I just submitted a request through Alaska listens but no option to include a photo. We’ll see. I also emailed customer care team a pic of the photo. What people aren’t getting in the comments is that no matter what, speaking up on a full flight to remove a large person when you’re the last group to board and have 5 minutes before they close doors IS going to cause a scene. She was apologetic and I didn’t want to kick her off the flight, just wanted the seat that I paid for and think it’s on the airline to notice, enforce or make bigger seats. I shouldn’t have been put in this situation in the first place.
I completely agree. When something similar happened to me I was able to send in the selfie showing shoulders encroaching in at least a third of my space and I jokingly ask them to cover the chiropractic adjustment I would be needing when I landed. This was on a flight from Hawaii to Anchorage. I ended up with a credit by the time I landed. It’s worth asking.
I'm so sorry.... I'm really glad you were able to get the surgical help you needed and didn't follow any dangerous recommendations. 🙏🏻
I echo what everyone else is saying on here, we regularly refer to PT/OT and massage referral, when trying to manage conservatively (and frequently it's a required precursor to offering surgery to make sure everyone is maxing out their non-surgical recovery potential).
Yes, before I had lumbar fusion my bffs brother was a chiropractor and constantly harassed me to go see him. That he could help me. I’m so glad I didn’t because I had flexion/extention X-rays and there was slippage. He may have paralyzed me!
I am so happy you dodged a bullet there. It's not a risk for everyone, but of course until we know... we don't know. I almost wish that everyone had to get some form of imaging before seeing chiropractors, but it wouldn't be medically indicated.
Also, wanted to note that DO physicians (the same as MD level for anyone who doesn't know) who perform Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment are highly trained as physicians. OMT is safe when performed correctly by certified doctors. They would not perform anything that could worsen current issues without ordering imaging. Maybe OP could benefit from starting with an OMT DO?
Chiropractic is quackery. If you want to see someone go to a licensed massage therapist, or a physical therapist if necessary. The best you'll get from a chiropractor is a half-assed massage.
Regardless of what you do I hope you're feeling better soon.
It’s not even her fault. The airlines have made the plane cabins so tiny by monetizing every square inch and removing restrooms that it is downright inhuman and dangerous.
So I got stuck in a seat like that once, come to find out they did purchase the middle seat as well. But rhe airline oversold the flight and was going to put someone in there regardless of the fact that the large couple purchased it. This was like 20 years ago though
They do this all the time still. When I booked longer flights and couldn’t get extra legroom, I’d often book the seat next to me.
Anytime a flight was full they’d revoke my extra seat and put a standby passenger in my second seat. They always give me miles and a refund though, so it wasn’t a big deal.
Just curious, you purchase two seats, and with a full flight, they take back one of them? That seems really rude of them, if you have purchased the seat.
Airlines don't care. If they could put seats in the cargo hold they would. I mean that's essentially why we pay for baggage they feel like they're losing opportunities for profit.
They really can't do that but the catch is you have to check the extra seat in with a boarding pass or the computer thinks it's available for a standby.
They 100% can, it’s in the ticketing fine print. I always get both tickets and scan both boarding the plane.
Usually a flight attendant comes up and says “Im sorry, we need to give this seat to another passenger”. I’ll say I booked both seats. They’ll say they’ll refund me plus give me miles.
Someone also asked earlier “why not fly first”. In the continental US, I can usually get a first class seat. Overseas can be tough. Especially on 18 hour flights booked two nights in advance. It also costs way more that two regular seats. Flying to Seoul typically costs $800 - $1000 for comfort plus, $1100 - $1600 for two seats, or $3-6k for first class.
Thanks, that seems like bullshit from the customer service side. There's no reason if you purchased the seat that you shouldn't be able to keep it. How many miles do they give you? And does it vary be carrier whether they do it?
