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.