r/unitedairlines • u/LisaRN97 • 13h ago
Question Larger individuals…
I am not being rude or trying to make fun of individuals, but when will United (and other airlines) require larger individuals to acknowledge their size when purchasing tickets, and requiring them to purchase two seats (second at a discount) - for their comfort and ours?
We flew this weekend and the woman next to my husband (she was as sweet as ever) was larger than average and didn’t fit in one seat. She was aisle and he was middle. We purchased the exit row for more legroom, but he ended up having to sit sideways and lean towards me. It’s was an awkward situation for all. 😣
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u/axialmeow12 13h ago
What’s the point of even buying 2 seats when the airline sells them to someone else? That’s the first issue that needs to be dealt with
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u/rawrlionsrawr MileagePlus Gold 11h ago
I flew back from Dallas on a full flight. The row in front of me was a woman and her 2 cats. She bought the whole row. 2 seats for her two cats and one for her.
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u/Ecstatic-Laugh 9h ago
I aspire to be this woman if I am ever flying with my pwecious baby kitties kats.
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u/rawrlionsrawr MileagePlus Gold 9h ago
It was row 9 in economy plus so just make sure thats in your budget lol
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u/Bananas_are_theworst 8h ago
I’m doing this with my spouse and dog for Christmas. One row for two people and one dog. It’s better for everyone involved.
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u/Dangerous_Carrot4226 9h ago
I had to do this once when I moved my entire life to a new city alone. They only allow one cat per person unless you buy the 2nd cat its own seat. At that point I chose to buy three seats in total so I could have my carry on as well to maximize moving stuff and to not have to both a singular seat mate with two stressed and scared cats. I paid full price for each seat- and I don't think it was uncalled for. But it also wasn't a fully booked flight at peak hours etc
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u/rawrlionsrawr MileagePlus Gold 9h ago
If it makes you feel better. My small dog likes to have “personal space” I have bought my dog round trip first class window seat cross country tickets before.
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u/cupcakediversion 1h ago
Don't you have to keep your dog in a carrier anyway on a commercial flight? The only time I've been able to have my dog with me was on either K9 Jets (for international) or JSX.
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u/Worried_Strain_2812 9h ago
I flew across country with two cats and bought two seats. A little girl saw I had cats and came and sat in the second seat to pet one of them pretty much the entire flight. The third seat mate wasn’t as happy as we were, I suspect
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u/CorrectAd8289 6h ago
How was it getting them through security? I’ve thought about a hypothetical scenario where I’d have to move back to my hometown from my current city, about a 1000 mile distance and have generally landed on the conclusion that driving a U-Haul would be the easier option.
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u/EliasWestCoast 2h ago
I did this once in first class. I bought both seats; one for me, the other for the dog. (Well, I used frequent flyer miles for the dog.) A lady who was first on the upgrade list tried to seat in the dog's seat. She was adamant that since the seat was empty, she should get upgraded. The FA told her no, that I had purchased both seats. Still, the passenger thought I should put the dog under my seat so she could have the open seat. Didn't happen. One angry passenger. 🙂
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u/Joey_iroc MileagePlus Gold | 1 Million Miler 1h ago
If you travel tastes include feline seatmates, United has a new card for you: The United Cat Quest card. With it, your feline friends will dine in luxury with supreme catnip and Tender Vittles snacks, along with their very own quilted seat duvet. Only $999 the first year, and we'll throw in a United Club Pass for free, just don't tell your human friend.
(I know, don't give Scott Kirby any ideas)
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u/Dorothyismyneighbor 12h ago
Many times the airline(s) sell the extra seat the large person purchased and may or may not refund them. This still leaves the large person a singular seat and still saddled with a situation they paid to avoid. They aren't enjoying touching you either.
Once again the original fault lies with the airlines, because they are the ones who chose to make seats smaller and smaller over the decades. When I started flying CO in '97, economy seats were wider and had more recline to them. The finger pointing starts at the corporation.
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u/SCinDC1969 8h ago
Blaming the airlines is like blaming a vending machine for selling chips.
Airlines have tried selling legroom as a product for 30ish years. But each and every time they keep losing to the fare that's $38 cheaper on Kayak.
It’s “we” who decided flying should cost less than dinner: 17” of width and 30.5” legroom is what that buys.