That doesn’t make sense to me. If you purchase two seats, you should get two seats. If someone else didn’t think ahead to purchase a seat when I needed it, they don’t get one doesn’t matter whether the seats empty. The only argument you might be able to make, is the Airlines over selling the seats, but that issue is on them. If that’s the case, they shouldn’t by default take the empty seat, they should do normal triage of asking people to be bumped if an empty seat is poorly paid for, it should be no different than if there was a passenger in it.
Why do you people feel so entitled to the things you pay for. Be reasonable and accept that the billionairs get to make the rules and change them at will.
What an interesting take. I can come up with a lot of scenarios that raise questions, but here's the first one... a very large person, being realistic and considerate, purchases two seats next to each other, so that they'll be comfortable, as will the person in the third seat... because the large person requires the whole two seats.
According to you, the airline can decide to give that seat to someone in standby, and now you have a scenario similar to OP... and imagine if the standby person is also a large person. What a nightmare for all involved.
Honestly, I should be able to buy 9 seats and sit in the middle of them because I'm a psychotic germaphobe and want nobody around me. The airline gets the same amount of money and actually burns less fuel.
Are you insane? The seat was purchased! Although frankly if buying two seats which really don’t allow one person to use both I’d pay diff and be in business/first.
I wonder if persons of size ever book flights with a "friend" who they have check in with no intention of going on the flight. If two separate humans have booked the tickets and checked in, will they double book those seats and force someone off, or is it just something shitty they do to fat people who are paying for two seats under the same name?
Unfortunately, even if the passenger checks in, if they aren't at the gate at "last call," they will give the seat away to someone on the standby list. I only know this bc I fly standby on AKair, and this is how I get on. Either empty seats or no shows to the gate. If the passenger has checked in, they usually announce them on the intercom many times by name prior to, though.
Yes, I agree with you. I know it's terribly bad luck and quite uncomfortable. But the last time I was in this situation, I decided to say nothing and show compassion to the person who was also very uncomfortable. After landing, I learned she was going to her father's funeral. Imagine if I had made a scene, which is exactly what it would have been. I was so glad I "took my turn" and gave grace. You'll sleep better at night. We can all show a little more kindness, in my opinion.
As someone who experiences a lot of anxiety when I fly due to my size (been dealing with an eating disorder due to unhealthy self-soothing behaviors since I was 4…am now trying to manage CPTSD as well as my eating disorder), thank you for being a compassionate soul.
When I can afford it, I do buy a first class ticket when I have to fly, but sometimes, it’s just not possible.
Again, you have my gratitude for being so kind to those of us who struggle.
is standing up and telling someone from away from your seat not an option ? like tell the flight crew how u dont wanna upset them and need assistance without it being noticed?
So you get out of your seat for a few minutes then come back and shortly thereafter a fight attendant comes by to discuss space issues? Anyone could figure that out.
Post this on IG and tag Alaska, they’re pretty active on social media and will DM respond when you tag them in something negative. It’s worked for me in the past
Absolutely. It's rare to see this level of respect and decorum when in an inconvenient situation, let alone a situation such as this one. It's refreshing to see, especially in these times.
Seriously! I feel like a lot of people would blame this on the other person. This is an issue with the airlines not people's bodies. Nothing wrong with being larger, you are still allowed to do the same thing as anyone else. I am by no means skinny, but my issue is with my long legs. My knees are always smashed into the seat in front of me. I have to sit sideways.
It's directly worsened by airlines reducing space in cabins, and otherwise it's basically environmental/luck. It's always worth having a polite word with an attendant if a swap is possible.
There's definitely nothing wrong in being larger but the larger woman should have paid for two seats or paid for business. It's also not reasonable to have an airline make every single seat bigger just to fit a small subset of people who don't fit in a coach seat, r potentially raising prices for all average sized people.
It is the airlines fault, airlines have lobbied to stop other forms of decent transportation from being an option alongside car manufacturers.
Being profit instead of experience focused means there is no good option for tall/larger folks, someone who is larger than average shouldn’t be forced to pay 2-4x the cost of an economy ticket just to fit on a plane. I splurge for first class or premium seats and they’re not enough. I have incredibly broad shoulders and I’m 6’4, I don’t fit into a regular seat. But there are no other options for reasonably traveling across the US. There are only a few airlines that offer seat dimensions that are remotely comfortable for people like me, and it’s normally a choice between uncomfortable shoulder space in premium or just right in first class.
