planes?

You can have pretty much whatever you want, as long as enough of the travelling public (those that need those seats and/or everyone onboard) is willing to pay for it.

I sympathise. I'm over 5' 10, BMI of around 25, and struggle with a back injury from a fracture sustained a few years ago. I also suffered two massive pulmonary emboli after spinal surgery and to avoid the clotting risk have to move about a great deal, and also quaff water all flight meaning I need the loo a lot. I'd be a nightmare to sit next to and always book the aisle seat because of this.

Long-haul flights are not only seriously uncomfortable for me now, they also pose a legitimate health risk.

That’s not how corporations work. Lots of sectors run on losses.

Do you think the CEOs of these companies aren’t making millions.

It might be how some corporations work in some sectors but in the airline world if you start running at a loss for an extended period and can't satisfy the banks that you are good for credit you're in the poo, sinking fast.

What very often happens PDQ is fuel stops being delivered to aircraft, airports block your aircraft in with trucks (so you can't fly them out), any aircraft you have on order get held by the manufacturer with a view to finding another buyer, flying staff can end up dumped overseas and back home the company offices get locked..if the axe falls it's absolutely brutal .

I met/worked with a few crew over the years who had gone through the experience of an airline collapsing under them so this isn't something abstract..

TBH though you have a bit of a point with the CEOs - they often walked away scot free...Ecojet never reaĺly got going (for logical reasons) and finally went just today but I reckon Dale Vince will be OK...and of course States side spirit went a few days back.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/26077705.planned-flights-cancelled-uk-airline-liquidation/

It is how airlines work. Without totally outing myself I work in the industry. Running on losses is one thing but going broke is another. Monarch Airlines were the largest UK airline failure and XL Leisure Group including Excel UK and their French and German subsidiaries.

Name me any sector that can run on losses as a long term strategy.

It's not legal to trade while insolvent.

Trading at a loss while people will loan to you in expects of future gain is a business strategy to gain market share before putting up prices once you've wiped out your competitors.

CEOs of big businsses are paid megabucks for keeping the share price high. Loss making companies do not have high share values because they can't pay dividends.

Do you actually have the first clue how businesses work?

Former airline staff here who watched those airlines you mention collapse and many friends lose jobs. It's absolutely brutal out there and there is certainly not loads of cash to be made, especially on short haul. The only airlines with truly deep pockets are the big gulf carriers.

Flying isn’t a necessity of life. I totally agree it would be good if airlines had larger seat options but it’s not comparable to those examples.

Larger passengers are catered for. In PE and Business. They simply weigh more so need to pay more.

They are indeed at many airlines..

It's a bit more than weight (that's a whole other issue but fundamentally the fuel burn difference between light and heavy passengers isn't that astronomic), the higher pricing is more to do with the reduced seating density in most premium cabins...

@notimagain Yes of course but larger people need larger seats and therefore they take up more space. They just have to pay and not use Budget airlines. I’d not want a 22 stone person next to me on Squeezy Jet! (Not that I fly with them)

Those don’t exist on budget airlines and so many routes. That’s exactly the problem the OP has raised - some sort of larger economy seats are needed on more planes.

I think far better to charge for two seats. They are very few people who are obese purely for medical reasons.

@ErrolTheDragon Then large people should book with the legacy carriers then. There simply are not going to be large seats, and the cost increase to passengers, provided. Just won’t happen. On a light aircraft you have to state weight but it’s not entirely a weight issue on the budget airlines. These large people know they don’t fit in the seats. They know their neighbour will be inconvenienced but they don’t care. I cannot see everyone else paying more to accommodate the very obese so what’s the answer? Refuse to carry very big people? I’d do that but not sure the airlines would agree.

... in the same way that you used to have to pop your hand luggage into a frame to ensure that it wasn't above the permitted size.

Booking two seats definatly makes it more comfortable for an obese person. Can relax into the extra space and not worry about encroaching space from the seat next door. Can also use the table in the spare seat when there table won’t fully come down.

Thank you to everyone who empathised with my situation on my outbound flight. I have passed on all the helpful suggestions to Jet2 in my feedback to their usual post holiday survey. Not holding my breath that they will take notice but if enough people complain (including those larger people who are equally uncomfortable but have at present no option) perhaps they will take notice?