Every airline has its own policies for dealing with obese passengers, but in general, if a flier can't fit in a single seat, even with a seat-belt extender, or the armrests can't come down fully on either side of him, then the flier needs to pay for two seats. Such policies are inconsistently applied, however, creating confusion and frustration for obese and non-obese passengers alike.
Significance
Americans are getting wider, but airline seats are not. In 1960, about 45 percent of the adult population met the modern government definition of overweight, including about 14 percent who met the definition of obese. By the first decade of the 21st century, more than 70 percent of adults were overweight, and more than 40 percent were obese. At the same time, the standard coach airline seat has remained about 17 inches wide.
Conflict
Airlines say they continually hear complaints about obese travelers "spilling over" from their seats into space that other passengers have paid for. These airlines also cite safety concerns: Weight aboard a plane, including that of passengers, must be properly distributed. After a crash in 2003 that was partially attributed to excess weight, the Federal Aviation Administration advised airlines to estimate that each passenger accounts for 190 pounds of weight, including luggage. The previous standard had been 180 pounds. In either case, a 400-pound flier is the equivalent of two passengers.
Confusion
Airlines such as United, American and Delta say they will charge for a second seat if the passenger can't be accommodated by switching her to a seat with an open spot next to it. Southwest charges for a second seat, but will refund that charge if the airplane doesn't sell out. But as Ed Hewitt of IndependentTraveler.com points out, these policies cause great frustration. The obese flier doesn't want to buy two tickets, only to find out the flight was only half booked. Non-obese passengers don't want to feel forced to give up an aisle, window or bulkhead seat, for which they may have paid extra, to accommodate an obese person. And even if an obese person follows the policy and buys two tickets, there's no guarantee that two seats will be available if he's switched to another flight, as famously happened to film director Kevin Smith on Southwest in 2010.
Laws
The federal government, which regulates air travel, has no rules on how wide an airline seat should be. The FAA requires only that the cabin configuration of a plane allow all passengers to be seated with a seat belt on and latched and armrests down on either side. Weight is not a protected characteristic in federal anti-discrimination laws, and air crews are generally given great leeway to say what is and isn't a safety risk.
Solutions
Because Americans don't seem to be likely to get smaller, the simplest solution would be wider seats; a 17-inch seat can turn a flight into an ordeal for even a non-obese passenger. But wider seats mean fewer seats, which would reduce capacity and raise fares for all passengers, so airlines aren't going there. Another option is to add a few wider seats and charge more for them--the same way airlines charge extra for more legroom in "business class." The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, an advocacy group, urges that option. However, that could require costly modifications to cabin interiors--or even widening planes.
Member Comments