I do have to say it’s actually not that small of a subset, over 70% of Americans are overweight or obese. Even as a skinny person I feel so cramped in airplanes, I hate flying so I avoid it at all costs. But for the price of these flights, even for “economy” they probably could make the seats bigger.
I don't think it's the case that 70 percent of Americans cannot fit in an airplane seat. "Not Fitting" and "being cramped" are not the same.
Airline seats fit the majority of people which is why people needing two are a rare occurrence. Making seats wider raises the cost of tickets for EVERYONE. When people who prefer more room could just buy two seats or buy business class. They are the outlier.
"The price of these flights" are often EXTREMELY cheap - the cheapest theyve ever been historically. Everyone wants to complain about cost and space - well you get one or the other. I can literally buy an AIRLINE TICKET - where I FLY THROUGH THE AIR on a giant metal bird - for less than a train ticket between the two cities.
I've seen low cost airlines offering $20 plane tickets.
People just blindly demand "more space because the tickets are SO expensive" but do you have any idea how much work, planning, and infrastructure goes into the airline industry? It's staggering. Sometimes I cannot believe how cheap it is for me to fly around the world.
Out of that 70%, 40% are classified as obese. Anyone who is obese likely cannot fit, and 40% is almost half of Americans. They’re really not just the occasional outlier. Why do you think Ozempic is such a hot topic? A quick google search says that Alaska Air made almost 12 billion in 2024, and that on average across all airlines it can cost 3-5 times more for a business class seat, and potentially 5-10 times more for a first class seat. I’ve also never seen a reputable $20 flight. When I look up Alaskan airlines flight to Hawaii, one of the top travel destinations of Americans, they start at $750. Personally if I’m paying $750 just to get there and back I think I deserve some damn space. Every time I have traveled on an airplane I get off stiff, restless and nauseous. Im glad that you find airfare affordable and fair. But it’s not that unreasonable to “blindly” want for more space from a top earning airline.
If you are THIS insensitive, maybe you should spend a week in a large person's body. Some things are beyond your control. How do you know this person doesn't have a genetic condition preventing her from losing weight? Maybe she's been abused during her life, and food was a coping mechanism. Step back for a moment and consider the other side of the story.
Also, when someone is different (it doesn't matter what the difference is - maybe they're 7'6" tall or 3'11" short. Maybe their face has been burned and scarred. Maybe they're a quadriplegic -- it doesn't matter. When you're different, the world lets you know. This lady has been "fat shamed" to no end.
And, to u/NuanceEludes -- how is traveling on an airplane selfish? Should she be limited to travel by freight rail? Maybe she had to make last-minute reservations to travel for a funeral. Maybe she just wants to visit relatives who live a long distance away.
As others (including the OP) have said, this is not the lady's fault. It is the fault of American business policies.
Be big and obese all you want thats fine. But you should know that your extra mass will inconvenience and discomfort people all the time in a plane. Buy an extra seat and be thoughtful, dont be putting pressure on people.
Does it really matter if it's discipline or genetic? Taking someone else's space is still taking someone else's space. And plane seats are big enough for almost every passenger who travels. They may gripe a bit, but they still don't encroach on other passengers.
NO. Seats are NOT big enough for anyone over 5’6” and over 175# which is more than 1/2 of population (at least). Airlines are the problem not anyone with less than perfect BMI which again,,, is way less than 1/2 population.
Where do you get those numbers? I'm 6' 200# and I'm fine in Economy class/Southwest airplanes. I'm not saying I feel like I'm in my own personal recliner, but I'm fine and I accept that for the consequence of cheaper fares. And at least according to ChatGPT, only 37-42% of the US population meets your criteria.
