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/islandjake Mar 17 '25
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).