WHEN will airlines wake up to the fact that they have to tackle the issue of seating and very overweight people?

[HuwEdwards]

I just endured a (shorthaul, thank god) flight seated next to a man who was plainly much too large for the cabin seat.

His thighs, hips shoulders and arms encroached onto my seat and into my personal space to such an extent that I've no doubt it was as uncomfortable for him as me.

So any suggestions about how this potentially emotive issue could be resolved?

He could go on a diet or there could be special extra huge seats for fat people for which they have to pay a premium??

I don't know actually and have lots of flippant answers ready so should just pack it in and go and have haircut which I am panicking about because I hate my hair at the moment and know I am going to go and tell him to cut it all off and then will regert ii - sorry for digressing just trying to explain my state of mind - amazing that that should be all I have to worry about!

Must have been an unpleasant flight for both of you.

There was a proposal from America recently that perhaps they would start charging extra for overweight people. No idea how they proposed to enforce it, and am sure it would be humiliating for those who 'qualified'. But seeing as they're so strict about weight allowances for bags, don't know what they do about oversize passengers.

My dh always reckons that instead of a baggage allowance there should be a weight allownce - ie you and your bags should not be over a certain weight. He would say that as he is fairly compact, but it came after we were charged for being just over our luggage allowance, when a very large man in front of us was just on the luggage limit, and weighed well over a couple of kilos more than us

but the seating still needs to be addressed bobble....I mean airlines won't want to put in larger seats as fewer passengers would be able to fly on each flight.

AGree they need to do something - especially as there are more and more obese people. I've had a similar flight to yours - a lovely woman next to me, but I had no space whatsoever and was ready to kill everyone by the time we landed.

"So any suggestions about how this potentially emotive issue could be resolved?"

lose some weight

Bobblehat - my brother says the same as your dh. He is very light and has been charged a few times for his baggage being over the limit. In actual fact he and his luggage combined are probably lighter some people on the flights.

In America they reserve the right to make you pay for two seats if you can't fit into one. At least they did on Airline USA last time I watched it .

what NP said

my poor father has a degenerative disease and is on steroids - hence large. He travels with mum, who is 'normal size'. They have shared a small double bed all their lives and as they say, like to cuddle. They arrange their seating so that mum is next to any other passenger and dad and she 'cuddle up'. Recently, an airline threatened to refuse to carry him as his waistline was just over their specified measurement.

He'd love to lose weight, and does try, however he has lung problems and can't walk more than 50 yds, the steroids for his condition don't help. He managed to lose a bit and was able to fly. He doesn't fly alone and he is very aware of not inconveniencing fellow passengers.

Dad also tries to upgrade as the seats are larger. It's not an easy situation - liking the idea of the combined baggage allowance though, I often feel hard done by on that front - think how many extra shoes you could take!

Don't know who you used but I've been on BA and SAA and they both make people of a size purchase the seat next to them too.

This is a nightmare from both sides of the problem and, TBH, I don't think there is a solution. If made to purchase an extra seat due to size, the larger people will scream discrimination yet is isn't fair for the peron sat next to them having to effectively share their seat. However, it is clearly impossible to make the seats bigger to make much of a difference.

actually, air carriers should consider looking at their seating. Not only are seats small, but they are too close to the seats in front, which does result in a lot of leg breakage in the event of a crash.
I know crashes are very unlikely, but they should have the safety of their passengers in mind, as well as their comfort

how do they know you're over a certain size space puppy? I've never been asked for weight/size when booking.

Sympathise with OP.. wasn't there some case on this actually being a contributory factor to DVT on a long haul flight? That said I'd like to see some kind of hygeine enforcement role... always seem to get seated near the stinky people

I have been in the OP's position and I went to the air hostess at the front and demanded a new seat. They said there were none and I said that unless they intended to make my neighbour pay for a third of my ticket I was not willing to sit there (it was longhaul). They upgraded me.

Now I long to be sitted next to the obese.

I had to endure sitting next to a sweaty fatty once, all the way back from Dehli. Farkin grim.

However, shall follow artichokes example if it happens again!

I think VP's idea is the right one.
if you are too big for one seat you should have to book 2 seats, it isn't fair for anyone.

but NP 'lose some weight' doesn't solve the problem, the solution must come from the airlines.

Years ago, travelling from San Francisco, several notably large people were called up to the desk in the departure lounge. They boarded first. When we got on they were installed in business class, all of them reclined flat as we walked through.

We did speculate as to whether they'd bought these seats or if the airline had upgraded them through necessity.

At a mere 5'10" I feel unfairly treated by airlines. Yes I could lose some weight but my 34" inside leg measurement is a fixture. I've paid full whack to sit extremely uncomfortably on many occasions - and there are many taller people than me out there.

My brother's 7ft and usually gets upgraded for free on longhaul
Was on a flight with him once when they tryed to get him in a standard seat, they gave up after 5mins

Well they could start putting on larger seats but then theres the question of how many do they put on each flight?
If they only have a certain mnumber, will that mean when you book a flight, you have to disclose how much you weigh so that larger people get the bigger seats?
And that then leads to other larger people not getting flights if seats are taken.

I think they should also do something about oxygen masks.
When we went away in May, we couldnt sit together because we had 2 infants and there arent enough masks in one row.