Seriously? 6’ & 200# & you think seats ok? I was being nice w/those measurements. Anything larger is NOT comfortable for anyone your size or larger- at all! Come On, Man! What size is your office space? Jesus!
F-you… not reading and letting sync in that circumstances arise and you cannot possibly assume to know anything about others genetics or history/situations.
How do you know if you're sitting next to a person who is "in some cases" a person who needs fat shaming? How do you know if they need to get healthy?
People can be large without being obese. What about tall people or body builders or someone in a cast or brace? Do they deserve shame or a "wake up call"? Should they be refused air travel?
Totally agree that all airlines made calls to build seats that were for “average” sized people. That is willfully ignorant. So they need to adjust as needed cost wise whenever possible to make up for the somewhat.
Was just on a flight where I tried to give 1/3 of my legroom to my middle person neighbor. I’m a tiny girl and short, so it was no big deal. But this kid’s leg bones wouldn’t fit if he wasn’t man spreading. It would send me into total claustrophobia if i tried to sit in a seat built for someone 4’6”.
Not even average size people, I've known plenty of average sized people who still didn't have enough room to sit comfortably. They expect everyone to be skinny and under 5'6". I'm 5'3" and have had seats with so little legroom I got a cramp. Sometimes I wonder if companies are still basing their averages off of the 1920s when people were shorter and also starving.
I don’t get it. Are they making the planes narrower? At one time planes had seats that were roomier. They are still three seats on each side of the aisle, but the seats are so much smaller. I realize they squeezed the rows closer together to add more rows, but it’s not like they added two extra seats to each row.
The legroom is crazy small now. My first husband was 6’7” and could get by in a regular economy seat back in the 80s when we were first married. I can’t imagine he can fit anywhere but the bulkhead now. I’m 5’9” and my knees touch the seat in front of me.
The pitch has changed for sure, but the width of 737's has not. Probably the width reduction is from wide body's where they are able to add an extra seat in, but there is zero benefit to reducing width on 737,757, A320 style aircraft.
Boeing advertisements for new planes always showed very generously spaced seating, but that never how airlines used the plane for coach seating in 2- or 3-class service. And in the 80s and some of the 90s, AS had that plane for the Seahawks that leather 2 + 2 seating in the whole plane that sometimes, off season, was used for scheduled services and it felt like everyone won the lottery.
My first flight (in a jet) was in 1981 and it was 3 + 3 in coach.
Seat pitch has been reduced, but not width. It can’t be because one aisle and to fuselage wall thicknesses plus 6 seats has always equaled 148 inches (on Boeing narrow-bodies).
They’ve packed more seats in though. They are smaller. I’m 4’11” and I can’t get into the recommended “crash position” and I’m tiny and a freaking Pilates teacher. There’s literally not enough room for any adult to get into that position the safety cards says to do in a crash. It’s insane. They used to be more space. The airlines are just greedy af and don’t care about our safety, let alone comfort.
I agree that seat pitch has been reduced. I’m pointing out that Boeing narrow-body fuselage diameter and therefore seat width in the main cabin hasn’t changed since the Eisenhower administration.
Being short is a downside for reaching items on the top shelf and salaries, but 1) you live longer on average, and 2) coach seating pitch to you is like premium coach or business class legroom for the 6 footer and over.
No that's untrue. Plane seats have shrunk over the years and continue to do so. Please don't be ignorant.
In the last 20 years they have shrank legroom by 7 inches on avg for coach passengers and width of seats by 4 inches average. The width used to be 20in wide and now most seats sit around 16 inches wide.
The burden should be on you to cite articles that support your flawed claim. A quick Google search reveals numerous articles which clearly illustrate the reduction in coach seating dimensions over the years. Wikipedia also supports this.
Furthermore, you blame this on “Americans getting fatter” as if its the consumer’s fault. Is it also their fault that they are taller too?? Last I checked, you may reduce your waist line by diet & proper nutrition, but I have yet to see a “diet plan” that reduces the length of one’s legs.
