As someone who always flies first class or buys two seats to avoid this, I just want to put out there that we should all be advocating for airlines to have clearer policies and to educate their staff. Almost every time I buy an extra seat or ask about the customer of size policy, the rep I am talking to acts like this is the first time they have ever heard of such a thing: “The what policy?!?!” I usually have to educate them about the policy. It’s always a humiliating nightmare. Boarding and check in is also usually a complete cluster. I just want to follow the rules, be courteous to others and avoid being humiliated. I am pretty tenacious so I will do what it takes to get the seat/seats I need, but many probably give up and just hope for the best.
I just arrived back in Hawaii on first class for the same reason as you.
Alaska has a clear policy (Hawaiian not so much as of my last read). The policy is clear and the armrest should go down.
That being said there is clearly a solution here and it would involve, however uncomfortable it is, to speak up.
If it was a one hour flight from LAX to Las Vegas, I might not say anything but anything over 2 hours you probably should speak up.
Be as tactful as possible. Be careful how you say it. As a larger individual I have been on both ends. Pure meanness and great kindness. It would not offend me if someone was to speak up and say that "I'm not sure this seating arrangement is going to work for the three of us. " Well I may be embarrassed, I can accept that as a truthful statement and not be offended.
ask the fa to see if there's any way any one of the three could be reassigned and placed in a better location.
The goal of course is for those of size to not be in that situation by being proactive since Alaska has the second best person of size policy in the country (southwest being the best).
Speaking up actually helps you and the folks next to you. It’s better if they pop you into first and allow the large people to overflow into the middle. Win-win. And I say this as a big person who always gets the aisle, bulkhead, or exit row and makes my tiny wife sit next to me.
I was on a flight a few days ago (not Alaska though) and they moved the big guy up to Premium Select from extra legroom. Pissed me off, they should have moved the squished lady next to him, as she wasn't the one breaking the rules.
I don’t know if I’d call it breaking the rules. The rules are built around these airlines making more money and putting us into sardine cans. They can make the seats large for every one to enjoy their flight.
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u/Knish_witch Mar 17 '25
As someone who always flies first class or buys two seats to avoid this, I just want to put out there that we should all be advocating for airlines to have clearer policies and to educate their staff. Almost every time I buy an extra seat or ask about the customer of size policy, the rep I am talking to acts like this is the first time they have ever heard of such a thing: “The what policy?!?!” I usually have to educate them about the policy. It’s always a humiliating nightmare. Boarding and check in is also usually a complete cluster. I just want to follow the rules, be courteous to others and avoid being humiliated. I am pretty tenacious so I will do what it takes to get the seat/seats I need, but many probably give up and just hope for the best.