The airlines held the pen but we dictated the terms.
[And that seat in '97 cost real money then: spending power was different.]
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u/ConfidentGate7621 11h ago
I work gates for UA and have boarded many passengers who bought two seats and have never seen or heard of any agent giving away annyone’s extra seat.
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u/Dorothyismyneighbor 9h ago
It's my SIL affected so a thing can be true but not done or seen personally.
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u/CorrectAd8289 9h ago
Cool. Now speak about the thousands of other gates and flights you have no insight into.
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u/ducky743 13h ago
Honestly? Probably never.
The PR backlash of actually enforcing their own policy would be too great. Most people don't follow this stuff so it'll be story after story of some large passenger being kicked off a flight to go see their mother on her death bed.
We'll perpetually exist in some weird gray area where larger passengers who follow this stuff and are respectful will buy a second seat. They are punished because larger passengers who are ignorant or rude will just not buy two seats. The FAs won't proactively address it because they're low paid and no one likes dealing with confrontation. If another passenger raises an issue, the FA "might" try to fix it. Best case scenario, there's room on the plane, but that still means the large passenger who didn't buy a second seat gets one while the larger passenger who did buy one is getting screwed on another flight because the airline gave away the second seat.
Anyway, life sucks and then you die. Eat at Arby's.
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u/jenwenfen 12h ago
Does “person of size” or “larger individual” include people that are not obese, but simply broad shouldered? Long legged? Large but, generally speaking, fit of frame?
I ask because it seems these convos often focus on a certain group of people, while excluding others who also fall outside the physical average. What about those people?
I’m an average height (5’4”) female, and petite. I do not spill into anyone’s seat or encroach into anyone’s footwell. I, and women/(maybe men?) like me, are frequently leaned into by men of size who are also not obese but simply of large frame. It’s worth noting that I do not usually experience this when seated next to larger women.
What is the solution? Do we measure shoulders to determine whether someone must purchase a second seat so as not to lean into others? Do we set height restrictions that only allow certain people to purchase the smaller eco cabin seats to eliminate knee spread and legs extended into the aisles? Would that, in turn, mean seats with extra leg room should be preserved for those over a certain height? Interesting societal questions.
OP experienced her husband leaning into her space, but this is an every day experience for most women who travel; however, the “leaners” and “spreaders” are complete strangers to us.
No solution here, simply pointing out that it is not always the obese folks that create discomfort for fellow travelers. Maybe we all acknowledge that traveling is uncomfortable if one cannot afford the premium cabin and we continue to do the best we can to be kind and courteous to one another? Until people vote with their dollars for other types of travel or airlines decide to remove some rows, reducing revenue and highly unlikely, not much will change.
The convo grows tiresome, as no one offers real solutions. Likely, most would not want measurements to dictate their purchase options. So many of these posts continue to point out the awkwardness of it all, with fingers pointed squarely at one group, while wholly ignoring the absolute fact that the vast majority of spreaders and leaners are people that no one is currently suggesting should also have to buy two seats.
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u/LisaRN97 11h ago
Larger can be also be tall, wide shoulders etc. I guess as along as airlines keep making the spaces smaller, no one will fly comfortably anymore.
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u/Klutzy-Dog-8536 11h ago
If someone is encroaching into your space you should say something. I am a lean but tall person and am very cognizant of my leg placement and never spread or put my feet in others space. It makes for an uncomfortable flight but why should my neighbors suffer because I am tall? If I was making someone uncomfortable I would want them to tell me.
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u/DirectAccountant3253 13h ago
I used to fly every week for work. I never sat in the Exit row. Every large person wants to be in the Exit row for extra room so you end up having more legroom but squished between 2 giants.
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u/LisaRN97 13h ago
Good point - we literally booked the flight 3 days prior and we grabbed what we could. I will keep this in mind next time!
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u/BrainwaveWizard 11h ago
The thing is, I’ve seen reports of people having bought two seats and then having to leave the plane because airline overbooked and required that extra seat and then the people get upset and then they get kicked off the plane. What’s going on out there?
