Sydney Watson, who describes herself as an Australian/American political commentator, posted to Twitter on Monday stating that she was seated between two extremely fat people on an American Airlines flight. "I literally - WEDGED between two OBESE people on my flight. This is absolutely NOT acceptable or okay. If fat people want to be fat, fine. But it is something else entirely when I'm stuck between you, with your arm rolls on my body, for 3 hours. If you need a seat belt extender, you are TOO FAT TO BE ON A PLANE. Buy two seats or don't fly. "I don't care if this is mean. My entire body is currently being touched against my wishes. I can't even put the arm rests down on either side because there's no f---ing room. I'm sick of acting like fatness to this extent is normal. Let me assure you, it is not" she said." Watson said that the flight attendant on the plane "has asked me 4 times if I need anything" and gave her "the 'this is f--ked' pity expression." She asked a brother to one of the women she was sitting next to if he'd like to "swap seats." "He says, 'no. That's okay ' ...and then I started shrieking internally," Watson said. At one point during the flight, Watson said that she "elected to close my tray table and hold my cup of tea between my teeth because it's jabbing her belly and I can't get it down properly." After calling out American Airlines on Twitter, the company responded: "Our passengers come in all different sizes and shapes. We're sorry you were uncomfortable on your flight." "This is really their official reply to me being sandwiched between two obese humans," Watson said. "So, I'm expected to have only a quarter of a seat when I fly? I just experienced getting sweat on, touched without my consent, smacked in the face and subjected to hours of no personal space. And your response is essentially ‘too bad’? Is that what I'm getting here?," Watson said. American Airlines passenger 'WEDGED' between 'OBESE people' on flight, asks for 'reparations', Adam Sabes, October 15, 2022
I agree with her. If you are too big to fit into one seat then either buy two or don't get on the plane. And since they charge for luggage based on weight, why do 90 pound people pay the same as 300 pound people?
Perhaps they don't identify as being fat but identify themselves as being 120 lbs. I don't see a problem having two 120 lbs people sitting either side of my on a plane. I think it's an over reaction.
I had a similar experience once. It was very unpleasant. People that are above a certain weight should be required to purchase two seats.
I work with someone who couldn't fly even with two seats: he simply does not fit. He's 6'8" and 380lbs, mostly muscle. His brother has 2" and 50lbs on him.
Man called 'fatphobic' and kicked off flight after complaining that 'obese man' took his seat A man describing himself as 18 years old said he had just boarded a second connecting flight -- which he said would last roughly 12 hours -- when things seemed to get ugly very quickly. "I had the delightful sight of an obese man who was taking up a good chunk of my seat." "I am not a small guy myself. I have quite broad shoulders and am around 190 cm [nearly 6 feet and 3 inches], so a full seat would already have been uncomfortable. I told the flight attendant about this issue, and she told me that the seat was paid for by this obese person and the flight was full." "I asked the flight attendant how it's possible that my seat still rendered as available if it was being used for someone's literal rolls." "The fat man took his opportunity to call me a fatphobic s–t. Some other people around gave me the stink eye." The airline staff sent a letter of complaint that the man got appealed and the consequences of complaint, which was a temporary ban, were removed less than an hour later, and the man was able to travel the next day. Man called 'fatphobic' and kicked off flight after complaining that 'obese man' took his seat (nypost.com), Maureen Mackey, Fox News, March 29, 2023
She obese man paid for two seats? If so, good for him... And what's the issue? Or is something lost in translation here?
While I agree, I'm not sure how to implement that. By the time a person is ready to board, its a little late in the game. They can't really have a seat next to the boarding areas, like where you can check carry-on size, can they? I was once on a flight where Andre the Giant sat down next to a petite elderly lady. It was first class, but she was squeezed up against the window after the airline pulled out the seat divider to allow him to sit. They did find an alternate seat for her, but it wasn't in first class.
