Anyone else have this issue?

[Chris]

Of your examples ive dealt with the former three times in recent recollection. I have lower back/hip issues and when your on  four hour flight to houston i can tell you the pain cn be excruciating. But when a person is spilling into your seat you tend to contort your body even more. It struck me as i was sitting there however that this person was encrouching on my rights. Im just happy the airline took this stance and hope to see it more often in the future. You shouldn't have to suffer through these types of personal violations because another person has decided to make different lifestyle choices.

While I completely get where you coming from, that is just the way it is.  The problem is that in order to keep prices down, airlines seats are way too small for the average American these days.  And its not just obese people.  My problems come more from my shoulders, and my legs.  My knees are always jammed into the seat in front of me, and if there is someone else next to me with broad shoulders, it is painful.

This is just one of those things that are part of life, unfortunately.  And as I said before, you get what you pay for.  There are more expensive airlines with wider seats, and there is always first class.  Otherwise, you have to deal with what the airlines have done to make your tickets cheaper.

[CelticHooligan3]

I'm 6'4, 300 lbs. I'm too tall for most planes and too wide for some.

Its a (freaking) nightmare.

Jeeze hoss if i know you were a monster i wouldn't have talked so much smack to you all those times IP    Kidding aside though, maybe the real issue lies within the size of the actual seats. Its like trying to fit into the seats at fenway. Maybe the airlines should be forced to make accomodations for the bigger of us individuls. Like a few rows can be designated for people over a certain weight or height cause i can only imagine if im in pain coming off a flight IP you must feel like Quasi Modo.

Chris i agree you get what you pay for but i just feel like tickets are an arm and leg anyway. The least they can do is make sure your comfortable while flying. Most of the time they don't even feed you any more. It's changed a lot even from a few years ago. Passengers really do need a bill of rights or something.

[Celtics4ever]

I too live in a small man's world and it is a nightmare.   But I would never spill into another man's seat.  I cram into stuff as best I can and make do.  Even it if means hunching my shoulders.

I am 6'7" in bare feet and weight about 345 lbs.   I have 21 arms, 22 inch neck and a 60 inch chest and a 36 waist.   I have trouble every where cars, trucks, planes, movie theater and rest rooms are narrow for a  guy with my shoulders.  I hit my heads on door and even today hit my head on one of the door closer of a taller door.   Lucky for me, I have a hard head and I barely felt it.

Clothes are nightmare too.   Sometimes I have to buy them and alter them.  People always ask me if I was a pro wrestler.

I feel for you, Indeed Proceed.  I know your pain.

[Eja117]

I know there's a lot of lawyers on this site. My question is, is this a civil rights isssue? And if so, who wins? The lady or any passenger of a differing size who has to fly next to her for however many hours in extreme discomfort?

I am not a lawyer, but from what I understand about civil rights issues is that it must be for a certain protected (for lack of a better word) minority. 

Fat people are not one of those groups.  However, I am not sure whether severe obesity would be classified as a disability.  If that is the case, then I believe they do need to make reasonable accomodations for her.

Do the people who are assigned to a seat next to her have the same rights though? Because assuming they are of normal size then arent their rights being violated as well? Yet they wouldn't be in that disibility grey area obviously.


 As a person who's run into this problem on more occasions than i'd like to admit, i just think other passengers rights should be taken into account as well. When you buy a ticket you shouldn't have to deal with another persons girth trampling on your own comfort and personal space. You buy the ticket for yourself. Not you and a half another person.

Well, the way it works is that if someone doesn't fit in the seat due to a disability, the airline needs to attempt to make accomodations (thats why they have seatbelt extenders, for instance).

But, whether you have a right to sue because someone's fat is crossing the barrier into your seat?  No, I don't think so.  You have a right to fly a different airline, or pay for first class tickets.  But ultimately, that is a joy of flying coach.  When you buy a coach ticket, you buy it knowing the seats are tiny, uncomfortable, and you may have a behemoth next to you, a crying baby in front of you, and a 6 year old kicking your seat all flight.  

Now, there are always extremes, such as when the person next to you litterally doesn't fit in the seat, to the point, they cannot put the seatbelt on, and lower the arm rest...at which point the airline does have to deal with it for safety reasons.  

But, run of the mill, overweight guy overflowing a bit to your side...thats just what you pay for.

Same thing for the tiny seats at Fenway Park. Uncomfortable tiny 1912 sized seats now! Tiny 1912 seats forever!

[Chris]

Chris i agree you get what you pay for but i just feel like tickets are an arm and leg anyway. The least they can do is make sure your comfortable while flying. Most of the time they don't even feed you any more. It's changed a lot even from a few years ago. Passengers really do need a bill of rights or something.

Unfortunately, flying is VERY expensive.  I think people forget that just a few years ago, airlines were going under like crazy.  With all of the increased costs of gas, and new regulations, etc., they are working with a razor-thin margin.

