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I am not obese nor unusually tall. However, when I take a plane for a long flight (>2 hours), I find the coach fare seats to be unreasonably closely spaced. When the person in front of you puts their seat back so that your knees have no room to move, you have to question the amount of space allotted per passenger, regardless of passenger size. This is an issue that can be fixed by some regulations of minimal seat space per passenger, at least for long flights.

Yes, absolutely. Fares are based of a multitude of factors, however how many seats are filled obviously is a huge one for determining profit/loss -- which obviously affects the fare we pay. If someone is taking up (realistically speaking) two seats, then they need to pay for two seats. If not, then eventually down the line the rest of us are paying for that loss of revenue.
I think everyone is too worried about being "politically correct" and offending someone, excuse me, but if you weigh 400 lbs, you weigh 400 lbs! "It's not their fault" is the rallying cry, don't penalize them. Ok, fine... but don't penalize ME either, it certainly isn't my fault, I pay full rate and get 1/2 seat because someone else is too large to fit in the seat?
Charge them for two seats, raise the center arm rest and give everyone a little breathing room.

As a thinner person, I'm sick of being squeezed out of my seat by the obese. I have been in situations where I have had the window seat and the seat next to me was filled to overflowing by an obese person. I endured a horrible flight with by body pressed against the side of the airplane and the window as the excessive size of the person next to me spilled over the arm rest and under the armrest. The persons extremely large arms and hips and legs had no place to go except into my space and the isle on the other side.

You can forget about getting out to stretch or use the rest room. Their shear size and weight just about rips the seat back off the seat in fromt of them as they try to use it to propel their weight to their feet. And may the heavens help us if their is a collision or the plane hits turbulence.

I understand that their are many social, psychological and health issues at play here, but at some point we also have to protect the rights of those who work hard to stay thin and those who fight the desire to eat whatever whenever they want.

Of course not. Do they make parents buy 2 tickets when traveling with infants? How about that pain in the backside business man with his laptop. How about the guy that hasn't taken a bath in 3 days? We all know the seats are too damn small to start with. There is no reason they can't adjust the seating to put large people flying solo with smaller people flying solo. You skinny folk act like we big boys love flying. Believe me; it's uncomfortable for us also, not to mention embarrassing. Stop being so cold hearted.... walk a day in my shoes.

Why should I be more uncomfortable when sitting in a regular coach seat when a large person next to me is now parts of them in my seat and space, making the uncomfortable airline seat now even more uncomfortable.
If my seat space is paid for, and I have to sit in this space, then large people should loose weight, or pay for 2 seats.
I can recommend to the airlines that they design larger double size seats in coach, and charge extra for larger folks to sit in, without putting a normal size passenger

I agree that air plane seating is too crowded for anyone's comfort. However, I also hate traveling alongside an excessively large person who takes up all of his/her seat as well as half of mine. Perhaps the airlines should create a big and tall seating section and price the seats accordingly.

I have three issues here that I see pertinent and the blame is not on the obesse passangers.
1. Give a wider seat selection area, where three seat row is not two wider seats, it will be not fair to charge higher fee and not get the extra widerseat section, having to have the uplifted bar dig into your back for hours is not a fare trade.
2. yes charge extra for the wider seat section.
3. Lot of foods are laced with chemicals that freeze the pituatary gland and other hormonal producing gland preventing the signal to the brain to stop eating you had enough. Food flavorings, Sodas, MSG, Vegetable Powders, preservatives. Mood swings, fragrances, underarm deodorant, detergents, Spray air freshners. Neuro toxin are a lot of solvents. The body will bloat and bloat under toxic conditions. Not only you get obesse these product lacings can also cause much puss in your body. YOU MUST ALLOW YOUR BODY TO DETOX. WHICH CAN ONLY HAPPEN UNDER RUNNING FEVERS AND BLOWING NOSE AND SPITTING UP FLEM. IF YOU TAKE DRUGS TO STOP THE PROCESS---WELL THEN YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL CHOICES ARE YOURS. GOOD BOOK "THE CURE FOR ALL DISEASES" HULDA R. cLARK

I feel that everyone should be treated equally & fairly. People need to remember that we live in the United States. I'm not obsese but have feelings & compassion for those people. Its not like the airlines are going to fix the problem, so we all need to think about each other.

This is a delicate issue admittedly but I have to come down on the side of people who choose take responsibility for their health and appearance vs. those that let themselves "go". Americans have become increasingly self-indulgent and as a result, we are becoming a nation of fat people. Anyone who travel knows that obesity is NOT the norm for the rest of the world and that Americans are the exception, not the rule. Yes, there are certainly those of us who have physical reasons why they become obese that aren't directly related to poor self-discipline, but the majority of fat Americans simply have poor lifestyle choices and are generally health-ignorant or just plain gluttonous.