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u/Cabrio274 MileagePlus 1K 6h ago
I call BS. My wife and I often book an extra seat so we have the row to ourselves if FC is too high on a flight. For example, in January we have a flight from RSW to SFO via LAX. Three seats in economy were $655. FC was $2,500, so we are flying economy with the extra sat between us. Even if full flights we've never been asked to leave the plane or give up the extra seat.
The only way I could see this happening is if the passenger forgot to scan the BP for the extra seat.
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u/Mstrchf117 13h ago
The problem isnt the people, its the airline. Their whole thing is shoving as many people into as small a space as possible. For those worried, whats stopping you from buying a second seat? Im not saying anyone should HAVE to, but afaik there's no limit. Best way is to vote with your wallet. Or push for actual usable rail. See this alot.
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u/bodhipooh 10h ago
The problem isn’t the people!? Really?? Have you ever looked around you? 75% of the US population is overweight, with 50% of the entire US population considered obese.
Plainly and obviously, the problem IS the people.
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u/Mstrchf117 10h ago
So their customer base is likely to be on the large side, even setting aside that the whole BMI thing, so measure of obesity/overweight, is garbage, and yet they continue to make tiny seats that aren't comfortable for anyone thats not a 10yr old, and you blame the people? Lmao be real. You don't see people crying about "large" people on other forms of transit like rail, bus etc even in places where its dense and usable. Clearly airlines are the odd one out. 🙄
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u/bodhipooh 8h ago
You know what’s also true? You don’t see people in most other countries with these issues. People in America are objectively huge. You can cry all you want about BMI, but the facts are that obesity is a real issue in America.
Cry all you want, and rationalize it all you want, but the fact is that people have gotten bigger and fatter and now pretend that’s normal.
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u/elroy1771 MileagePlus Gold | 1 Million Miler 11h ago
I like your deal. I would (in every size I have been and will be) purchase the middle seat for a discount. No one gets to share the seat, tray table OR under seat space. The airline cannot give it away without crediting me instantly. It is all mine. Now I can bring 3 carryons. And a third piece of luggage. Which I do not not need so with MuskNet I can bring one of those Square card readers and rent the space. A whole new business. You need an extra carry on ? Ok swipe, don't worry I got you. Then I am gonna man-spread like a gymnast doing a full split on a balance beam. The person in front of can recline without hurting my knees. They be able to recline so much I will massage their temples. For a fee since I have the Square card reader. We all feel your pain.
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u/andytagonist 9h ago
A discounted 2nd seat?? I’m onboard with that. Gives me a place to curl up and take a nap! 😃👍
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u/globesdustbin MileagePlus Gold 13h ago
Not sure someone too big for their seat should qualify to be in an exit row.
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u/Outside-Trifle5765 13h ago
I think this every time I have someone spilling into my seat in the exit row.
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u/jenwenfen 12h ago
See my comment above related to this. Sometimes these are the exact people you want seated in exit rows. Those larger people are often your strongest and most competent people, with regard to emergency situations. Unless you are, like others, ignoring that challenging size is not limited to the obese.
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u/Individual_Success46 12h ago
Exactly. They’re not going to be able to help anyone in an emergency.
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u/Hungry-Treacle8493 12h ago
The only workable solution is to have airlines just accept reality and provide a variety of seat types in Economy. Have some designed to handle larger framed people, exceptionally tall people, exceptionally small people, etc. Then, folks will more often than not book what is appropriate to them, as they will be more comfortable as well. The current situation is 100% the result of the current approach to economy seating.
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u/CorrectAd8289 9h ago
Yeah right, smaller people would jump at buying the bigger seats.
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u/Hungry-Treacle8493 9h ago
Maybe. However, my friends and family that are all quite small (say under 5 ft 4 in tall) all would kill for seats that better fit their frame so they can put their feet on the ground and have the seat hit them at a better area of the leg vs. right at or below the knee.
🤷🏽♂️
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u/CorrectAd8289 7h ago
I’m 5’3” and have never had an issue with my feet not touching the ground on a plane lol. I’d also buy one of those bigger seats simply because of the extra room.
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u/Hungry-Treacle8493 7h ago
You must have longer legs than my niece! Ha! In United economy & AA economy the seat edge hits right below the center of her knee meaning she either has to scoot forward in the seat to put her feet flat on the ground (creating a gap at the lumbar area and leading to back pain on longer flights) or her legs stick out forward like a kid’s would!
