02 March 2010

Small airline seats becoming big problem

A little-noticed but worsening problem for the airlines: squeezing passengers into those small seats.

"Lost is the question…What about the rights of the travelers squeezed by neighbors too big for their own seats?" says the Sacramento Bee.

The situation brought a brief spate of publicity when oversize movie director Kevin Smith was turned away by Southwest Airlines.

"By all accounts, the problem is getting worse. Coach seats remained the same width — 17 to 18 inches — while obesity rates grew," says the newspaper.
More than a third of Americans now are defined as obese by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As airlines have shrunk their fleets, passengers are packed into planes even more tightly, according to newspaper accounts.

United Airlines last year said it received 700 complaints in 2008 from passengers angry that a larger passenger took up part of their seat.

Southwest says its oversized passenger policy affects "far less" than half of one percent of its customers, or 127,000 last year.

Unlike many carriers that lack rules or keep them under wraps, Southwest posts a two-page Q&A about the policy its followed for 29 years on its Web site.

Large passengers must buy two seats.

If there aren't more passengers waiting to board the flight than seats on the plane, Southwest will refund the second seat and give the customer side-by-side seats. If the flight is sold out, the passenger can buy an extra seat on a less full flight.

"We could no longer ignore complaints from customers who traveled without full access to the seat purchased due to encroachment by a large seat mate," says the Web site. It adds:

"These customers had uncomfortable (and sometimes painful) travel experiences and it is our responsibility … to prevent this problem."

The subject is a sticky one for carriers.

"It's embarrassing -- airlines don't want to touch this with a 20-foot pole," Rick Seaney, CEO of airfare comparison site Farecompare.com told CNN. "[But] this is only going to get worse."

And the rights of thinner passengers?

"When you buy a ticket and are assigned a seat, that means the seat's yours," said Robert Evans, a telecommunications business owner. ''Not half of it, all of it."

Various groups are being formed to protest seat-sharing. And experts say there will be no quick resolution of the problem as protests grow even larger.

By David Wilkening

Post your comment

Your Comments (5)

Over Sized People Taking Space

David Wilkening's article hits home.On 3 recent major air carrier commuter flights three 400 pound plus passengers pinned me against my window seat taking up 2/3 of my seat as well their whole seat. The gate agents nor the flight attendants offered me any seat change, On 2 of the flights there was not an empty seat. Gate Agents and flight attendants should be cognizant of over sized people taking up half the seat or more the person sitting next to them.The solution is to require the over size passenger to purchase 2 seats. When a reservation is booked no one knows the size of the passenger until they appear at the gate to board the aircraft. This is when common sense should prevail with the gate agent requesting a supervisor to speak with the over size passenger and denying them boarding unless they buy the seat next to them. We are required to put carry on in a size container to see if it meets the airline standard for size, but over size passengers have no restrictions. We are required to pay for checked luggage,meals on planes, but over size people who take up more then their own seat do not pay any more for a seat then I do! I agree with Craig Mathews comments in that over a certain weight and size they have to buy 2 coach seats or a first class seat or the don't fly Try and fly for 2 hours pinned to a window?

By ROGER SOLOMON, Tuesday, March 16, 2010
easily solution to obese passengers

over a certain weigh, they can't have 1 only economy seat, ie if they haven't bought 2 seats they can't board. Couldn't be simpler & fairer than that. Airlines often try to complicate things too much. Complication is expensive. If dodgy lawyers complain (they are all dodgy) don't let them board either.

By Craig Mathews, Monday, March 8, 2010
solution for Betty

it's called premium economy, business or 1st class. If you don't want to pay for these, then stop whingeing. >>> Betty L. Pettus 02 March 2010, 20:46:33 GMT Give & Take on Both Sides I agree that larger airline passengers can make a flight close at time but I can think of worse things. More importantly, I am looking at what I am getting for my flight purchase. Having to pay extra for checked luggage;having to pay for curbside check-in; not enough space for carry on luggage; having to pay extra for assigned seats; having to pay for blankets or pillows; very limited amenities on flights; delays; over sold flights; rude and uncaring flight attendents; rude TSA agents. I am driving more and have starting taking the train for the first time in my life. Thank God for cruises and close to home ports. Looks like the Great American Road Trip may be making a come back. And I am not obese, just fed up.

By Craig Mathews, Monday, March 8, 2010
huge opportunity for weight loss centres

ie. book your next holiday & get a Jenny Craig voucher so u can lose 50kgs before your holiday !!!

By Craig Mathews, Monday, March 8, 2010
Give & Take on Both Sides

I agree that larger airline passengers can make a flight close at time but I can think of worse things. More importantly, I am looking at what I am getting for my flight purchase. Having to pay extra for checked luggage;having to pay for curbside check-in; not enough space for carry on luggage; having to pay extra for assigned seats; having to pay for blankets or pillows; very limited amenities on flights; delays; over sold flights; rude and uncaring flight attendents; rude TSA agents. I am driving more and have starting taking the train for the first time in my life. Thank God for cruises and close to home ports. Looks like the Great American Road Trip may be making a come back. And I am not obese, just fed up.

By Betty L. Pettus, Wednesday, March 3, 2010