The picture on the left was taken by an American Airlines flight attendant to show her management what she had to deal with on the flight. The article, which you can read here, got me thinking about a flight I took nine months ago.
The flight was from Brisbane, Australia, to Dubai, UAE. When I checked in, I asked for a window seat (my favorite) but was told the flight was wholly booked from Singapore (the connection) to Dubai. All they had were middle seats.
The ticket agent got me a window seat on the first leg, but I was told I would move to a middle seat once in Singapore. "Well, you can't win them all, and no worries," I thought.
My flight from Brisbane to Singapore was OK, but it was about half full. When they boarded the connection passengers, I changed to my middle seat and was "stuck" between two large people.
On my left was a larger German man who made Hulk Hogan look small, and on my right was a lady from India who was easily triple the size of most women. Both claimed the armrest on each side of me, leaving me sitting like a child with my hands in my lap.
I was still thinking, "No worries; it's only a six-hour flight, and I can make it." I tried to jockey for some legroom but failed, as both were so large that they couldn't fit their legs under the seat in front of them. This left me with four legs in my area: my two and one each from my fellow passengers.
I'm not a larger person at all, and I stand 5'8" (178 cm) and weigh 160 lbs (73 kg), but I found myself with my head down, arms crossed, and legs crossed one over the other in a strained position for the duration of the flight.
I didn't say a word to anyone and just kept to myself, but I couldn't walk when we landed! Seriously, because of the cramping position I was in, I had strained my ankles so much that I could barely put pressure on them.
I walked off the plane looking like a disabled person, and I walked as fast as an older person with a stroller. I wasn't so mad because of this, just in pain, and for what reason?
After all, I paid good money for my seat, but only got to use half of it. I saw the above picture in the article this week, which got me thinking. After some research, I found that the airlines' policy on this subject isn't consistent.
- United Airlines: The policy is that if a flight attendant can't find two open seats in coach, larger passengers must buy a second seat, upgrade to business class, or even get bumped from sold-out flights.
- Air France says those with a "high body mass" can buy a second seat for 25 percent off and be bumped from the flight if they refuse.
- American Airlines: doesn't have a hard and fast rule, but passengers who weigh more than 250 pounds are told there "may be limitations to the service the airline can provide."
- Southwest and Midwest Airlines require their larger passengers to purchase a second seat, but will refund the extra fare if there are empty seats on the flight.
- Delta Airlines: speaks vaguely about not wanting to discriminate against its passengers.
- JetBlue requires higher-weight passengers to buy a second seat, and no refund is given even if the plane ends up flying practically empty.
I know this is a very sensitive subject, but as more people fly, it is one that is affecting people and should be addressed.
A law has been passed in Canada barring Canadian airlines from discriminating against "clinically" obese customers. But who decides who is "clinically" obese? Does one have to have a doctor's note?
Is it fair to make one passenger suffer when they paid the same (maybe more) for a seat but are overtaken by their neighbor?
It would be like renting a hotel room for yourself only to share it with a family that has rented one room but doesn't have the bed space for everyone, thus taking the spare bed in your room. Some say it's unethical; others say it's unfair for the other passengers. Who is right, and who is wrong?
The real question is why the airlines haven't gotten together on this subject and addressed it consistently.
Is Delta Airlines saving so much business by staying vague about this subject compared to JetBlue, which has taken a firm stance on it?
Some have taken legal action. In 2002, a woman from the UK won a settlement from Virgin Airlines for just over $20,000 (€13,500) because she was crushed by a heavier person sitting next to her during an 11-hour flight.
A Frenchman who weighed 170 kg (375 lbs) won a court case against Air France after a crew member wrapped him in packing tape to prove that he was too large for a single seat, thus making him buy a second seat.
Who defines if someone is obese or just large? Would it be fair if the large person (think Great Khali from WWE Wrestling who has a body fat of five percent but weighs 420 lbs) that isn't obese but just a huge person have to pay for two seats, but someone who is "clinically" obese doesn't?
If the airlines charge a higher-weight person for two seats, why can't all-you-can-eat buffets charge double for the same person? What are your thoughts on this subject?
