As an alternative to buying two seats, they should offer an encroachment option for 25% more for the obese and a 25% discount for the passenger who chooses to sit next to him/her (assuming there are no free seats). I'd love to have another way to save 25%.

Grunn said:I can't see how anyone can defend or support taking something from another person who has paid for it.

Unfortunately, the majority of US voters supported someone who can and does.

Calizona said:As one of the fatties you all seem to enjoy complaining about, please note that we are as uncomfortable about the situation as you are. I personally am more uncomfortable about YOUR discomfort than I am my own. While, according to the regulations listed here, I wouldn't have to pay for 2 seats (because I only need a single extension),I am aware of the perception of others because of my size (5'10" 380#). It was mentioned above that if obesity was due to a medical condition it should be free per ADA requirements. Obesity, especially morbid obesity, is a medical condition in itself. There is no standard way to determine whether it was due to hormonal imbalances or just because a person overeats.

I gained much of my weight following a severe auto accident 20 years ago that left me unable to walk without significant pain. While many may see me get out of my car and walk, parked legally in a handicapped space, they cannot see the pain that it causes me and would incorrectly assume that I received my handicapped placard because of my obesity (or that I am too lazy to walk further).

It seems obesity is the last 'legal' form of discrimination; however, for the same reason it was wrong to stereotype people based on their race, it is also wrong to stereotype the obese. We are cognizant of our 'abnormality' and your discomfort and most of us try to minimize that on your behalf. While it is possible to lose weight, you can see how it is extremely difficult to do so for people with conditions like my own that limit our ability to exercise. Before you mention how EASY it should be to get weight loss surgery, please know that it is not a harmless procedure. I have had 4 (out of 5) friends who have had gastric bypass die as a result of the complications that follow the surgery. Even successful surgery results in malnutrition (that is after all how the weight comes off)which stresses the body to the point that it may risk the person's health more so than their original obesity did.

I post this not as an excuse for me and the other obese persons you may have encountered while traveling, but as a way to demonstrate the other side of the story. If I ever need to fly again, I will definitely try to get an Economy Plus seat (I wasn't aware of that) since, as a graduate student, First Class fares are far above my ability to pay.

If you have any questions or non-spiteful comments, feel free to email me and I will respond as soon as possible. Spiteful emails will be returned in kind!

What other disease out there can be cured simply by eating less food? Get real. I don't care how injured you are or what type of medical condition you have that prevents you from exercising. If you are 5'10" 380 pounds you are eating too much food plain and simple. You don't gain weight from lack of exercise, you gain weight by taking in more calories than your body needs. Stop making excuses and start eating a healthy diet.

3030 I'd complain to them no problem, if they wanted to throw their weight around that would their problem not mine. I'd imagine their removal from the airplane for violent and threatening behaviour would benefit my seating arrangement.
Moving on from hypothetical scenarios here's what happened to me on a flight back from Vegas on Continental a week ago.
Sat at the gate with my travelling companion and aware the flight is full, we checked out all the obese people waddling down to our gate and just for fun started saying to each other 'we'll get that one' and similar.
We get seated and obesity after obesity wobbles past us and squeezes into other seats.Then guess what? The fattest woman you've ever seen, like a beachball with a blancmange sat on top of it comes huffing, puffing and sweating down the aisle points to the window seat and says 'I'm sat there'. We moved out and I tried to fit into the middle. No dice. The obese womans arms were in my seat, her fat rolls were over the edge of the armrests and whatever I did there was no chance I was going to fit. I made my way to the back and told the flight attendant discreetly of the problem. She then more or less frog marched me back to the seat and made me repeat my attempt to sit down which embarrassed the fat judging by the way she stared at the ground.
The attendant then says that I will need to sit somewhere else if available. It's at this point I get angry and decided to put my foot down. I ask for the supervisor who comes over, offers me the option of a seat in first class, which I accept and insist my companion is allowed to come with me.
Eventually we make it there and leave the fat woman with a row to herself.
It worked out well for me this time but I had to fight hard to get them to do the right thing.
This experience got me thinking- why on earth are these fat, obviously obese and frankly anti-social people (they know full well they don't fit in the seat and would it hurt to wash more often?) allowed to book one seat and then be allowed on the flight. They should have a cage like they do for hand baggage and if you don't fit in it then you can pay for an extra seat or if none are available you can wait for the next flight that isn't full. Why on earth should I have to suffer because of their problems? Makes me seriously angry.

Grunn said:They should have a cage like they do for hand baggage and if you don't fit in it then you can pay for an extra seat or if none are available you can wait for the next flight that isn't full.

Sorry to quote you again, but you have a great idea. I would add this and the pay-by-weight option together. I think all travelers would have a better experience this way.

Heck I might even consider allowing the severely obese to fly in a modified cargo hold at a reduced rate if they couldn't fit their cellulite in a seat.