Accordingly, I'd have to say that even though seats are arguably small anyway, obese people should either pay for 2 seats in Coach or opt to purchase the more expensive larger seats in First Class rather than 1. making the airlines completely redesign their planes or 2. insisting on special treatment from the rest of society.

I have to agree with alot of points being made. 1. airlines have been making seats smaller for years , makes more money for them. The more passeners per flight the more money.
2. Yes there should be an option of wider seats. And charge bit not gouged folks.
3.And sitting next to a large person is not the worst that can happen. babies,chatterbox's ,gas passing are all unsavory probems. But we are all human so be polite!

I agree, however the seats on most airlines are small and need to be made bigger.

Everywhere it costs more to ship 400 lbs. compared to 185. If cost is a factor lose some weight. A person could charter a flight and not worry about their weight. I feel less safe when I get on a plane with obese people. We're trying to fly through the air!

It is really sad to say as a health care professional the United State's population is ridden with obesity, 30% of the US are obesed. With this said that means that the airlines are catering to only 2/3 of the population, since 1/3 are in the obesed or severly obesed catagory. As a person that has stuggled with my own weight for most of my life, it is truly upsetting to see this arguement. It is unfair and cruel to treat people like this. Many people are fast to say well if they excercised and ate right is would be all fixed, which is true in most cases, but not all due to genetics etc. I truly believe airlines need to learn to cater to all and not just some people. For a business can't choose to serve only skinny people and not all, it will lead to losses in respect, money and credibility.

People who are overweight should not be forced to purchase two seats. First of all, people such as "Sick of Being Squeezed" who writes that we must "protect the rights of those who work hard to stay thin" ignores the fact that some people are thin not due to any effort, but to metabolism, and the same is true for overweight people. I am 6'1" and not overweight, but the seats in commuter jets are just barely able to accommodate me. If I was an inch taller, they wouldn't. Should I be forced to purchase two seats? The reality is that in the pursuit of profit, airlines attempt to pack passengers into planes as if they were sardines, not people. Larger people, whether due to health issues, genetics or even overeating, should not be penalized for the airlines failure to recognize that all bodies are not proportioned exactly the same. In larger jets, I fly in business or first class, but that isn't offered in the regional jets. Therefore, there is no justification for making me pay more because God made me a taller, bigger man, than some 5'5" weakling.

This indicent should give obese people a wake-up call. Not only are they endangering their own health by being obese, but they are also causing problems on flights. No body wants to sit next to an obese person, on a plane or anywhere else. Most people don't even want to be sround obese people. The airlines should have a special section on the plane especially dedicated to obese people so that they can sit next to one another. They can sit next to one another very uncomfortably and commisurate as to why God made they obese (as if it's God's fault - they have to blame it on someone other than themselves). I wonder if they would like that?! The airlines should still charge for the extra weight of the obese person. How about setting the acceptable weight of a passenger and making the passenger pay a surcharge of $5 for every pound a passenger weighs over that standardized weight. And, in addition to that, anyone weighing over 250 pounds will be required to sit in the "obese" section of the plane.have an on-board weight limit and passengers should pay according to the weight they are asking the airlines to carry.

Both sides have their justifiable reasons to hold out--the airlines because they have to make a profit to stay in business and individuals, because it seems unfair to have to buy two seats to be comfortable. One answer might be for airlines to have at least four seats designated as 'Special Seating for those who are heavy; very tall, or for other reasons need space. These could be available on a first come first serve basis--they would be the same size as 1st class; but not cost as much--and would at least make it available for those who have special needs--They would not have the special "hostess" attention or special meals--thus justifying it not to cost as much as first class; but they would at least justify charging more than a 'tight' seat; but not as much as first class--and show those who are larger that they are attempting to accommodate them if they are willing to book very early.

A few years back I was fyying to Cleveland from Phoenix.I had an isle seat a gentlemen was in the window seat. Down the center isle walkway comes BIG BERTHA,gets between us flips up the armrests and sits.I'm Forced to lean in the walkway,the gentlemen in window seat is mashed against the out side bulkhead.It took me about 10 seconds to think of me sitting here for 4.5 hrs! Iwent to the stewardess and voiced my complaint.She came back and looked at my situation.We have a full flight-no other seats.My alternative was to de-board and catch another flight,3 hrs. later inturn I would recieve one free round trip ticket any where in continental U.S.I looked back at BIG BERTHA-----and de-boarded!

Wow Pete you are a real charmer. Maybe we need an asshole section as well. What a tool. "Most people don't even want to be around obese people" What kind of statement is that? I bet you one of those rude guy talking on the cell phone in a 4 star restaurant. The fat and skinny hate douche bags like you.

ONLY IF THEY TAKE UP 2 SEATS.