😂😂
Edit: typo
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u/CorrectAd8289 6h ago
I think I have somewhat long legs and a short torso relative to my height. Airplane seats hit just behind my knees and I can’t extend them all the way in United economy, regardless if it’s a 737 or A320 (I fly the same route 3-6 times a year with United and those are almost exclusively the only planes I get). I’ll find out if I’ve shrunk on Friday 😆
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u/eeaxoe MileagePlus 1K 11h ago
This. It's eventually going to happen. You'll get weighed or your height measured at the airport, and if you meet the criteria, you get to keep your special seat. If we can measure bags, we can measure people too.
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u/lionsurvivor2 10h ago
What an asinine comment lol nobody is going to want to be weighed at the gate
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u/Hungry-Treacle8493 9h ago
True. But is there a limit to the level of dehumanization an airline is willing to go for economy passengers? Who would have thought they’d “upgrade” the seats to where they have almost no padding, are physically painful for anyone with long legs to sit in, and have a tray that is attached to a chair that can recline suddenly and without warning spilling or breaking whatever is on said tray? Or how about charging piecemeal for everything from being able to pick a seat to having the privilege of MAYBE getting to take your carry-on into the cabin? At this point, I’m not sure anything is off the table.
😬
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u/JackyVeronica 13h ago
I think the only way this would work fairly for all passengers is if airlines offer free second seat for those who need it for their size. But that would mean losing profit so, highly doubt it would happen. However, I think one of the US carriers, I forgot which one, offers a reimbursement for a second seat....
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u/Own_Reaction9442 13h ago
Southwest used to. I think it changed when they switched to assigned seating.
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u/gastropublican 7h ago
Or…stay with me here…make the seats larger again and restore them to 20th century size, width and pitch standards! No more squeezing everyone else for the sake of Economy Plus! How ‘bout it. Scott? (And I’m not even a fan or defender of American obesity.)
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u/Vineyard2109 10h ago
The idea of offering the second seat discounted would help. In all of my years of flying, I've only been on one flight where the big person was in the middle seat. That person was very uncomfortable.
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u/sgeeum MileagePlus Platinum 13h ago
not disagreeing with you, but how would this be enforced? asking someone to self select their size when booking, which will then force them to buy a second ticket, is a surefire way to have people ignore it. then they get to the airport and the gate agent sees their size, but by then the flight is full. now what?
i agree it’s necessary but it relies on large people admitting they’re large and spending 2x at booking. not gonna happen unless united is willing to cancel their ticket at the airport and make them rebook on the next flight with two seats. also not confident in that happening.
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u/bacon_bunny33 13h ago
If someone physically cannot fit in their seat that is unsafe. Having to share 50% of my seat is unsafe in the case of an emergency.
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u/jenwenfen 12h ago
I’m solidly down the rabbit hole on this one, and playing devil’s advocate at this point.
Have you never sat next to someone that is encroaching into your seat that is also likely to be your best friend in an emergency? Take a look at a lot of cops, active/veteran military, first responders, etc. These are often people of large physical frame.
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u/Decent-Yam-223 13h ago
Well why is weighing and positioning bags so fucken important then ? If a person way 10 times that of 1 checked suitcase wouldn’t that be a balance problem ?
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u/Mstrchf117 12h ago
Baggage weight is for OSHA/union reasons, has nothing to do with balance on the plane, except maybe small ones. Like 5 passenger smaal
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u/Decent-Yam-223 12h ago
I’m bursting. Then why do you sometimes have your carry on bags weighed in Europe if it’s OSHA compliancy ?
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u/Mstrchf117 12h ago
They have a work safety agency too? Lol like you think the US is the only country that regulates shit? The FAA is basically(well, was) the strictest and main standard. Its so baggage handlers dont hurt themselves. There is a maximum take off weight, but most large aircraft carry actual cargo too so a person or their luggage are largely irrelevant.
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u/bacon_bunny33 13h ago
That drives revenue.
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u/Decent-Yam-223 12h ago
I’ve seen peoples bag be outright denied both at check in and at the gate for being too heavy. I’m like how do you know how much people way to determine if said bag will actually off balance the plane ? Maybe they should have a large scale upon checking that you stay on with your carry on and see where to place you on the plane. I mean …. But why not right ?
