Should Passengers of Size Have to Buy Two Seats?

Should passengers of size have to buy two (or more) seats to safely and comfortably travel by air? This has come up several times and I have shared my thoughts on this topic in the past. “Passenger of size” is the term used to describe those traveling on planes who cannot comfortably fit within the confines of an airplane seat. Some have said that the government, tax payers, or the airlines themselves should foot the bill to accommodate them. One woman has even started a petition with more than 39,000 signatures. This issue came up again with a recent TikTok video and I wanted to weigh in again.

@kozorae

@American Airlines

♬ original sound – Nat

TikTok user @kozorae shared the video above about her recent experience on an American Airlines flight from Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). She was squeezed next to a passenger who took over half of her seat as well as half the aisle. Here’s how she describes the incident:

I want to talk about my most recent American Airlines experience, specifically regarding their policy or lack of policy regarding safety for passengers of all sizes. I want to preface this by saying I am not fatphobic nor do I glamorize obesity. I think people can live or do whatever they want with their body as long as it doesn’t harm other people.

 

As we approached our seats, we noticed that there was an obese person sitting in the aisle. It’s clear that their body was in the middle of the aisle. So, people had to squeeze by them and no matter how much they squeezed to the side, they were just touching their body.

 

Not only did they sit in their seat, they sat on about a third of my body. And if they were to put their arm down, it would have been in front of my face. The person was sitting on top of me and my leg was starting to get pinched. I already have edema. So, it was exasperated and it was super claustrophobic. I couldn’t correctly put down the meal tray in front of me ‘cause the person next to me’s body was filling up that space. So, I had to sit and eat on my boyfriend’s tray. I was also impeding my boyfriend’s face to try to avoid being sat on.”

She approached a flight attendant to ask to be reseated and shares the interaction:

Sorry to bother you, by any chance are there any open seats that I can move to? The person next to me is also on top of me. [She states the flight attendant said that ‘the passenger next to [her] should have bought two seats.’ They knew exactly who I was talking about. Why is this an issue in the first place? American Airlines and other airlines need to have some policy in place. This is a safety issue. If there was an emergency, I would have literally been trapped and so would have my whole row and potentially everyone else.

 

American Airlines and other airlines should have a policy that isn’t just ‘an overweight person should buy two seats.’ It’s not conducive to people’s dignity and why should they have to pay for two seats?”

I agree that it is an issue, but I do not agree that the airline should just give a passenger of size a free seat. Seats cost money and the airlines need to monetize them. How would the claim for an extra seat be decided on? I’d like extra space, but can fit into a seat without a seatbelt extender. Am I out of luck? I’ve said it before. I’m six-foot-five-inches tall. I need legroom and buy Business or First Class to make sure that I have the space I need. If a passenger can’t fit in one seat, they need to buy two or a ticket in a premium cabin.

What Are the US Airlines’ Policies?

• Alaska Airlines: Alaska offers to reimburse passengers for extra seats purchased if the plane flies with empty seats. More information can be found here.
• Allegiant Air: The airline requires guests to buy two seats, but will assign two seats together at no charge. More here.
• American Airlines: The airline’s policy can be found on its special assistance page. It states, “if a customer needs extra space outside a single seat to travel safely, another seat is required.”
• Avelo Airlines: The policy is clear. If you need more space, you have to purchase an additional seat.
• Breeze Airways: The airline does not have a requirement and only says that “guests of size who need more space than a Standard Legroom seat provides, which has 18″ of width and 30″ of pitch, can ask to be reseated next to an empty seat if availability allows.”
• Delta Air Lines: Delta does not have an official policy posted except for some notes on how to book an extra seat.
• Frontier Airlines: Frontier states “customers who are unable to lower both armrests and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seat or aisle should book two seats prior to travel.”
• Hawaiian Airlines: Hawaiian warns “if you are unable to sit comfortably in your seat with the armrests lowered, we will try to find a suitable alternative. However, if no safe alternative seating can be found, we may not be able to transport you on your ticketed flight.” The airline recommends buying two seats here.
• JetBlue: It looks like there is no official policy, but there is some information on buying extra seats here.
• Southwest Airlines: The carrier has one of the clearest policies. You can purchase an extra seat and if the aircraft is not full, get a refund.
• Spirit Airlines: Spirit requires guests to purchase an additional seat if the passenger is “unable to sit in a single seat with the armrests lowered.”
• Sun Country: The airline clearly states: “guests who do not comfortably fit in one seat with both armrests in the down position are required to purchase a ticket for an additional adjacent seat.”
• United Airlines: United requires customers to buy a second seat or it recommends buying in premium cabins. More here.

Anthony’s Take: The TikTok video shows a woman who is far more patient than I would have been. I would have addressed the issue on the ground and not suffered through an 11-hour flight.

(Featured Image Credit: Ozgurcoskun.)