Pop off? Unpopular opinion? A Travel Rant.

PMeg819

1. I understand that some people are fat and it's their body. I will credit this board for helping me be more accepting of myself- that if I'm healthy (eating right, exercising, generally taking care of myself) and I'm still a size 12/14/16/whatever, that's okay. That's my body and it's who I am. I know some people are the size they are, and it's not my place to judge. FTR- I am not judging the woman in question.

2. I know airplanes have made seats smaller and leg room is non-existant. It sucks. I'm not thin and I'm not tall and it's uncomfortable. I love when I get a free upgrade to First Class- just for leg room. And free wine. But I accept I've made a choice, and that they are private companies trying to make money. It is what it is.

So yesterday I am traveling, and I'm on a United flight. I try to fly United when I can't fly US Airways because I can credit my miles to my US Airways account to help me reach elite status. I make this choice, and my other option is usually American where I can't do that. I board the flight, and I note that there is a older woman and her husband setting in the middle and window seats. The woman is large. I sit down and realize I can't sit comfortably without her arm in my side as she's too large to put it anywhere else. She has to use a seat belt extender and can hardly buckle the seat belt as is. Her husband literally has to move her around to get it buckled.

I ask to be moved but there are no open seats, the flight is full. So here's why I'm angry. United has a policy, per their website, that if a customer can't buckle their seatbelt and is using one seat belt extender, can't put the armrest down, or is encroaching on the space of another passenger then they are going to be required to buy a second seat. From my perspective, I couldn't use my full seat. I was angled out into the aisle and had to contort myself so I wasn't hit but the beverage cart.

Seriously, what is the point of having a Customer of Size policy if you aren't going to enforce it? Why am I forced to be uncomfortable so they can cram in a few more people? I was sort of baffled by the decision to let them sit where they were, as they clearly needed access to the aisle, and the wife had difficulty moving around- which makes her a safety risk to her husband in the event of an emergency. I did write a letter to United. I'd rather not fly American right now with the possibility of pilot strike but I just may to avoid United issues (and there have been many these past few months).

I know I'm just a drama queen who hates fatties.

Wzz

maybe they couldn't have her purchase a second seat because there were no open seats? i don't know what to tell you. i was going to suggest writing a letter, but you said you did that already.

i think it's safe to say that since the experience is over and done with, try not to be so angry about it. since you know the woman didnt do it on purpose, just be happy you landed safely. (i personally wouldnt volunteer to buy a second seat for a personal trip if i didnt have to, regardless of my size. people do it for business trips all the time, but it's company money, and i am sure there's some level of embarassment to do this.)

PMeg819

I think they did have additional seats because they were clearing people off the standby list. I'm more annoyed that the airline would rather have one more customer than be safe. I just needed to rant. I couldn't do that with DH last night because DS wanted to talk on the phone.

*Barbie*

I agree with you on thinking it's unfair for someone to be smashed because a passenger took up considerably more than their one seat. 

it also is a safety concern if she cannot maneuver through the plane and would cause others tio become trapped, or become trapped herself. 

MNNEBride

I wonder if it wouldn't have been a better choice for the woman to sit in the window seat rather than the center.  She wouldn't have been a hinderance for her husband to get out and he would have been a buffer between you and her (her and you?).

loveshine1

This would annoy me as well. It's uncomfortable as it is, and someone encroaching on my space would make it worse.

**O-Face**

Just for curiosity, have you ever seen any airline enforce said policy?

zsazsa-stl

Ditto O-Face. There is so much bad press about people being treated poorly that I would assume to is really difficult to make the call on enforcing that policy.  And it's not just you.  That lady would be a heck of a lot more comfortable if she had a 2nd seat.  Haven't there also been stories about people buying a 2nd seat and then having that seat taken away on an overbooked flight? 

Wzz

southwest enforces it. they do not play around.

they'll also refund it if the flight is not booked to capacity. i am not sure what other airlines do.