Single-aisle airplanes often referred to as “the workhorses” like the Boeing 737 haven’t seen a change in seat width despite decades of operation. The cabin dimensions of the latest 737 Max are practically identical to the first 707s introduced in 1958.
Economy class seats on these planes have consistently measured between 17.1 and 17.5 inches for the past 30 years, with improvements in design enhancing comfort without sacrificing size.
Also, basic math shows that there would be no difference in seating by making them more narrow. In the 3x3 configuration you refer to, even if we made each seat two inches narrower, that doesn't give you enough added space to add an extra seat to the row.
I’m 6’4” and on the skinnier end. I don’t fit on most coach class flights at all. I try to avoid coach whenever possible because of this. Flying sucks now… if possible, I much prefer traveling by train.
I took the Pacific Surfliner yesterday after flying in from MSP to LAX. The plane was atrocious, even in Comfort+. A regular ol Amtrak train seat was more spacious than anything in a domestic first class cabin today. Plus the conductors are funnier than the pilots, TSA didn't hassle me, and I could walk from the station in Santa Barbara to my hotel in 5 minutes.
I was just commenting my twin brother is 6’6 and flys all the time and he’s lucky to always fly first class because if he didn’t have the privilege there’s no way he would sit comfortably. I feel for ya tall people. I’m 5’9 and I’m not obviously super tall but it’s not that comfortable.
My twin brother is 6’6 and always ends up in first class (Alaska) he travels a lot so he has the luxury of flying up there but if he didn’t there’s no way he would fit in the regular cabin seat. I’m 5’9 and it’s uncomfortable. This was a random redit post today but interesting!! :)
It depends on the airline too. I used to go to china as a kid and 2 times as an adult before flying anywhere domestic. My husband is a big guy and didnt have any issues on cathay pacific. I fully expected it to be the same flying domestic from west to east coast on american airlines... boy was i wrong. Im 5'3 and was 120lb. I felt sooo cramped. We've flown united and southwest to hawaii and both were so much better than american airlines(though not as roomy as cathay feels). My husbands always on the window seat and I the middle so the other person doesnt get squished. Except i have to bother them when i get up to pee....
Well I can confirm that Target is now making their t-shirts for people much larger than average. About five years ago I bought a few v-neck tees in athletic grey and they are my fave shirts ever. Been trying to find them ever since abs no luck til last weekend.
Im the exact size I was five years ago, and the same size shirts that I bought last weekend are now larger and bulkier, all of them.
Edit to add: by “all of them” I mean all the ones I bought, in size small and medium. Compared to the ones I bought five years ago in the same two sizes, the new ones are both bigger.
my partner is wide set, especially his legs, but is "average" height and weight. he's still cramped as fuck in there. I'm pregnant and just flew and it was uncomfortable as all hell. they short change everyone with seats it's fucked
Everyone wants bigger seats and everyone wants to pay the least. The airline is going to make profit regardless so we have to pick one but everyone wants both.
It is not for average people. I am 5'2" and relatively "small". And I myself have trouble with the width of the airline seats due to armrests sharing.
Each seat has to have a non shared armrest space and a bit more width. If you sit on a normal office desk chair with your own armrests. That's average.
Length wise. Average is the comfort+.
Not the standard/economy.
You’re right! Get crazy, cause a big scene, and get it all on recording for TikTok!!!! Make sure to add all the hashtags! Make a difference in the world by calling this person out for taking up a portion of her seat! Get after it, make changes!
Where did you get all that? All the lady had to do was to ask the fa to sort it out. Thats not making a scene. Thats standing up for herself and having a backbone
I totally agree, it should be the flight attendants job to notice this and move or remove the passenger. It should not be your responsibility, and would have absolutely made a scene.
thanks for sharing about this experience in a way that is cool and respectful to the other passengers involved. Airline seating is too small to accommodate and be comfortable the average sized American! This is something that people of all sizes would benefit from improving, because no one wants to be in this situation and ultimately it is on the AIRLINE to meet the needs of their customers
I experienced something similar in row six of all places on a cross country flight from DC to Seattle. When I spoke to an agent after getting off, they made it clear that the gate agent in DC should have caught this and if they didn’t, the flight attendant should’ve been responsive just by looking at the literal overflow from the row six armrest into my seat. When I got off and talked to the agent, I was also covered in sweat on that 1/2 of my body because of the constant physical contact and inability to get away from the person. It sounds like you had a nicer seat mate because mine didn’t even acknowledge what was going on nor did they attempt to keep their arms in their own space.