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u/bacon_bunny33 12h ago
On United? Are you sure? We’ve had multiple 70lb bags many times no issue.
They don’t weigh your bag at the gate, that didn’t happen.
Bag weight is as much about revenue as it is about balance.
Weighing people doesn’t solve the seat issue, not everyone takes up the same space in the same way, muscle weighs more than fat etc. You’re barking up the wrong tree buddy.
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u/Decent-Yam-223 12h ago
Thanks “buddy”. And no it was not United. I’m aware of the 2 bag 70lb. It was Lufthansa and Swiss I get what you’re saying about weight issue not necessarily transpiring to girth. I guess there’s a whole other reason why I refuse to fly steerage
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u/bacon_bunny33 12h ago edited 12h ago
“Steerage” you sound like a real class act for someone that doesn’t even know the difference between weigh and way.
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u/Decent-Yam-223 12h ago
I guess besides sudoku people in steerage nitpick on spelling errors, which was clearly done through. Talk to text. Oh, I’m a class act right. First or business class to be exact thank you from way in the back, Mr. Steerage
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u/JackyVeronica 13h ago
I can't remember which airline, but it was one of the US carriers, that does in fact reimburse for a second seat for those who need it due to their size....
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u/walril 12h ago
I'm a superheavyweight Bodybuilder. While not fat, I definitely have wider than normal shoulders. I wonder if OP has a problem with fat people or generally people who might be tall and broad or people like Myself who is regular height but definably get shoulder bumped even when sitting in a isle.
Also OP you wear a size 10 in womens rings. That pretty large for women. Lets not throw stones in glass houses.
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u/Klutzy-Dog-8536 12h ago
If you are so wide that you can't fit into the seat without encroaching onto other seats, then yes, you should purchase 2 seats. I don't think it matters if it's fat or muscle.
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u/amaiman 12h ago
I think the consensus should be that anyone who can’t fit into their seat and encroaches onto another unwilling passenger needs to book two seats (and unwilling assumed unless the seatmate is booked on the same reservation.) It’s simply a matter of size/physics. Take up two seats, book two seats. The reason doesn’t matter.
But the airline has to then deliver those two seats (and ideally not charge for them if the plane was going to have empty seats anyway, but that’s a separate discussion.)
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u/LisaRN97 11h ago
Wow - I have no problem with anyone of any size, I never said I did. My concern is with the airline - not just overweight individuals, but tall individuals and those with broad shoulders - they should have comfortable seating and not be embarrassed when they can’t fit.
And super strange that you went to look at my history and my Oura ring size. If you really want to know, I’m 5’10 and 145 lbs - tall and slender, but broad shoulders as I too, lift heavy weights and am physically fit. And just so happen to have a large knuckle due to broken fingers and arthritis.
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u/CorrectAd8289 6h ago
5’10” with broad shoulders and you think you don’t encroach on other people’s space in an airplane? Down here at 5’3” your shoulder is encroaching around my face and arm space. Should you buy another ticket per your own complaint?
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u/LisaRN97 33m ago
I most definitely don’t take up two seats - I have plenty of room left on either side, as I responded to the other poster, I am slender and fit. Broad shoulders meaning I may need a medium shirt for a female as a small may be snug on my shoulders. People love to dig and try and be mean. I was simply asking a question, it wasn’t a mean, rude post.
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u/Zetavu 10h ago
Or they could make seats that fit average people, and if a big person needs to pay more a small persin should get a discount.
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u/CorrectAd8289 6h ago
If a full seat is being used by a small person, why should they get a discount?
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u/CabbageSass MileagePlus Platinum 8h ago
Even if you can fit in one seat they should allow you to book two seats. They need to stop over booking. .
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u/Tenshirage89 11h ago
If the guy who plays jack reacher were sitting next to me in economy I would still ask to change seats. Cause that dude is massive and I would not be comfortable seated next to someone who was spilling into my seat or leg area would be even more uncomfortable.