I think you need to realize that comfort on a private airplane is not a constitutional right. 

Like I said before, there are other options.  Some airlines have made different decisions on how to work with the smaller margin.  Personally, I think Jetblue has done the best job, by lowering costs where they can, taking out some of the waste (such as the meals that no one really wanted anyways), and catering to the comfort of the customers.  They have some of the widest and most comfortable seats, and they sacrificed a few extra seats to give more leg room.

But, ultimately, this is not about infringing on anyones rights, it is about capitalism.  The way to change this is for customers to demand change by stopping flying with the airlines that do not have their comfort in mind. 

[indeedproceed]

I'm 6'4, 300 lbs. I'm too tall for most planes and too wide for some.

Its a (freaking) nightmare.

Jeeze hoss if i know you were a monster i wouldn't have talked so much smack to you all those times IP    Kidding aside though, maybe the real issue lies within the size of the actual seats. Its like trying to fit into the seats at fenway. Maybe the airlines should be forced to make accomodations for the bigger of us individuls. Like a few rows can be designated for people over a certain weight or height cause i can only imagine if im in pain coming off a flight IP you must feel like Quasi Modo.

Chris i agree you get what you pay for but i just feel like tickets are an arm and leg anyway. The least they can do is make sure your comfortable while flying. Most of the time they don't even feed you any more. It's changed a lot even from a few years ago. Passengers really do need a bill of rights or something.

One time I cuddled with a stranger. Not in a sexy way, she (nice, middle-aged lady) saw i was in crippling pain and that I was basically sitting on my hands so I wouldnt crowd her and she let me put my left arm on her shoulder to give me a little space.

WOuld've been more awkward if it were a dude I guess, but..its terrible.

I'd rather drive to key west than fly.

[Chris]

I'm 6'4, 300 lbs. I'm too tall for most planes and too wide for some.

Its a (freaking) nightmare.

Jeeze hoss if i know you were a monster i wouldn't have talked so much smack to you all those times IP    Kidding aside though, maybe the real issue lies within the size of the actual seats. Its like trying to fit into the seats at fenway. Maybe the airlines should be forced to make accomodations for the bigger of us individuls. Like a few rows can be designated for people over a certain weight or height cause i can only imagine if im in pain coming off a flight IP you must feel like Quasi Modo.

Chris i agree you get what you pay for but i just feel like tickets are an arm and leg anyway. The least they can do is make sure your comfortable while flying. Most of the time they don't even feed you any more. It's changed a lot even from a few years ago. Passengers really do need a bill of rights or something.

One time I cuddled with a stranger. Not in a sexy way, she (nice, middle-aged lady) saw i was in crippling pain and that I was basically sitting on my hands so I wouldnt crowd her and she let me put my left arm on her shoulder to give me a little space.

WOuld've been more awkward if it were a dude I guess, but..its terrible.

I'd rather drive to key west than fly.

I always get the aisle seat, and deal with having my elbow constantly hit, just so I can stretch out into the aisle a little.  Makes it a lot better, but still is painful.

[CelticHooligan3]

Chris i agree you get what you pay for but i just feel like tickets are an arm and leg anyway. The least they can do is make sure your comfortable while flying. Most of the time they don't even feed you any more. It's changed a lot even from a few years ago. Passengers really do need a bill of rights or something.

Unfortunately, flying is VERY expensive.  I think people forget that just a few years ago, airlines were going under like crazy.  With all of the increased costs of gas, and new regulations, etc., they are working with a razor-thin margin.

I think you need to realize that comfort on a private airplane is not a constitutional right. 

Like I said before, there are other options.  Some airlines have made different decisions on how to work with the smaller margin.  Personally, I think Jetblue has done the best job, by lowering costs where they can, taking out some of the waste (such as the meals that no one really wanted anyways), and catering to the comfort of the customers.  They have some of the widest and most comfortable seats, and they sacrificed a few extra seats to give more leg room.

But, ultimately, this is not about infringing on anyones rights, it is about capitalism.  The way to change this is for customers to demand change by stopping flying with the airlines that do not have their comfort in mind. 

Good take Chris. I actually tend to agree with most of it. I was talking to a friend of mine about the subject and he said this issue is actually written into most airlines customer policy. They ask that if a person is over a certain weight they must buy two seats.

The problems arise when the person who falls into that range doesn't let the airline know ahead of time, in order to save themselves from haveing to buy the extra seat. When this problem happens the airline would rather not turn a paying customer away and have to refund them their money. And with most flights booked to capacity its the poor schluab seated next to this large and in charge that has to suffer the brunt of the consequences.  
 

[CelticHooligan3]

I'm 6'4, 300 lbs. I'm too tall for most planes and too wide for some.

Its a (freaking) nightmare.