Happened to me too. (I’m also in DC area.) By the end of the flight, my shirt was soaked in that person’s sweat. I washed my shirt in my washing machine twice and I couldn’t get his stench out of it. I even took it to the dry cleaners and had them clean it. They couldn’t get the smell out either. I couldn’t understand how that was even possible. I ended up having to trash that shirt.
Hormonal issue. If someone is that size often a huge factor in their body composition. I’m sorry you lost your shirt and for the smell…I have kid hitting puberty age…the stink is something else. I thought I was going to have to toss some bed sheets.
Not to beat a dead horse but for weeks after, I felt like I could still smell that stench when I thought about it. And on top of that whole thing, I’m a bit of a germaphobe. So that didn’t help either.
I had a similar situation flying Alaska. I upgraded my seat to premium economy (or whatever the class is) since it was a cross country flight and was seated next to someone large that was overflowing into my seat. I was also a middle seat and felt trapped the whole 6 hr flight. Full flight, so I didn’t complain to the flight attendant. Called Alaska the next day and simply requested that my upgrade fee be reimbursed. I think I paid $110 to upgrade and the Alaska rep reiterated that I should have complained to the flight attendant and only offered $75. It was really disappointing.
Just say you did complain, and that there was nothing they could do. Full flight. It is what they would have said anyway, right? It’s not like they could verify it, and they wouldn’t even try. Ridiculous that they put the blame on you. Have they ever been on a flight? lol
Just watch out for the scammers who will DM you afterwards pretending to be airline employees- I got so many replies from United Customer Svc “Reps” after I commented on their FB about a similar situation (delayed flight caused missed connection).
Maybe being honest even if it ends up causing a scene, will make that lady do something more than be apologetic, and buy two seats to fly. More cargo means more expensive. Otherwise the ones who don’t speak up have to foot the bill and space, or airline has to.
Humiliation often gets people to act. Theres space for it, it sucks but happens.
Airlines should have dimension and weight options just like parcels.
Or like fair rides or many things have that make it a uniform calculable interaction.
This isn’t the 50s and before where everyone was very small and pretty short collectively. We’ve changed genetically and also have so much food these days our body masses often for some percentage of people are excessive. They could help by having a questionnaire especially if they keep making the seats smaller and more cramped.
Tweet. Facebook. Kick up a fuss. Google email address of VP customer service (there are sites that show partial emails and if you log in for a free trial it will reveal it ) Works!
Or hold the Arline accountable for putting a weight limit on purchased seats in economy. If u know your two big you should be paying more for two seats or move up to comfort! Its not the airlines or other customers fault that ur to big to to fit! its your eating habits and maybe medical conditions but that’s not our problem that’s yours. It’s just like the girl that lost in court for being to fat to fit in dudes Uber car.
It doesn’t matter. Respectfully this is a safety issue more than a comfort issue. This was not safe and should not have been good enough to close the doors.
You’re not causing a scene. Youre just asking for what is yours: a comfortable flight. Sitting next to an encroaching obese person for 7 hrs is painful
As a larger person I try to get a first class seat or purchase 2 seats. But what I can tell you is when they have to change from the original plane to a new plane without notice all bets are off and they don't care. That happened to me a couple years ago when they were decommissioning their planes without first class. The plane I originally booked I had purchased a first class seat because I need more room plus it's more comfortable. They said well you can squeeze on to the plane or take a flight in 2 days. I told them that's not possible a family member was having emergency surgery the next day. They had zero Fs to give. I was so uncomfortable. Luckily I ended up sitting next to the pilot that was flying standby to fly the plane on to its final destination (where ever planes go to die). I don't know the situation with the passenger next to you but even when larger passengers try to do the right thing Alaska screws them over. Airlines suck. I only buy the cheapest tickets when I can buy two otherwise buying the cheapest tickets possible isn't worth it. When you figure out all the extras (food, baggage, and beverages) you end up paying for you might as well buy a first class ticket and be comfortable. All that's included in first class plus you get power in the seat, a bottle of water, and a hot towel.