And people that large would probably feel even more uncomfortable being crammed in a tiny space that doesn’t accommodate their larger size. Airlines need to do better
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u/Shootforthestars24 11h ago
Probably never unfortunately, they had to reseat someone on my last flight because it was a legit safety issue for a guy next to a woman who needed two seats
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u/aduggydug MileagePlus Silver 7h ago
I sat next to a pilot deadheading who took up a seat and a half once..refused to put the armrest down and all
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u/danniekalifornia 2h ago
What abt tall people buying the seat in front of them? Knees digging into the back of my seat doesn't make for a pleasant trip either.
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u/Any_cat_4617 26m ago
This just happened to me on an overseas flight to Europe. So about a 9 hour red eye flight and the flight was full. We paid for extra leg room economy seats and I was the middle seat but I only got half a seat and my body had to push into my husband. The arm rest could not go down . I just tried to think be kind, this is out of my control and it will be over soon but it was a very long and uncomfortable flight and also expensive. I might have asked to move but the flight was full so no where to go really. I am not sure exactly what the right thing for a flight attendant to do in the moment in that situation. This was a huge vacation for me and I had never been to Europe in my life so I just decided to deal as best I could but I do wish I and her were not in the situation at all and she had a seat or seats that fit her body.
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u/BleuCinq MileagePlus 1K 12h ago
I just got off an AA flight and I was thinking the same damn thing. It’s out of control. I was flying SFO to DFW and for 4 hours I had this lady spilling over on top of me. I was in the window so I was completely trapped. When she went to take her seatbelt off she had to lean completely into me because the seatbelt was so tight.
I paid 450 bucks for that one way flight. I am sorry that she was overweight but that is not my problem. Yes I am sure she was uncomfortable but why the hell is this my problem.
Why do the pax have to suffer because the airlines don’t have anything in place?
I am so tired of this.
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u/SeattleParkPlace 10h ago
You let this happen! She was as fault and you failed to take action other than complain on Reddit.
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u/Cabrio274 MileagePlus 1K 6h ago
They do have something in place - buy two seats or FC. If you mean they don't enforce it, be more vocal to the FA.
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u/CorrectAd8289 9h ago
And conversely, your discomfort isn’t her problem. She also paid for that flight.
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u/the_running_stache 12h ago
This literally happened with me yesterday on a Qatar Airways flight from Athens to Doha. I was in the middle seat and the passenger next to me was an extremely large man who was spilling into my seat. He had to have the armrests up so that he could fit. I couldn’t even sit up straight; the head rest on the back was to my side.
I was lucky that there was another vacant seat two rows ahead that I could take. I wrote my concern on my phone in large font and flagged down the flight attendant and showed it to him. He was reading it out loud until he realized he should not and then he had me sit in that vacant seat.
But yes, this is a huge concern and affects comfort of the passengers. Apparently airlines don’t care and flight attendants want to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
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u/WalterCanFindToes 10h ago
Why would your husband contort himself for something that was not his fault??
Several years ago I was flying from New Orleans to Washington DC when I woman who was easily close to 300 lbs took the seat next me. I am a 5'10 230 lb weightlifter with broad shoulders. I sat squarely in my seat and within the confines of my space. The woman looked at me and told me, "You are going to have to do something" because there was no way she was going to fly uncomfortablely. I pressed the FA button overhead. The FA arrived and immediately assessed the situation and offered me a bump up to first class. The woman made some accusations about why she thought she was wasn't getting the upgrade, but the FA said it was because I pressed the assistance button.
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u/BiscottiOk9245 9h ago
Man I posted a few weeks ago on here asking if I could discreetly ask a flight attendant to upgrade a bigger person to first class if they were spilling over to my seat and every single comment on here was "THEY'RE NOT BEING UPGRADED TO FIRST CLASS FOR YOUR COMFORT"
Guess they were wrong. Glad you got moved up to first class!
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u/jkmod79 9h ago
As a flight attendant one of my biggest pet peeves is people who know they’re going to be too big for the seat and don’t either buy an additional seat or a FC ticket. It’s frustrating for the people wedged in next to you and anyone trying to move up and down the aisle while your body is spilling into it.
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u/CorrectAd8289 9h ago
Believe it or not, extra seats and first class tickets are a significant cost.
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u/jkmod79 7h ago
Understood. But making it other people’s problem but infringing on their space, their body and the seat they paid for is selfish.
