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Save/ShareThanks to everyone who posted comments on my earlier blog post, A Question of Weight. I'm overwhelmed by the response! It seems that most everyone agrees that the issue of overweight passengers on airplanes is a serious problem. What to do about it, though, is the subject of (a lot of) debate!
Some readers pointed out how the size of seats in coach class hasn't expanded, even as the average weight of Americans has increased. With airline seats being uncomfortable for most passengers even in the best of circumstances, you were outraged at the notion of having to give up any seat space to someone else.
And, thanks to your comments, this is what I learned: Obese or overweight passengers don't want to take up others' space any more than seat neighbors want to share it, and they might be willing to pay for extra space—but when they follow the current airline policy of buying two seats for themselves, airlines and fellow passengers don't consistently (or ever, according to comments) honor their reserved seat.
If carriers can't or won't enforce the one and only policy that addresses the issue, then overweight people have little recourse but to inconvenience others. (I'm going to ignore comments about the causes of obesity. I prefer to let the medical profession address those concerns; yelling at someone for being overweight is not going to give me more space on a flight.)
What was also interesting was that some readers noted the inconsistency between extra-baggage fee policies and the lack of fees for overweight passengers, and suggested that airlines charge passengers based on the combined weight of the individual and his or her luggage.
As for the question of who is responsible for addressing the problem, readers were split on whether the burden should be on airlines or overweight passengers. Let's see which airline will be the first to tackle the issue—according to you guys, Southwest seems to have a running start...
[Earlier blog post: A Question of Weight.]
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OK, now that we've all weighed in on this subject, how about sending the comments to the airlines? Better yet, maybe the comments should go to Boeing, Air Bus and other builders of airliners.
I simply do not look forward to long range flights any more. No leg room in economy. I'm not over weight so the seats themselves are just so-so. Bring back those wide body planes, please! Nancy
Posted By Nancy Gomez on February 11, 2008, 1:04 PM
The problem is really one of getting what you pay for. Air flight is cheaper per mile then just about any other form of transport. Time and again, regardless of what we say here, the public has shown that they want the cheapest ticket possible. They will accept longer flights, transfers, less room, and just about anything else the airlines can dish out if it will lower fares by $2.
It reminds me of a Benny Hill skit where he goes to a travel agent and chooses the 49 pound trip instead of the 50 pound trip. The next five minutes are spent watching him eat a shoe while the guy on the 50 pound trip had lobster and so on.
Now, this is no solution for the overweight passenger who paid for one seat and takes up two, or even worse, paid for two seats, and had to squeeze into one (tell me this is not begging for a lawsuit), however for all of us who complain about how much space we have, you can't expect a corporation to eat into it's profits because we want them to, when time and again, we've shown them that price is more important than anything else. You also have to remember that the airlines are not all that profitable to begin with.
Posted By daniel on February 11, 2008, 3:28 PM
I think its only fair that if overweight passengers are going to take up seats that are paid for by other passengers anyway, that they should install larger seats for these overweight passengers and then make them pay extra for those seats.Its better than taking up other peoples seats unfairly.Maybe that would cut down on the number of overweight passengers flying and it would make overweight passengers take the responsibility for their weight rather than taking someone else's seat.I think that's fair.But really as i see it the real underlying problem here is not the seat size on airplanes, but just the fact that too many people are overweight.It has become an epidemic basically and the problem with seats on airplanes is just the result of that.Really everyone is just supposed to be normal size weight which is small to basic large and the seats on airplanes are just supposed to be those sizes.So the problem is not really airplanes,the problem is just people eating too much of the wrong foods and being lazy,and not getting enough excercise.The problem is really health wise.Airlines shouldn't have to accomodate big people,but since overweight people let themselves go and want to take their overweight frustrations out on other people,then the airlines must take measures to fix the problem and accomodate them.That's the real problem here,because don't you think its funny that we are all of a sudden having to worry about this after all these years? We never had such bad problems with this in the past.Obesity used to not be so widespread,but now it is.This must tell us something about ourselves.We must all wake up and smell the coffee,as they say.All overweight people should be put on serious diet programs free of charge and be made to follow them,then we might not have this airline seat problem.Or any other problems that arise from obesity.Is that blunt enough?
Posted By Lori on February 12, 2008, 12:17 AM
Time for the airline industry to address this potential profitable need; build BIG BOY AIRCRAFT,NO SKINNY MINNYS ALLOWED, CHARGE ACCORDINGLY. P.S. SERVE OVERSIZED MEALS AS WELL.
R.P.
Posted By Ron Parker on February 12, 2008, 9:28 AM
You know not everyone that is overwieght is lazy..that is so stero type..yes i admit im over wieght and yes im working on not being over wieght..and it hard..Why cant everyone just respect everyone for who they are not what they look like.....
Posted By shannon on February 29, 2008, 10:05 PM
Dear Shannon,
I really cannot see how you can turn this into a issue about respecting each other.
If we both rented parking spaces where we live and I had a large car and was always using part of your space to accomondate my car I don't think you would categorize it as an issue of respect. Maybe a lack of respect for what is your leased space that I am using.
This is really just about fairness to everyone. Smaller, thinner people pay extra for just about everything. A pair of Levi Jeans cost the same whether you buy a size 26" waist or a 40" waist even though it has got to be cheaper to make the smaller pair.
Stefen
Posted By Stefen on March 19, 2008, 12:29 AM
FIRST off, I have never been lazy. I work my butt off 24/7 raising five children and being a Military wife. At my highest weight, I was 320. Today, I am 133. SOME people are overweight due to medical conditions, such as THYROID DISEASE. Others cannot exercise due to all kinds of medical reasons. It is terribly unfair to say fat people are lazy. I have flown on an airplane being 320 lbs. Trust me, for a fat person, it sucks to sit next to a prejudice person. AND there will always be prejudice people no matter what the hell you do. FLY, laugh, pee. Someone will not like you because you are fat, skinny, brown, yellow or your nose is too long. Being thinner now at 130 lbs. I can honestly say people treat me much better than at 300 lbs. It is not right, but that is the way it is. Fat people do not want your damn seat. They need to make some seats that will fit a larger body. PERIOD. Make six rows or something with two seats each. Not too hard folks. Then everyone can stop bitching about this and start on something else. To all the fat people out there I say, YOU ARE A PERSON, YOU ARE WORTH SOMETHING, and what makes you YOU is INSIDE. Eat to live, not live to eat. All you skinny people just hide your addictions, fat people wear ours.
Posted By used to b fat now skinny on June 14, 2008, 2:03 PM
I was a ski racer for many years, and I cant and dont even want to tell you how much i spent in overweight for my ski bags and extra luggage. Probably in the thousands when it is all said and done. It is ridiculous. So what really bothers me with this whole issue on overweight people, is that passengers that are over a certain weight should pay an overweight fee, just like overweight luggage. They say you pay overweight fees for your luggage inorder to compensate for the extra fuel it will take to complete the flight. Well what about the guy that way 100 or 200 pounds more than me? Do they add that into the fuel equation? I agree that larger people should not have to be uncomfortable on a plane and getting larger seats IS one answer or buying two, but why should i have to fork over so much money in overweight for my skis, which was my profession, when overweight people don't have to pay for their extra weight. Which is basically the same thing, they are adding an excess weight to the plane and more fuel is required to make the trip. And now airlines are making it even more of a pain with the new baggage rules of only 1 bag. For a skier who is always traveling with lots of equipment this cost becomes a real burden on the wallet.
Posted By Paul on June 18, 2008, 7:43 PM