I have some ideas. Maybe planes should just have two different seat width options. That would still allow smaller people to be able to save money. Like maybe 25% of the seats on the plane would be 30% wider (but also cost 20% more). Maybe airlines should be required to install 2 extra-wide disability seats in the plane, reserved for the weight-challenged. And pass a law that the airlines are only allowed to charge 50% more for these special seats. Maybe regular passengers, riding alone, could still book one of these special seats, but would have to get up and let a fat person take their place if the situation required it. Then the person actually sitting in the seat would be the one required to pay the higher price. Or maybe we could make it a crime for a morbidly obese person to get on a plane without 2 plane tickets.
Gate agents aren't going to stare at someone's ass and declare, "Sorry, ma'am, but your ass looks to be way to large for the seat you bought. Would you mind sitting in our butt sizing chair here next to the carryon sizing station?" That's what I mean by "how to implement". Also, there are already wider seats on airlines. They are called "business class" (or whatever). I agree it's a problem. But, I don't believe passengers are likely to admit the size of that part of their anatomy and choose to pay more.
They should erect titanium half walls between the seats. Can't fit? Too bad. At least normal sized people could fly in peace rather than being pummeled between jostling obeseaphants.
The dividers seem pretty stout. Could they be higher?? Maybe the problem has more to do with overflowing the existing barrier? On aircraft that are 6 seats wide, making seats larger would require removal of 1/6 of seats - resulting in a high ticket price - like changing the plane to all business class. Really, I think this problem may go back to aircraft design. The diameter of the passenger tube really doesn't allow much change in seat size.
If you want to make sure you aren't sitting between two fat people, maybe you should buy two tickets.
I'm not going up in the sky in an aluminum tube of death so I'm not too worried about it. I have a minivan and a motorcycle to get my somewhat fat ass around. If I wanted to get around faster I would take a train
This is the way. Ultimately we're all responsible for ourselves, not others. I was on a flight to L.A. about two weeks ago that was completely full except for one row which had one tiny young woman in it, who also was the only one on the plane wearing a facemask and surgical gloves. Clearly she bought 3 seats so she could avoid contact with anyone. Fair enough. On a side note, on that same trip, one of my connecting flights was only about half full. The back half. There weren't more than 5 people sitting in the first 10 rows behind first class. Clearly everyone bought the seats that didn't cost extra for an upgrade. Once we got in the air, the captain came over the intercom and offered anyone who wanted a seat in the empty section a chance to move ...for ~$50. No one took it. We all sat cramped in the back.
I blame the flights too, those seats have gotten smaller and smaller over the years, first class is now what a normal seat was back then
I agree with this woman. In 1985 I had to sit beside a man who took his whole seat, and half of mine, from California to Chicago. It was pretty traumatic for me. Being touched against my will with someone else's belly fat is about as unpleasant as it gets. I got a brief reprieve, because he had to go all the way to the back to eat, because his tray table wouldn't go down. I asked the stewardess to keep him back there and she refused. I asked her if I could move back there. I was refused. I was only 18 at the time, and completely unaware that I had the right to move to an empty seat. Looking back, both the obese man and the stewardess were rather sadistic towards me. If it happens to me today, I am not going to sit there quietly and accept that. That doesn't seem right. If you don't show up, they give your seat to someone on standby. You can't check in three times. I wonder how that happened. Once they had last call, empty seats would have been issued to those waiting on standby.
Yeah but trains don't fall out of the sky..... Unless maybe they derail on top of a bridge or something
Might just be a holdover from covid, but: "United Airlines You can buy an extra seat on all United flights, which might be a good idea since the airline is selling middle seats right now. The second seat for extra personal space can only be booked over the phone, but you can both earn and redeem miles for it — something that most other airlines don’t allow. United is also the only airline that explicitly states that you must be an “active participant in preserving your extra seat” and ask a flight attendant for help doing so if required" Can you buy two seats on a plane to practice social distancing? | Million Mile Secrets
Oh that's interesting. Yes, that's a huge change. She bought three seats, though? First class would have been cheaper at that point.