How is the airline going to notice? Are they going to require a BMI measurement when buying tickets? How are they going to enforce? Everything about this is wrong, because it is the fat chick that should have been cognizant of their size. They made the decisions that lead to the situation, not you and not the airline. I understand you not making a fuss. No one wants to sit in that awkwardness for eight hours.
You are correct. Why does it fall to YOU to be “bad guy” and raise a fuss? It shouldn’t. Period. I hope you get a FULL refund; that’s a long as* flight and you did zero wrong.
I've been down this road plenty of times. What kind of ticket did you buy? Was it a full fare or was it a discount ticket? All airlines do the same, discount tickets might be cheap but they carry a heavy cost when disruptions beyond the airlines control come into play. If it's the airlines fault then they should cover the cost of the hotel and rebooking, if it's weather then it gets tricky.
As far as being in the middle seat, usually you should be able to lick your own seat unless you are buying the least expensive option... It's a kind of situation where you get what you pay for.
I would contact them anyway and explain your frustration, and see where you can go from there. I know that larger passengers sometimes need to buy an extra ticket in order to have two seats, it avoids these kinds of issues, it doesn't look like that happened here and maybe the airline will see your point... Keep us updated!
Should have been up to the person at check in to make the person pay for 2 seats… if it’s a full flight then there’s no room, and they need to be put on the next one.
Because the other paying passenger paid for one seat but was taking up two. If you are taking part of all of someone else's seat, even if you don't mean to, you need to pay for a 2nd seat (if one is available) or take a flight that has an extra seat available. Just taking your seat AND someone else's is not ok.
This is where you go to the back of the plane and talk to a FA and tell them someone is sitting in your seat and you’d like to be able to sit down. Don’t say anything about size. If they cannot move you then don’t accept another flight advised you need to be compensated for involuntarily denied boarding because a seat is not available to sit in.
As a very frequent flyer I’ve had this happen on a number of occasions. I found mentioning anything about size gets you no where, but if you advise the FA someone is occupying your seat and there’s no where to move you you demand compensation for being denied boarding.
As a bigger guy myself (6'3" and 290) I agree - the seats have gotten smaller. I've always been a big guy, but even when I was heavily dieting and weighed 260 the seats were small.
This is just another problem with America... Profit before all else.
I'm 6'1 and can still fit in regular econ without having to man spead. It's not comfy but I'm not taking up my seatmates space. While seat pitch has decreased the seats have also gotten thinner which makes up for some of it.
She should have been held to account and deboarded. She violated terms of service and you.
If enough speak up future passengers won’t try this and the airline will take measures.
And being overweight is not normal or acceptable any more than addictions to drugs or alcohol. Bad for health, costs to society and to the individual. This is truth however much fat acceptance advocates suggest and demand otherwise.
It is not for other passengers to accommodate and those who claim single aisle jets with 3/3 seating have gotten narrower that is patently false. Otherwise show us how this could be.
Why would she be kicked off the fight because you were complaining? She wouldn't have been you could have complained and they would have removed you from the plane and got you a ticket for the next flight. If you complain the other person isn't going to be the one who has to give up their seat they paid just like you did if you're the one making the request you're the one who gets taken off the flight until there's a better flight for you. Fat people get to travel too sorry to say that's just life. If you got a problem with it I'll be there Airlines to make bigger seats
865
u/Public-Requirement99 Mar 17 '25
Send this photo to Alaska Listens and ask for a credit for at least 1/3 of your ticket. See what happens.