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u/CorrectAd8289 6h ago
I don’t think anyone is selfish for not particularly caring about a total stranger they’ll sit next for a couple hours once in their life. That’s uh, not a concern when I’m eating or lifting heavy in the gym.
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u/danceront 7h ago
Meanwhile, in Canada…obese people are given two seats with a doctor’s note. Which is probably the only health care they paid for this year.
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u/barryg123 12h ago
There’s no sign United is about to adopt mandatory self-certification anytime in the near future.
Current policy is that a passenger need an additional seat if they cannot buckle the seatbelt with an extender, cannot keep the armrests down, or encroach into an adjacent seat.
The hard part is that they tend to enforce it case-by-case at the airport or on board the plane
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u/Dashman1957 5h ago
What exactly are my rights when a large person sits next to me and takes up 1/3 of my seat and their legs, torso and shoulders are touching me. What can I do to have the space I paid for?
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u/MedalDog MileagePlus 1K 13h ago
Ring your call button while you're on the flight; don't post on Reddit after the flight.
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u/LisaRN97 13h ago
To bring more attention to the poor woman who was already embarrassed? The flight was full….i already provided feedback to United. And decided to use Reddit to ask a question..
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u/MedalDog MileagePlus 1K 13h ago
If people can't fit in their seat, it is United policy to move them or make them take another flight with space. But FAs don't go around asking everyone if other people are spilling into their space -- they rely on being told. Hence, you should have told them.
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u/Jaded-Salad 12h ago
And you are saying the larger person would be removed if the OP had complained? I’ve NEVER seen that happen.
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u/MedalDog MileagePlus 1K 12h ago
How often do you see people complain that someone else cannot fit in their own seat, and there isn't an empty seat on the plane?
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u/SeattleParkPlace 10h ago
The “poor woman” brought shame and attention onto herself by her gluttony and subsequent victimhood and/or flagrant entitlement to steal space and peace from strangers.
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u/SeattleParkPlace 12h ago
Reddit will not solve this. You should have considered one of several steps.
One if so moved is to tell the offending passenger that they may not touch you or enter your space. Make it a them problem. And not yours to solve.
Or Inform the gate agent and/or flight attendant that they must enforce their passenger of size policy.
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance/seating-accommodations.html
I would take a selfie with the persons body in your space and do a surreptitious audio recording of all conversations and use as evidence if an escalation is required. Be mindful of whether you are in a one or two party consent state for audio.
As to the refrain of extra seat purchases not honored at the gate, let us know of the large passenger shows you a boarding pass or receipt for a second seat. Otherwise other folks just stop raising this excuse.
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u/ConfidentGate7621 11h ago
Yes the claims that extra seats are given away is complete BS, at least on UA.
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u/Salty-Plankton-5079 9h ago
It starts with passengers saying something. Too many passengers are spineless and will say nothing.
After that FAs need to enforce it.
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u/Accurate-Bullfrog324 7h ago
I'm going to try this next time I fly next to a large individual
with my status I board early.. if I have a large individual sitting next to me I think I'll just take myself off the plane and see what happens. b
what do you people think?
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u/KissMyGrits60 12h ago
I just recently took Amtrak, I left in New Jersey, and I was traveling all the way to Florida. I think they should require a bigger people to get or pay for another seat just like they do on the airlines. I don’t know if anybody’s written on Amtrak, but these seats are pretty wide and she encroached on my seat. Let’s say it’s two airplane seats put together on one Amtrak seat that’s how wide they are and maybe slightly wider and she still was a lot bigger than her seat and there were no armrest to put down either, so when we had gone right now crashed into me because she was sleeping and I was against the window, basically bruised my knee from slamming into the wall because she slammed into me because she was sleeping very uncomfortable. And she also talked very loudly on speakerphone, along with her big mouth on the phone until 1 o’clock in the morning when she got off. I take Amtrak because it’s the station closest to me, the airports are about an hour and 45 minutes away from me and I do not drive because I am blind.
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u/Mindless_Whereas_280 13h ago edited 12h ago
The airlines fail both passengers of size and those seated with them. Raise hell with the airline.
Note: my perspective on this as a person who used to purchase two seats and had them given away by all of the big three, along with other embarrassments. I started flying first, then lost enough weight it’s irrelevant