Jeeze hoss if i know you were a monster i wouldn't have talked so much smack to you all those times IP    Kidding aside though, maybe the real issue lies within the size of the actual seats. Its like trying to fit into the seats at fenway. Maybe the airlines should be forced to make accomodations for the bigger of us individuls. Like a few rows can be designated for people over a certain weight or height cause i can only imagine if im in pain coming off a flight IP you must feel like Quasi Modo.

Chris i agree you get what you pay for but i just feel like tickets are an arm and leg anyway. The least they can do is make sure your comfortable while flying. Most of the time they don't even feed you any more. It's changed a lot even from a few years ago. Passengers really do need a bill of rights or something.

One time I cuddled with a stranger. Not in a sexy way, she (nice, middle-aged lady) saw i was in crippling pain and that I was basically sitting on my hands so I wouldnt crowd her and she let me put my left arm on her shoulder to give me a little space.

WOuld've been more awkward if it were a dude I guess, but..its terrible.

I'd rather drive to key west than fly.

I always get the aisle seat, and deal with having my elbow constantly hit, just so I can stretch out into the aisle a little.  Makes it a lot better, but still is painful.

Ya, you need like a sixth sense for that cart lol 

[Redz]

I remember one time taking a flight across the U.S. next to a guy who had some pretty serious body odor.  It was a long, gross flight.

When I got off the plane and went to the bathroom I realized the smell was still there. Man did I feel horrible for all of the bad thoughts I had of that guy.

What can I say, I was right at that weird age when you first start needing to use deodorant.  Needless to say I started using it every day after that.

[Celtics4ever]

Ever find someone bowled over after a pat in the back, Indeed?  I once patted a female back and knocked the wind out of her.

[dark_lord]

flying sucks in general.  fortunately, when i fly we are a party of three, so i am always sitting next to my wife and/or son (i dont travel for work and only travel for family vacations).  it would suck to have to sit next to a fat person or someone really large that would infringe on the seat i paid for.

[LarBrd33]

I know there's a lot of lawyers on this site. My question is, is this a civil rights isssue? And if so, who wins? The lady or any passenger of a differing size who has to fly next to her for however many hours in extreme discomfort?

I am not a lawyer, but from what I understand about civil rights issues is that it must be for a certain protected (for lack of a better word) minority. 

Fat people are not one of those groups.  However, I am not sure whether severe obesity would be classified as a disability.  If that is the case, then I believe they do need to make reasonable accomodations for her.

That's like saying you need to make special accommodations for a crack head, because crapping all over yourself is a "disability". 

The fat people need to lose weight.  People who have no respect for themselves do not deserve respect from me.  If she insists on living off gallons of pig lard and buckets of cheetos she can insist on buying two seats so I don't get engulfed by her hog rolls.  Cut back on the chocolate fountains and ciggies and I'm sure she'll save up enough money for a second ticket in no time flat. 

I've seen enough "Biggest Loser" to note that these people are just lazy, stubborn and entitled gluttons who are killing themselves for a slice of cake.  They deserve scorn.  Across the board on that show, it's been proven that with exercise and proper dieting they can drop ridiculous amount of weight.  To be fair, the people on that show are exercising for the majority of their day (burning like 7000 calories a day) and limiting themselves to taking in around 2000 calories (they can drop like 15 pounds a week), but the methods are still sound and the information is still there.  Simply limiting calorie intake would result in considerable weight loss... over a year they'd start to look human again.  And it sure as heck is easy to get that information now... even fast food restaurants have calorie count plainly visible. 

It's really simple math.  You need to burn about 3500 calories to lose a single pound of fat.  That woman supposedly was about 400 pounds.  I'd guess she's about 5'4.  I'll guesstimate she's in her 20s.  That means for her specifically she needs to take in about 2500 calories per day to MAINTAIN her current obesity (see BMR calculator: http://exercise.about.com/library/blbmrcalculator.htm ).  So if she limited herself to 1500 calories per day (not all that difficult to do, really), even WITHOUT exercise, she'd be burning about 1000 calories a day.  7000 calories in a week.  Since 3500x2 = 7000 and you need to roughly burn 3500 calories to lose a pound... that means she'd be losing 2 pounds a week just by cutting back on boston cream pie a bit.  2 pounds a week = 8.66 pounds a month = 103 pounds in a year.   A couple years of just CUTTING BACK and she'll drop half her weight.   

Now, if you add in proper exercise she could stand to lose a heck of a lot more in a lot quicker period of time.  It is what it is... no respect for losers who do that to themselves. 

With that said, I'm going to go jog 5 miles. It's sunny out and I have no excuse not to.

[Celtics4ever]

You realize that muscle weighs more than fat?  Now these biggest losers the name suits them but I know some muscle bound 300 lbers.

[mqtcelticsfan]

You realize that muscle weighs more than fat?  Now these biggest losers the name suits them but I know some muscle bound 300 lbers.

I'm not sure what prompted this post, but I think he knows that not all people are built the same way. The problem is the people who are killing themselves with their overeating and lack of activity. These people need to lose weight or risk major consequences.